Travel in My Town – Saratoga Springs, New York

Please welcome Colleen Pierre from Saratoga Mama.  She is sharing some of her favorite family friendly things to do in Saratoga Springs, New York.  Be sure to follow the links to Colleen’s blog if you are planning a trip to the area.  She lists calendar events, things to do in the area, good places to eat and more.

I am really enjoying my new Travel in My Town series because I am learning more about places that have long since been on my list to visit and adding some that weren’t previously on my radar.  Do you want to share your favorite things about your town?  Send me an email at jennifer at twokidsandamap dot com.

Saratoga Springs, NY is located about 30 minutes North of our capital city, Albany and about 3 hours north of New York City. Situated near the stunning Adirondack mountain range, near gorgeous lakes and rivers, and home to many cultural events and activities all year, Saratoga Springs is a wonderful spot to take a vacation! It was very hard to pick and choose what to tell you about, but here’s a good overview of just some of what our city has to offer!

Broadway – Downtown Saratoga Springs centers around Broadway, our “main street”. Broadway is home to amazing boutiques and shops, fabulous restaurants, bakeries, ice cream shops, beautiful art galleries, hotel’s and some of the best independent coffee shops I’ve ever been to. A few Broadway kid-friendly standouts include: Bettie’s Cakes, a 50’s-themed cupcake café, G. Willikers, an independent toy store, Circus Café, a restaurant with a fun décor, yummy food and huge plates of cotton candy for dessert, and Plum Dandy, a frozen yogurt place with more toppings than you could ever need. A stroll up and down Broadway is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon in Saratoga.

Congress Park/Carousel – In the spring and summer months, Saratoga Springs downtown comes alive! Our “central park” is located just off of Broadway and is called Congress Park. With duck ponds, grassy meadows, historic landmarks and a wooden carousel, Congress Park is a great meeting place, picnic spot, or people-watching destination. In July and August, Congress Park is home to live music concerts, arts and crafts festivals, and other special events.

Museums – A trip to Saratoga would not be complete without visiting one of our many museums. Horse lovers will enjoy the National Museum of Racing, dance fans adore the National Museum of Dance, car enthusiasts rejoice at the Saratoga Automobile Museum, artsy folks like Skidmore College’s Tang Museum and Art Gallery, and kids go wild for The Children’s Museum at Saratoga.

SPAC (Saratoga Performing Arts Center) – I grew up attending concerts at SPAC from Journey to Phish, Dave Matthews Band, to the ballet, opera and orchestra. The thing about SPAC is that it’s an amphitheater, which means there’s partial seating inside and a huge sloped lawn area for outdoor seating. Lawn tickets are much cheaper and on a nice evening, you can bring a picnic dinner, lawn chairs, a bottle of wine and enjoy the New York City Ballet or Philadelphia Orchestra! I took the kids to the ballet this past year and we all sat on the lawn- a unique and cultural experience.

Saratoga Farmers’ Market – Our year-round farmers market is both a social place as well as a place of business. With products including vegetables, fruits, honey, baked goods, meat, cheese yogurt, milk as well as crafters and on-site prepared food, the Saratoga Farmers’ Market is another must-do activity! The market is held on Wednesdays and Saturday from May through October and indoors on Saturdays from November to April. Just about every week there is live music, chef demonstrations, and other community-based special events. We appreciate your support of OUR local farmers too!

Horse Fever! Saratoga Springs is probably best known as a horse racing destination because of the Saratoga Race Course, a 350-acre horse racetrack. With 40 days of horse racing starting at the end of July and ending around Labor Day, Saratoga really comes alive in the summer. Tourists (and locals) love attending “the track” to watch and bet on the horses, and Saratoga Polo for the unique experience of attending polo matches.
Here’s a post about enjoying Saratoga Race Course with the kids and another Mama Guide to Saratoga Polo.

Saratoga Springs NY offers so much to do and see, I hope you have the chance to visit us soon!

-Colleen Pierre, SaratogaMama

Colleen Pierre is a mother of two wonderful children, Robby (3) and Angie (1) and owns SaratogaMama an online resource for families. The site provides Saratoga County families and visitors with an easy way to find events and activities, information about area schools, daycare options, community news, recreation options, and lots more.

Let’s Connect!  Email me at colleen@saratogamama.com.  You can also follow Colleen on Twitter and Facebook.

Disconnecting While Traveling without the Family

When given the opportunity to attend a retreat with Traveling Mom aboard the Disney Fantasy for an inaugural cruise, I jumped at the chance.  I booked a plane ticket to Orlando and gave myself an extra day to enjoy some time before boarding.    The timing couldn’t be more perfect as my kids are on spring break so we set up a visit to the grandparents.  Both the grandparents and kids are thrilled.  My husband is looking forward to having some time to do the things that he wants to do without having to worry about what we are doing.  I know that safety is important to Disney and I know that I will be safe and have fun on the ship.  I wasn’t worried about anything.

Until I visited my cell phone provider this week.

After waiting way too many minutes to speak with someone, I was informed that I could in fact have cell phone service on the boat but it would cost approximately the equivalent of a semester at college.  We decided not to enable the service and will just pay the extra fees if I have to make an emergency call.

I know that Internet service is available on the ship, but I have been told that it is also pricey and spotty.  I will be interested to see how it is for myself.

Luckily, my family can still get in touch with me if they need to.  My Disney cruise documents came with three little cards to give to loved ones.  Each card has the contact information should there be an emergency.  This has given me a little bit of peace of mind while I am completely disconnected from my family.

Have you ever been completely disconnected (or for the most part) from your family?  What did you do to make sure that they could get ahold of you in case of an emergency?  Were there any issues?

LEGOLAND Water Park Coming Soon to Florida!

It is no secret that we were so excited to hear that a LEGOLAND theme park was opening south of Orlando.  When we got to visit over opening weekend, my children couldn’t believe their luck.  Jumping from ride to ride with my kids and watching their eyes light up as they found out they were big enough to go on just about every single ride was the best part of our trip. Usually when we visit a theme park, I spend a lot of time telling my daughter that she is not quite tall enough (though we are almost out of this phase) so it was nice to be able to tell her that she was able to ride the ride!

LEGOLAND is expanding this summer with a water park!  There will be a wave pool, which is one of my children’s favorite parts of any water park.  There will be water slides, an interactive playground, and a section just for little ones.

The one thing that I am looking forward to the most is checking out the Build-A-Raft River where families can “imagine, design and build a unique LEGO vessel and set afloat on a maiden voyage” on the lazy river.  I love that so many of the attractions at LEGOLAND Florida inspire thoughtful interactions.

The LEGOLAND Water Park is set to open May 26, 2012.  There will be several ticket options.  If you purchase a single day ticket, it is only $12 per person (only $3 for children under 3) to add the water park.

I am hoping that we can squeeze in a quick weekend trip to LEGOLAND to check out the water park after it opens.  Will you be visiting this summer?

Travel in My Town – Seattle

I am so excited to introduce a new series that I will be posting occasionally on Tuesdays called Travel in My Town.  I have some great guest posts from the blogging community to share with you.  I am looking forward to learning some insider tips about favorite activities in their cities!  I am honored to begin this series with my writing pal, Keryn.  Keryn lives in Seattle, a city that I have never been to but is high on my list of places to visit, and she is sharing her favorite toddler-friendly activities.  Be sure to follow the links to her blog, Walkingon Travels, where she writes about everything from flying with children, to exploring Asia with kids and finding inspiration to travel.  Keryn is kind, funny and helpful.  Someday, I hope to make it to Seattle and maybe we can meet for coffee!  Welcome, Keryn!

I’ve lived in Seattle for over 5 years, but I haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of all this city has to offer. Whether we are under a seemingly endless rain cloud or enjoying gorgeous summer days (it’s why we all live here after all) I can always find something to do with my toddler son in a city of endless activities and natural wonders.

Woodland Park Zoo

Our local zoo may not be the biggest in the country but it sure does pack a punch. I have been there at least 20 times and I still happen upon exhibits I have never noticed before. Orchids, poisonous frogs and birds fill the Tropical Rainforest building, while snow leopards, tigers and jaguars will have your kids growling and purring in no time. There are daily feedings and animal presentations that both kids and parents can get excited about and learn from. If you are looking for a little break from the animals, there is also an historic carousel you can take a whirl around before setting up a picnic lunch on the lawn.

Pike Place Market

Yes, this seems like a tourist trap to be sure, especially in the summer, but it is also a very active local market. If you love to eat and have kids that can’t wait to try out a few new foods along with some of their old standbys then than Pike Place should not be missed. You will definitely see a few characters offering everything from fresh off the boat fish to bursting with flavor strawberries and a silver necklace with matching t-shirt to boot. Do a little jig along with a street musician, watch cheese masters shoveling curds and gorge yourself on crumpets and donuts from the Daily Dozen. Just watch out for flying fish.

Kubota Garden

A free park, beautifully maintained and away from the tourist crowds, what’s not to love? I continue to head to this park just south of downtown to soak in the Japanese inspired design. The dramatic colors change with each season and make you wonder what next month will bring. Paths are extremely kid-friendly and there are no park rangers yelling at you to keep off the grass. Be respectful, but also feel free to explore what Mother Nature is cooking up that day.

Ballard Farmers Market

This is by far one of our favorite farmers markets in the city. Held every Sunday, rain or shine, this is the place to go for fresh produce, some delicious street food and a whole lot of people watching. If you aren’t up for Pike Place Market this is a great, if not better, introduction to Seattle’s love of farm fresh food. Pull up a slice of curb, a freshly made tamale and just watch the locals stroll by with kids, dogs and bicycles in tow.

Volunteer Park

I’m not sure if I get more excited about the various elements in this park that makes multiple trips a must, or the Volunteer Park café down the street that serves up one heck of a breakfast. Whether you want to swing from the monkey bars at the playground, take a peek at a few paintings in the Asian Art Museum, or just warm up with some flowers in the Conservatory, there is something for everyone. Oh and Bruce Lee is buried just behind the park if you feel the need to make a little pilgrimage.

Seward Park

I’ve only seen a fraction of this park but it is already one of my favorites. Stunning views of Mt. Rainier peak over the horizon. There are sandy beaches for kids to splash around in along with a very impressive playground. The Seward Park Environment and Audobon Center leads toddlers on a Little Tykes Tales and Trails expedition, even on rainy mornings, throughout the park.

Mom and active blogger, Keryn Means left the publishing world in 2011 to take care of her growing family and follow her passion for travel. A native of Philadelphia, she spends her days exploring her new home in Seattle with her toddler son and anxiously awaits the arrival of her second born due in late April. When her son is asleep you can find her editing photos and writing away on Walkingon Travels. Keryn follows the mantra that just because you have kids doesn’t mean you have to put your travel dreams aside, if anything they just get bigger and more exciting.  Follow Keryn on Twitter and Facebook, too!

Omni Hotel at CNN Center – Atlanta, Georgia

When I think of the Omni Hotels and Resorts, a luxurious business accommodation is what comes to mind first.  My two children running through the halls of an Omni hotel, fighting over who gets to push the buttons at the elevator, and coloring with markers that promise to be washable if they happen to color off the book and onto the sheets is not what comes to mind.  After a visit to the Omni Hotel at CNN Center with my family, I was pleasantly surprised to find that not only do the Omni properties cater to people traveling without children but they also cater to families.

Atlanta is about a 6 hour drive from our house and we have made the weekend trip several times before.  We typically stay in the Perimeter or near Turner Field because it is less expensive than staying downtown.  However, we often find ourselves spending money on gas traveling from attractions to our hotel.  We spend a ridiculous amount of money on parking downtown.  I find that we don’t see a lot of the things that we would want to see because of those added costs.  On this trip, though, we were able to experience staying right in the middle of downtown Atlanta in the heart of the Luckie Marietta District.

(Usually, I do a better job of snapping pictures before my kids pile their junk in our room.  I thought this picture was fitting though…all their kid junk sitting on our comfy bedding!)

Location

The Omni Hotel at CNN Center is located within a short walk of many family friendly attractions and restaurants making it a convenient location for a family weekend getaway.  The hotel is two towers and is attached to the CNN Center, CNN’s world headquarters.  On one side, it is situated right next to Centennial Park where we spent a lot of time running energy off and on the other side is the Georgia Dome.  The Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca-Cola are both just a few blocks away as is Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta.

Accommodations

We stayed in a two bed room with a little work station and a chair to relax in.  The bathroom was a good size and was one of the cleanest hotel bathrooms that we have ever seen! Our view of the city of Atlanta kept my kids entertained for quite awhile.  They loved looking out at the buildings as the sun set and the city began to light up.  The room was tastefully decorated but I wasn’t worried about my kids breaking anything.

Amenities

I love the little touches that can be found around the Omni Hotels and Resorts.  You can have complimentary beverage service delivered to your room.  We joined the Omni Select Guest program and received free wireless during the length of our stay.  There is a basket full of apples at the check-in desk and water flavored with lemons and limes.  My daughter grabbed an apple each day as we walked out for our day’s adventures.  For guests that want to stay healthy while traveling, they can request a Get Fit Kit that has dumb-bells, a floor mat, stretch cords, and more.  The spa offers massages, nail services and more.

For the Kids

Kids are welcomed to the Omni Hotels with the Omni Sensational Kids program.  When you check in to the hotel, the kids will be given a backpack full of fun goodies to keep them occupied.  We saw these backpacks on children wandering all over the CNN Center!  The backpack had a kick sack, Twizzlers to snack on, crayons, an activity map and more.  My daughter has been carrying the magnifying glass with her everywhere since she got it.  She likes to take it outside to hunt for bugs.  On the night of your arrival, the kids will get a special delivery of fresh cookies and milk that are perfect to snack on right before getting tucked into bed.  If you pack lightly (unlike my kids who pack their own backpacks to full of their favorite toys that they can hardly zip them up), you can request to borrow a rolling backpack with toys, books and games.

Lions and Tigers and Elephants! Oh my!

The Greatest Show on Earth will be in Atlanta from February 15^th to the 20^th and they are offering the Under the Big Top package during those dates.  The Omni CNN Center is within walking distance of the Circus Ring, which is at the Philips Arena, and the package includes a complimentary breakfast every day and offering circus-themed snacks.

*Thank you to the Omni Hotel at CNN Center for hosting us. As always, my opinions are my own with no outside influences.

Buffalo in Yellowstone

Now that the bad memories of our trip to Yellowstone have somewhat faded, I think I am ready to begin sharing some tips and things to know before you go.  There wasn’t any major event that made the trip a traumatic experience for all of us but there were many incidences that added up quickly.

I am also thinking about making another trip back there some day.  Now that my kids are older, I know they would love to explore and see the buffalo.  My husband probably thinks I am crazy since the trip through Yellowstone qualifies as our worst trip ever.

Stop by Delicious Baby to see other Photo Friday submissions.

A Dream Family Vacation in Destin, Florida

White sand beaches, deep sea fishing, and family friendly activities make Destin, Florida a great place for a family beach vacation.  Destin is located on the Gulf Coast in between Pensacola and Panama City Beach.  We live in Pensacola so a drive to Destin is just a short hour away for my family.  We day trip over often and go shopping.  Sometimes we play in the sand or meet up for a lunch with family.  Every year, my husband and I talk about spending a week in Destin but we always seem to find a reason not to.  I am hoping that this will be the year and I have been dreaming about getting a vacation rental right on the beach.

A Beach Rental to Call Home for a Week

The vacation home that we stay in doesn’t have to be huge, but I want it to be the perfect beach house.  My dream family vacation will be spent in one of those beach homes with a large wraparound porch and a fun name like Tangerine Dream or Take me to the Sea.  I want to wake up to the sun shining through my open balcony doors.  I want to watch my kids run just a few steps from our door to the shore to splash in the water and build sand castles.  After a long beach day, napping in a hammock would be the perfect way to spend an afternoon.  I want to fall asleep late at night to the sound of the waves crashing.

One Way We Save While on a Dream Family Vacation

All of that seems so dreamy but expenses for a trip like this, even for a long weekend, can add up quickly.  One of our biggest expenses when we travel together as a family is food.  Now that my kids are older, sharing a meal between the two of them or eating off of my plate is no longer an option.  We can’t get out of a fast food restaurant for less than $25 lately.  If we are enjoying a nicer sit -down dinner, it usually costs us twice that.  These meals can add up quickly.

To help defray the costs of our meals, we look for a vacation rental when we are choosing our accommodations.  Most all rentals come with a fully equipped kitchen and a large refrigerator to hold all of our supplies.  Purchasing our food at the grocery store and cooking it in the vacation home helps us save some money.  But, who wants the same old meals on vacation that you cook at home?

Eating in Doesn’t Have to Make it Less of a Vacation for Mom and Dad

Use the vacation as a time to experiment with new meals.  Give each day a different theme and make meals that go with that theme.  Visit the butcher or fish market for a local delicacy and learn how to cook it just right together as a family.

Meal time is a family affair and being on vacation is no exception.  We have fun cooking as a family and everyone is in charge of the cleanup.  This helps me feel like I am on vacation too and not just cleaning dishes all week!  We can grab a quick breakfast of cereal and milk and get out to the beach.  If we have more time, we can cook an elaborate breakfast with all of our favorites like pancakes, eggs, and bacon.  Picnic lunches can be packed to take with us on hikes or boat rides.  We can enjoy a leisurely dinner on that wraparound porch while watching the sun set.

When we stay in a hotel, we often find ourselves choosing the least expensive food options and we miss out on a lot of great restaurants.  We save money by eating in for many of our meals and that enables us to splurge on a nice dinner out.  Eating our meals at home also allows us to try things that we might have otherwise skipped due to cost.  While on this dream vacation to Destin, Florida, we would have room in the budget to try some new activities. I would like to take the kids on a dolphin cruise.  We could rent a boat and cruise out to the popular sandbar at Crab Island, where we can dock and let the kids play.  We might finally take them to Big Kahuna’s, the local water park on Hwy. 98, that we drive by at least once a month with the kids pointing it out from the backseat.

How do you think I will look in a parasail?

This post is sponsored by HomeAway, which offers the world’s largest selection of vacation rental properties online.

Home Away offers the world’s largest selection of vacation home rentals that provide travelers with memorable vacation experiences and benefits, including more room to relax and added privacy, for less than the cost of traditional hotel accommodations.  Make memories where you stay, not just where you go.  HomeAway.com – let’s stay together.

A Look Behind the Scenes of the Georgia Dome

Touring sports stadiums began as a way to make it up to my husband because we were in a city that was home to a sports team playing an away game.  We live in a smaller city, that despite its size, offers some college sports and this March we will welcome a minor league baseball team to a waterfront stadium.  When we travel, we try to attend as many sporting events as possible but as luck would have it, we always seem to be visiting while the team is playing an away game.  One summer we even had the unfortunate luck of visiting three cities that had baseball teams playing against each other, in the city we had just visited all three times.

When we can’t see the sports team in action, we visit their venue and take a tour.  On our weekend getaway to Atlanta, we realized that our hotel, the Omni at the CNN Center, was just a short walk from the Georgia Dome where the Atlanta Falcons play football.   We were excited to discover that tours of the Georgia Dome were starting back up that morning and we got there just in time for the next tour.  It was also fun to note this close to the Super Bowl that the Georgia Dome is one of the stadiums of Super Bowls past.

The Georgia Dome tour starts with a bird’s eye view of the whole stadium on the Observatory Deck.  This is where the coaches  and officials watch the game in the highest seats in the house.  The roof of the Dome is the world’s largest cable supported roof.  During the tour, visitors get to see  one of the largest press boxes with prime real estate right on the 50 yard line.

One of my favorite parts of the tour was seeing this great art installation made up of helmets from all the different high schools in Georgia.

Visitors get a look at the suites but unfortunately for us, they had just finished a Monster Jam event so the suites were sealed up tight with plastic so as not to let any dirt in.  We weren’t able to view the suites because they had not finished cleaning up the dirt.  One thing that was interesting to note is that the Georgia Dome has their own dirt pile that they house throughout the year and bring into the Dome for events like motorcross or truck jams.

We got a sneak peek of the lounges that we could only dream about visiting during a game.  When we finished sitting in the bright red comfy chairs in the lounge, we were taken to the lower level where visitors get a great view of the field.  These would be great seats to watch the game.  If you aren’t sitting in your seat during part of the game, don’t fret because there are televisions everywhere…even in the elevators!

After visiting the lower level, we headed to the part that we were waiting for-the locker room and field!  The locker room was much cleaner than I had anticipated.  The locker room certainly didn’t look like some of the high school locker rooms I have been in!  The kids got to see where the players hang their jerseys and get ready for the game.

Unfortunately for my daughter, the cheerleaders’ locker room was locked up tight but we did get to see it before we got to walk out on the field.

Before you go, be sure to read my tips for touring a stadium with children.

Things to Know Before You Go:

• The Georgia Dome offers tours on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in between ten and 2.  The tours typically leave every hour on the hour.
• The tour cost is $6 for adults, $5 for college students, seniors and military personnel with valid IDS, and $4 for children.
• The Georgia Dome accepts both cash and credit card.  You pay when you arrive for the tour.
• Tours are not available on all scheduled days so call ahead of time.  Tours are also unavailable on event days.
• You do not need a reservation to take the tour but I recommend you call ahead of time to confirm the tours are being conducted that day.
• For more information or to check and see if tours are being given on a certain day, call 404.223.8687.

Georgia Aquarium – Tips to Making the Best of Your Visit and Enjoying It, Too

Have you ever been so excited to visit somewhere, but when you visit it just didn’t turn out the way you wanted it to?  Is there a city or an attraction that you really want to love but just couldn’t for one reason or another?

I really, really want to love the Georgia Aquarium. If there is an aquarium nearby, we visit it.  We love wandering around and looking at all the fish.  There is so much to love about the world’s largest aquarium from the beautiful displays to the hands-on activities.  It is one of the few places to see whale sharks, there is a dolphin show that the kids love and a 4D theater.  We have been to the aquarium several times and I just can’t love-LOVE-it…until now.  Sort of.

The number one reason that I just can’t love the Georgia Aquarium the way I want to is because it has always been ridiculously crowded when we have been.  It is crowded with grown adults who are acting like they don’t see the little children all around them just wanting to catch a glimpse of a fish swimming through the water.  People are pushing and shoving to get past you.  Just when you get to a viewing window, someone jumps in front of you.  I have been to the aquarium during holidays, the middle of the week, early in the morning, and late in the afternoon but it is always packed wall to wall with people.

On this visit, though, we took one of several behind the scenes tours that are offered.  We were able to see the top of the Ocean Voyager exhibit which houses the whale sharks.  We got there just in time for the 10:30am feeding where we watched aquarium staff float on top of the water dropping the whale sharks their mid-morning snack.

We also saw the top of the live coral reef exhibit, the commissary where they prepare the food for the fish, and the veterinary clinic.  We learned how you can look up to see a water wonderland and not this:

There are several options for Behind the Scenes tours for various budgets.

Here are a few of our tips to help you make the best of your visit and enjoy it.

Book a Behind the Scenes tour in advance if it is in the budget.  This will give you a look at some things you might have missed and tours are limited in size.  The Quick Dip tour is only about twenty minutes in length and costs $14+tax per person.

If you haven’t already booked a time, head to Guest Services as soon as you arrive to pick up your show times for the Dolphin Tales Show and the Deepo’s Undersea Wondershow. Both are included in your ticket but times are limited and are first come, first serve.  We got our movie times booked at 12noon and the next available show was 4pm.

Get in line early.  Ticket entry is done on a timed basis.  You will choose your time when you purchase your tickets.  If your entry time is 2pm, do not expect to walk up to the aquarium at 1:59pm and be inside by 2.  We waited in line for almost 30m before we got into the aquarium.

Save money by visiting during off-peak times.  Ticket prices vary and they are lower during the traditionally off-peak periods.

Leave the strollers at home unless absolutely necessary.  Because the aquarium gets crowded, strollers just get in the way.  Consider wearing your little one in a sling or something similar.  There are a number of places where you have to leave the stroller to enter an exhibit.

Leave the guns, knives, matches, lighters, and fishing poles (yes, it really does say fishing poles on the website) at home.  This may seem silly but my husband had to turn in his pocket knife, which he carries everywhere.  You aren’t surrendering it forever; you check it, and get it back later.  When we were picking up the knife at the end of our visit, we saw the box of lighters that had been collected during the day.  There must have been 1000 lighters in the box!

Know that there is a security check.  Purses and bags are all checked before you are allowed to enter the aquarium.

See the Dolphin Tales show and get there early.  I thought the Dolphin Tales show was a little bit Sea World meets Las Vegas and my kids adored it.  They loved the storyline, the dolphins jumping in and out of the water, and the performers swimming with them.

You can not bring food into the aquarium.  There is a small restaurant, but it is pricey.  We needed a snack so we bought a  brownie, a bottle of soda and a bottle of water for 10 dollars.  If you are buying your ticket online, you can purchase one of three meals ahead of time, Cafe Aquaria Combos, for $10 each (at a savings of up to 17% compared to regular pricing).  A sample meal is a hamburger, french fries, whole fruit and a fountain drink.  No substitutions can be made at time of purchase.

You will have to pay to park.  You can also purchase parking ahead of time with your ticket.  We walked from our hotel during the visit but we have parked in a nearby parking garage during past visits.

Have you ever had an activity or city that you wanted to love but something prevented it?  Was there something that made you change your mind (like the Behind the Scenes tour changed my mind about the Georgia Aquarium)?  Share with us in the comments!

*Thank you to the Omni at the CNN Center for providing us with tickets to the Georgia Aquarium.  As always, opinions are mine with no outside influences.

Crowds (on a holiday weekend)

This past weekend we went to the Georgia Aquarium.  Even though we have been to the aquarium two other times, this weekend, we got a Behind the Scenes tour that was amazing and worth the visit.  More on our visit later but I leave you with the one reason I highly recommend the Behind the Scenes tour if you are headed to the Georgia Aquarium…

Visit Delicious Baby to see other Photo Friday submissions!

*Thank you to the Omni CNN Center for covering our cost to the Georgia Aquarium.  As always, opinions are always my own and not influenced by any outside influences.