Conner Prairie - Interactive History Park

Last week, the kids and I took a field trip to Conner Prairie in Fishers, Indiana. As a child, I always enjoyed stepping back in time with a visit to Conner Prairie. That was a field trip experience I looked forward to and was excited to have several teachers who took us to visit the park.

Conner Prairie is an interactive history park - which means you are able to get involved and have a more hands-on experience while learning about the past. Employees within the park are dressed in period appropriate attire and speak as if they are living in that era. This helped to "open up" history for Joey. He began to better grasp the idea that not everyone has lived how we experience life. No cell phones? No computers? No cars or video games? No running water? It was neat to watch as Joey began to process the thought of not having certain possessions or conveniences.

They were able to experience how life was different in Indiana all those years ago. They were amazed that people cooked their meals over a fire. Joey thinks it's neat when I cook our meals over a fire when we're camping and now wants me to cook every meal that way.  Oh dear! 

The kids watched a blacksmith go about his daily work and listened as he explained is trade. They spoke with early settlers to Indiana and got an inside look at what their homes were like.

They were also able to experience a brief moment of how school would have been in those days and what types of toys the children would have owned. Savannah and Joey both enjoyed the simple game of hoop rolling. I loved watching them pick it up with ease and begin having fun.

I'm not sure which experience the kids found most memorable. They've told everyone about their ride in a hot air balloon, joining the military, walking on stilts and going to school.

You can view all of our pictures in the slideshow below.

Conner Prairie is a great place to visit if you're in the Indianapolis area.  It's a fun field trip idea and a nice way to spend the day with your children.  

Conner Prairie also offers fun events and activities throughout the year. I'm looking forward to taking them to the Headless Horseman activities this month!  I loved going to that when I was younger and hope they enjoy it just as much.

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The Verrückt at Kansas City Schlitterbahn

So, Joey wants to know if we can go and ride the Verrückt at Kansas City Schlitterbahn. The Verrückt is scheduled to open this Summer and will be the world's largest waterslide.

Photo Credit: www.schlitterbahnnews.com

Joey cried on White Water Canyon at Kings Island. So, I don't think we'll be riding this. Not just yet.

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Halloween Haunt at Kings Island!

It is finally that time of year again! Time to pull out the cute and spooky Fall decorations! I love Fall and the many events that take place during this time of year. One of them being Halloween Haunt at Kings Island!

Darkness falls. Evil rises. Each weekend night, Kings Island transforms into a horror-filled nightmare. From mazes with terrifying creatures around every corner to thrill rides that'll haunt your dreams, it's everything you fear and can't wait to experience. Not for anyone under 13.
Credit: www.visitkingsisland.com/haunt

When I was younger, my brother always enjoyed visiting Kings Island during this time of year. Though the event had a different name "back in the day".  He always made sure to visit and always enjoyed it. I never understood his excitement. I'm more into the cute pumpkin decorations as opposed to spiders, skeletons and tombstones. So, unfortunately, I never went with him and experienced it.

Last year, I went to Halloween Haunt for the first time! I attended the RIP Party and then spent hours enjoying coasters and a few of their haunted mazes and scare zones. Though I am still not a big fan of ghouls, ghosts and goblins - I do have a lot of fun. The spooky characters wonder through the park - at moments speaking to you. I could do without visiting the mazes and scare zones. I'm just there for the rides! I love riding the coasters at night, especially the Beast!

I'm usually with a group that wants to go through the mazes - so we do venture through them. Note that the mazes and scare zones are not intended for children. All the spooky imagery and characters that come with Halloween Haunt are again - not my thing. However, the costumes and makeup are fascinating! I can't imagine how much time it takes to get that many ghouls and ghosts ready.

Image courtesy of Kings Island

Image courtesy of Kings Island

A few of the mazes:

:: Carnevil

:: Board to Death

:: Club Blood

:: Cornstalkers

:: Delta Delta Die


If you're like me and really enjoy the park over the themed attractions of Halloween Haunt - don't worry! There are plenty of rides and food to enjoy! The major thrill rides are usually operating and the lines aren't incredibly long. I've not yet ridden Diamondback at night but I imagine it is as amazing as the Beast is.



Check out Halloween Haunt hours and ticket information here.



*I was provided with media passes to Kings Island's Halloween Haunt. All opinions are my own.

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Kings Island announces Banshee!

As you know, I am an amusement park enthusiast!  I try to visit all the parks that I can and ride as many of their rides as possible.  Luckily, my kids also love amusement parks and rides.  The nearest amusement park is Kings Island - so we usually try to purchase season passes and visit often.

Today I am thrilled because Kings Island has announced plans for a screaming new world record-breaking inverted roller coaster coaster to open in 2014!  Banshee!




Also, I want whatever program they used to create this virtual Kings Island! I have Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 - and can't create anything as amazing as the park in this birds-eye view.





So, who wants to ride this terrifyingly awesome looking coaster with me?

KINGS ISLAND, Ohio – The longest inverted steel roller coaster in the world, “Banshee,” will make its debut at Kings Island in April of 2014.

The first female-inspired thrill ride at a Cedar Fair Entertainment Company amusement park, Banshee will send riders screaming through 4,124.1 feet of track and seven mind-bending inversions at speeds up to 68 miles per hour during the 2-minute, 40-second ride.

Built over hilly terrain and incorporating the most exciting features of the very best inverted roller coasters in the world, Banshee will feature several unique elements that distinguish the ride from others.

The ride begins with a lift taking riders up to the maximum height of 167 feet. After plunging down 150 feet, riders will go through a dive loop, followed by a vertical loop, zero gravity roller, two batwing inversions, a second vertical loop and a 170-foot long heartline finale.

Two of the most unique features about Banshee are the massive size of every loop, and unlike other roller coasters, the top speed isn’t reached until halfway through the ride’s course.

Since Banshee’s lift hill is on a higher elevation of terrain than the other side of the ride that goes down into a valley, the total elevation change is 208 feet from the highest point at the top of the lift hill to the lowest point, which is the bottom of the batwing between loops four and five.

Passengers will be seated in cars four across. A total of three trains, each containing eight cars, will enable Banshee to accommodate approximately 1,650 riders per hour.

“Banshee reflects our commitment to providing the best in world-class thrills and value for our guests and is an investment in the Ohio tourism industry,” Kings Island’s vice-president and general manager Greg Scheid said. “People from around the world will plan a visit to Ohio next summer specifically to experience this ride."

Banshee will be the 15th roller coaster at Kings Island, which is home to some of the top-ranked roller coasters in annual industry and enthusiast polls including The Beast and Diamondback, and represents the biggest new product investment in the park’s 41-year history at $24 million.

Banshee was designed by Bolliger and Mabillard of Monthey, Switzerland, one of the premier leaders in roller coaster development. Since 1990, B&M have designed a number of ground-breaking and critically acclaimed roller coasters. In fact, B&M features 14 of the top 25 roller coasters on the Amusement Today Golden Ticket Awards Top Steel Roller Coasters list for 2012, five of which are listed in the top 10. They have more top-ranked steel roller coasters than any other ride manufacturer on the list.

B&M roller coasters are renowned for their smooth ride, comfortable seats and restraints, reliability, low maintenance, impeccable safety record and ride capacity.

As of 2013, B&M has more than 85 roller coasters operating worldwide, including Diamondback at Kings Island and this year’s sensation, GateKeeper at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio.

The construction of Banshee is currently underway in the Action Zone area of Kings Island. Park visitors can see the ride being built from the ground up with great aerial views and photo opportunities available from the observation deck of the Eiffel Tower on International Street. Those who cannot wait until 2014 may take a virtual ride on Banshee at visitkingsisland.com/banshee.

Visitors to visitkingsisland.com/banshee may also access exclusive Banshee updates, virtual videos and renderings, ride statistics and more.

Kings Island is owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, a publicly traded partnership that is listed for trading on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FUN.” In addition to Kings Island, Cedar Fair owns and operates ten other amusement parks, four water parks, an indoor water park, and five hotels. Cedar Fair also operates the Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park in Gilroy, Calif. under a management contract.

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Kings Island Ticket Giveaway!

Growing up, I was lucky enough to live near a fantastic amusement park.  Kings Island!  We would make at least one trip to Cincinnati, Ohio each Summer to enjoy a day at the park.  Some years, we had season passes and could visit more often.  I always looked forward to spending time with my family at Kings Island.

Now, I get to take my own children to this fun place!  They love riding coasters and other thrill rides as much as I do!  My long love for Kings Island makes this announcement even more exciting!

Bloggy Moms is giving away Kings Island tickets!!! 

Bloggy Moms is giving away two (2) sets of four (4) Kings Island tickets!

This giveaway ends at 12:00am on Tuesday  June 25, 2013 - so enter today!


How to enter:

Entering for a chance to win is simple!  Use the form below to enter your name, email address and link for a chance to win! 

Note: If you do not have a blog, you can enter your Facebook or Twitter URL. You must enter an email address.  Giveaway ends June 25, 2013 at 12:00am

Let your friends know that you've entered for a chance to win with a quick tweet! 

WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

No purchase necessary to enter. Giveaway begins at 11:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday, June 18, 2013 and ends at 12:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday, June 25, 2013. The winner will be drawn randomly and announced on this page.  All entries received after the Giveaway closing date and time will not be considered. Entries that do not follow all of the entry requirements will not be considered. The Winner will be notified via Twitter during the above mentioned Twitter party. Winner will have 24 hours to confirm their email address. If the winner does not reply within 24 hours, another winner will be selected. Open to participants in the U.S. who are 18 years and older. Void where prohibited. Taxes on Giveaways are solely the responsibility of the winner. Winner agrees to permit Bloggy Moms and the Giveaway Sponsor to use her or his name, voice, photo, or likeness for reasonable promotional and marketing purposes. Bloggy Moms and the Giveaway Sponsor(s)are not liable for late or misdirected entries, entry errors, or transmission problems. Bloggy Moms reserves the right to terminate the Giveaway in the event of technical problems, or to correct typographical or technical errors, or to amend these rules. By entering, participants agree to release and hold harmless Bloggy Moms and Giveaway Sponsor(s) and their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees, and agents from any and all liability or any injuries, loss, or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with the Giveaway. Bloggy Moms will provide the name of the winner for any Giveaway, upon request, for 30 days after that Giveaway’s entry period ends. Unless otherwise provided by the Sponsor(s), no substitution, transfer, or assignment of prizes is permitted. Non-winning entries from one Giveaway are not carried forward to future Giveaways.

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How to plan a day at an amusement park

1. Before you even begin loading up the car to make your way to the Amusement Park, log onto the computer! You will want to verify the weather forecast for the day. You can log onto www.weather.com and enter the zip code of the park for a very accurate look at what your day may hold.



2. If the weather looks agreeable, start packing your survival kit! Most parks allow you to bring a bag full of necessary items to better survive your day with them. Pack basics such as sun screen, sun glasses, a hat, a swim suit and towel (if they also have a water park). If you're going to the water park, you should also bring a little bottle of shampoo and conditioner. The better you can protect yourself from the sun, the better you will feel during the day.

3. Another way to help protect against the sun and dehydration: Drink as much water before entering the park as you can. Most parks provide free Ice Water (not bottled)at their refreshment stands. Drink as much water as you can stomach (and not get sick on rides!). This will help you feel physically better throughout the day.

4. Choose an outfit that covers sun burn prone areas of the body such as
shoulders. Also, wear clothes that aren't heavy and will dry quickly if they get wet. Clothing made from jean material is not a good choice of clothing.

5. Wear comfortable shoes! You will be standing most of the day, keep the most worked part of your body as comfortable as possible. A comfortable pair of tennis shoes are a great choice. Flip Flops are not.

6. When you arrive at the park, get a park map! This is a great way to find the newest attractions and rides as well as bathrooms, lost parents booths and refreshments.

7. If you are bringing small children, stop by a park office as soon as you enter the park. Most parks will have a lost parents booth as well as a method for finding children if you become separated. A lot of parks now provide lost parents wrist bands for children. This is information you can find out before making your trip to the park. Call or email ahead of time and make a plan!

8. If you are bringing small children, know their height! This will help avoid waiting in line just to be turned away if the child does not meet ride requirements. Some parks will measure your child and give them a wrist band showing which rides are available to them based on height requirements.

9. Though we live in an age where everyone has a cell phone, agree on a meeting place and time before your group separates. Someone's phone may be lost while riding a ride or get wet and quit working all together.

10. If you are taking a cell phone, bring a water proof container to place it in. Plastic Sandwich bags are great, some small cosmetic bags are also water proof.

11. Only bring necessary keys with you. You don't want to lose your entire set throughout the day. You can rent a locker at most every amusement park to store this type of stuff throughout the day. Be careful not to lose the key to the locker! Most parks will not open the locker for you until they have closed for the evening.

12. Enjoy your day and know your limits. Riding something that may make you sick at the beginning of your day, could completely ruin your day. Take appropriate motion sickness medicine if you feel inclined.

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