Some of my favorite vacation spots are beach towns like Amelia Island in Florida. Being only 45 minutes from Jacksonville, 3 hours from Orlando and 4 hours from Tampa, it’s a great spot to take your family and disconnect from the hectic lives that we all live.
There are 13 miles of beaches to explore, wildlife to meet close-up and lots of outdoor adventures for the entire family to be entertained by. Kim Orlando of TravelingMom.com was recently hosted by the Amelia Island tourist bureau and got to experience Amelia Island first-hand with her husband and two kids. It was a battle against the electronics, but fun none-the-less.
Here’s a quick taste of what they experienced at Amelia Island:
View Kim Orlando’s full reviews of the hotel and attractions that she experienced while on Amelia Island.
Check out the 30 plus activities for families in the Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach area.
This post was sponsored by TravelingMom.com.
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THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. We had 48 entries and random.org selected lucky number 7 which is Heidi Gollub. Congrats Heidi – I hope your family enjoys the new Giants of the Savanna!
After 17 months of renovations, the Dallas Zoo has totally stepped it up. It is now home to the new Giants of the Savanna area and one of the top activities for kids in Dallas. Families on Trekaroo rave about this new 11-acre area filled with elephants, giraffes, impalas, zebras, ostriches, lions, warthogs, red river hogs, guinea fowl, and cheetahs. There are even a few areas that are air-conditioned near the elephants and insects of the savanna plus lots of interactive features to keep kids engaged and learning.
Wanna dine next to the King of the Jungle? Head to the Serengeti Grill and grab lunch with the lions who are lazing alongside the floor to ceiling glass windows of the restaurant. It’s pretty amazing. For more Dallas Zoo reviews.
Related articles: Family Vacation Guide for Dallas
The Steal: Win a pack of 4 tickets to the Dallas Zoo
Trekaroo is giving away a pack of 4 tickets to the Dallas Zoo
Number of Winners: One (1) winner
Prize: 4 tickets to the Dallas Zoo and their new Giants of the Savanna. (Value $48)
How to enter:
Leave a comment telling us about a favorite zoo moment with the kids.
For additional entries, feel free to do any or all of the following. Each one counts as an extra entry but be sure to LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ONE.
- Write a review on Trekaroo about any zoo you’ve been to with the kids and post a link to it in the comments (include your Trekaroo username) one entry per review. (each review gets you 5 entries)
- Subscribe to the Trekaroo Blog
- Tweet a link to this Monday Mad Steal via @Trekaroo
- Post this on your Facebook Wall using the Facebook Share link above
- Fan Trekaroo on Facebook
- Follow Trekaroo on Twitter
- Post this giveaway on your blog
- Subscribe to Trekaroo in your reader
Rules and guidelines:
- 18 years of age or older
- US Residents only
Deadline to enter: Sunday, October 31, 2010 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.
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Esther Lee is a contributing writer for Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
Everything in Texas is big and there’s plenty of big fun in Dallas to enjoy when you’re on vacation with the kids. Based on information from local parents and visits to Dallas with the entire family, here’s a quick guide on all that you need when traveling to the Dallas area with the kids.
When to Visit
- What to Do
- Where to Stay
** Sponsored Link: Dallas, TX Hotels from $39!
- Where to Eat (check back for updates)
- Discounts (check back for updates)
For more ideas on things to do and where to stay with the family, check out these other destinations in Texas: Houston and the Gulf Coast, San Antonio, and Austin.
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Esther Lee is a contributing writer for Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
Here’s a list of the best annual events in the Dallas area that are good for family fun. Are we missing something? Email us at editor@trekaroo.com and let us know.
Texas State Fair (September 24 – October 17, 2010)
An annual state fair held in Dallas, Texas (USA) that usually runs from the last Friday in September and ends 24 days later. The fair is held at the historic Fair Park where it has been held since 1886. Tons of activities, events and rides that kids of all ages will love. Photo courtesy of the Dallas CVB.
- Related article: Top Tips and Discounts for the Texas State Fair
The Great Pumpkin Festival at the Arboretum (Sept. 18 – Nov. 14, 2010)
Walk through the Storybook Pumpkin Village and discover four houses made completely out of pumpkins based on different children’s book. Visitors can also visit The Tom Thumb Pumpkin Patch and purchase pumpkins to bring home and carve. Be sure to check out Mommy & Me Mondays and Tiny Tot Tuesdays plus the Children’s Concert (10/11) and the Family Fun weekend (10/30-10/31). Photo courtesy of the Arboretum.
Howl – aween Nights at the Dallas Zoo (October 28-October 31, 2010 starting at 6pm)
The Zoo will close at 4 p.m. and reopen at 6 p.m. for a not-so-scary Halloween celebration. Dance the Monster Mash, work off that sugar rush with Witch-ercize, visit the colorful, themed candy stations to trick-or-treat, ride the Haunted Carousel and more.
Texas Stampede (November 12 and 13, 2010)
Take the kids to the Texas Stampede. Rodeos, roping contests, plus there’s a special section for your young cowboys and cowgirls called Rodeo U. It’s an interactive area with activities like Mutton Bustin, Goat Roping, pony rides, a petting zoos and more.
Photo courtesy of the Texas Stampede.
Holidays at the Arboretum (TBD)
Trains at Northpark Mall (November through early January)
Every year, an elaborate model train show is set-up for kids young and old to enjoy at the Northpark Mall. There’s often one or two Thomas ones too for fanatics.
Dallas Holiday Parade (December 4, 2010 starting at 10am)
The Children’s Medical Center Holiday Parade is a free event open to the public featuring marching bands, dancers, and celebrities. Kids especially love seeing the floats, balloons and characters like Clifford, Curious George, and of course Santa. Sidewalk seating is available along the Parade route. Tickets for reserved bleacher seating are available for purchase beginning in October.
Superbowl (February 6, 2011)
Easter Egg Hunts (TBD)
Scarborough Renaissance Faire (April 9 – May 30, 2011: Weekends and Memorial Day Monday)
Every spring, the Scarborough Faire comes to Waxahachie (xx miles south of Dallas). This Renaissance Festival is open Saturdays and Sundays from the first weekend in April until Memorial Day Monday. There are 21 stages with more than 200 performances. Three jousting shows take place each day. Photo courtesy of the Scarborough Renaissance Faire.
Trying to figure out how to get around Dallas and whether you need a car? Here’s some quick advice.
Texans love their cars and Dallas is no different. However, don’t be fooled. If you’re only in town for the weekend and primarily visiting the downtown attractions, don’t worry about renting a car. Public transportation will be adequate.
However, if you’re planning on being in town for more than 3 days, I would recommend renting a car and visiting some of the attractions that are on the outskirts like Six Flags or heading over to Fort Worth. Be sure to check what your hotel’s parking policy is because parking fees can get quite expensive.
All the major car rental agencies (Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, Budget, Dollar and Thrifty) have offices at DFW airport, Love airport and other locations around the city. Check for rates at priceline.com, they’re usually the best price in town.
If you’re planning on traveling mostly around the downtown Dallas area, ditch the car and use the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) buses and light rail which provides 45 miles of light rail and 120 bus routes. Visit www.dart.org for routes and schedules and fare information.
Whether you use it to get around or just want to take your little ones for a “ride,” the free M-Line Streetcar (aka McKinney Avenue Trolley) is worth using. Our family used it to get from our downtown hotel to the Dallas Arts District. A few of these trolleys date as far back as 1906. You can catch one year-round between 7am and 10pm weekdays, 10am and 10pm weekends (every 15 min. during peak and lunch hours, every half-hour off-peak hours and weekends).
Other Dallas articles
- What to Do in Dallas
For more ideas on things to do and where to stay with the family, check out these other destinations in Texas: Houston and the Gulf Coast, San Antonio, and Austin.
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Esther Lee is a contributing writer for Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
