Archive for the ‘Travel/Weekend Outings’ Category

Save $ on a Disney Vacation: FREE Dining Promotion Ends This Friday

Monday, May 14th, 2012

One of the best ways to save $ on a Walt Disney World vacation is to take advantage the popular FREE dining promotion.

This discount offers incredible savings on travel this fall between August 25 and September 29, 2012. For example, a family of four (2-adults, 1-junior, 1-child) staying in a standard room at a select Value Resort will save $584 on a 5-night/6-day vacation with the FREE Quick-Service Dining Plan.

FREE Dining Plans are available for guests staying at all Walt Disney World Resorts (except campground) and requires a minimum 3-night stay with 2-day base tickets. Guests staying in a Value Resort will receive the Quick-Service Dining Plan and guests in Moderate, Deluxe, and Deluxe Villa Resorts receive the Disney Dining Plan. You can even upgrade your dining plan by paying the cost difference between your complimentary plan and the plan you want. This is a very popular time for our clients to try out the Deluxe Dining Plan!!

Booking for this incredible promotion ends this Friday, May 18 and requires only a $200 deposit. Availability is limited, so hurry and contact Tara McCoy at Mouse Tales Travel today for details or a free quote.

Tara McCoy, Disney Vacation Specialist at Mouse Tales Travel
803.816.0686
Become a Facebook fan at facebook.com/enchantedtravel
Sign up receive the latest Disney news & deals here

Disney Vacation Specialist Tara McCoy. Become a Facebook fan at facebook.com/EnchantedTravel. Visit Mouse Tales travel blog at www.mousetalestravel.com/blog, 803.816.0686, Tara McCoy is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

Disney deals & FREE Disney vacation planning by Tara McCoy at Mouse Tales Travel

Monday, May 14th, 2012

Have you booked (or even considered) a Walt Disney World Vacation in the past and felt overwhelmed by all of the options? With the four different theme parks, 29 resorts, and the countless dining plans, special tours and events to choose from… it’s easy to see why!!

As a dedicated Travel Planner at Mouse Tales Travel, an Authorized Disney Planner Agency, Tara McCoy can take care of all the little details creating a magical vacation for your family.

Tara is a mother, a wife, and a believer in the magic of Disney. Her family has shared some unforgettable moments at Walt Disney World and onboard Disney Cruise Line, creating memories that will last a lifetime!

Allow Tara to take the stress out of vacation planning and add value to your Disney vacation. She can work out all the special details like dining reservations, special shows/tours, excursions, and even create a personalized park itinerary. As a proud graduate of Disney College of Knowledge, she’ll be able to book magical destinations including Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Lines, Adventures by Disney, as well as the newest, Aulani Resort and Spa in Hawaii.

The best thing is that ALL of Tara’s services are completely, 100% FREE. Yes, that is right. Your very own go-to Disney gal, at absolutely no cost to you. Visit Tara’s Facebook page here for more details and let her make all of your Disney Vacation dreams come true.

Disney Vacation Specialist Tara McCoy. Become a Facebook fan at facebook.com/EnchantedTravel. Visit Mouse Tales travel blog at www.mousetalestravel.com/blog, 803.816.0686, Tara McCoy is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

Free World Oceans Day & Opening of Sea Jellies Exhibit, Skidaway Is.

Thursday, May 10th, 2012

In celebration of World Oceans Day, Jacques Cousteau’s birthday and the new “Sea Jellies of the Georgia Coast” exhibit, the UGA Marine Extension Service will host FREE hands-on education programs from 10am-4pm on Saturday, June 9, 2012 at the Marine Education Center on Skidaway Island, Savannah.

Free aquarium admission & educational activities are sponsored by NOAA’s Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary.

The day’s activities will focus on the issue of marine debris and how it affects Georgia’s coastal waters and the ocean. Visitors can learn more about sea jellies and participate in marine debris and sea jelly crafts, a marine debris program, a salt marsh clean-up, an aquarium treasure hunt, and ocean stories.

The new exhibit “Sea Jellies of the Georgia Coast” will open at 10AM with a half hour introduction to the exhibit at 11AM and highlighting the local and global importance of sea jellies and water quality.  More info here.

Activities Schedule
Marine Debris Program and Salt Marsh Clean-up: 8-10AM
Treasure Hunt (on-going): 10AM-4PM
Marine debris and sea jellies crafts (on-going): 10AM-4PM
“Sea Jellies of the Georgia Coast” Exhibit Opening: 11-11:30AM
Ocean Stories (15 minutes long and on the half hour): 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30

Sea turtle walks & talks on Tybee, Hilton Head & Jekyll Islands (Things to do in Savannah with kids)

Thursday, May 10th, 2012

Sea turtles fascinate kids. Fortunately, we have several sea turtle walks or talks offered by various nearby museums/marine science centers including:

Evening Turtle Talks @ Tybee Island Marine Science Center
A 90-minute intro into the lives of sea turtles. Learn about their anatomy and natural adaptions. Then take a stroll on the beach to discuss nesting habitat and conservation efforts. Fee: $10 ($9 members) per participant, kids 3 and younger are free.
Reservations required by 4pm the day of the program.
● All ages welcome. Under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
● This program meets at the Tybee Island Marine Science Center.
● Observing sea turtles and nests is NOT part of the program.
● Some of the program will be inside, and some will be on the beach.
● Discovery Shop won’t be open during the program; it’s open 10-5 daily.
Regularly scheduled Turtle talks start in late May 2012. To find out the schedule & make a reservation, call 912-786-5917 or toll-free: 866-557-9172

Evening Turtle Talks and Walks by Coastal Discovery Museum, Hilton Head Is.
8 PM Tuesdays and Thursdays starting June 5 2012 through August 2012.
Location given out at time of reservation
An evening lecture and beach walk to educate participants about the threatened loggerhead sea turtle. Presentation given to entire group, then 2 groups of 10 proceed to the beach to examine the nesting habitat and nest sites. No guarantee of turtle sightings. Adult $20/Child $15 (no children younger than 4).
Reservations are required and may be made by calling 843-689-6767 ext 223.

Evening Turtle Walks at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Jekyll Is.
TURTLE WALK RESERVATIONS CAN BE MADE BY CALLING (912) 635-4444
Explore the beach at night, and learn about the amazing journey of loggerhead sea turtles nesting along the Georgia Coast. These popular programs begin with a 30-45 minute presentation at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center about the natural history of sea turtles, followed by a guided beach tour in search of a nesting turtle.
May 29 – July 31* (*Except July 4th) with two nightly programs at 8:30 and 9:30 P.M. Reservations are required as group size is limited by DNR permit restrictions (25 per group maximum) and programs fill quickly.
FEES
Walk Only:
$6 per person (Members)
$12 per person (Non-members**)
**Price does not include general admission into the Georgia Sea Turtle Center)
COMBO TICKETS:
$16 per person
Includes 1 day general admission to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center & 1 Turtle Walk. Turtle Walks are based on availability and reservations are required due to space limitations.
Additional Information:
* Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Due to the time and nature of these walks,  children be at least 4 years of age.
* During the Turtle Walk presentation the Sea Turtle Center’s hospital area will not be accessible. However, you are welcome to visit the Center during its normal visiting hours with a general admission purchase or combo ticket!
* Seeing a nesting turtle on the beach is not guaranteed. More info here.

Morning Nest Walks by Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Jekyll Island
Offered during hatching season 7-9 AM Sundays, Wednesdays, Saturdays
$6 per person (Members); $12 per person (Non-Members**).
**Price does not include general admission to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center
More info here.

 

Madagascar Journey opens Sat. May 5 at South Carolina Aquarium, Charleston

Thursday, May 3rd, 2012

Starting Sat. May 5, the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston will have a special exhibit about Madagascar, the world’s most biodiverse island. Guests can see lemurs, chameleons and colorful fish.

The exhibit, Madagascar Journey, opens for a three-year run on Saturday. It features creatures from Madagascar including ring-tailed lemurs, a Nile crocodile, giant geckos, boa constrictors stingrays and parrots. The island of Madagascar is home to 250,000 species, but today less than 15 percent of the original native forest remains due to burning and cattle grazing.

The aquarium has just completed a 15-year master plan that includes, among other things, moving its sea turtle hospital from behind the scenes to the public galleries.

South Carolina Aquarium, Charleston, 100 Aquarium Wharf, Charleston, SC 29401, (843) 720-1990 Hours
March-August Open Daily 9 AM-5PM (building closes at 6 PM); September-February Open Daily 9 AM-4 PM (building closes at 5 PM) Closed Thanksgiving, Dec. 25 and half day Dec. 24)

Komodo Dragons now on exhibit at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, Columbia

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in nearby Columbia, S.C. will, for the first time in Zoo history, exhibit a pair of juvenile Komodo dragons beginning this Friday, May 4.

Komodo dragons—also known as Komodo monitors—are the world’s largest living lizards. Male dragons have been known to reach lengths of 10 feet and weigh more than 200 pounds. The largest Komodo on record weighed 366 pounds.

Guests visiting the Zoo will find the young Komodos—as well as Riverbanks’ five Galapagos tortoise babies born last October—on display beginning this Friday in the Desert Gallery of the Aquarium-Reptile Complex. The dragons will reside there until they are large enough to live in a spacious outdoor exhibit.

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, 500 Wildlife Parkway, Columbia, SC 29210, http://www.riverbanks.org/

FREE Wonders of the Universe Show in New GSU Planetarium, Statesboro

Friday, March 30th, 2012

Statesboro’s Georgia Southern Planetarium, which recently underwent renovations to a Digistar 4 full dome digital planetarium system, will host a free public, new full dome digital show, WONDERS OF THE UNIVERSE, 4-5 PM April 14, 2012.  

This will be the first new full dome digital show in the redone planetarium! You’re invited to attend this FREE educational and exciting event that’s for all ages.

Telescopic viewing following /during the event weather permitting.

The planetarium is located in the Math/Physics Bldg (#203) on the campus of Georgia Southern University Campus map at: http://www.georgiasouthern.edu/map/

Parking directions for planetarium public events: Turn on to Herty Drive from Fair Road (GA Hwy 67) and follow all the way to the end. Turn left through the open parking gate then right into the large faculty/staff parking lot. Walk back down toward the gates and the planetarium is across on the other side in the Math/Physics Building between the small Eidson Building – Honors (old Alumni House) and the Biology Building.

WONDERS OF THE UNIVERSE (New full dome digital show!)
4-5 PM Sat. April 14, 2012

Peer deep into space through the eyes of the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope and travel back billions of years in time to witness the birth of the universe. On this breathtaking excursion you’ll witness the formation of galaxies and explore some of the most wondrous nebulae and astronomical structures yet discovered. As your travels continue, you’ll fly deep into our own Milky Way galaxy and return home to Earth on a spectacular tour through the solar system. From Evans and Sutherland Digital Theater Productions.

Running time: 20 minutes

Trailer: http://www.es.com/Products/Shows/Wonders/WondersOfTheUniverse.html

A live star show of the current night sky will also be included with each presentation. Free sky maps, telescopic observing, activities, and more! Free event for all ages to enjoy sponsored by the Department of Physics of the College of Science and Technology at Georgia Southern University. The planetarium will be collecting canned and non-perishable foods to donate to our local food bank for those in need in our community.
For more information, visit GSU planetarium here. Questions? E-mail planetarium@georgiasouthern.edu, or call the Department of Physics at 912-478-5292.

10 roadtrips from Savannah

Friday, February 17th, 2012

With a three-day Presidents Day holiday weekend approaching, we are sharing some of our favorite daytrips to kid-friendly places you can visit in a daytrip or over the weekend. Here are our 10 favorite picks for nearby spots outside of Savannah that are well worth the trip:

1. Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Jekyll Is., Ga (closed Mondays including Presidents Day Feb. 20). Hours, admission rates, directions and more details here.

2. South Carolina Aquarium, Charleston Harbor , S.C. Open on Presidents Day Feb. 20. Hours, daily events, admission rates & specials here.

3. Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry, Charleston, S.C. Open on Presidents Day Feb. 20. Hours, exhibits, admission rates & more details here.

4. Museum of Science & History (MOSH) & The Bryan-Gooding Planetarium, Jacksonville, Fla. Open on Presidents Day Feb. 20. Hours, daily Planetarium shows, upcoming special events, admission specials & more details here. .

5. Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Jacksonville, Fla. Open on Presidents Day Feb. 20. Hours, Black History Month Discount, admission rates & more details here.

6. The Center for Wildlife Education & the Lamar Q. Ball Raptor Center at Georgia Southern University Campus, Statesboro, GA. A reptile program is held on each Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Lecture Hall & a flighted raptor program is held at 3 p.m. in the Amphitheater. Admission rates, show details, directions here.  OPEN ON Presidents Day Feb. 20.

7. The Sandbox Interactive Children’s Museum, Hilton Head Is., S.C. Open on Presidents Day Feb. 20 Day. Hours, admission rates & more details here.

8. Lawton Stables, Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head. Is. S.C. OPEN on Presidents Day Feb. 20 (open everyday except Christmas) Lawton’s free animal farm includes goats, sheep, pot-bellied pigs, ponies, rabbits, a deer named Callie and a Clydesdale named Harley (who loves visitors bearing carrots and apples). Pony rides and horseback riding available for a fee. Details here.

9. Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, Columbia, S.C.. Check out the new bald eagle exhibit & safari ropes challenge course. Details here.

10. EdVenture Children’s Museum, Columbia, S.C. OPEN on Presidents Day Feb. 20. Eight exhibits including EDDIE® the World’s Largest Child, plus a library, learning laboratories, resource centers & more. Two additional outdoor gallery spaces are located just outside the museum’s front doors. Within the total 92,000 square feet that is EdVenture Children’s Museum, there are more than 350 individual hands-on exhibits. Details here.

Butterfly Hollow opens March 9 at Jacksonville Zoo

Wednesday, February 15th, 2012

Butterfly Hollow Open March 9 – September 30

Butterfly Hollow at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens will feature a lush tropical forest and meadow, flowering plants that provide the nectar for hundreds of native butterflies that may even land on you.

Enjoy fairy houses, garden art, water features and arbors. Butterfly pupae will be on display inside the exhibit, so guests can see the butterfly’s life cycle. As the season progresses, new species will be added.

Professor Wendy Perrywhistle, an expert on butterflies and the fairy world from Eldonshire, England, has posted her journal entries throughout the exhibit to help guests discover the butterflies and the important role they play in our environment. Visitors will also see evidence of gnomes and trolls that will help tell the story about butterflies and the environment they live in.

Butterfly Hollow is open from 9:30 a.m. until a half hour prior to closing each day.

Fees:
Butterfly Hollow tickets can be purchased at Main Camp ticket booths or on the board walk to the entrance of this exhibit.
•$2.00 per person for non-members
•$1.50 per member

Value Tickets including general Zoo Admission, Butterfly Hollow, Stingray Bay, Train and Carousel may be purchased online or at the Zoo’s main entrance.
•$21.95/adults
•$19.95/seniors
•$14.95/children

For more info on Jacksonville Zoo, click here.

Start planning your February getaway with Georgia State Parks

Saturday, February 4th, 2012

Time to explore Georgia State Parks.

Start planning your it’s-almost-spring getaway by checking out the SouthernMamas February 2012 events happening at state parks and historic spots across the state. Nearby events include Dinner with General James E. Oglethorpe at Fort King George Historic Site, Darien & Dark Sky Star Party at the Okefenokee Swamp.

The events are listed on the SouthernMamas.com Georgia State Parks Events page by clicking here.

Georgia’s Super Museum Sunday 2012 (Free Admission to Museums), Feb. 5

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

We love Super Museum Sunday when museums & other organizations are FREE. This year, Super Museum Sunday is 12-4 PM Sunday Feb 5. The new SCAD Museum of Art will be among those local museums offering free admission this Sunday! 

From Statesboro to Darien, over 40 cultural institutions throughout coastal Georgia participate in this popular annual family event. Free and open to the public.

Click here for a list of some participating local museums, so you can plan your day and take advantage of free admissions.

Visit Tellus Science Museum on your next Atlanta Trip

Saturday, January 21st, 2012

SouthernMamas.com checked out Tellus Science Museum for the first time over the long Martin Luther King Jr. weekend & we highly recommend visiting this northwest Georgia science museum the next time you are in Atlanta.

Tellus is a 120,000-square foot museum in Cartersville just off I-75 at exit 293. (about a 45 minute drive north of Atlanta) Tellus features four main galleries: The Weinman Mineral Gallery, The Fossil Gallery, Science in Motion and The Collins Family My Big Backyard. There’s also a 120-seat digital planetarium and an observatory.

My 5-year old son particularly liked the 80 foot-long Apatosaurus; 9-foot wide jaw of a Megaladon – a shark found in the oceans that was larger than a school bus; the T-rex; and the always alluring dinosaur poop. Kids can also see a replica Wright flyer, conduct hands-on experiments with light, sound, magnets; pan for gems and minerals; dig for fossils; and more.

The museum is open seven days a week, Monday-Sunday 10 AM – 5 PM. Call 770-606-5700 or click here for more information.

Admission (Includes Fossil Dig & Gem Panning)

Members – Free
Adults – $12
Children (3 – 17) – $8
Student with ID – $8
Active Military with ID – Free
Seniors (65+) – $10

Planetarium
Must include paid admission to museum
$3 – Must include paid admission, free member admission, or complimentary admission pass
$2 – second planetarium show for an individual during one visit
Basic Members – $2 planetarium show (free museum admission)
Leadership Members – no charge

Tellus Science Museum is on Facebook here.

Favorite Roadtrips to Kid-Friendly Spots Near Savannah

Sunday, January 8th, 2012

With a three-day holiday weekend approaching, we are sharing some of our favorite roadtrips to kid-friendly places that don’t require trekking all the way to Atlanta. Here are our 8 favorite picks for nearby spots outside of Savannah that are well worth the trip:

1. Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Jekyll Is., Ga (closed Mondays including Jan. 16). Hours, admission rates, directions and more details here.

2. South Carolina Aquarium, Charleston Harbor , S.C. Open on MLK Jr. Day. Hours, daily events, admission rates & specials here.  Pair your visit to the aquarium with a visit to the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry, Charleston, S.C. See No. 3 below.

3. Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry, Charleston, S.C. Open on MLK Jr. Day. Hours, exhibits, admission rates & more details here.  Pair your visit to the museum with a visit to the South Carolina Aquarium, in Charleston. See No. 2 above.

4. Museum of Science & History (MOSH) & The Bryan-Gooding Planetarium, Jacksonville, Fla. Open on MLK Jr. Day. Hours, daily Planetarium shows, upcoming special events, admission specials & more details here.  Pair your visit to MOSH with a visit to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. See No. 5 below.

5. Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Jacksonville, Fla. Open on MLK Jr. Day. Hours, January discounts, admission rates & more details here. Pair your visit to the zoo with a visit to the Museum of Science & History (MOSH) & The Bryan-Gooding Planetarium. See No. 4 above.

6. The Center for Wildlife Education & the Lamar Q. Ball Raptor Center at Georgia Southern University Campus, Statesboro, GA. A reptile program is held on each Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Lecture Hall & a flighted raptor program is held at 3 p.m. in the Amphitheater. Admission rates, show details, directions here. NOT OPEN ON MLK JR. DAY. JAN 16.

7. The Sandbox Interactive Children’s Museum, Hilton Head Is., S.C. Open MLK Jr. Day.  Hours, admission rates & more details here. Pair your trip to the museum with a stop at Lawton Stables in Sea Pines Resort on HHI. See No. 8 below. Or try the ‘I Spy A Critter’ Safari Bike Ride around Sea Pines. Details here.

8. Lawton Stables, Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head. Is. S.C. OPEN MLK Jr. Day (open everyday except Christmas) Lawton’s free animal farm includes goats, sheep, pot-bellied pigs, ponies, rabbits, a deer named Callie and a Clydesdale named Harley (who loves visitors bearing carrots and apples). Pony rides and horseback riding available for a fee. Details here. Pair your visit to Lawton with a visit to The Sandbox Interactive Children’s Museum. See No. 7 above. Or try the ‘I Spy A Critter’ Safari Bike Ride around Sea Pines. Details here.

January Discounts at Jacksonville Zoo & Garden

Sunday, January 8th, 2012

January is a good time to visit Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. Check out these money-saving January Jackpot Deals on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays in January 2012:

$1 Train Rides on Jan. 14-15 all day, each day, compliments of CSX Corporation, during regular Zoo hours. No coupon is required.
$2 Tuesdays – Pay only $2 for general Zoo admission when you bring in the $2 coupon printed here. Valid January 3, 10, 17, 24, or 31.
WACKY Wednesdays – Spin the prize wheel for the chance to win 15-67% off admission, free carousel or train rides, free giraffe feedings, free drinks, gift shop discounts, or our Grand Prize: 75% off admission, free train rides, 25% off any Zoo food outlet, and 25% off at any Zoo gift shop! One spin per family. Prize winner will be given a coupon redeemable at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens location specified. Valid January 4, 11, 18, or 25.
$3 Thursdays – Pay only $3 for general Zoo admission when you bring in the $3 coupon printed here. Valid January 5, 12, 19, or 26.
$5 Fridays – Pay only $5 general Zoo admission when you bring in the $5 coupon printed here. Valid January 6, 13, 20, or 27.

All coupons and special deals are valid for up to two adults and all the children in a family.

For hours, admission costs and more upcoming admission specials Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, click here.  

Winter discounts at Georgia State Parks

Saturday, January 7th, 2012

Lower temperatures equal lower prices at Georgia State Parks!

Now, through March 31st, visitors will save up to 35% on lodge rooms, cottages, yurts and camp grounds! What an affordable way to enjoy the natural wonders that Winter brings.

These special savings are only available by calling toll-free at 1-800-864-7275 and requesting Winter Getaway Savings. Details here.

See Winter from “Dolphin Tale” in Clearwater, Fla.

Wednesday, December 28th, 2011

This holiday break, we trekked to Clearwater Marine Aquarium just outside of Tampa, Fla. see the movie star dolphin Winter from the hit kids’ movie “Dolphin Tale.” It was well worth the trip!

The movie “Dolphin Tale’’ made the aquarium famous by telling the story of one of the patients there, Winter, an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin. The story really resonates with kids, especially those with disabilities. 

When Winter was rescued from a crab trap off the east coast of Florida, her tail was seriously damaged. She was taken to Clearwater Marine Aquarium and cared for by a team of specialists.

Winter’s injured tail fell off, causing her to swim with a side-to-side motion like a fish instead of an up-and-down motion like a dolphin. That unusual swimming motion began to seriously damage her spine.

Experts from a company that makes prosthetics for humans heard about Winter and decided to help by making her a prosthetic tail.

The impact of the movie has been dramatic. Projected annual attendance to the aquarium has mushroomed from about 180,000 to 500,000.

Read more about our visit here. To plan your visit to see Winter, click here.

Start planning your fall getaway with Georgia State Parks Events

Saturday, October 29th, 2011

Fall means time to explore Georgia State Parks.

Start planning your leaves-changing getaway by checking out  got all September & October 2011 events happening at state parks and historic spots across the state. The events are listed on the SouthernMamas.com Georgia State Parks Events page here.

Gorge hikes, group hayrides, outdoor music festivals, full moon hikes & more.

To find out state park event details, visit the new SouthernMamas.com Georgia State Parks Events page by clicking here.

Spooktacular at the Jacksonville Zoo, Halloween kids’ events

Tuesday, September 27th, 2011

Get into the Halloween spirit at Spooktacular at the Jacksonville Zoo
October 20-23, 2011 & October 27-31, 2011
Come to Jacksonville Zoo for the spooktacular Halloween celebration – safe for children. Pirates cove, Pumpkin Patch, Enchanted Forest and much more. 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm. Zoo closes at 10 pm.
For kids of all ages
• Pumpkin Patch
• The Fairgrounds with bounce houses and a giant inflatable slide
• Dia de los Muertos celebration in Range of the Jaguar
• The Enchanted Forest
• Wonderland Trail
• Pirates Cove
• DJ’s spinning kid-friendly Halloween music
• Special Spooktacular food menus in each of the Zoo’s two restaurants
• Hundreds of jack o’lanterns
• Select animal exhibits
• Candy stations throughout the Zoo
• Back by popular demand: Scare Zones! The Tomb, Ghostly Garden and The Forest of No Return (not recommended for children under 10)
Follow the Jacksonville Zoo on Facebook here to find out how to win free tickets to Spooktacular
Members – $8, Non-Members – $10

More info here.

Two fins up for Georgia Aquarium’s AT&T Dolphin Show

Sunday, September 18th, 2011

If you’re planning a trip to Atlanta this fall, be sure to check out the new AT&T Dolphin Show at the Georgia Aquarium.

We took advantage of my son’s delayed pre-K start date & visited Atlanta this week. The highlight was definitely the spectacular 30-minute live dolphin show. Weekdays shows are the best to attend. We were able to sit front & center and even got splashed – happily – by the jumping & twirling dolphins. Show details & ticket info here.

There are dolphin show performances daily. Advanced reservations are recommended.

Dolphin Show tickets are extra and not included in regular aquarium admission. Tickets are on sale now here

 

Fall children’s activities at Riverbanks Zoo & Garden

Sunday, September 4th, 2011

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia, SC has lots of events planned for Fall 2011. Read all about them on the new Riverbanks page on SouthernMamas.com. Click here for details.

Kid-friendly events at the zoo include Animal Enrichment Day when zookeepers give animals special treats designed to encourage and stimulate natural behaviors: Boo at the Zoo, a spook-fest for costumed children 12 and younger that includes a trick-or-treat trail with candy and more; a Pumpkin Smash when the zoo’s mammals, birds, reptiles and fish enjoy their own trick-or-treats, a form of animal enrichment designed to encourage and stimulate natural behaviors; free admisison for active duty and retired military personnel on Veterans Day; Lights Before Christmas, when the Zoo shines with nearly one million twinkling lights and more than 350 handcrafted images. Take your photo with Santa, roast marshmallows at the Jingle Bell Bonfire and be sure to wear your hat – it snows nightly during the Lights Before Christmas.

Visit the SouthernMamas.com Riverbanks page here for more information.

YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES include Behind-the-Scenes Adventure Tours; Homeschool Mondays; Overnights and Night Howls; and two new 30 minute, 3-D movies:
TURTLE VISION
From the warm waters of the tropics to the icy Antarctic, join Sammy the sea turtle and his friends on an exciting journey through the ocean. Swim through colorful coral reefs and enjoy a dazzling ride on a fun-loving octopus. Dive into icy polar waters to meet a friendly whale and learn the importance of protecting our oceans.
DINOSAURS
If it weren’t for a series of cataclysmic events, a comet impact being first on the list, our planet could still be the domain of dinosaurs. Deeply rooted in science, the film will carry you back in time to witness these amazing beasts come to life. Meet the largest living animals to have ever walked the Earth; the titanesque plant-eating Argenitsaur and its nemesis the Gigantosaur, a bipedal carnivore that could easily challenge the T-rex!

Admission: $3 for one show, $5 for both, in addition to regular Zoo admission.

Visit the SouthernMamas.com Riverbanks page for more information. Details here.

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