California’s Great America Halloween Haunt #GAHaunt @CAGreatAmerica

September 30, 2016 by The Mom Jen 1 Comment

I’m the kind of person who watches scary movies when I’m home alone, who seeks out ghost tours when I travel to a new city, and who plans my Halloween costume six months in advance. So when I was offered the opportunity to visit California’s Great America Halloween Haunt 2016, I jumped at the chance. And I wasn’t disappointed.

Before you ride any rides or visit a slaughterhouse, shall we talk food? Beginning October 7, The Haunt Boofet will be in operation from 5-7pm nightly, serving up an all-you- can eat selection of salad, chicken, eggplant parmesan, roast vegetables, rice, CARVED MEAT, and assorted goodies like chocolate cake and sugar ghost cookies. Yum.

Let’s talk haunted mazes, the staple attraction of any Halloween playground. There are eight mazes scattered around the park and you need to visit them all. From Madame Marie’s Massacre Manor to Cornstalkers to the Wax Museum Chamber of Horrors; from the Toy Factory to Zombie High to the Insanitarium, you will find screams, thrills and nightmares. But let me highlight my two favorites: Dia de Los Muertos maze and the Roadkill Road House maze. You will not find a more beautiful labyrinth anywhere than what I discovered in the Dia de Los Muertos maze. Pay a little extra to get the 3D glasses before you walk in. The glow-in- the-dark artwork throughout is mesmerizing and gorgeous, even museum-worthy. The jungle portion of the maze is trippy, in a good way. For kids on the younger side (13 is the minimum age to enter the Halloween Haunt), this is the lightest on the scare factor. Everyone should experience this one! Now I have to confess that I did not anticipate how much I would love the Roadkill Road House maze. Gore is not usually my thing. Having said that, the actors were good and the sets were even better. If your nightmare involves lots of hanging meat and plastic sheeting, you have found your home.

So…… perks. You can purchase a Skeleton Key, which works not only as a Fright Lane fast pass to all the rides and mazes, it also gains you admittance to five secret rooms to be found in the park. Guarded by skeleton men in black top hats and white tails, these mini horror experiences are so fun. Visit Vanity (so pretty), Bone Crusher (can I do it again?), Dominated (yes, mistress!), Sorority Slaughter (bad girls gone mad) and Hoarder House (what’s that smell?).

Between the attractions are shops, food stops, and (you can’t avoid it!) three Scare Zones, street areas with lots of fog and things that creep out of it. Beware when passing through Killer Clown Town, Evacuate and Lockdown!

Wrap up your evening with a show, perhaps the Academy of Villains, Sideshow, or Nytewalkers. My choice is Blood Drums. Let the rhythmic music sync up with your heart, while it’s still beating…..

California’s Great America Halloween Haunt runs from 7pm-midnight Fridays through Sundays Sept. 23-Oct. 8. Haunt extends to 7pm-1am Fridays and Saturdays Oct. 14-Oct. 29. For more information visit, https://www.cagreatamerica.com/.

Kimberly is a writer for Jen is on a Journey. She is a returned Peace Corps volunteer, natural wellness proponent, synesthete, cheese lover, steering wheel drummer, seasoned book club member, weather wimp and bad tennis player. Her introspective travel writings have garnered the praise of several friends, two kids and a husband, a dog named Wolfie and a cat named Lavender. She was hatched and raised in Missourah, but has traveled the world and now hangs out in a beautiful little California valley, playing trivia, drinking craft beers, and belting out karaoke.
Press passes were offered, all opinions are 100% my own.

Visit California’s Great America This Halloween Weekend @CAGreatAmerica

October 29, 2015 by The Mom Jen Leave a Comment

Great America Halloween Looking for some Halloween excitement this weekend, check out California’s Great America‘s Fun and Spooky activities in their final days!

THE GREAT PUMPKIN FEST
From noon-4pm Saturday 10/31 and Sunday 11/1, guests 12-and-younger can race through a hay maze, decorate mini pumpkins, color at the coloring station, and dance in a foam pit. Kids are encouraged to wear their costumes to Great America and Trick-or-Treat with Snoopy and the Peanuts gang. Don’t forget to have the little ones visit the giant talking pumpkin that will interact with kids throughout The Great Pumpkin Fest. The park is open Saturday and Sunday from 10am-5:30pm.

HALLOWEEN HAUNT
The reign of terror has it’s final days Friday 10/30 and Saturday 10/31 from 7pm-1am, and is recommended for guests 13 and older. Don’t miss the 9 mazes and attractions, 3 scare zones, and 4 live shows! Tickets can be found online at cagreatamerica.com for as low as $32.99.

7 Reasons to Buy Season Passes to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk @BeachBoardwalk

May 27, 2015 by The Mom Jen 5 Comments

Lucky for me, Santa Cruz California is just a short drive up the coast and offers a variety of activity for the traveler like world-class surfing, golf, mountain biking, kayaking and sailing, amazing mountain parks filled with towering redwood trees, plus an attractive downtown with interesting shops, sidewalk cafes, and movie theaters. Lucky for my family of 5, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk theme park has been a place for friends and fun since 1907!

It includes two National Historic Landmarks, the 1924 Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster and the Looff Carousel that offer as much thrill and classic fun as it did 108 years ago! The Boardwalk’s mission is affordable fun for the family and we believe that they come through on that promise 10-fold! After visiting for my son’s birthday recently, we came up with a list of 7 reasons to buy season passes to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk for your whole family, and your friends too!

1. The Beach Some theme parks have areas with waterslides and water features, but this is California and the beaches of the Pacific Ocean are mere steps from the Boardwalk! Locals like me can make a day trip out of the area. Pack a picnic lunch, grab your beach toys for the kids, and a good book and feel the sand in your toes! Jump in the water while you’re at it, it’s brisk but on a hot summer day it’s refreshing and there’s nothing like breathing in the salty sea air!As the evening rolls in and the kids are on the rides, take a sunset walk along the water, can’t more romantic than that! Even visiting in late October will give you amazing nights (fog-free) only a theme park on the coast can offer

2. No Admission Fee! Yes, you read that right, it’s free to walk the Boardwalk and enjoy the oceanfront! It’s open even when the rides are not. This is such a deal for families that may have a parent, a baby, or a grandparent that don’t care for the rides but want to enjoy the park as a family How many times have you paid upwards of $50 just to follow the kids all day but never get on a ride or play a game? Save that money and put it towards a season pass for the kids! Kiosks are found all along the Boardwalk to purchase ride tickets, wristbands, and you can even purchase a season pass online. Beach goers that just want to be near all the excitement and maybe pick up a funnel cake treat have no problem enjoying the Boardwalk with no extra charge!

What’s even better? When you purchase a season pass, you get a one free wristband for unlimited rides for a friend! So essentially in ONE visit your wristband is paid for and your child has a ride partner for the day, easy peasy!

-Boardwalk rides are open for full operation from Memorial Day (late May) through Labor Day (early September) plus most weekends and holidays throughout the year. A limited number of rides are open daily in April and May. Rides are closed from December 1 through December 25 for winter maintenance.

3. Rides This year marked a milestone for our family. My 9 year old daughter hit a height where she can ride the big kid rides! That’s right, she took on Giant Dipper for the first time with dad, and also joined big brother and his pals on some other rides like Wipeout and the Space Race bumper cars!For me, I could ride the Sea Swings or the Sky Glider all day long, I love the sensation of flying and the ocean breeze in my hair! Good thing the kids love those too!Thrill rides, rides for kids, family rides, you can even find the height requirement list online before you go or grab a list at the ticket kiosks to plan your day!

4. Games My family is competitive. We love playing games and those big stuffed animals make all of us a little doe-eyed and excited at the chance to win one! Walking along the Boardwalk you can find games for all ages and skills like the Water Race that’s always been my favorite. Hearing that balloon pop at the end was so thrilling, did I win?! Break a Plate, Milk Bottles, Speed Pitch, and even some games where you win every time like Lucky Duck! We watched my daughter net fish for weight and then tried our luck at Long Shot Basketball. Needless to say, getting a basket was a long shot for us, but we did see some people make it. Oh that Minion would have been cute!

The fun doesn’t stop there, the Boardwalk has over 300 video games at Neptune’s Kingdom (next door), laser tag, a shooting gallery, air hockey, mini golf, pool tables, ping pong and so much more! Did I mention the Fright Walk, climbing wall, and bowling? When buying a season pass, you open the door to heading over for the day just for rides, the next trip just for bowling….the possibilities make for an endless summer!

5. FUN Food I’ve known friends who have season passes and just head over to Santa Cruz to get chocolate covered bananas and funnel cake to satisfy their sweet tooth. It’s true that the snacks and food are abundant and delicious! Over 2 dozen restaurants, 2 dozen snack stands, and a handful of food carts you can find just about any to satisfy your family’s hunger. When we picked up our season pass renewal, we were given a set of coupons for food throughout the Boardwalk and one deal that we loved was buying the big Pepsi bottle. Once gone, refills are just 99 cents…for the rest of your visits as in the rest of the year! It comes with a handy handle that my husband would hook on to his belt loop when empty. Kettle corn, churros, deep-fried Twinkies, pretzels, and smoothies. Pizza, Chinese food, wraps, burgers, burritos, hot dogs, fish and chips, and turkey legs…oh so much goodness! My favorite has got to be Dippin’ Dots!

6. Summer Concerts and Movies Last summer was our first time to make a Friday night concert on the Beach and we cannot wait to get back! We took blankets, snacks (though you can buy some on the Boardwalk as well) and enjoyed the Fixx a band we enjoyed from the 80’s. Though the kids didn’t know any of the songs, the atmosphere was fun on the beach and the rides are only steps away! Two concerts are held each Friday (for 2015: June 19-September 4) at 6:30pm and 8:30pm and this year’s lineup include great bands like Wang Chung, Y& T, Blue Oyster Cult, Smashmouth, and singers like Eddie Money and Macy Gray! Spend a summer Friday on the rides, then pull on a sweatshirt and rock out through the evening! The concerts are free to the public, but are just an extra bonus to season pass holders!

Something we haven’t done yet but looks like another great perk is the free movie nights in the sand! Movies are shown each Wednesday night at 9 pm (for 2015: June 24-August 12) and this year you can watch The Lost Boys, Breakfast Club, The Princess Bride, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and many more.

Are you sold yet?

7. Memories I’ve been coming to the Boardwalk since I was little. I have fond memories with my friends and family and even remember school field trips that had me fall in love with Santa Cruz a little more each visit. The games, the rides, the food, the beach, and the fun just has all of my kids so eager to come back and to share the fun with their friends. I think it’s the best gift you can give your family, we’re so lucky to live in such a beautiful place with attractions like the Boardwalk nearby!

My son and his friends had a great time at the park and whether it’s for a birthday or a summer Tuesday, fun can be had.

For more information, visit http://beachboardwalk.com/.

Family day passes were provided, season pass purchases and all opinions are 100% our own!

SeaWorld, San Diego: Aquatica Waterpark

May 31, 2013 by The Mom Jen 1 Comment

Aquatica, SeaWorld’s Waterpark^TM is opening to the public this weekend and is a destination you need to add to your summer bucket list. With everything from water slides, high-speed thrills, a wave pool, beach cabanas, and animal experiences it is fun for all ages.

RIDES AND SLIDES

Whanau Way: Boasts a 60-foot water slide complex featuring six slides, four enclosed and two open air, this
ride is a must on any waterpark enthusiast’s list. The open air slides are slower and a little less scary, especially for kids, or visitors who don’t like enclosed spaces.

HooRoo Run: Choose your own adventure with two enclosed and two open-air slides that are sure to thrill with an 80-foot descent.

Woohoo Falls^®: Adventurers can choose from three water slides with speedy twists and turns, including one in the dark for those up to the challenge.

Kiwi Curl^®: Grab an inner tube and get your adrenaline pumping with one of three 60-foot-tall water slides, and you have an option to slide in the dark.

Walhalla Wave^®: This 78-foot ride is designed for families to enjoy together in a
gigantic tube. This is the only ride that offers a tube life, which means no lugging it up the stairs!

Tassie’s Twister: Plunge down a 75-foot water slide in a multi-person raft through thousands of gallons of swirling water before dropping into a six-story funnel.

ATTRACTIONS

Big Surf Shores^TM: One of the largest wave pools in Southern California with period swells of up to five feet. There is a countdown clock at the end of the pool that lets you know when the waves are going to start. There is also a white sandy beach (43,000 square feet!) to relax on lawn chairs or in private cabanas.

Loggerhead Lane: Swim or float along in an inner tube down a winding 1,250-foot long lazy river, right past a dozen Caribbean flamingos and through fountains. There are smaller tubes available for children.

Walkabout Waters: A four-story interactive and colorful attraction that features slides, hoses, jets, geysers and more. Every five minutes, a 500-gallon bucket unloads water on everyone below!

Kata’s Kookaburra
Cove^®: Children can splash and play safely in this children’s area featuring a pool and ropes.

Slippity Dippity^®: Families with toddlers can splash the day away and let their imagination run rampant as they explore an endless sea of fun at this attraction, which includes kid-sized slides.

DINING

There are several different dining options available including gourmet meals, light bites, and healthy options.

Waterstone Grill: which includes flavors from the south, east, and west and dishes include fish tacos, edamame mixed greens salad wrap, chili verde pulled pork, mandarin orange chicken and hamburgers.

Big Surf Snacks: which is a combination of salty and sweet and includes snacks such as crispy calamari, jalapeño cheese poppers, funnel cake, waffle cones sundaes and pb&j sandwiches.

Mango Market: dishes up pasta, pizza and salads, as well as hot and cold beverages.

Island Market: is where you will find hot dogs, turkey legs and cold beverages.

Rockwater Oasis: is pouring beer, wine and margaritas.

Banana Beach cookout: offers burgers and picnic-style options.

ANIMAL INTERACTIONS

Caribbean Flamingos: At Loggerhead Lane, guests will enjoy not only a lushtropical attraction with a winding 1,250-foot-long lazy river, but also an up-close view of more than a dozen Caribbean flamingos.

Freshwater Turtles: A habitat with dozens of freshwater turtles, representing several species, will live in an exhibit that will feature under- and above-water viewing.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Relax on comfortable lounge chairs, with shaded seating located. Or, splurge a little and reserve a personal cabana, which are available poolside at Big Surf Shores and Loggerhead Lane.

Small and large lockers are available (at varying prices) to store any belongings you don’t want to carry with you all day.

Gift shops and merchandise carts have everything from towels, sunscreen and flip-flops to purchase in case you left anything at home.

Complimentary life vests in all sizes are available and can be found throughout the park.

Find out more including prices and hours by visiting the Aquatica, SeaWorld’s Waterpark^TM website.

Special guest post provided to Jen is on a Journey by Tonya Staab, who was provided with complimentary access to Aquatica Waterpark.

Carlsbad, CA: LEGOLAND Water Park

April 16, 2013 by The Mom Jen 5 Comments

We’ve been to LEGOLAND California a hand-full of times now and the past few times we’ve done something new and different. Most recently we visited the Star Wars Miniland and the Sea Life Aquarium. Recently on our trip to cover the grand opening of the LEGOLAND Hotel, we visited the theme park once again and this time focused solely on the Water Park!

Bring your own towels and visit a LEGO themed water area that is perfect for the whole family. With your LEGOLAND park admission, you can park hop right into the Water Park for a few hours to cool off or spend the whole day there. The Water Park also features more than 20 LEGO models including giant LEGO friends who splash or spray water on guests, two sandy beach wading areas, retail shops and snack carts.

Our first stop and home base was the sandy beach adjacent to the Build-a-Raft River. With plenty of chairs and chaise loungers, sand to feel like you’re at the beach, and shade when it gets too warm, I felt like I was truly near the ocean and having your toes dipped in the sand this early in the Spring is just heavenly!My daughter rolled around in the sand for a good 30 minutes, bring a pail and shovel and some kids could enjoy this all day! From here, we could watch the kids line up for the Build-a-Raft River, grabbing an inner-tube and taking a relaxing ride around the park!There is a smaller river, Kid Creek, for little ones. Though I’m so glad my youngest meets the height requirement for the “big kid” slides and such!

Splash Out and Twin Chasers was the hit of the day, I think I watched them go up and slide out about a dozen times!The 45-foot-tall centerpiece of the Water Park pours water into the shallow pool below. My little one loved hanging out here, swimming around and getting doused!

We didn’t get over to the second sandy beach area, but it looked like it could be a scene out of a Carribean island.Even the littlest of water lovers can get into the action at the Water Park’s DUPLO Splash Zoo and Safari.

Cabana rentals are available, lockers provided to keep your valuables safe and dry, and Beach Front Grill offers gourmet burritos, wraps, sandwiches, salads, fresh fruit and quesadillas for when your group gets the munchies!

If you forget your towels like we did, you can buy a LEGOLAND themed one at one of the retail areas and consider it a practical souvenir! Grab yourself some passes and enjoy the LEGOLAND Water Park on your next visit, it’s a splashin’ good time!

Passes were provided, all opinions are 100% are own.