Review: Sahara Sam's Oasis, Indoor and Outdoor Water Park

About 5 years ago, my son and I went to Sahara Sam's for the very first time. We were invited to a birthday party. The idea was pretty cool, because there aren't too many places around where you can go swimming in November! But when we got there, we honestly didn't have too great of a time. To be fair, he was little and that was back before they opened the outdoor Beach Club.

I was told that I would have to pay for myself, even though I wasn't planning on swimming myself. Apparently spectators need tickets, too. Ugh. Really? The birthday kid's mom said I could just drop my kiddo off because the party only included a small amount of adults with the kids, which would be her and her hubby and some other relatives. There was no way I was going to leave my kid who isn't a strong swimmer without 1:1 supervision. Lifeguards or no lifeguards. I also rented a locker, which set me back $10, before finding out from the party host that there was a complimentary storage bin for party guests. Oh well. My kid was only 5 at the time and not very brave or experienced with swimming. We hung out in the Lizard Lagoon or "the little kid area" as many call it. It got old fast, but the larger areas were daunting to my little guy.

We tried out the Slam Dunker, which is a pool with basketball nets. It's a great idea, except they use real standard sized basketballs and when they rebound innocent bystanders get bonked in the head. This made my kid cry. It was also really crowded and very loud. The music booms overhead and there are frequent announcements on the loudspeaker, but you can't really make out what they are saying. It was sensory overload. The arcade was also super loud and super crowded. We ended up leaving early. I figured my kiddo wasn't quite ready for all this.

Fast forward 5 years. My kid is now 10. He's much braver and not quite as sensitive. We came with some cousins and he had a great time. He still isn't big on water slides, but adores standing under the giant bucket of spilling water in Tim-buk-tu, a really fun play area full of smaller water slides and more. We also loved the Congo Bongo, aka The Lazy River. 

We were excited to hear that they had built an outdoor area, The Beach Club. It was too cold out to check it out that day, but we decided to buy Annual Passes for the whole family! They were having a special deal and it was cheaper than joining our town's swim club and THIS MEMBERSHIP is good all year round. Who can argue with that? I love a deal!

As soon as we could, we went back with a friend to check out The Beach Club. It has a wave pool (like the ocean, but with clear water!), a regular pool, and a sprayground play area. We LOVE it now!

 Tri-State Hot Spots gives Sahara Sam's
3 out of 3 thumbs up!

Victory Soccer Camp

Victory Soccer Camp will be held July 27-31 from 9 am to Noon. It is locally sponsored by Laurel Hill Bible Church and Gloucester Township TBAA Soccer Club. It is for children in Kindergarten through 12th grade.

The cost?

It's free!

Victory Soccer Camp normally costs $89 per camper, but Laurel Hill Bible Church offers the camp locally as a gift to the community. But if you had to pay, it would be worth every last penny! It is ran by former Philadelphia Kixx player Goran Hunjak and he shares his love of soccer, amazing skills, and his personal testimony.

To register, click here for the downloadable form and send it in ASAP. You may send $6 for a special camp ball if you like. But you may also send your child with his or her own soccer ball. Cleats are not necessary, but helpful if your child has them. Shin guards ARE a must for protection. And of course, send your child with a water bottle or Gatorade.

The camp is held at the Gloucester Township TBAA fields at 247 Little Gloucester Road in Blackwood, NJ.

Littles at the Malls

Everyone knows that moms love malls, but did you know that many malls offer fun for littles, too?



South Jersey


Deptford Mall has a Kids Club. They've teamed up with National Geographic Kids to offer activities, games, and much more! Come out and join them on select Thursdays (check schedule when you follow the link above).

Deptford Mall also has a free Kids Play Zone by Inspira.

Moorestown Mall has a Just Mom & Me club. Parents and children 8 and under are invited for puppet shows, story times, and sing-alongs. Register and get a free gift. These events are held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 11 am.

Moorestown Mall also has a free play area for kids 5 and under called The Secret Garden.

Burlington Center Mall offers a kid craft time about once a month.

Hamilton Mall has a Kids Club. When you join you get a free ride on the Deep Sea Carousel. After that you get offers for discounted rides and can join them for fun events. Click here for the schedule of events.




PA


Springfield Mall has a Giggle Gang. What's that? It's an interactive club that meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month for kids ages 1-5. They often feature a craft and get visits from fun places like Please Touch Museum and the Franklin Institute!

Plymouth Meeting Mall has a Kids Club. It meets on the 1st Wednesday of each month for play and fun.

Exton Square Mall also has a Kids Club. It meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month for awesome adventures.

King of Prussia Mall has a free play area by CHOP.

And Oxford Valley Mall also has a free play area by Simon Kidgits.




DE


Dover Mall has Kidgits. This summer, kids who are out of school can go on select Thursday nights at 6:30 pm to do cool crafts and activities. Kidgits also host fun family-friendly events on Saturdays.

Christiana Mall has a children's play area called Small Wonders.

Cow Appreciation Day is Coming!

If you've never participated in this annual event before, it might sound a little crazy!

Every year, Chick-Fil-A locations across the country host what they call Cow Appreciation Day. What is it? Basically, in exchange for a free meal you must dress up like a cow. Strange? Yes! But I promise you that your kids will love it! My family has been doing it for years.

This year Cow Appreciation Day is Tuesday, July 14. You can dress up and go for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. (Some of my friends are die-hards and go to different Chick-Fil-A stores for different meals. Now THAT is dedication.)

You can make your own costumes, which is usually what we do, or you can click here for your starter kit.  Let your imagination run wild!

Don't want to completely dress up like a cow in public? You can wear one accessory or just a mask and get one entree free.

Freebies for Parents: 2 Free Mags! Seriously!

This time I have a two-fer for ya! Whether you are an expectant mother, or a mommy with a bundle at home already you grab both these magazines for free. Yep, one year subscriptions for both--no strings attached. (And feel free to un-check those boxes that offer to send you more info. You can still get the mags without agreeing to that.)

First, get a free subscription to American Baby by clicking here.

And next, click here for a free subscription to Baby Talk magazine.

Review: Sky Zone Trampoline Park, Moorestown NJ

So if your kid is anything like my kid, he or she has been dying to go to Sky Zone or some other such indoor trampoline park. A year ago, I had never heard of such a thing (we were still into the indoor moon bounce circuit). Now they are popping up all over the place!

We finally got around to going this past weekend because we were invited to a birthday party. The location we visited was the Sky Zone at Moorestown, New Jersey. My kid had a blast. Me? Eh, not so much.

Okay, so if you are a kid then Sky Zone is the place to be. I mean, there are arenas full of trampoline squares attached to tons of other trampoline squares. In addition to the trampoline arenas there is a huge foam block pit to jump into, as well as arenas for dodgeball/basketball, the latter of which my son wasn't into at all (we aren't an athletic bunch). You can literally bounce off the walls. Pop music booms overhead. The smell of pizza is in the air...and it was actually good pizza! Pretty magical.

Oh, and you get to wear fluorescent orange anti-skid socks made especially for Sky Zone. 

Alright. Here are the things I was not excited about...

1.) When you walk in there is a lobby where you check in (for parties) and computer kiosks for signing that waiver saying you won't sue them, blah blah blah. The lobby has no separation from the rest of the place, which means anyone can walk in and access the arenas. It gets VERY BUSY here, especially on weekends. I felt a bit nervy about the safety of my kid. I spent most of the time running back and forth between arenas, stalking my kid to make sure he was safe and sound. I would have been much more comfortable if there was some sort of divider set up.

2.) I followed my ten year old son to the rest room and stood outside the boys' room. He came right back out because he said there was urine EVERYWHERE. I immediately went to one of the counters in the lobby and told a worker. She said she would pass it on, but the bathroom stayed that way for the rest of our time at Sky Zone. Also, the whole place needed cleaning. There are tons of table and chair sets and couches and coffee tables throughout for parents to relax at. Most of the tables had trash laying on them and the couch I sat on had a big sticky something on it and left a stain on my shorts. Ick.

3.) Prices. And those socks. I looked into admission fees because as much as I was skeeved, I know that I will be returning someday. My son adores it and I can't be mad at something that gives the kids such good exercise. Here is what I found:

30 minutes of jump time is $12. Wait....What?? That's kinda steep for not even a whole hour of play!

60 minutes...$16

90 minutes...$20

120 minutes...$24

And it is highly recommended that you order tickets online in advance due to crowding and selling out. So this isn't something you do on a whim. It takes prep.

And you have to buy those orange socks. Now they are only $1 a pair and you can keep bringing them back. Of course I know my son well, and who am I kidding? He will lose those socks before the week is out. But you MUST have the socks to jump, so you'll be tacking on a buck per child every visit.

The super part about being there with a party was that those socks were part of the package so I didn't pay for them (yay). And instead of keeping them to reuse another time like I had considered, the party guests could trade them in for a t-shirt. My son was all about THAT. It did leave me wondering what they do with the used socks though...

There are tons of location in Pennsylvania and Delaware, too!
Click here to find the Sky Zone near you.

Tri-State Hot Spots gives Moorestown Sky Zone
2 out of 3 thumbs up!

Review: Bridgeport Speedway

As a kid I grew up about 5 minutes away from the Bridgeport Speedway, listening to the sounds of racing cars and roaring engines, but I never ever went there. Until today.

My hubby, son, and I recently moved back to the area about a year ago and now that it's summertime we can hear the speedway from our new house. My kid has been begging and begging us to go, so we decided to check it out this evening. If you've never been to ANY kind of races then you are in for a surprise!

I've never been a big sports fan, much less a Nascar fan, so I figured I wouldn't be into it. Wrong. I was just as excited as my son and his friend! They race all kinds of vehicles and it's pretty exciting. I found myself on the edge of my seat watching the races, gasping when there was a crash, praying 'til they announced everybody was alright, and cheering for my favorite cars.

The kiddos enjoyed themselves, too. On Saturday nights they have a bounce house. And you and find all kinds of junk food, from water ice to funnel cake. They also have a candy shack and a souvenir stand. Your kids will totally want their own checkered flags to wave from the grandstand, and at $3 a piece you can't say no. Glow in the dark necklaces and bracelets are also popular, as are t-shirts. Be sure to bring cash, because most venders on the midway do not take credit cards. There is an ATM machine on the premises.

A word to the wise, though, it does get rather dusty! The cars sure do kick up some dust while they race around the oval dirt track at speeds up to 100 MPH. So don't come dressed up. And if you have a kiddo who doesn't like loud sounds, you'll probably want to bring noise-canceling headphones or earplugs.

Tonight was a special event and there was face painting and raffles. My son and his friend both bought tickets with their spending money and they both won grand prizes--a bike for my son and a scooter for his friend! Click here to check out upcoming events and races. Tickets are typically $15 for adults and kids 9 and under are free, so it's fairly inexpensive.

You should also check out the Bridgeport Speedway's Facebook page. Sometimes they will post early on in the day to let fans know that residents of a particular nearby town will enter admission-free that evening. You gotta love free!

 Tri-State Hot Spots gives Bridgeport Speedway 
3 out of 3 thumbs up!

Freebies for Parents: A Free Movie Rental

We are in the midst of a heat wave and it's a great time to stay in and rent a movie from Redbox!

Send a text message: WELCOME to 727272 to get the free rental. You MUST use their app to reserve the rental using the free code. It's good now through June 30th.

County Fairs in PA

Jersey doesn't corner the market on county fairs! Pennsylvania has plenty!


Kempton Country Fair     June 11-13

Schnecksville Community Fair     June 15-20

Mercer County Grange Fair June 21-27

Northeast Fair June     June 23-28

Wolf's Corner    June 24 - July 9

Butler's Fair     July 3-11

Franklin County Fair     July 5-11

Mason Dixon Fair     July 6-11

Derry Twp. Ag Fair     July 12-18

Jacktown Fair     July 14-18

Lycoming County Fair     July 16-25

Jefferson County Fair     July 19-25

Kimberton Community Fair     July 20-25

Plainfield Farmers Fair     July 21-25

Sewickley Township Community Fair     July 20-25

Shippensburg Community Fair     July 20-25

Lebanon Area Fair     July 25-August 1

Bedford County Fair July 26-August 1

Clarion County Fair     July 26-August 1

Potter County Fair     July 26-August 1

Schuylkill County Fair     July 27-August 1

Troy Fair     July 27-August 1

Fayette County Fair     July 30-August 4

Goshen Country Fair     July 27-August 1

Cameron County Fair     August 1-8

Venango County Fair     August 1-8

Carbon County Fair     August 2-8

Clearfield County Fair     August 3-8

Cochranton Community Fair     August 3-8

Mifflinton County Fair     August 2-8

Morrisons Cove Dairy Show    August 3-7

Reading Fair     August 2-8

Union County West End Fair     August 2-9

Wayne County Fair     August 7-15

Butler Farm Show     August 10-15

Clinton County Fair     August 8-15

Cumberland Ag Expo     August 11-15

Dawson Grange Community Fair     August 10-15

Elk County Fair     August 11-15

Greene County Fair     August 9-15

Huntingdon County Fair    August 9-15

Kutztown Fair     August 10-15

Middletown Grange Fair August 12-16

Montour-Delong Community Fair    August 10-15

Mountain Area Fair    August 9-15

Sykesville Ag & Youth Fair    August 9-15

Tioga County Fair     August 10-15

Warren County Fair     August 11-15

Washington County Ag Fair     August 15-22

Bullskin Twp. Comminuty Fair     August 16-22

Fulton County Fair      August 16-22

McKean County Fair     August 16-22

Williamsburg Community Farm Show     August 16-22

Dayton Fair     August 17-22

Harford Fair      August 17-22

Lawrence County Fair August 17-22

Blue Valley Farm Show    August 18-22

Northumberland County Fair    August 19-22

Perry County Community Fair     August 18-22

South Mountain Fair     August 18-22

Centre County Grange Encampment & Fair     August 21-29

Crawford County Fair     August 22-29

Somerset County Fair      August 22-29

Westmoreland Fair     August 21-29

West End Fair     August 23-29

Elizabethtown Fair     August 24-29

Hookstown Fair     August 25-29

Transfer Harvest Home Fair     August 25-29

Greene-Dreher-Sterling Fair     August 28-September 7

Indiana County Fair     August 30- September 5

Erie County Fair     August 31-September 5



For MORE fairs in September, please click here.

County Fairs in NJ

Hot summer air. Sweet cotton candy. Thrilling rides. Live animals. Fair season is coming!



Atlantic County 4-H Fair     Aug 6-8

Bergen County 4-H Fair     Sept 19-20

Burlington County Farm Fair     July 14-19

Camden County Fair     Sept 26-27

Cape May County 4-H Fair     July 16-18

Cumberland County Fair     July 7-11

Gloucester County 4-H Fair/NJ Peach Festival     July 23-26

Hunterdon County 4-H/Ag Fair     Aug 19-23

Mercer County 4-H Fair     Aug 1-2

Middlesex County Fair     Aug 3-9

Monmouth County Fair     July 22-26

Morris County 4-H Fair     July 15-19

Ocean County Fair     July 8-12

Passaic County Fair     Aug 13-16

Salem County Fair     Aug 4-7

Somerset County 4-H Fair    Aug 12-14

Sussex County Farm & Horse Show/NJ State Fair     July 31-Aug 9

Warren County Farmers' Fair     July 25-Aug 1

How I Prep for Summer Outings: 7 Tips You Need to Know

The summer weather is here and the outings are already beginning to happen. If you're not careful your outings could end up costing you an arm and a leg. Here is how I prep for summer outings so that I am prepared for anything that comes up AND helps me save money:

Okay,  #1 is that you never know when you might need a "seat" where you are going. I always keep three of these bad boys in the back of my SUV. They are fairly comfy, fold up nicely, and don't take up too much precious space. Also, they have built-in cup holders.

I also keep a picnic blanket rolled up back there too. And beach towels. Because you never know.

#2  Water, water, everywhere...and not a drop to drink. Unless you want to spend $1-5 (yes, I said $5) per bottle from vendors. I recommend buying cases of spring water every time you see any on sale. I stack 'em up high in my craft room and keep about 6 at a time in the fridge in case we need to grab 'n go. If we know it will be an all-day excursion (like a beach day trip or hiking) we will put some in the freezer. The reason for this is two-fold. First, they act as ice packs in your bag. And second, you will have cold drinks any time of day. 

#3  BYOS, as in bring your own snacks. These can differ based on where you are going. If we are doing Movies at the Park, we bring popcorn and candy. We get these giant sacks of popcorn from Dollar Tree that is surprisingly tasty (note, you do not want to eat this is you are watching your salt and cholesterol). We also bring red Solo cups because they are great for portioning out and holding the popcorn for everybody in your clan. We score the candy from either Dollar Tree, Dollar General, or Target. All of them have a section where they sell the candy boxes like they have at the movie theater (which go for almost $4 a pop there, ugh). I buy them for a buck each.

If we are going hiking or to the beach, the food is gonna look different. We tend to make our own trail mixes (which is healthier than store-bought AND the kids like to make their own concoctions), sandwiches are easy, fresh fruit in Rubbermaid containers is another great choice, and pretzels are good because sometimes when you are out and about and get all sweaty your body needs to replenish its salt stores along with hydrating with water.

#4  Let's talk bags. I have different bags that I like for different things. First on my list a big ole tote bag that zips up. Mine is insulated which makes it great for carrying food and drinks. I got it at Five Below years ago, but I've seen similarly priced ones at Big Lots. 

I also love my backpack which is great for when I wanna be hands-free. If we are gonna walk all day (think the zoo) then I don' wanna carry anything. It's also great because it has so many compartments.

Let's talk beach toys. Get yourself a mesh laundry bag with a drawstring. I got mine from Dollar Tree. (I really don't get paid to mention them, I swear. I just find a lot of good stuff there!) Put the beach toys in it. Make your kids carry it. They can drag it along the sand all they want. When you are all done at the beach you can shake it out and put it in the trunk, or if you have a room you can rinse the entire bag off, with the toys in it). Leave it on the balcony to dry. Easy peasy!

You should also buy zip top baggies. They come in all different sizes and are great for holding tour sunscreen, etc in them in case they explode and you don't want your camera covered in Banana Boat! That's another story. The small ones are good for keeping your phone sand-free. The great big ones are also useful for holding wet bathing suits and aqua socks. I could go on and on all day.

#5  All that exposed skin needs protecting! I always carry a bottle of spray sunscreen, a sunblock stick for faces. 

If I am going away for several days, I also bring aloe. A friend of mine recently went on vacation and got a bad sunburn. A small bottle of aloe was $20! 

I also carry bug spray because South Jersey is a mosquito haven. I recommend Off! Deep Woods DRY. I was introduced to it when my son joined the Cub Scouts. It is strong and it is not oily or greasy. Mosquitoes and ticks and West Nile Virus and Lyme Disease is nothing to shrug off. Protect yourself and your kids. Okay, my PSA is over.

#6  Every good mom should carry a first aid kit. It doesn't have to be a ready-made Red Cross one from the store. It can be as as simple as a makeup bag filled with a few different size bandaids, a small tube of Neosporin, and some of those small alcohol wipes for cleaning up those boo-boos. That will tide you over until you can get to a First Aid Stand or back home.

#7  Last, but certainly not least, I always bring special souvenirs/snacks on the sly (hidden in one of my bags). At the beginning of the summer I stock up on all manner of glow sticks, necklaces, bracelets, etc. At Dollar Tree or Deals you typically get 8 for a buck. At Five Below and Target's Dollar Spot you can get 50 for $3-5 bucks. Sometimes I also buy glow wands, glow swords, light-up balls, and other flashing light toys which they always sell at fireworks for $5-7 each. 

For going to the circus or zoo, I buy those $1 cotton candy bags and $1 animal cracker bags. I've also been known to stock up on small stuffed animals, those punching balloons, and other things they'll beg for when all the kids around them have these items.

For going to the ballpark I'll grab bags of peanuts and boxes of Cracker Jacks to munch on (again, from the dollar stores). If your kids are all about getting autographs, bring your own baseball for that purpose. You'd hate to have to run in to the gift shop and buy something to be signed! Those places are a fortune!

Before we hit the beach, I'll let everyone choose 1 or 2 new beach toys from Dollar General or Family Dollar. A new frisbee, beach ball, and a kite can provide hours of fun for little money.