The 10th Annual The Great Pumpkin Patch @ Holiday Farms  will be open for the 2017 season from Oct. 5-Oct. 31 2017 in nearby Ridgeland, SC, about a 1 hour from Savannah.

Spend a day on Holiday Farms enjoying: Jumppad, Bounce house, Haytona Speedway, Duck Race, Cow Milking, Steer Roping, Corn Grinding, Barnyard Zoo, Barrel Racing and, of course, a hayride to the pumpkin patch. And our personal favorite, Pigtucky Derby (pig races).

Holiday Farms is open weekdays & weekends starting Oct. 5 until Oct. 31.

Field Trips

Holiday Farms offers field trips for schools, churches, scout groups, and more. Reservations now being taken for groups and field trips. You may reach Holiday Farms by phone at 843-726-5527 or email holidayfarms@yahoo.com.

Military Discount Day

Special Military Day Sat. Oct. 7
All active duty military, spouses, and children will receive 50% off admission with proper ID.

Holiday Farms 2017 Schedule & Hours

Open Dates 2017:
Oct. 5-Oct.31

Concessions and Entertainment on Saturdays 11AM-4PM and Sundays 1-4PM

Hours:
Monday – Thursday 9AM-2PM
Friday – Saturday 9AM-dark (last wagon ride leaves at 6PM)
Sunday 1PM-5PM

Pig Race Schedule:
Monday – Thursday 11AM & 1PM
Friday – Saturday 11AM, 1PM & 3PM

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Family owned and operated since 2008.

Stay connected about other events at Holiday Farms by liking their Facebook page here.

Holiday Farms, 10884 Grays Hwy, Ridgeland, SC 29936, (843) 726-5527, email holidayfarms@yahoo.com
www.holidayfarmssc.com  Holiday Farms is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

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FOR MORE SAVANNAH-AREA FALL EVENTS, VISIT OUR SAVANNAH FALL FUN GUIDE 2017. 

Visit the place where Disney magic began and take advantage of an exclusive Disneyland Resort offer from Two Sisters Travel.

Join the Two Sisters Travel family next year as they take on Disneyland. To celebrate their West Coast pilgrimage, Two Sisters Travel is giving you a $50 Disney Gift Card when you book a qualifying Disneyland Resort vacation package through Oct. 31 2017.

The Two Sisters Travel crew will be there in January to experience the Star Wars Half Marathon. There is still plenty of time to register (& train) to participate in any of the Run Disney races during this event – if you want to join them.

Year-round Disneyland offers moderate temperatures, exciting special events & more. And it’s easy to customize your itinerary to combine Disneyland with other Los Angeles area attractions/sites including Hollywood, SeaWorld, Legoland, & more. For those die-hard Disney fans, there are Adventures By Disney itineraries that include the Disneyland parks AND tours of Disney Studios.

And despite what you may think, Disneyland Resort vacation pricing isn’t that expensive! Nonstop airfare from Atlanta is pricing as low as $185 per person. You can hardly drive to Orlando for this price. And 5-night onsite resort hotel & ticket packages start as low as $133 per person, per day.

If you’ve “done” Disney World with your family, maybe its time to try something new! And with the holidays quickly approaching, consider giving your family the gift of vacation memories & experiences this season, rather than more “stuff.”

Get your Disneyland Vacation Quote online today! Or call 843-284-3241 to discuss your Disneyland or other vacation itinerary.

Two Sisters Travel is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

Is cruising on your vacation wish list this year or next? If so, Two Sisters Travel has the details on the best deals, and even an EXCLUSIVE specialty dining offer only available with Two Sisters Travel.

Take advantage of the current Half-Off Second Guest & Kids Sail For Less promotion available on select itineraries. Combine these offers with the onboard credit up to $100 and FREE specialty dining for AN AMAZING VACATION VALUE.

For families Royal Caribbean offers exciting amenities such as the DreamWorks Experience or Land & Sea packages with Universal Studios Orlando. For anyone seeking a more couples only escape there’s plenty of spaces onboard just for adults!

This deal is available on most itineraries including popular destinations like the Caribbean, Bahamas, Alaska, Europe, & more. No matter the adventure you’re seeking Royal Caribbean has it.

Hurry, let Two Sisters Travel book your Royal Caribbean cruise vacation now, availability is limited and these deals end soon. Get a no-obligation vacation quote online or call us at 843-284-3241.

Tara McCoy, Vacation Specialist at Two Sisters Travel

843.284.3241

Become a Facebook fan at facebook.com/twosisterstravel

Two Sisters Travel is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Is it Fall yet, y’all?

We can’t wait for the weather to cool and for Poppell family farms to open for the fall season.

If you haven’t taken your family to visit this 10-acre maze labyrinth & activity-packed farm in Odum (about six miles from Jesup), please put it on your Fall to-do list. It is well worth the drive from Savannah.

Poppell Farms  2017 Fall season is weekends Sat. Oct. 7-Sun. Nov. 5 2017.

Poppell Family Farms pumpkin patch, maze, hayrides, giant outdoor jumping pillows, barnyard & farm games & activities are open every Saturday & Sunday from Sat. Oct. 7-Sun. Nov. 5 2017.

New for 2017:  Online Tickets @ poppellfarms.ticketleap.com

About Poppell Farms

Take a hayride to Charlie Brown, Lucy, and Linus in the pumpkin patch, get lost in the maze, ride the cow train, feed animals in the petting farm, try steer roping, Spyder Slyder and the all-time kids’ favorite, two crop hoppers for big kids, which are giant jumping air pillows that have kids giggling upon their first bounce.

New activities this year: Little Farmers Playground (6 & younger); Jumping Jacks Jumping Pillow (6 & younger); Baseball Pitch – How fast can you throw?

PICNIC AREAS are available for use, so bring your own food or visit Poppell Farms’ CALF-A CONCESSION STAND for hamburgers, hot dogs, sausage dogs, chicken sandwiches & fries. Candy, popcorn & treats available.

Other activities include pony rides ($5); duck races; six & younger playground (with 2 bounce houses); hop-a-long rodeo; Betsy the Milk cow contest; large catfish pond (no fishing / watch them eat)

Maze Design for Fall 2017 Coming Sept. 1 2017

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The Trail of Terror
An 800 ft. haunted walking trail through the Zombie filled woods.
Starting Fri. Oct. 13,  open every Friday & Saturday night through Sat. Oct. 28
Recommended for ages 12 & older.
Open Halloween

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Hours

Poppell Farms is open on Sundays, too, for those whose Saturdays are packed with kids’ sporting events.

Sat. Oct. 7-Sun. Nov. 5 2017
10 AM- 10 PM Saturdays
Noon-5 PM Sundays
(5 PM-10PM Fridays, Maze & Haunted Trail, Nighttime activities)
(5PM-10PM Saturdays, Maze & Haunted Trail, Nighttime activities)

Tickets. For ticket prices, click here.  Online tickets: poppellfarms.ticketleap.com

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2017 Special Events

Sat. Oct. 7: Grand Opening
Sat. Oct. 14: Public Safety Day
The Fire Safety House along with Safe Kids program & Emergency Vehicles all provided by Jesup Fire Dept, Odum Fire Dept. and Wayne County Sheriff’s Office
Sat. Oct. 21: Grandparent’s Day. All Grandparents with Grandchildren present receive $ 2 off Daytime Combo Ticket
Sat. Oct. 28: Scout Day Recognizing all Scouts present @ 2PM
Outdoor showing of the movie “THE GREAT PUMPKIN CHARLIE BROWN” @ 7PM
Sat. Nov. 4 & Sun. Nov. 5: Thank You to All Who Serve, $ 2 per ticket discount (with ID) for all Military, Law Enforcement,Firefighters, and Emergency Personnel

Poppell Farms, email popfarms1@windstream.net , (912) 586-2215, 1765 Hyma Poppell Loop, Odum, 31555 . On Facebook here. Poppell Farms is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

Despicable Me Minion Mayhem Entertainment at Universal Studios Florida

Universal Orlando Resort’s most popular promotion is back and Two Sisters Travel has all of the details.

Get 2 FREE park days when you purchase a 3-Park, 2-Day Park to Park ticket for Universal Orlando Resort. You’ll have double the time to experience the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Despicable Me Minions, and more of your favorite characters with your family. Package with a onsite resort hotel to enjoy even more special vacation package savings and benefits including Early park Admission & complimentary park transportation.

Don’t have plans during Fall Break or Thanksgiving? Universal Orlando Resort is the perfect destination for last minute getaways. Take in a long weekend of adventure and fun for less than $145 per person, per day for a family of 4.

Or visit during the holiday season to experience the brand new Christmas festivities at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter or the ever popular Seuss Christmas.

Two Sisters Travel can even create a customized Universal Orlando Resort vacation package for your family with accommodations, tickets, dining plans, Blue Man Group tickets, even admission to Sea World. The possibilities are endless. And you can always rest assured that you’ll receive the lowest pricing, guaranteed.

Hurry the FREE 2 day ticket offer ends soon. Contact Tara McCoy at Two Sisters Travel today for a no-obligation vacation quote online or call us at 843-284-3241, and let’s start planning your exciting Universal Orlando Resort vacation today! 

Tara McCoy, Vacation Specialist at Two Sisters Travel

843.284.3241

Become a Facebook fan at facebook.com/twosisterstravel

Tara McCoy is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Come to Old Fort Jackson in Savannah over Labor Day Weekend 2017 Sept. 2-4 2017 for enhanced programming.

Visitors can explore fort history, including the two major phases of construction of the fort itself, and participate in a variety of hands-on activities. All programming is included in fort admission and is FREE for Coastal Heritage Society members.

Activity schedule includes:

10AM  Introduction to the War of 1812 + Cutlass Demo
10:30AM Musket Firing Demo + Interpreter’s Choice Topic (Civil War)
11AM Cannon Firing Program (Swivel Gun) (1812)
11:30AM  32pdr Cannon Firing Program (Civil War)
Noon-1:25PM LUNCH BREAK Open exploration & activities
1:30PM Riverboat Salute (6Pdr) + Intro to War of 1812
2PM Interpreter’s Choice Weapons Demo + Topic (Civil War)
2:30PM Cutlass Demo + Interpreter’s Choice Topic (1812)
3PM Musket Firing Demo + Interpreter’s Choice Topic (Civil War)
4:30PM Riverboat Salute (6Pdr) (1812 or Civil War)

Ongoing activity stations (10AM-2PM):

Tabby-Making Station
Make your own tabby to take home and enjoy!

Cartridge-Making Station
Learn how to roll musket cartridges just as they were made during the 19th century!

**Please note any and all activities are subject to change and may be canceled in the case of inclement weather.

Old Fort Jackson
Sept. 2-Sept. 4
1 Fort Jackson Rd.
Savannah GA 31404

Coastal Heritage Society is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

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More Labor Day 2017 Family Events

Golf rounds for $55 during Labor Day Weekend @ the Club at Savannah Harbor.
Plus special events including putting contests
Open to the public
Part of Patriot Golf special through Sept. 4.
Details here.

Free Family Fun Night Big Truck Night @ The Sandbox Children’s Museum, Hilton Head Is.
5:30-7:30PM Fri. Sept. 1
Details here. 

Loyalists & Liberty Program @ Savannah History Museum
This special program offers visitors an in-depth understanding of the Revolutionary War in Savannah. It includes a musket demonstration and a visitor reenactment on Battlefield Memorial Park.
10:30AM, 12:30PM, and 2:30PM Thurs. Aug. 31-Sept. 2
Tours meet in the lobby behind the Visitor’s Center. (with the mural)
Details here.

Steam Rides @ Georgia State Railroad Museum, Savannah
Train rides will be at 11AM, 11:30AM, 1PM, 2PM & 3PM Friday & Saturday.
Sunday train rides will be at 1PM & 2PM
Monday train rides will be at 11AM 11:30AM, 1PM 2PM & 3PM
Details here.

Daily programming @ Savannah Children’s Museum
Open Fri. Sept. 1-Mon. Sept. 4, 9AM-2PM
Details here.

Free Bacon Fest, Historic River Street, Savannah
Sept. 1-4
Details here. 

Labor Day Celebration
Sat. Sept, 2, 2017 10AM-4PM
Fort McAllister State Park
3894 Fort McAllister Rd.
Richmond Hill, GA 31324
Civil War soldiers will fire rifles, cannons throughout the day.
Cost: $8 per Adult, $5 per Youth, Free for ages younger than 6.
(912) 727-2339

Labor Day Weekend Living History
Sun. Sept. 3, 2017 10AM-2PM
Fort King George Historic Site
Darien, GA
The fort will come to life as colonial people demonstrate various tasks. Visit the site this day and enjoy watching a volunteer make colonial style “boondoggle” decorations from woven blades of grass. Also, there will be demonstrations of spinning wool into thread.
Cost: $4.50-$7.50
912-437-4770

Labor Day Commemoration
Mon. Sept 4, 2017 10AM-4PM
Fort King George Historic Site
Darien, GA
Enjoy cannon firings and musket firings. Also, to mark the occasion, the fort seamstress, blacksmith and woodworker will all be plying their trades.
Cost: $4.50-$7.50
912-437-4770

Labor Day Commemoration
Mon. Sept 4, 2017 11AM-3PM
Fort Morris Historic Site
Midway, GA
7 miles east of I-95 exit 76 in Sunbury
Commemorate Labor Day holiday with hourly soldier talks and musket and cannon firings at this scenic coastal fort. Historically attired interpreters will present revolutionary war soldier talks, musket and cannon demonstrations Monday September 4th from 11 am until 3 pm. Other colonial skills will be presented. Bring a picnic lunch and make an afternoon of it.
Cost: $3-$4.50
912-884-5999

Labor Day Fireworks, Tybee Is. 
@ 10^th Annual Labor Day Beach Bash
Sun. Sept. 3 @ Tybee Island Pier and Pavilion.
Free live entertainment will be provided on Sunday by Swingin’ Medallions from 7-10:30PM, followed by a fireworks show around 9:15PM that can be viewed from Tybee’s eastern beaches.
912.786.5444 or 800.868.2322.

Free Skidaway Marine Science Day 2017, Skidaway Is., Savannah, Oct. 14 2017

This free campus-wide open house at The UGA Marine Extension Service & Aquarium on Skidaway Island offers activities geared for all ages. Programs, tours, displays and hands-on activities, primarily related to marine science and the coastal environment, are all part of the day’s educational fun.

Open to the public at no charge, the event is presented by the University of Georgia’s Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, the University of Georgia’s Marine Education Center and Aquarium, the University of Georgia’s Shellfish Research Laboratory and Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary.

Enjoy an afternoon of activities, tours and talks, from noon to 4 p.m. on the University of Georgia Skidaway Island campus, located on the north end of the island. (10 Ocean Science Circle) The campus-wide open house will be presented by the UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, and Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary.

The UGA Aquarium, operated by UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, will be open to visitors with no admission fee. Aquarium educators will offer visitors an afternoon full of activities including a hands-on reptile exhibit, behind-the-scenes peeks of the aquarium, fish feedings and microscope investigations.

A touch tank exhibit will allow guests of all ages to get up close and personal with common coastal invertebrates such as spider crabs, whelks and horseshoe crabs.

When: Sat. Oct. 14 2017
Time: Noon-4PM

Learn more here. 

All activities at Skidaway Marine Science Day are free.

For additional information, call 912-598-2325, or click here. 

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CoastFest 2017 in Brunswick 

UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant participate in CoastFest in Brunswick, Ga., every first Saturday in October.

This year’s festival will be Sat. Oct. 7 10AM-4PM @ Depart. of Natural Resources
1 Conservation Way
Brunswick, GA. 31520

This free, family-oriented educational festival is Georgia’s largest outdoor festival celebrating our state’s coastal, environmental, historical and cultural resources. Over 9,000 excited visitors enjoy interactive exhibits and activity areas provided by 80-plus local, regional, state and federal agencies, non-profit organizations and institutions of higher learning.

Touch tanks with live coastal animals, educational information, games and activities for the whole family are just part of our offerings.

More details here.

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FOR MORE FALL FESTIVALS 2017, VISIT THE SOUTHERNMAMAS.COM FALL FUN GUIDE HERE. 

5th Annual Pin Point Seafood Festival, Savannah Sept. 16 2017

You’re invited the 5th Annual Pin Point Seafood Festival. Expect a day of live music, great seafood & entrees from an array of food vendors from Pin Point & greater Savannah area.

10AM-8PM Sept. 16 2017
9992 Pin Point Ave.
Savannah, Georgia 31406

Ticket & event info here. 

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Shrimp & Grits Festival, Jekyll Is., Sept. 15-16 2017

Live music, kids’ zone, food, a craft brew fest, wildlife demos & more. Admission is free, however, the Jekyll Island parking fee will be increased during this event. The fee is an additional $4 per daily/weekly pass; annual passes are not impacted.

Event info here. 

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Beaufort Shrimp Festival, Beaufort SC, Oct. 6-7 2017

Free Admission @ Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in downtown Beaufort. Up to 15 local restaurants featuring their best shrimp dishes. Purchase tickets for $1 each to use @ food & beverage booths. Items usually cost 2-8 tickets. Compete in the Shrimp Heading or Shrimp Peeling (for children) competition &  adopt a Shrimp in Sea Island Rotary’s Charity Rubber Shrimp Race.

Event info here. 

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Great Ogeechee Seafood Festival, Richmond Hill Oct. 20-22 2017

Ticket & event info here. 

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FOR MORE FALL FESTIVALS 2017, VISIT THE SOUTHERNMAMAS.COM FALL FUN GUIDE HERE. 

The Bluffton Boiled Peanut Festival, Sept. 23 2017 (in Beaufort Co.  SC) on Calhoun St.

Events include Boiled Peanut Cook-Off; Boiled Peanut Eating Contest; Ms Peanut & Little Goober competition. The Ms. Peanut & Little Goober event is for children ages 18-months to 4 years old. There will be a boys and a girls winner. Judges are looking for the cutest little peanuts and goobers to enter.  Details here. 

Family Festival Day Sat. Sept. 23, 3-8PM

Learn more here. 

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FOR MORE FALL FESTIVALS 2017, VISIT THE SOUTHERNMAMAS.COM FALL FUN GUIDE HERE. 

Here’s a way to support The Sandbox Children’s Museum on Hilton Head while getting a chance to win a Dream Hilton Head Island vacation.

Valued at over $2,500, the win includes a week’s stay at a two-bedroom villa on South Forest Beach; Vagabond Cruise Certificate for up to five people; one week unlimited family pass to The Sandbox Children’s Museum; bicycle rental (4-6 bikes) for entire week from the Bike Doctor; two-hour guided kayak, dolphin or nature tour for four people from Outside Hilton Head; $200 worth of gift cards from various local restaurants.

$20 per raffle ticket. No more than 500 will be sold.  All proceeds benefit The Sandbox Children’s Museum on Hilton Head Is.

Enter now here.

Deadline to enter is Oct. 6 2017.

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Big Summer Blowout @ The Sandbox Children’s Museum, Aug. 2

School is just around the corner so join The Sandbox Children’s Museum on Hilton Head Is. for an end of summer celebration, Tues. Aug. 2.

Special visitor “Olaf” will join be there for photo op between 11AM-1PM, outside activities (weather permitting) include bounce house, building blocks, facepainting by Morgan’s Mommy Facepainting People and more. Inside activities include all of the Sandbox Museums’ hands-on exhibits, special arts and crafts and a scavenger hunt.

A light picnic lunch is also included so don’t miss out on the dog days of the summer at The Sandbox.

Event admission: $5 for members, $10 for non-members. Military and senior discounts are available.

First come, first serve. Space and activities limited in the event of rain. (Sorry, coupons not valid for special event).

The Sandbox Children’s Museum, 18-A Pope Avenue, next to St. Andrew’s by the Sea United Methodist Church, Hilton Head Is., 29928 www.thesandbox.org The Sandbox Children’s Museum is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

Your journey begins here.

Edgewood Travel in Savannah invites you to discover some of the best beach vacations in the world @ free Sun & Fun Event @ Andaz Hotel.
When: Sat. Sept. 23, 2-4PM
Where: Andaz Hotel, Savannah

Food & drink will be offered plus there will be games & prizes!

Some of Edgewood’s favorite travel partners will be there with great offers to Sun & Fun destinations including Club Med; Couples; Palace Resorts; Royal Caribbean Cruises; Marriott Resorts; Hyatt Resorts; Way to Go.

This is an event you don’t want to miss. Please contact Melinda at mjw@edgewoodtravel.com or 912.3551.0570 to RSVP.

Learn more here. 

Follow Edgewood Travel on Facebook here.

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More about Edgewood Travel

By working with Edgewood Travel’s team of experts, you are guaranteed to get the most out of your vacation.

Edgewood Travel team’s job is to make your vacation seamless & worry-free by offering personalized service so the only thing you have to do is make lasting memories.

To make sure your trip is tailor-made, Edgewood adds special touches to each vacation Edgewood plans.

So whether you’re looking for a trip to Disney, an ocean or river cruise, all-inclusive resorts, or an exotic journey such as an African safari, nothing is too big or too small for Edgewood Travel.

Edgewood Travel, www.edgewoodtravel.com, email mjw@edgewoodtravel.com, 912.3551.0570, Edgewood Travel is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Fourth of July 2017 is almost here.

Are you ready? Click here to find out where & when to watch Independence Day Fireworks this year in Savannah, Tybee Is., Richmond Hill & Hilton Head Is.

We also have lots of family programs to enjoy throughout the day including special museum events & bike parades on Monday July 4th here. 

Celebrate Fourth of July with Pop Goes The Sandbox! at the Sandbox Children’s Museum on Hilton Head Is.

Tuesday, July 4th 2017
10AM-2PM (but open til 5PM)

Take part in a special holiday craft, 4th of July Fun Fact Handout and show-your-colors cookie decorating thru 2pm

General Admission is $6 per person, FREE for Members. Military and senior discounts are available.

Details here.

Stay connected by liking The Sandbox on Facebook here.

The Sandbox Children’s Museum, www.thesandbox.org, 18A Pope Ave. (located behind St. Andrew’s By the Sea Methodist Church), Hilton Head Island, SC 29928, Tel: 843-842-7645 The Sandbox is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

Are you dreaming of a Walt Disney World vacation next year? 2018 packages are now available, and the Disney travel gurus at Two Sisters Travel have all the details.

Get a no-obligation quote now or if you’re unsure about when to travel, they can even review crowd calendars helping you choose the best time of year for your visit!

Booking early with Two Sisters Travel ensures the very best availability and you never have to worry about getting the best deal! They closely watch promotions and discounts, and if something becomes available that will lower your price, they automatically adjust your package, no worries!

And booking early also gives more time to pay-off your vacation, AND brag to your friends that your family is going to Disney.

Start planning your 2018 Disney vacation now! Get a quote online or call 843-284-3241! And remember, it’s the same price to book with Two Sisters Travel as it is to book direct with Disney…. all of their concierge travel planning services including dining reservations, FastPass selections, and more are all 100% FREE!!!

Tara McCoy, Vacation Specialist at Two Sisters Travel

843.284.3241

Become a Facebook fan at facebook.com/twosisterstravel

Two Sisters Travel is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Take advantage of the fact that we live within a day’s drive of multiple national parks & monuments & have your kids become a junior ranger at one or many of these sites.
When you take kids to tour national parks, you never know how much they are getting out of the visit. Especially for those of us moms who aren’t exactly history experts.

Which is why you need to pick up the Junior Ranger booklets at the visitor centers of national parks you visit. The Junior Ranger program kids engage more during the visits.

Junior Ranger booklets have activities about the national parks for ages 5-12. Junior ranger books are free to any visitor and usually are available at the visitors’ centers. Often, similar programs with more advanced activities are also available for older kids. Just ask at the site’s visitor center.

While doing the activities, children enjoy earning a badge and a certificate.

Nearby national parks/monuments that have Junior Ranger programs include:
*Fort Pulaski National Monument, on U.S. 80 en route to Tybee Island. Info on the Fort Pulaski Junior Program here.  
*Fort Sumter & Fort Moultrie national monuments, Charleston, S.C. Info on these forts Junior Ranger program here.
*Cumberland Island National Seashore, Ga. More info here.
*Fort Frederica National Monument on St. Simons Island. Info on the Fort Frederica National Monument Junior Ranger Program here. 
*Ocmulgee National Monument in Macon. Info on Ocmulgee’s National Monument Junior Ranger Program here.
* Congaree National Park near Columbia. Info on Junior Ranger Program here. 

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Free entrance days to Fort Pulaski during 2018

• Sept. 22: National Public Lands Day
• Nov. 11: Veterans Day

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Free pass to the outdoors

Free national park pass. If you’re traveling with a fourth grader, be sure to obtain your free national park pass before your trip through The Every Kid in a Park program. The program gives every U.S. 4th grader and his or her family free access to 2000+ federally managed parks, lands and waters. This program begins Sept. 1 of your fourth grade year and runs until Aug. 31 of that year. Learn more here. 

HWY 21 DRIVE IN, BEAUFORT, S.C.

If your Summer 2017 to-do bucket list includes hauling the kids to an old-fashioned Drive In movie theater like ours does, check out Hwy. 21 Drive In in Beaufort, S.C.

The Drive In accepts most major credit cards.

For directions or to see what’s playing, click here or follow the Drive In on Facebook here.

Hwy 21 Drive In, 55 Parker Dr, Beaufort, South Carolina 29906, tel (843) 846-4500, Email hwy21drivein@embarqmail.com, hwy21drivein.com

JESUP DRIVE-IN

There’s also a drive in theatre in Jesup, Ga., which is a farther trek from Savannah than Beaufort. For info on the Jesup Drive-In schedule, click here
Follow the Jesup Drive-In on Facebook here.

Jesup Drive-In, 3686 Savannah Hwy. Jesup, Ga 31545 tel 912-559-2183 (office) or 912-427-7254 movieline, email jesupdrivein@yahoo.com, http://www.jesupdrivein.com

Is cruising on your vacation wish list this year or next? If so, Two Sisters Travel has the details on the BIGGEST deals, and now is the time to book an exciting Royal Caribbean cruise vacation.

Take advantage of the popular Kids Sail Free promotion available on select, 5-night or longer itineraries. And you can combine this with the Sail Away Bonus of instant savings up to $150!

For families, Royal Caribbean offers exciting amenities such as the DreamWorks Experience or Land & Sea packages with Universal Studios Orlando. For anyone seeking a more couples only escape there’s plenty of spaces onboard just for adults.

This deal is available on most itineraries including popular destinations like the Caribbean, Bahamas, Alaska, Europe, & more. No matter the adventure you’re seeking Royal Caribbean has it.

Hurry, let Two Sisters Travel book your Royal Caribbean cruise vacation now, availability is limited and these deals end soon. Get a no-obligation vacation quote online or call 843-284-3241.

Tara McCoy, Vacation Specialist at Two Sisters Travel

843.284.3241

Become a Facebook fan at facebook.com/twosisterstravel

Tara McCoy is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Last week, Universal Orlando Resort officially opened their third theme park, Volcano Bay. Two Sisters Travel has all of the details of this new park spanning 25 full immersive acres and featuring a variety of experiences ranging from daring to serene with 18 unique attractions there is something for everyone in your family.

And with new technology Volcano Bay is changing the water park experience. The TapuTapu wearable device is an all-in-one-device that is your virtual line access, unlocks unique in-park experiences, locker access and so much more.

It’s not too late to plan an exciting Universal Orlando vacation this summer to experience Volcano Bay, Wizarding World of Harry Potter and everything the destination has to offer.

Two Sisters Travel can package with one of 5 Universal Orlando Resort hotels to help you take advantage of exclusive park benefits, and special savings! Enjoy exclusives like Early park Admission & complimentary park transportation. And Deluxe Resorts even include complimentary Express Ticket upgrades, valued at $89 per person, per day!

Get a no obligation Universal Orlando vacation quote now or call for information at 843.284.3241.

Tara McCoy, Vacation Specialist at Two Sisters Travel

843.284.3241

Become a Facebook fan at facebook.com/twosisterstravel

Tara McCoy of Two Sisters Travel is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Ready for lazy river, spray pads & tube slides?

Water park season is here.

The Pooler water park – Surf Lagoon – is now open daily until Aug. 7.

Other water parks that are within a daytrip from Savannah that opened in May for the 2017 Summer Season include Splash in the Boro in Statesboro, Ga; Summer Waves on Jekyll Island; and three water parks in Charleston, SC.

See the opening dates & schedules for the 2017 summer season for those water parks near Savannah here.

Family Beach Days @ Reynolds Mansion on Sapelo Island near Darien, Ga.  (about a 1 hour drive from Savannah on I-95 South)

Wed. June 7, 2017 9AM to 12:30PM
Wed. June 21, 2017 9AM to 12:30PM
Wed. July 5, 2017 9AM to 12:30 PM

Come explore the wonders of Sapelo Island beaches. A Naturalist will take you on a beach walk and teach about animals that call the intertidal zone their home. The program will conclude with the chance use a fish seine to catch a sample of some coastal creatures. Learn more here. 

Cost: $10 with a separate charge of $15 for the 30-minute ferry ride.

Reservations required. Contact: 912-485-2299.

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Bike Sapelo near Darien, Ga. (about a 1 hour drive from Savannah on I-95 South)

Sat. Jun 10, 2017 9AM to 12:30PM

Day visitors may enjoy biking Sapelo Island with Sapelo’s naturalist. They’ll meet you at the ferry with a bike (bring your own helmet; required for 15 and younger) and lead you on Sapelo’s prettiest roads. Visit the Gator Pond, Lighthouse and Nanny Goat beach. This will be a leisurely ride on flat roads with minimum traffic. Click here for ferry information. $25 each with a separate charge of $15 for the 30-minute ferry ride.  Learn more here. 

Reservations required. Contact: 912-485-2299.

You’re invited to the 6th Annual Sandbox at the Stables Memorial Day Celebration @ Lawton Stables in Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island this Mon. May 29.

Pony rides, water slides, crafts, facepainting, food and treats, and MORE.

Proceeds benefit The Sandbox—good times for a good cause.

It’s not too late to enter the Raffle. Enter to win Four (4) One Day Park Hopper Passes to Walt Disney World Orlando
$5 each or 5/$20. Only a few tickets remain.

Drawing at 1PM. Need not be present to win. All proceeds benefit The Sandbox Children’s Museum.

General Admission
$5/Person
Children under one are FREE! Concession and activity tickets are $1 each
(Plus, $6 per vehicle Sea Pines gate entry fee)

Activities (some free, some require activity tickets) scheduled include:

Craft projects
Inflatable water slides and bounce houses
Pony rides
Facepainting by Morgan’s Mommy Facepainting People
Family games and activities
Live remotes from SC103.1 and 104.9 The Surf
The Cowpoke Caper Parade is back again at High Noon! Come dressed as your favorite cowpoke and bring your cowpoke name – creativity is key! Free bandanas to the first 50 entries!

There will be hot dogs and burgers fresh off the grill, as well as refreshments including sno cones and cotton candy, all available for purchase.

For more information about Sandbox at the Stables, call (843) 842-7645.

Guests will park at the Trolley Stop inside Sea Pines Gate and ride the free trolley to Lawton Stables. (there is NO Event parking at Lawton Stables)

The Sandbox Children’s Museum on Pope Avenue will be closed on Memorial Day.

The Sandbox Children’s Museum, 18-A Pope Avenue, next to St. Andrew’s by the Sea United Methodist Church, Hilton Head Is., 29928 www.thesandbox.org The Sandbox Children’s Museum is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

Taking our Savannah born-and-bred kids (ages 10 & 8) to Yellowstone National Park for about a week during May 2017 was one of our best family trips yet.

Not only did these Southern flatlanders experience snow in May and conquer mountains, they also packed their wildlife log with wildlife sightings including a grizzly bear and her cub, wolves, bighorn sheep, bison, proghorn, white pelicans, sandhill crane, a trumpeter swan, mule deer, moose and more.

Here’s this mom’s list of things to do when visiting the world’s oldest national park (established in 1872) with kids.

Free national park pass. If you’re traveling with a fourth grader, be sure to obtain your free national park pass before your trip through The Every Kid in a Park program. The program gives every U.S. 4th grader and his or her family free access to 2000+ federally managed parks, lands and waters. This program begins Sept. 1 of your fourth grade year and runs until Aug. 31 of that year. Learn more here. 

Grand Teton National Park. Do not miss this smaller, but equally as stunning national park just south of Yellowstone and just north of Jackson, Wyoming. We stayed inside the park at Signal Mountain Lodge and loved it for its view of Jackson Lake and the Tetons; the close proximity of the lodge’s restaurant for a breakfast overlooking Jackson Lake before taking off to a hike (we suggest Taggart Lake loop hike); but especially for the scenic float trip along a 10-mile stretch of the Snake River. Book your float trip when making your Signal Mountain Lodge reservation, as these trips fill up quickly. Age minimum is 6 years old. Float trip details here. 

Old Faithful Inn. Staying at accommodations inside Yellowstone is pricey. Which is why we we only spent one night actually inside the park. I am so jazzed that one night was spent at Old Faithful Inn. The towering lobby of this national historic landmark is pure entertainment. We spent an evening in the lobby listening to live music and slipping out onto the balcony to catch the regular Old Faithful eruptions. The beauty of this inn makes you feel quite guilty bemoaning the inn’s very purposeful, get-off-your-screens lack of Internet. When walking the Upper Geyser area near the Inn, be sure to take the Observation Point Trail option to Solitary Geyser for dreamy views.

White-Water Rafting. My kids took their first whirl at white-water rafting on the Yellowstone River and fell in love with it thanks to Flying Pig Adventure Company in Gardiner, Montana. This rafting outfit is near the north gate to Yellowstone, which you need to visit anyway if you want to see the Roosevelt Arch. The hip young, energetic crew at Flying Pig put young first-time rafters at ease and make parents wish they, too, had been river guides in our early 20s. Maybe, just maybe, if the water is cold enough, you’ll forget all about the fact that you’re wearing an incredibly unflattering wet suit. In public. During daylight. While sober. (But maybe if your trip is during warmer weather, you don’t need to wear a wet suit. I was too worried about falling overboard to ask.) During our eight-mile trip on class II and III rapids, there was just enough splashing and paddling to make it suitable for even young, novice rafters but still exciting. Our guide shared details about landmarks we passed including Electric Peak and even offered the opportunity to jump in and swim at the end.

Lamar Valley. It is easy to skip this remote, wildlife-packed northeast corner of Yellowstone for the more convenient, well-traveled areas touted in your tour books. But if your kids want to see wildlife, Lamar Valley is a must. Bring boxed lunches from Old Faithful Inn or, if you are coming from West Yellowstone, boxed lunches from Ernie’s Bakery & Deli then take a picnic hike in Lamar Valley. (Don’t forget your bear spray!) We loved Trout Lake hike and Specimen Ridge/Yellowstone River Picnic Area hike along the Narrows of the Yellowstone River. For wolf watching, head to Slough Creek Road, where avid wolf-watchers set up scopes on known wolf dens and are happy to let you take a peek. If you want to stay near Lamar Valley, we liked Silver Gate Cabins  – just outside the northeast gate before Cooke City, Montana – and The Log Cabin Cafe for breakfast, unforgettable pumpkin bread and boxed lunches.  (The cafe also has cabins where you can stay.)

Junior Ranger: Stop by visitors’ centers in both Grand Teton and Yellowstone to pick up Junior Ranger packets for your kids to complete so they can be sworn in at the visitors’ centers to become Junior Rangers in each park and collect their Junior Ranger badges/keepsakes from each park. Grand Teton’s badge actually smells like campfire – a first in our junior ranger collection.

Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center. If you stay in West Yellowstone, Montana (we liked the convenience of The Three Bear Lodge although the new Explorer Cabins also looked enticing) and have time, be sure to check out the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center.  The small, not-for-profit center gives you a chance to watch grizzly bears and gray wolves that are at the center because they are unable to survive in the wild, usually due to human involvement. Sign up your kids early for the popular Keeper Kids program (designed for ages 5-12). During the program  – which teaches kids about grizzly bear eating habits – kids will accompany the naturalist into the bear habitat to hide food for the bears. After the food is hidden, they can see first-hand how bears use their sense of smell to search out the food they had hidden. Learn more about the center here. We broke up our visit with a refreshing, short lunchtime bike ride from West Yellowstone along Riverside Trail nordic ski trails into Yellowstone National Park. We rented mountain bikes and got trail maps and tips from the incredibly welcoming folks at Freeheel and Wheel in West Yellowstone, who also recommended box lunches from Ernie’s Bakery & Deli. This made for a picturesque picnic along the Madison River with views of the Gallatin Range before returning to the Grizzly Center to say goodnight to the bears on our last day of this treasured Yellowstone trip.

(We flew from Savannah into Salt Lake City and drove via Jackson, Wyoming to Grand Teton National Park, then Yellowstone. Returning, we left from West Yellowstone, via Idaho Falls, back to Salt Lake City.)

Universal Orlando Resort’s most popular promotion is back and Two Sisters Travel has all of the details!

Get your 3rd day FREE when you book a Universal Orlando Resort vacation package including your onsite hotel stay and 2 day ticket. You’ll have more time to experience the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Despicable Me Minions, and more of your favorite characters with your family! Enjoy special vacation package benefits including Early Park Admission & complimentary transportation.

Don’t have any summer vacation plans yet? Universal Orlando Resort makes the perfect last-minute destination. Take in a long weekend of adventure and fun for less than $90 per person, per day for a family of 4.

The 3rd Day Free offer is only valid on packages with park-to-park tickets, and available travel through December 31, 2017.

Get your no-obligation Universal Studios vacation quote now or call 843-284-3241 for details.

Tara McCoy, Vacation Specialist at Two Sisters Travel

843.284.3241

Become a Facebook fan at facebook.com/twosisterstravel

Tara McCoy is a SouthernmMamas.com advertiser 

Those of you who have visited Cumberland Island National Seashore know what a true treasure the Georgia barrier island is.

Now you can help save Cumberland.

Cumberland is in danger of having approximately 1,000 acres rezoned for development by the five Camden County Commissioners, potentially exposing the island to a destructive level of development.

Some organizations are fighting to protect the national seashore against the development and preserve its natural, pristine character for future generations.

Congress established the Cumberland Island National Seashore, which encompasses the entire island, to preserve this natural place in its undeveloped state.

The five commissioners of Camden County have the power to reverse their earlier decision which granted a hardship variance to Lumar LLC, allowing Lumar’s members to develop a portion of Cumberland’s maritime forests.

The Lumar tract is located in the heart of Cumberland Island adjacent to the Sea Camp campground, the most-visited area of the island.

If you are against the development of Cumberland, please send your thoughts to the commissioners. Find their emails and mailing address here  and below.

You also are invited speak out against this development at Camden County Commission meetings May 16 and June 13, 6PM at 400 E. Fourth St., Woodbine. (Government Services Complex, Second Floor, Room 252)FREE 100% cotton “Don’t Develop Cumberland Island” T-shirts will be be given to the first 50 people who arrive at the May 16 (6PM) Camden County Board of Commissioners’ meeting.

More information can be found at stmarysearthkeepers.com ; wildcumberland.org and via the Save Cumberland Island National Seashore Facebook page here.

Camden County Commissioners:

Commissioner Lannie Bryant (District 1) district1@co.camden.ga.us Tel: 912-552-4246

Commissioner Chuck Clark (District 2) district2@co.camden.ga.us Tel: 912-674-8791

Commissioner James Starline (District 3, CINS is in his district) district3@co.camden.ga.us Tel: 912-882-5691

Commissioner Gary Blount (District 4) district4@co.camden.ga.us Tel: 912-882-2211

Commissioner Ben Casey (District 5) district5@co.camden.ga.us Tel: 912-552-4703

Camden County Commissioners mailing address:
PO Box 99
Woodbine, GA 31569
912-552-4246

________________________________

Fans of Cumberland Island National Seashore are invited to show their support at a rally to save Cumberland from rezoning/development.

Sat. June 24, 10AM-4PM

Free “Don’t Develop Cumberland Island” T-shirts for the first 400 attendees, music, face-painting, information booths, food trucks.

Learn more here.