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PBS Kids in the Park Review, 2015

June 21, 2015 by Mama Carmody 15 Comments

PBS Kids in the Park Review, 2015

Saturday, June 13th was, once again, PBS Kids in the Park. The event was at Military Park in downtown Indianapolis. I had attended two years ago but this year was extra special. My grandson and daughter were able to attend with me.

Keagan won’t be two years old until the end of July so I wasn’t sure how much he would enjoy this. My daughter said that he watches most of the characters so we thought there would be some interest. I believe my daughter was more excited than anyone. Well, that is until the characters started to appear. Once he starting seeing the characters, this was the expression we received:

He can hardly contain his excitement once he sees the characters.

Needless to say, he was ecstatic. He must have yelled, “Super Why!” 50 times over the course of the day.

My favorite part of the day is the character parade. It is the first thing to kick off the event. My suggestion is to get there early and find a place to the left of the stage. (That is left as you are facing the stage.) This is the best advantage for the children to see the characters. The characters march up from the left side of the stage and across it, then down the other side. One of the reasons I like to get to the left of the stage rather than right in front of it is because the kids can stand or sit in their strollers and easily see the characters. We weren’t having to lift him up so he could see up on stage.

Here were some of the pictures of the parade. I believe I have the names of all the characters this time; thanks to my daughter and a couple of Facebook friends. Check out my post from two years ago: PBS Kids in the Park Review. It was pathetic. I only knew a couple of the characters and I didn’t get much help from anyone so they went nameless.

This is Daniel Tiger. His show is a spin-off of the Neighborhood of Make-Believe from Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.

Starting at the front of the parade (the right side of the picture), that is Buddy from Dinosaur Train, next is Word Girl. Most of you are probably familiar with the next character, Curious George and the last character is Chirp, from Peep and the Big Wide World.

PBS Kids Day in the Park: Character Parade

Again, starting from the front of the parade (the right side of the picture), the first two are Migel and Mia. They are brother and sister. I’ve loved the next character since I was a little girl. That’s Clifford the Big Red Dog. He doesn’t seem to be quite as big as he was in the storybooks. Behind Clifford is Wonder Red.

PBS Kids in the Park: Sid the Science Kid

This is Sid the Science Kid. I’m not familiar with him but I loved science so maybe I should check him out.

PBS Kids in the Park: Super Why and Princess Pea

These two characters are on the same show. It’s one that my grandson simply loves. This is Super Why and Princess Pea. The dog in the picture below is Woofster. He is also from the same show.

This purple bird is Digit. He is one of the characters on Cyberchase. It is a fun children’s show that incorporates math in their adventures.

The above characters are Peg and Cat, which come from the show by the same name. Cat stopped to show us a few of his dance moves. He is definitely a groovin’ cat.

And last, but definitely not least, is Alpha Pig. He is also a character on Super Why!

Meeting the Characters

If you miss the parade you do have opportunities to meet the characters throughout the day. They each have their own tent and schedule. The only problem with this is that the wait can be very long. We were lucky enough to get in the beginning of the line for Super Why and only had a 20 minute wait. Daniel the Tiger was in the other half of the same tent but it was going to be an hour and a half wait from the time we finished with Super Why. We were going to come back and get in line later until we realized that people were already lining up. We made the decision to go ahead and get in line. My daughter and I took turns taking Keagan to enjoy other activities while one of us stayed in line. As I talked with other people I found out that most of them came with a strategy. One of the people I talked to had several adults in their group. They would split up and sit in the different lines while someone else shuffled the children from spot to spot. Since it was just my daughter and me, we only waited in the two lines. Here are the pictures of Keagan meeting Super Why and Daniel Tiger.

PBS Kids Day: Meeting Super Why and Daniel Tiger

Please don’t misinterpret the pictures. Keagan was thrilled to meet the characters. He ran up to them, gave them high fives and hugs but he was NOT thrilled with us for making him turn around to get his picture taken.

Other Activities

There were several other activities besides meeting the characters. Keagan made a colorful butterfly and was able to climb and jump at the Gymboree tent.

He raced Hot Wheels and played in a sand table at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis tent.

Children's Museum Booth — Children’s Museum Booth

There were bubbles to blow at the Child Care Answers booth.

Blowing Bubbles at Child Care Answers Booth

We stopped by the main stage a couple of times to enjoy the shows that were taking place there. Keagan loves music so this was especially fun.

There was so much more to enjoy but it was getting really hot and Brittany and I were worn out. Some of the other activities we saw were a bounce house, a fire engine that the kids could go through and so much more.

My suggestions for a great day:

*** Get there early and station yourself to the left of the stage.
*** Take extra adults with you to hold places in the lines of the characters you really want to see.
*** Bring extra snacks and small toys to entertain your child if you do have to sit in a long line with them.
*** Most of all have a magically fun day.

PBS Kids in the Park Review, 2011

Shear Fun: Learning Where Fabric Comes From

April 23, 2015 by Mama Carmody 2 Comments

Shear Fun: Learning Where Fabric Comes From

It’s springtime and the weather is getting warmer, so it’s time for some “shear fun”. Have you ever heard of shearing? It’s kind of like an animal haircut. Starting in the fall animals beginning growing extra thick fur to keep them warm through the cold winter. In the springtime, they start to shed (or lose) their heavy fur.

There are many types of animals whose fur can be made into yarn. Then you know what you can do with that yarn? You can make clothes, rugs and other items you need around your house.

Have you ever seen an animal being shorn? I’ve seen it at our State Fair but last year I was able to experience it at Conner Prairie Interactive History Museum.

Shear Fun watching sheep being shorn at Conner Prairie Interactive Museum.

Each spring they have an event called “Shear Fun” where you can watch different animals being shorn. Last year they had sheep and and llamas.

We learned about cleaning and carding the wool. Carding is brushing the lumps out of the wool.

We were able to see people spinning the wool into threads to be used for sewing.

There was even an area where we were able to watch people turning flax (which is a plant) into thread to create clothing and other household items. Did you know you could make clothes out of plants?! That’s kind of neat.

Understand, Conner Prairie, isn’t just a museum full of exhibits and demonstrations. It’s an interactive, hands-on, get-in-there-and-try-it-yourself, kind of museum. There was an area where we could try our hand at some simple weaving projects.

And don’t forget the adorable animals. There are so many animals that you can touch and interact with. We had a lot of fun and we learned quite a bit too.

This year’s event happens this weekend, May 4th, 2019. Don’t miss out on the amount of “Shear Fun” that’s waiting for you.

Shear Fun at Conner Prairie Interactive Museum.

Sledding: A Family Friendly Event

February 23, 2015 by Mama Carmody 4 Comments

Sledding: A Family Friendly Event

Sledding is a great family friendly event. People of all ages can enjoy it. In Indiana, you never know the amount of snow you will get during a winter season. Last winter, we received enough snow to last for three winters (at least in my opinion). This winter we have had a lot of bitter cold temperatures but not much snow. This weekend, Indianapolis received approximately 6 inches of snow and, with the predicted temperatures, it should stay around most of the week.

The house I grew up in sat on three quarters of an acre. The front yard had a perfect slope for sledding so we never had to look for a sledding hill. I realize not everyone is that lucky, so today my husband and I headed to a couple of Indy’s local sledding hills to gather some information, just for you.

Butler Hill

I’ve spent the majority of my life in Indianapolis so I had heard about Butler Hill but had never been there. I grew up hearing how great the sledding hills were at Butler but it was not what I expected. There are two hills and they are actually behind the end zones of Butler’s football field. The hills aren’t real tall but they have enough slope and length for adults as well as kids, to get a good ride. Do watch out for the goal posts.

Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park Sledding Hill

Our second stop was at Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park. We spend a lot of time at the foot of the sledding hill each summer. I am usually sitting in a lawn chair, listening to one of the bands my husband participates in. This was the first time we experienced the hill with snow on it. It is a fairly large hill. There was plenty of action happening here. There was all types of equipment; sleds, snowboards, inner tubes, etc.. As I was facing the hill, I noticed the right side was getting a lot more use than the left. I believe there was a bit of a dip in the middle of the hill which made the ride a little more exciting.

Family Friendly Events: Sledding at Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park

My Recommendations

Both places offer great sledding. At my current stage of life, I believe I prefer Butler Hill. The two little guys in my life are 1 and 3 years old. I think I would rather drag sleds and corral little ones on the smaller hills at Butler. But I know, in the not too distant future, those two little guys will have grown enough that they will want the adventure of the bigger hill at Fort Ben. At that point, I might just have to drag along my lawn chair so I can sit at the bottom of the hill and watch them zoom up and down the hill.

Where is your favorite place to go sledding?

Here are some other Indy Sledding Hills you might want to check out:

Brookside Park
3500 Brookside Pkwy S. Dr.

Butler Hill
On the football field (Butler Bowl) next to Hinkle Fieldhouse
510 W 49th St, Indianapolis, IN 46208

Christian Park
4200 English Ave.

Ellenberger Park
5301 St. Clair

Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park
6000 N. Post Road
Indianapolis, IN 46216

Garfield Park
2450 S. Shelby St.

Glenns Valley
8015 Bluff Road

Paul Ruster Park
11300 E. Prospect St.

Rhodius Park
1001 S. Belmont St.

Southeastway Park
5624 South Carroll Road

Jolly Days Winter Wonderland Review

December 3, 2014 by Mama Carmody 7 Comments

Jolly Days Winter Wonderland Review

On Saturday, November 22, my husband, oldest daughter and great-nephew decided to head to the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. Even though it was on my November Family Friendly Events calendar, I totally forgot that it was the opening of Jolly Days Winter Wonderland. I was excited because I had never been to a Jolly Days’ event.

The lobby area is so festive with its snowflakes, over-sized snow globes and two-story Yule Slide.

Jolly Days Winter Wonderland at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis — Jolly Days Winter Wonderland at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

Two-Story Yule Slide!?! Oh, yes! Jeremiah was pretty excited about it too. Heather took him up and got in line.

My husband and I stood at the bottom to get pictures. It looks like so much fun.

Jolly Days Winter Wonderland: Yule Slide

I really want to try it sometime. I guess we will have to make another trip back there. You are never too old for the Yule Slide.

Jolly Days Winter Wonderland: Snow Castle

There are so many fun activities to participate in. Your child can “skate” in his/her socks on the special “ice” rink. There is a place for a fun snowball fight. The snowball fight is set for certain times so be sure to check out the schedule so you don’t miss it. The Snow Castle is beautiful but you can’t climb on it if you are too big. It has a slide too but it’s much smaller than the Yule Slide.

Jeremiah’s favorite part was the “ice” fishing. He spent a lot of time at each of the holes. He hooked quite a few.

Jolly Days Winter Wonderland: Ice Fishing

We missed the area where you could “bake” holiday treats. I guess we will have to go back and visit.

There was one more thing we missed. We were too early for Santa’s arrival. He didn’t arrive until the 28th of November. He is there now so that’s one more reason we need to make another trip to the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.

Jolly Days Winter Wonderland: Santa's Place — Jolly Days Winter Wonderland: Santa’s Place

Have you made it to Jolly Days Winter Wonderland? What is your favorite part? Be watching for me on the Yule Slide. I’m gonna get my turn!

Christmas at the Indianapolis Zoo Review
Review – Christmas on Monument Circle, Indianapolis

Big Splash Adventure Review

November 30, 2014 by Mama Carmody 4 Comments

Big Splash Adventure Review

Disclaimer: I was given 4 day passes to Big Splash Adventure in order to conduct my review. However, I was not influenced by the promotional materials. All opinions and insights are my own.

I have been trying to get to Big Splash Adventure, in French Lick, Indiana, for over a year now. This past weekend we loaded up our 3 year old great-nephew and headed out on our adventure.

It was rainy and dreary outside, so I didn’t get any outdoor pictures, but it was warm and inviting inside. The lobby is decorated with children in mind.

There are a couple of activities for the children to participate in while registering.

It’s was the weekend before Thanksgiving so they had all ready started decorating for Christmas. Children could even get their pictures taken with Santa Claus during special hours. We got a little busy with our activities and forgot to stop by and get Jeremiah’s picture taken.

Big Splash Adventure: Christmas at the water park

While you are registering, make sure everybody stays close because each person will need to come to the counter and have their special bracelet put on them. This was my first experience with this type of system and I loved it. The bracelet not only got us into the water park but it was also our room key and our ticket to the free breakfast buffet.

Our hotel room was clean and spacious. This was Jeremiah’s first stay in a hotel and he wasn’t really on board with the idea at first. He was worried about our home without us there. The things he comes up with just makes me smile.

Jeremiah was aware that we were there to go to the water park so he was ready to get his trunks on and head to the Adventure. We had taken him to a water park just a few weeks prior to this trip but it was nothing like Big Splash Adventure. They say a picture is worth a thousand words so let me just show you some of the awesome water activities you can enjoy.

Buccaneer Bay

This is a three story structure with ten platforms and nearly 50 interactive play features.

Buccaneer Bay has two slides. There are no height restrictions for this area so everyone can enjoy it. This was Jeremiah’s favorite section.

Big Splash Adventure: Jeremiah's favorite slide — Big Splash Adventure: Jeremiah’s favorite slide

Splish Splash Pool

This area is for the little swimmers. Children must be less than 40″ tall to play in here. There is a slide and some really fun tree bouncers for the little ones to relax in.

Lost River

One of my favorite spots was the Lost River. I didn’t get to spend nearly enough time in there. Jeremiah wasn’t too crazy about it. He was small enough that he had to wear a life jacket. For smaller children on the Lost River, there are special tubes that have bottoms in them so they can basically sit on top of them as they ride around.

Pirates Plunder, Scallywag Scuttle & Silver Beard’s Revenge

These 3 slides were too big for Jeremiah and my husband and I are not that adventurous anymore so we didn’t go down them. Although, they look like they they would be a lot of fun. You can learn more about each of them by clicking on their names above.

You can bring your own towels, if you would like, but Big Splash Adventure has towels right there for you to use. That was a great amenity because now all I had to worry about was getting wet suits home not wet bulky towels too.

Right outside, and connected to the water park, is a snack bar and arcade. As a matter of fact, you have to pass through the snack bar to enter the water park. You could order burgers, hotdogs, pizza and other items. It was convenient because you could order and eat in your swimming suits. You could take the food back into the water park and eat poolside or sit in the snack bar. It’s a bit noisy in the water park, with all the running water, so we chose to stay in the snack area. You can only carry food and drinks you bought at the snack bar into the water park but if you have one of their hotel rooms you could keep your own food in there. The hotel, water park and a couple of dining areas are all connected so you never have to leave the building once you enter.

We decided to go for a bit more substantial meal on Sunday so we visited the Boatyard Restaurant. It sits on the main floor just off the lobby. Pat and I shared a ribeye steak, baked potato and tossed salad. Jeremiah chose a grilled cheese sandwich and applesauce. We were all very pleased with our meals. The waitress was very sweet and the atmosphere was quite relaxing.

Big Splash Adventure: The Boatyard Restaurant

Between the lobby and the Boatyard Restaurant is a little gift shop called the Seaside Market. It has a lot of cute little water and beach themed trinkets, as well as souvenir t-shirts. If you forgot and left the kids swimsuits at home, you can pick up some of those too.

As soon as Jeremiah’s feet hit the floor, Monday morning, he was ready to head to the water park. We insisted on breakfast first, both for nutrition and energy. Although, Jeremiah does not lack energy! The breakfast buffet is included in the price of the hotel stay. In case you have any preconceived ideas, this is NOT one of those “continental” breakfasts you find at other hotels. This is an honest to goodness breakfast buffet. Items on the buffet included biscuits and sausage gravy, bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, crispy fried potatoes, pancakes, french toast sticks, oatmeal and toast. There was also a line with dry cereals and fruit. We had orange juice, white milk and chocolate milk to drink, which was served by our waitress. The total of our breakfast bill came to $0 but we were sure to leave our waitress a tip for taking care of our drinks and checking on us.

I thought that the prices seemed kind of high for staying in the hotel, but when I was breaking down all you get, it’s actually an awesome deal. There are several packages that include 2 days at the waterpark and the free breakfast buffet for 4 people. If you figure what it would cost to go to the park for 2 days ($21.95 per adult per day) and I estimated what a breakfast buffet would cost elsewhere (approx. $8 a person), you would be spending next to nothing for the actual room.

Big Splash Adventure has many special activities and pricing throughout the year so keep an eye on their website. We happened to catch special pricing on a Sunday/Monday stay which included the ability to purchase tickets for the Polar Express Train Ride. By the way, I had all ready checked the Polar Express website and found out that they were sold out for this year. The only tickets available were through some of the local hotels, which included Big Splash Adventure. You will hear more about that part of our weekend in a future post.

In summary, our weekend was a blast. Everywhere we went things were clean and tidy. The staff was polite and friendly. If you are planning a vacation, to Indiana, or a staycation, I would recommend checking out Big Splash Adventure and all the great things the French Lick area has to offer.

Indy Island Aquatic Center Review

PBS Kids in the Park Review, 2015

PBS Kids in the Park Review, 2015

Other Activities

Related Posts

Shear Fun: Learning Where Fabric Comes From

Shear Fun: Learning Where Fabric Comes From

Sledding: A Family Friendly Event

Sledding: A Family Friendly Event

Butler Hill

Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park Sledding Hill

My Recommendations

Jolly Days Winter Wonderland Review

Jolly Days Winter Wonderland Review

Related Posts

Big Splash Adventure Review

Big Splash Adventure Review

Buccaneer Bay

Splish Splash Pool

Lost River

Pirates Plunder, Scallywag Scuttle & Silver Beard’s Revenge

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