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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$20 off Hertz Premium weekend car rentals at Travelocity
Hit the open road in luxurious style with a Hertz Premium car rental!
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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Valid through: August 27, 2010
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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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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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Get 5 nights for the price of 3 at Disneyland Resorts booked on JetBlue
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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Ultimate Coupons EXCLUSIVE:
5% off hotel stays booked on Orbitz
Book a qualifying hotel for 1 or more nights for travel between May 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010, via Orbitz and instantly receive 5% off your booking through the use of the promotion code. Limit one discount per hotel room and one promotion code per booking. Discount may not be used toward the booking of a vacation package. 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.
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Valid through: September 30, 2010
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Valid through: December 31, 2010
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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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15% off Days Inn stays of 2 or more nights booked on Expedia + free $25 prepaid debit card
Valid through: December 31, 2010
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Save 10% on weekend car rentals with Avis
Use this link to activate the Discount Number. If you have any problems, enter code G833800 and coupon code UUWA029.
Valid through: December 31, 2010
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If your family includes history buffs as well as scenery buffs, everyone will be happy if you choose to visit Klondike Gold Rush National Park in Alaska.  At this time of year, when things are steamy in many parts of the lower 48, the temperature in the Klondike range from a daytime high of 66 to a low of 48.  That sounds just about perfect to me!

Things to do in this National Park include guided tours, ranger presentations at the visitors’ center, historic saloons and homes, and day hikes.  Kids can learn about the Gold Rush, the glaciers that formed the land in the area, and plants and animals that can only be found here.

Escape to Alaska for a cool vacation!

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Seven-day advance purchase is required. Prices quoted are per person, per night for 4-night flight + hotel packages with Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday departures when booked 7/2/10 – 8/12/10 by 6 p.m. CT for travel 7/17/10 – 10/7/10. Orlando prices are based on quad occupancy; the rest of the sample pricing is based on double occupancy. Prices include the $75 per reservation discount when using promotion code RENEWAL. Promotion code savings will be applied at the time of checkout within the booking process. Promotion code is intended for redemption by individual consumer only. Discounts are valid per reservation before taxes are applied. Offer not valid on existing reservations and may not be combined with any other offer. Subject to availability. Restrictions apply.
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Valid through: August 12, 2010
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Valid through: July 30, 2010
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Want to visit the original American spa?  Then head for Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas!  For over two centuries, people have visited Hot Springs to enjoy the springs to treat illnesses or just to relax.

All summer long, you can ride the Mountain Xpress bus that tours the mountains and downtown area.  This park-and-ride is free to visitors of the park.

There’s a park center and museum to visit, and even a modern spa!  Or if you’d prefer to enjoy the natural beauty of the mountains, gorges and the Grand Promenade, you can spend the day strolling or hiking along the 26 miles of paths.  You can even bring a picnic!

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$12 off a purchase of $250 or more at Overstock.com
Use this link to activate coupon. Discount will appear during checkout.
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Valid through: August 2, 2010
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Free 16 oz. Philosophy Pure Grace Foaming Bath Cream with orders of $50 or more at Beauty.com
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Valid through: July 31, 2010
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