MLK Day is a great time to nurture your little dreamers by enjoying time together as a family. Here are some kid-friendly MLK events going on around the country.  These events are a fun way to help our children connect with our nation’s heros who’ve worked to make the dream of the civil liberties come true.

• Kid-friendly Martin Luther King Events Around the US
• Martin Luther King Activities and Events for Kids in Connecticut
• Martin Luther King Activities and Events for Kids in Northern California

MLK Monument – Photo by: Flickr/tedeytan

National Parks are Free on MLK

Take advantage of the free admission to National Parks across the country to inspire your children to dream of a better world.  As you enjoy a hike together, take the time to share some of your dreams with each other and how we can each help to make those dreams a reality.

Kings Canyon National Park – Photo by: Flickr/Jeff Pang

• Free Kid-friendly California National Parks in Honor of MLK
• Kid-friendly National Parks Offering Free Admission in Arizona
• Kid-friendly National Parks Offering Free Admission in New Mexico

…more National Parks Offering Free Admission on MLK

LiLing Pang is Trekaroo’s Founder, a wife, & a mom to two active boys and a 4 month old baby girl.

Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC| FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR| PA| TN | TX | VA | WA

When we started Trekaroo 3 years ago, we had a dream.  A dream to inspire and enable families to explore the world. We see travel as a vehicle for building family bonds, developing a broader world view and developing a heart of compassion for people in need.  Our family had the opportunity to do just that a few weeks ago as we explored Cambodia.

Cambodia is a beautiful country with a grand history told through the magnificent temple ruins of Angkor Wat. However, it is also a country that in recent history was ravaged by civil war.  During our travels, we met a wonderful traveling family – Brandon and Andrea Ross.  The Ross family moved half-way across the world, drawn to Cambodia for it’s beauty to start a travel tour company called Journey’s Within.  However, as travel often does, it opened their eyes.  When they saw the harsh realities facing their Cambodian friends, they realized that they could do something to help.  That’s the story of how they came to start the non-profit arm of their work in Southeast Asia called Journey’s Within Our Community (JWOC).  Our family was fortunate enough to spend a few hours befriending some of the children who benefit from the great work that JWOC is doing.

5 for $25

Help Trekaroo give away $2000 to worthy causes

Here’s how it works.

Step 1: Write 5 reviews

Write 5 reviews of kid-friendly attractions, activities, hotels, or restaurants.  By doing so, you’ll be helping inspire and equip families to keep exploring.  Join/Sign in and start writing reviews

Step 2:  Designate a non-profit  to receive $25

Pick a non-profit or school for Trekaroo to donate $25 to in your honor. Must be a qualified 501(c)(3) organization. Designate a non-profit >

Step 3:

Invite your friends who care about the same cause to join in too and raise even more for your non-profit or school.  Send your friends an email or post it on your non-profit’s Facebook page or group.

Official Rules:

• Your reviews must be authentic and based on your real experience
• Only reviews written after Jan 5, 2011 qualify
• Qualified reviews must be of kid-friendly places and include helpful opinions and tips for parents
• We will donate a max of $25 per member, but there is no limit on the number of friends you can invite to participate in 5 for $25 to benefit your cause.
• We will keep donating until we’ve given away all $2000
• Your school or non-profit must be a qualified 501(c)(3) organization.

If you’re inspired to help make a difference, but don’t have any special non-profit in mind, here are some of our favorites:

World Vision

World Vision is Christian humanitarian organization that is dedicated to working with children, families and their communities in the US and Worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.  They work in some of the most war-torn and poverty-stricken communities around the world.  They also run a highly effective child sponsorship program if your family is interested in sponsoring a child.  World Vision is often one of the first NGO’s to respond to disasters around the world alongside the Red Cross and UN.

International Justice Mission

International Justice Mission (IJM) is a human rights agency that brings rescue to victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. IJM lawyers, investigators and aftercare professionals work with local officials to secure immediate victim rescue and aftercare, to prosecute perpetrators and to ensure that public justice systems – police, courts and laws – effectively protect the poor.  More children, women and men are held in slavery right now than over the course of the entire trans-Atlantic slave trade.  IJM rescues victims, seeks to bring perpetrators to justice, provide aftercare for victims, and works to strengthen community factors and local judicial systems that will deter potential oppressors.

Journey’s Within our Community

Journey’s Within our Community (JWOC) is a small hands on non-profit.  JWOC runs five projects promoting improved living conditions for people in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. They work to promote economic and educational opportunities while also improving health. Their work includes a scholarship program to help students complete university education, free English classes, clean water projects, and a small microfinance intiative.

Big City Mountaineers

Big City Mountaineers transforms the lives of under-served urban youth through wilderness mentoring expeditions that instill critical life skills. Their curriculum improves integrity, self- esteem, responsibility, decision-making abilities and communication skills in close to 1,000 youth annually.

And don’t forget to Vote for Team Trekaroo today.

If you’re heading to New York City, one of things you must do even with kids is to catch one of the many amazing performances on or off broadway.  While not every performance is suitable for kids, you can’t miss Voca People – the latest YouTube sensation to hit the stage in New York City. This alien a capella group has landed and will enamor you with their playful renditions of our favorite earth tunes.  Your family will love the beautiful harmonies blended with quirky alien humor. The small intimate venue at the Westside Theatre assures you that there isn’t a bad seat in the room and plenty of opportunities for audience participation.

Watch more Voca People videos on their youtube channel.

“This show is a terrific combination of incredible vocals that recreate popular songs of our time, as well as entertaining comedy that often includes members of the audience.  It’s an out-of-this-world experience that my family really enjoyed taking part in!” shares MsRigs who recently attended a performance of Voca People with her family.

Read Trekaroo’s full review of the Voca People at the Westside Theatre

The Deal:  Family Four Pack for just $179 (45% off)

Regular tickets for Voca People are $79.50 and lower.  Premium tickets are $110.  Trekaroo families can purchase the special Family 4 pack for just $179  That’s an amazing 45% discount!  So don’t miss this performance that is perfect for anyone 5 to 105.

Use this discount code at check out: VPFOUR4

THREE EASY WAYS TO BUY:
1. Click here to buy now at BroadwayOffers.com!

2. Or call Telecharge at (212) 947-8844; (Outside the NY metro area 800.872.8997) and mention code VPFOUR4

3. Or visit the Westside Theatre Box Office, 407 West 43rd Street (between 9th and 10th Avenues) and mention code VPFOUR4
Box Office hours are: Monday through Sunday, Noon to 6pm for advance sales. For day-of-performance orders, the box office is open until curtain time.

The Steal:  Win 4 Tickets to a Performance of Voca People worth $318

One winner will receive 4 regular tickets to a performance of Voca People.

HOW TO ENTER TO WIN:

Step 1: Share this giveaway by clicking the Facebook “Like” button at the top of this page

Step 2: Leave a blog comment below letting us know that you did.

REALLY WANT TO WIN?  YOU CAN ENTER EVERYDAY!
Get extra entries by repeating steps 1 and 2 once a day.  But be sure to leave a new comment each time.

Get even more additional entries:

Feel free to do any or all of the following actions.  Each action counts as an extra entry but be sure to LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT BELOW FOR EACH ACTION or the entry will not be counted.

• Fan the Voca People Facebook Page
  
• Fan Trekaroo on Facebook.
  
• Tweet a link to this giveaway via @Trekaroo using the Twitter share button at the top of the page.
• Click on the Google +1 at the top of the page to share this giveaway with your friends

• Subscribe to the Trekaroo Blog
• Follow Trekaroo on Twitter
• Post this giveaway on your blog

Rules and guidelines:

• 18 years of age or older
• US Residents only

Deadline to enter: Sunday, Aug 7, 2011 at 11:59PM PST

What is Monday Madness?

Every Monday, Trekaroo announces on our blog, either a fantastic giveaway or an incredible deal.  It could be a green water bottle, a hotel stay on Maui or theme park tickets. Return every Monday to the Talking Trekaroo Blog for the details. Want a reminder? Become a Trekaroo member or follow us on facebook or twitter.

Thanks to Contest for Moms, Online Sweepstakes, CashNet Sweepstakes, and Sweepstakes Advantage and Contest Girl.

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THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED

Congratulations to Ann, lucky number 26.

Have you ever felt too cooped up in your sleeping bag or wished you could snuggle up with your honey for warmth but can’t be cause you’re both cacooned up in your own individual sleeping bags?  Then you might just want to consider the roomy Supernova Sleeping Bag by Kelty which can be zipped together to make a double sleeping bag or separated for an extra roomy individual sleeping bag that’s great for tall people.  Saving Centsably took it for a spin recently, “The material of this sleeping bag is SO soft! Even in the hot Georgia summer weather, I wanted to snuggle down inside it simply because it was so comfortable!”

Here’s a quick summary of the pros and cons.  (Read the full review of the Supernova Sleeping Bag by Kelty)

Pros:

• Very roomy even for really tall adults
• Flexible – can be zipped together as a double sleeping bag
• Soft and comfy
• Warm bag -30 degrees
• Price is right

Cons:

• Bulky as to be expected
• Hard to fold

Well, a double sleeping bag needs a perfect place to rest, and the Kelty Sleep Eazy Air Mattress is it.  If you’re thinking that all queen-sized air-mattresses are super bulky and heavy, then think again. “…this air mattress comes in a very compact little bag (with handles), which makes it easy for my kids to haul to the camper without a problem,” says Saving Centsably

Here’s the low down of the pros and cons.  (Read our full review of the Kelty Sleep Eazy Air Mattress)

Pros:

• Stores away very compactly
• Lightweight and highly portable
• Pump attached inflates and deflates very quickly
• Sturdy
• Comfortable

Cons:

• Pump requires 12 hours of charging before first use
• Pricer than competitve products

The Deal:  Get 20% off the Kelty Sleep Eazy

For the next 90 days, buy the Kelty Sleep Eazy Air Matrress from Kelty.com.  Trekaroo families will get an exclusive 20% off.  In addition, you’ll receive free ground shipping on purchases of $75 or more,

Enter Discount Code: Trekaroo20

The Steal:  Win a Kelty Camping Package for Mom and Dad Valued at $400

Details: One very lucky winner will receive

• One Supernova Sleeping Bag
• One Sleep Eazy Queen-sized Air Mattress

HOW TO ENTER TO WIN:

Step 1: Share this giveaway using the Facebook by clicking the FB “Like” button at the top of the page

Step 2: Leave a blog comment below letting us know that you did.

Get extra entries by repeating steps 1 and 2 once a day.  But be sure to leave a new comment each time.

Get even more additional entries:

Feel free to do any or all of the following actions.  Each action counts as an extra entry but be sure to LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ONE or the entry will not be counted.

• Fan Kelty Facebook Page
  
• Fan Trekaroo on Facebook.
  
• Tweet a link to this Monday Mad Steal via @Trekaroo using the Twitter share button at the top of the page.

• Subscribe to the Trekaroo Blog

• Follow Trekaroo on Twitter
• Post this giveaway on your blog

Rules and guidelines:

• 18 years of age or older
• US Residents only

Deadline to enter: Sunday, July 24, 2011 at 11:59PM PST

What is Monday Madness?

Every Monday, Trekaroo announces on our blog, either a fantastic giveaway or an incredible deal.  It could be a green water bottle, a hotel stay on Maui or theme park tickets. Return every Monday to the Talking Trekaroo Blog for the details. Want a reminder? Become a Trekaroo member or follow us on facebook or twitter.

Thanks to Contest for Moms, Online Sweepstakes, CashNet Sweepstakes, and Sweepstakes Advantage and Contest Girl.

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