The New Parents Guide Blog

Revisit your favorite fairy tales with your child in Enchanted Forest!

Featuring Storybook Lane, Western Town, and Old English Village, Enchanted Forest in Salem, Oregon is a magical experience for the whole family.  There are rides, shops, and plenty of places to explore.  You can even bring your own picnic lunch!

It’s not just for the little ones, either.  For a truly spooky time, try the Haunted House:  three levels of chilling surprises.  My teens would love that!

It’s open on weekdays through Labor Day, then on weekends only in September.

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Valid on rentals two days or longer. Advance reservations are required. This offer is subject to availability and is redeemable at participating Hertz airport locations in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. This offer has no cash value and may not be used with Pre-pay Rates, Tour Rates, or Insurance Replacement Rates. No other CDP#, certificate, voucher, offer, or promotion applies. Hertz age, driver, credit, and qualified weekend rate restrictions for the renting location apply. Taxes, tax reimbursement, age differential charges, fees, and optional service charges, such as refueling, are not included. Discounts apply to time and mileage charges only. Discounts in local currency on redemption. Modifying your reservation may result in a change in your rate and/or invalidate this offer. Offer valid for vehicle pickup through September 30, 2010.
Valid through: September 30, 2010
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Virgin America Airlines fare sale:
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Yes, there’s fun for the whole family in Las Vegas!   Circus Circus’ very own theme park, Adventuredome, boasts five acres of indoor fun!  So no matter how hot it gets in southern Nevada, your family will stay cool while you enjoy all the great rides.

You’ll find attractions with Sponge Bob and Dora the Explorer themes as well as classic carousels and Ferris wheels for the whole family.  There’s even mini-bowling–without the rental shoes.  The Circus Circus clowns perform several times daily at a must-see show.

You can also enjoy mini golf, arcade games and even indoor rock climbing, as well as plenty of rides for the truly adventurous.  Tickets can be purchased for individual rides, or you can get an all-day pass to ride all you want.  (I love this! I don’t like to go on the rides, so if my family visits a theme park, I’m the “beast of burden” who waits outside the exit gate of each ride and holds everyone else’s stuff while they’re upside down on the roller coaster.  And it drives me crazy when I have to pay for the privilege of doing this!)

Bring the whole family to Adventuredome, a climate-controlled theme park everyone can enjoy.

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Valid through: September 1, 2010
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There’s still some time for fun left in the summer, and there’s plenty of fun to be had at Carowinds Theme Park in Charlotte, NC.  In their special Peanuts-themed kids’ section, you’ll find 11 fun rides featuring Snoopy as Joe Cool or the World War I Flying Ace, as well as an antique carousel with 68 hand-carved horses.  In addition, there are rides for the whole family as well as plenty of thrill rides for the really brave.

I remember taking small children to a theme park, only to wind up dealing with the tears as the child approached a ride and then learned that he was too short to ride on it.  Carowinds has that all figured out; you can get your child measured at an Official Measuring Station and be issued a color-coded wristband that lets you know at a glance whether your child is big enough for a particular ride.  Genius!

There are plenty of water rides too, and it looks like there’s plenty of hot weather ahead, so water rides will definitely be appreciated.

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Can’t decide between a beach vacation and a trip to a theme park?  No problem.  Palace Playland in Orchard Beach, Maine has the best of both worlds–it’s New England’s only beachfront amusement park. 

There are over a dozen rides in the Kiddie Land section of the park, including cars, planes, and a beautiful carousel.  Plus you’ll find a wide selection of roller coasters and all kinds of other rides.

When you’re ready for a break, stroll the midway to play skee ball and the other skill games.  Or pose for an “old-fashioned picture” and have your palm read.

You can buy a day pass for unlimited riding, or purchase individual tickets.  Ride prices range from two to four tickets.  Admission to the Playland itself is free.  Plan to stay late on Thursdays and enjoy the free fireworks display–right on the beach!

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My husband has this dream of putting the whole family into an RV (we don’t own one) and driving all around the country to visit the many beautiful national parks and famous places.

One of the don’t-miss items on the itinerary for his dream vacation is Yellowstone National Park.  At Yellowstone, you’ll not only see Old Faithful (pictured here) but a whole collection of geysers and hot springs.  There’s even the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and lots of wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, bison and elk.

The National Park Service’s website has a special page about Yellowstone for kids.   It includes printable coloring pages, an online coloring book, “match the antlers” game and other activities to help kids learn about their destination before their trip.  There’s also a Junior Rangers program as well as a self-guided Young Scientist program, both for kids over 5.  Your kids can even become rangers online using the Web Ranger program–great for families planning their trip in advance.

You can find out about all the National Parks across the nation at the National Park Service website.  And don’t miss our article on Children’s Programs at Family Resorts–a must-read for families planning their summer vacations.

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If you’re looking for a way to get out of the sweltering Midwestern sun, take your family to King’s Pointe Waterpark in Storm Lake, Iowa.

From your littlest splasher to the most adventurous teenager, there’s something for everyone at King’s Pointe.  Tiny tots can walk right into the zero-depth entry pool, complete with kiddle castle and slides just for them.  The pool also features a basketball hoop, lily pads, diving boards and six lap lanes.  Plus there’s a spray island for all ages!

The Castaway Lazy River surrounds the five water rides designed for older children and adults.  These include a splashbowl, an enclosed raft ride, an open flume body slide and more.

If it starts to rain, your day won’t be ruined:  there’s an indoor waterpark too, with fun for all ages.  And King’s Pointe even has a resort in case you want to extend your stay.

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$50 off a 3+ night GoodBuy hotel stay in Orlando booked on Travelocity
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