The New Parents Guide Blog

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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Free shipping on orders containing any Disney Parks item at DisneyStore.com
Enter promotion code PARKSFREE in your shopping bag and click “Submit”.
Valid for Standard Delivery to a single address within the continental US. Qualifying purchase based on pre-tax, post-discount amount and excludes Shipping & Handling charges, gift cards, gift wrap and gift boxes. Additional handling applies for oversized items. If any single order is sent to more than one address, Shipping & Handling charges will be applied to each shipment address. Offer valid only on orders placed online at DisneyShopping.com, DisneyStore.com, and DisneyOutlet.com. Not valid on phone orders or purchases from Disney Store outlet or retail locations.
Valid through: July 13, 2010
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20% off Sale and Clearance items at Lord & Taylor
Some exclusions apply. See site for details.
Enter coupon code SAVE.
Valid through: July 13, 2010
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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
Flight + Hotel prices and Hotel prices are in USD, per room, based on double occupancy and include Tax Recovery Charge & Service Fees. Hotel-only prices do not include taxes. Offers vary by hotel, are subject to availability, and may be discontinued without notice. Additional restrictions and blackout dates may apply. Prices may vary, depending on travel dates and seasonality.
Enter coupon code SMILE50.
Valid through: June 30, 2010
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Ultimate Coupons Exclusive!
Save $40 on vacations of 4 or more nights booked on Orbitz
Book a qualifying flight + hotel package between May 1, 2010, and July 31, 2010, for 4 or more nights for travel between May 1, 2010, and December 31, 2010, via Orbitz and instantly receive $40 off your purchase through the use of the promotion code. Limit one discount per hotel room and one promotion code per purchase. Discounts are not redeemable for cash for any reason. Any attempt at fraud will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Void where prohibited, taxed or restricted. Orbitz reserves the right to change or limit the promotion in its sole discretion.
Enter coupon code ORBITZVACATION.
Valid through: July 31, 2010
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Why not take Dad to a water park for Father’s Day?  Even in New England, mid-June can be hot and muggy, and a water park is a perfect destination for some cool family fun.

Lake Compounce in Bristol, CT has cool water fun for the entire family.  For the most adventurous, there’s “Lights Out”–a high-speed water slide in the dark!  Try the twisting tunnels, lazy river or tube slide into the lake.  And Mammoth Falls is a raft adventure for the whole family.  There are also two pirate-themed water play areas, one specifically for the little ones.

Open every weekend and on select weekdays until the weekend of June 19, Lake Compounce will be open daily beginning on the 21st–the first day of summer!  Kids big and small will have a great time here.

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Receive 2 nights FREE when you book a 5+ night flight + hotel vacation package to Disneyland on Southwest Vacations
Book: 4/30/10 to 9/1/10 by 6:00 p.m. CT. Travel: 5/7/10 to 9/26/10. Seven-day advance purchase required. Not valid with any other discount or promotion. Subject to restrictions and change without notice.
Valid through: September 1, 2010
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$50 off a 3-night Marriott vacation package on Travelocity
Minimum $750 spend.
Qualifying vacations must be booked by December 31, 2010, and travel must be completed by April 15, 2011. You may not redeem or exchange the Promo Code for cash. You may not use or combine the Promo Code with any other promotional codes. This Promo Code is not valid for Last Minute Packages.
Enter coupon code MARRIOTT50.
Valid through: December 31, 2010
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Biggest, tallest, fastest, wettest–all of these words apply to the kind of good time that awaits you at the Blue Bayou Waterpark at Dixie Landin’ in Baton Rouge, LA.  You can try the world’s largest tornado slide, water racer, in-line water slide, sled slide, or  dark behemoth bowl.

(What’s a “dark behemoth bowl?”  It’s an enclosed water slide that you ride in complete darkness.  With lots of twists and turns, it’s a different ride every time.)

If you’re not looking for such an extreme experience, Blue Bayou has plenty of tamer fun as well.  There’s Hurricane Bay, a wave pool with 3- to 4-foot waves rolling out every ten minutes.  And for even the littlest ones, Pirates Cove offers lots of fun on a smaller scale, with twisty slides, towers, and even a pirate ship with “water cannons.”

Visit two great parks for the price of one:  Dixie Landin’ is full of non-water rides with a fun section for the kids as well.

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99 cent per item shipping at Kohls.com
Available to Alaska, Hawaii and APO/FPO addresses!
Applies to standard shipping only.
Based on merchandise totals after transaction discounts and special promotions. Surcharges may apply due to size, weight or special handling required.
Valid through: June 6, 2010
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Free shipping on orders over $75 at RedEnvelope
Use this link to activate the promotion code.
Applies to standard shipping.
Valid through: June 20, 2010
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My warm-blooded children mystify me.  As soon as the temperature passes 55 degrees, they’re outside in shorts.  I, on the other hand, have just decided it’s warm enough to put the winter gloves back into my jacket pockets.  I won’t be putting them away for the season anytime soon.

But my kids are ready to swim.  They can’t wait until Memorial Day when the community pool opens; they’d swim year-round if they could.  And swimming is good, healthy fun.  So when the weather is too cold to swim, they’re always ready to head to an indoor water park.  (These are also great for those stormy summer days!)

Folks in Michigan are definitely not ready to go swimming anytime soon.  So the indoor water park at Splash Universe in Dundee is a good place for family fun.

It’s always 84 degrees inside Splash Universe, whether you prefer the lazy river, twisty water slides or standing under the 500-gallon splash bucket.   Come on in–the weather’s fine, and so is the water!

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$50 off flight + 4 nights in New York on Southwest Vacations 
Plus, get the 4th night FREE!
Use promo code NEWYORK.
Valid through: April 29, 2010
Savings apply at select hotels in New York City when using promotion code NEWYORK, and NEWYORK1 in Albany, Buffalo, and Islip/Long Island. Book: 4/2/10 to 4/29/10 by 6:00 p.m. CT. Travel: 4/7/10 to 8/13/10. Blackout dates apply at select hotels. Five-day advance purchase required. Offer not valid on existing reservations and may not be combined with any other offer. Subject to availability. Restrictions apply.
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$20 off a hotel stay of 2 or more nights booked with an American Express card on Travelocity 
Enter promo code AMXSECRET20 at checkout.
Valid through: May 31, 2010
The promotional code AMXSECRET20 for $20 is valid between 12:01 a.m. Central Time on March 19, 2010 and 11:59 p.m. Central Time on May 31, 2010 (the “Promotion Period”). Your use of the Promo Code on the www.travelocity.com Web site (the “Site”) is subject to the Travelocity User Agreement and Privacy Policy. The Promo Code is valid only for qualifying purchases made on the Site using any valid American Express® Card. A qualifying purchase means a 2-night or longer Top Secret Hotel stay which is offered on the Site during the Promotion Period. Travel dates must be between March 19, 2010 and July 31, 2010.To redeem the Promo Code, you simply type in AMXSECRET20 into the Promotional Code field on the “Checkout Review” Page of the Site, and $20 will be automatically deducted from the final price of your qualifying GoodBuy Hotel. You may not redeem or exchange the Promo Code for cash. You may not use or combine the Promo Code with any other promotional codes. If lost or stolen, the Promo Code will not be replaced.Travelocity prohibits posting the Promo Code on the Internet or any public forum, or forwarding the Promo Code to any other person. This Promo Code is not valid for Last Minute Packages. In the event of any violation of these Terms & Conditions, Travelocity reserves all of the rights and remedies available to Travelocity including charging the American Express Card used to make the purchase for the amount of the Promo Code not to exceed $20, canceling your reservation without a refund to you, and all other remedies available to Travelocity.
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If your family is interested in history and you want to learn more about frontier life, plan a visit to Pioneer Village in Minden, Nebraska.  It’s a 20-acre museum that includes 28 separate buildings, featuring 50,000 historical artifacts.

You’ll be able to ride a steam carousel, explore the General Store, and visit a one-room schoolhouse that’s fully equipped with the books and school supplies of the time.  There’s even an authentic sod house, with three-foot-thick walls.  And don’t miss the antique car collection, boasting over 350 vehicles.  There are also antique airplanes and two locomotives.

Pioneer Village is open year-round, and you can visit more than one consecutive day on a single admission.  You’ll want to spend at least half a day there, so plan your trip accordingly!  Rides on the steam carousel are still only a nickel, and it’s a great place to bring a group such as a Scout troop or homeschool group.

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TODAY AND TOMORROW ONLY!
Free shipping and $10 off orders of $100 or more at Puritan’s Pride
Works with the Buy 1 Get 2/Buy 2 Get 3 Free offers!
Use coupon code TAP10FS during checkout.
Valid through: March 20, 2009, 11:59pm ET
Valid online only. Cannot be combined with other coupon codes.
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TODAY AND TOMORROW ONLY!
$10 off orders of $60 or more at Walgreens.com
Use coupon code BASKET10 in your shopping cart.
Valid through: March 20, 2010, 11:59pm CT
Coupon valid online only. Valid for up to 5 uses per account. Does not apply toward taxes or shipping charges. Excludes photo orders, prescriptions, prescription copays, gift cards, pre-paid cards, Prescription Savings Club and items prohibited by law. Order must be placed by logged-in customer.
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Time’s running out!  Our Tommee Tippee Giveaway ends Monday.  Enter now for your chance to win a great prize!