You know what I love? I love toys that encourage children to play outside and foster curiosity about the world in which we live. You know what drives me nuts? Wasting money on toys that barely last a day. My son and his friends are rough on their toys. It’s no coincidence my child’s favorite phrase is HULK SMASH! When I buy a toy for my son, I need it to do what it claims it can do. Otherwise, my 42 inch tall hulk tears it to pieces.
Having recently learned that National Geographic and Uncle Milton Industries joined forces to create an exciting new line of outdoor explorer-themed toys and activities geared to children ages five and up, I jumped at the opportunity to review them. JUMPED FOR JOY THAT IS!
Photo via Uncle Milton
Being a huge fan or both National Geographic and Uncle Milton, I somehow just knew these toys would rock and guess what? THEY ROCK, quite literally, as they’ve triumphed against rocks and survived the licking. My son and his friends had a blast exploring our backyard and neighborhood park with Uncle Milton’s new National Geographic Outdoor Explorer Series. In typical Uncle Milton fashion, these toys are high quality and built to last. In fact, some of the toys in the line are like smaller, less expensive versions of the REI models you or I would buy for our own outdoor exploration adventures.
Photo by CarlCostas.com
While at play, my son was inspired to explore his surroundings from a new perspective and I was filled with pride as he examined insects with the Outdoor Explorer Series 3-in-1 Expedition Magnifier. Uncle Milton’s new line of explorer toys brought out my son’s inner Trekaroo, captured his National Geographic adventurer spirit, and harnessed the ole’ Uncle Milton science lover within him. What do I like best about Uncle Milton’s new National Geographic Outdoor Explorer Series? They distracted my son’s inner hulk! My son was so busy blowing into his compass whistle, he forgot his main mission in life; to pulverize everything in his path.
Photo by Uncle Milton
The new National Geographic Outdoor Explorer Series features nine items, each with its own activity guide containing recommendations for the young explorer on how to use the product out in the field. From imaginative clip-on shoe lights, which shine a bright path in the dark, to an exciting new game of discovery called “Earth Tag,” this fantastic new line features something for every young explorer.
- Expedition Sky Flare MSRP $9.99
- 3-in-1 Expedition Magnifier MSRP $12.99
- 4-in-1 Explorer Navigation Tool MSRP $12.99
- Earth Tag MSRP $14.99
- Deep Cave Explorer Echo Maker MSRP $19.99
- High Sierra Eco Explorer Kit MSRP $19.99
- All-Terrain Nature Collector MSRP $19.99
- Expedition Shoe Lights MSRP $19.99
- Expedition Trekking Pak MSRP $29.99
A companion site, the National Geographic Explorer Academy, will launch this spring, featuring information about the new “Outdoor Explorer” line of products and ideas to inspire the adventures of young explorers.
Photo by Frank Adler and Uncle Milton
“We are thrilled to be working with National Geographic,” said Frank Adler, president of Uncle Milton Industries. “Utilizing the authenticity and resources of National Geographic has enabled us to develop a very inspiring new toy line that cultivates fun and fresh play experiences, while connecting young explorers to the world around them.”
Frank Adler, pictured above with his family in Maui, is a Trekaroo at heart. Someday he’d like to visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Whistler, British Columbia. His favorite travel memory is hiking with his father. His worst travel moment with kids? How quickly his brood can mess up a tidy hotel room. We can all relate to that!
The Steal: Win one of THREE National Geographic Outdoor Explorer Prize Packs.
Photo via CarlCostas.com
Details: We have three (3) prize packs to give away. Three lucky winners will be chosen to receive one (1) of the three (3) available prize packs.
HOW TO ENTER TO WIN
Simply click on the Rafflecopter box below and follow the directions. We’ve got lots of entry options on this one, so be sure to snag them all.
Imagine amazing ocean views, large luxury appointed villas, and a one-minute walk from your room to the white sands of the Pacific.
Photo by: the Retreat In Laguna
If you’ve been looking to add a bit of luxury to your vacation life, consider The Retreat in Laguna, a brand new property set on the stunning Pacific Ocean in Laguna Beach, CA. The Retreat offers the best of two worlds; unsurpassed hotel luxury seamlessly mixed with the comforts, flexibility, and convenience of a private villa. All of the villas are stocked with full-size modern kitchens, patios, and expansive rooms making The Retreat in Laguna the perfect getaway for a home-away-from home vacation.
Photo by: The Beach House
Don’t worry about missing hotel amenities, The Retreat will arrange an in room private chef or deliver catered dinners from partner restaurants like the Beach House, featuring one of the most stunning views in SoCal, or Savannah Chophouse, an upscale casual American restaurant featuring sustainable practices and divine food! Concierge services are available to arrange local tours & activities, like a guided walk with the OC Wildlife & Beach Tour , or a dolphin and whale watching experience with Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching. In room spa services and yoga are available and access to the Laguna Health Club is included.
Read full reviews of:
The Retreat in Laguna | Savannah Chophouse | The Beach House | Dana Wharf
The Steal: Win a Lauguna Beach Luxury Villa Vacation Valued at $3,000!
Details: One lucky winner will receive:
- A 2 night stay at The Retreat In Laguna (subject to availability, excludes holidays)
- Welcome tote bags from the Laguna Beach Visitors Bureau
- 2 mornings worth of breakfast vouchers for four at The Beach House
- Low Tide walk for family of four with OC Wildlife & Beach Tour
- Dolphin and Whale Watching trip for four with Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching
- Dinner for 4 at Savannah Chophouse
HOW TO ENTER TO WIN:
Simply click on the rafflecopter box below and follow the directions. We’ve got lots of entry options on this one, so be sure to snag them all.
This week at Trekaroo, we’re all about Disney!
For so many people, a Disney vacation is the ultimate family vacation experience, and we agree!
We are devoting the entire week to coverage to Disney parks, cruises and events. Stay tuned as we even offer a few sneak peaks at the coming attractions for this summer.
Photo by: Flickr/HarshLight
To get this Disney party started, we’re giving away a Disneyland Vacation for a family of four!! The package includes:
- Four (4) Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Tickets
- A two (2) night, Disney view stay at the Hilton Anaheim
- Breakfast Buffet passes at the Hilton Anaheim
The Hilton Anaheim is located just steps from the Disneyland Resort and offers beautiful rooms overlooking the magic (and even the fireworks) of the parks while boasting family amenities galore. There are numerous dining options, including a full-service restaurant and lounge, poolside grill, Starbucks and even a food court! The pool deck offers a fantastic place to unwind and features a wet play structure and mini water slide for the younger kids.
The Hilton is a Disneyland Resort Good Neighbor Hotel, which means that Disney has hand-picked the Hilton because it offers scheduled transportation to the parks, superior service, exceptional quality and in-room Disney tips on your TV! It is one of a select few hotels in the area that features a Disney Desk on site. Disney cast members work to get you the best tickets, itineraries and more, right from your hotel—no standing in line! The Hilton is currently offering some awesome specials including receiving a $50 Disney gift card with a four night stay.
Read the full review of the Anaheim Hilton.
Read reviews of rides, attractions, dining, and lodging at Disneyland Resort.
The Steal: Win a Disneyland Resort Vacation
Details: One lucky winner will receive four (4) Disneyland Resort Single-Day Park Hopper Tickets, a two (2) night stay at Hilton Anaheim in a Disney View Suite with two queen beds, and breakfast buffet passes. Reservations subject to availability and expire March 19, 2013.
HOW TO ENTER TO WIN:
In an effort to make it easier to enter, we are now using Rafflecopter. Simply click on “Read the rest of this entry” and then a box will appear. The more you do, the more entries you will receive!
A few years ago, my suitcase broke open sliding down the LAX baggage claim’s luggage shoot and some of its contents were thrown out. As I gathered my clothing off the conveyor belt, a man who seemed very embarrassed handed me my bra which he had picked up off the floor! From this humbling circumstance, I gained a new appreciation for this advice: it’s worth spending money on quality luggage.
Finding a quality suitcase for my son has been extremely challenging. I speak from experience when I say most children’s wheelie bags generally fall into one or all of these categories:
• Adorable but overpriced
• Poorly made
• Poorly designed
If you purchase a child’s suitcase online based purely its cutsie looks, it could end up sitting in your garage collecting dust because it’s not capable of withstanding the vigors of travel. To save money and to keep your garage clutter free, I highly recommend purchasing a Beatrix New York Wheelie Bag. Not only are these bags uber attractive, they’re also built Ford tough.
Beatrix is a company devoted to creating cool, contemporary stuff for kids. Their products combine a childlike love of whimsy with a grown-up sense of modern design and style. Beatrix’s products are phthalate free, PVC free, and lead free.
My son’s Wheelie Bag is not only adorable and colorful; it’s also the only child’s suitcase I’ve ever owned that’s actually built to be used as a suitcase! Hallelujah!
This jet-setting suitcase is made of heavy-duty nylon over a sturdy frame and has an adjustable handle with multiple lock settings to accommodate his growing body. The exterior has a large zipped pocket (perfect for stashing DVD’s) and an additional zip pocket can be found in its roomy interior.
Since I’ve taken all the leg work out of finding the perfect suitcase for your child, it would be a shame not to have a giveaway! Luckily, Beatrix New York has graciously offered one up as a prize; in addition, Trekaroo readers can use code TREKAROO20 to receive 20% off any Wheelie Bag purchase made until March 25, 2012!
The Deal: Trekaroo readers save 20%!
Details: Use code TREKAROO20 to receive 20% off any wheelie bag purchase made until March 25, 2012!
The Steal: Win a Beatrix New York Wheelie Bag!
Details: One lucky winner will receive one (1) Beatrix New York Wheelie Bag of their choosing shipped anywhere within the continental United Sates.
HOW TO ENTER TO WIN:
In an effort to make it easier to enter, we are now using Rafflecopter. Simply click on the more link below and follow the directions. The more you do, the more entries you will receive!
Read the rest of this entry »
Trekaroo loves Utah! It is a state filled with immense natural beauty, world class skiing, and plenty of great family fun. We love the Beehive State so much that we have decided to dedicate an entire week to it. Tomorrow we will officially launch the Utah portion of our site but today we decided to do what do best on Mondays, host a great giveaway centered around Utah’s capital, Salt Lake City.
If your family is planning a trip to Salt Lake City, consider purchasing a “Visit Salt Lake Connect Pass” which gives access to 13 of Salt Lake’s best attractions. Passes are available for purchase at the Visit Salt Lake website or directly at the Salt Lake Visitors Information Center.
Check out what Trekaroo families are saying about some of the venues included in the Connect Pass:
- Clark Planetarium: “Star shows deluxe”
- Discovery Gateway: “A great place for parents and kids”
- Natural History Museum of Utah: “Hands on natural history”
- Red Butte Garden: “Beautiful!, Beautiful!, Beautiful!”
- Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort: “A refreshing change from the amusement park scene”
- Thanksgiving Point: “So much to do, so little time”
- This is the Place Heritage Park: “Stroll back in time”
- Tracy Aviary: “Surprisingly fun”
- Utah’s Hogle Zoo: “Great time all year round”
One lucky reader will win 2-Day Connect Passes for 2 adults and 2 children. The only bad thing about this awesome prize is trying to decide where to visit first!
If you need a family friendly place to stay, Hilton Garden Inn is a trusted brand and Salt Lake City’s downtown location has won Hilton’s “Hotel of the Year-Connie Award” for the past three years in a row, so you know you will be in good hands. The cooked to order breakfast and complimentary wifi are wonderful perks and families with young children will definitely appreciate the children’s menu, complimentary cribs, and high chairs. If your kids are anything like mine they will happy to hear that this highly rated hotel has a pool for them to splash about in. Psst…. that same lucky reader will win three nights at this, the queen of all Hilton Garden Inns.
The Steal: Win a Salt Lake City Family Getaway!
Details: One lucky winner will receive a 3 night stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Salt Lake City Downtown for up to 5 people and Salt Lake City 2-Day Connect Passes for 2 adults and 2 children. An approximately $450 value.
HOW TO ENTER TO WIN:
In an effort to make easier to enter, we are now using Rafflecopter. Simply click on the box below and follow the directions. The more you do, the more entries you will receive!
Rules and guidelines:
- 18 years of age or older
- US Residents only
Deadline to enter: Sunday, March, 11 2012 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 Online Sweepstakes and CashNet Sweepstakes,.
Sharlene Earnshaw is Trekaroo’s Blog Editor in Chief.
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