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11 Things to Know When Visiting Atlanta Botanical Gardens in Gainesville

February 13, 2020 By MommyOctopus Leave a Comment
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After seeing the great deal for admission to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens (free admission through 2/16/20), we decided to take a drive out to Gainesville yesterday and check out those gardens.  It made for a great dreary day walk and helped the younger 4 kids burn off some energy and break up our homeschool day a bit.

Since we visited and I posted on Instagram about our trip, I had a couple readers ask me about the park and what they needed to know about visiting.  These are our thoughts and from our experience.  Here’s what you need to know:

 

  1. No outside food is permitted.  We had brought a picnic with hopes of enjoying it there, but in order to keep the grounds clean and beautiful, they do not allow any outside food.  Instead, we enjoyed it on our way home.
  2. Once you get past the lobby, follow the paths to the left.  While following this route, you will weave through the different garden areas and then loop over to the children’s play area last.
  3. Stop and look at the different things along the way. There are a ton of different plants and flowers.  My kids enjoyed reading the names of them as there are some silly and strange names!  Our favorite was “Hot Lips”.  
  4. Walking through the gardens took us maybe 15-30 minutes, but it may be shorter or longer for your family depending on how long you take looking at the different varieties.  
  5. It’s important to stay on the paths so you don’t disturb the vegetation or mess up the displays.  It is clearly marked when you are allowed to walk off the path.
  6. Kids can unwind in the children’s garden.  Here you  can find a dragon to climb on and paths to follow.  
  7. The garden map shows a trolley near the gardens.  Since the map was printed, it has moved to the children’s area.  It looks fantastic in the midst of the play area.  You can press the button once and the trolley will come out and drive on it’s track.
  8. Watch for fairy houses and fun decorations.  There are a ton throughout the children’s area!
  9. The larger playground is best for children ages 5-12.  My kids had a fun time playing on it, but may be too high/challenging for younger children.
  10. Take time to paint the walls with water.  There is a bucket with paintbrushes that your kids can use.  My 4 year old really enjoyed this spot!                                           
  11. Take time to play with the balsa wood to build forts or whatever your children want to try.  This wood is light and isn’t too hard. This was probably our favorite part of the gardens.  I think my youngest would have stayed there all day building!

Although our trip to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens in Gainesville was a lot of fun, it was a little smaller than we expected and took less time to enjoy than we expected.  Nonetheless, we had a blast and enjoyed our day.  It’s definitely worth checking out and come springtime, it will be absolutely gorgeous!

Disney on Ice is at Infinite Energy Arena This Weekend!

April 26, 2019 By MommyOctopus Leave a Comment
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Last night the kids and I enjoyed a great trip down to the Infinite Energy Arena to enjoy Disney on Ice’s 100 Years of Magic show. We loved watching our favorite characters skate around the ring.  Mulan was a favorite last night and we really thought the Chinese New Year dragon was amazing.  Seeing so many Genie’s was also a favorite of mine!  Such a great scene!

The show kept all of us entertained.  If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, Disney on Ice will be at Infinite Energy Arena in Duluth from through Sunday, April 28, 2019.  You can purchase tickets today!

The 100 Years of Magic show will feature more than 50 beloved characters starring Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and featuring an ensemble of Disney Princesses including Cinderella, Rapunzel, Ariel, Snow White and Tiana. The wintry wonderland of Disney’s Frozen also comes to life with Anna, Elsa, and the hilarious Olaf, as they discover that true love is the greatest magic of all. Exciting moments from Disney•Pixar’s Finding Nemo, Disney’s Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast will leave the whole family with memories to last a lifetime.

Tickets for Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic start at only $20. All seats are reserved, and tickets are available by calling 770.626.2464 or visiting www.InfiniteEnergyCenter.com.

To discover more about Disney On Ice, go to DisneyOnIce.com.

Medieval Times has a New Show!

February 20, 2019 By MommyOctopus Leave a Comment
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If it’s been a bit since you’ve been to Medieval Times, it’s the perfect time to return to your local castle because there is a NEW show!  We attended the show last week at the Atlanta area castle and were pleased to see the changes.  Of course there are still knights, horses, and the tournament, but they’ve done away with many of the “scary” scenes, making it more family friendly.  This didn’t take away from the show at all because there is a completely new plot line!  We had a blast and our wonderful Black and White Knight won the tournament!

At Medieval Times, you can enjoy a “hands-on” feast as the dynamic performance unfolds before you. Knights will gather in celebration to test their skill against one another in a series of games, jousting, and combat.  The new story brings a series of changes to the show including new costumes, custom-designed and handmade armor, fight scenes, and musical score composed by Dr. Daniel May, who directed and recorded the composition in Kiev with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine.

I definitely recommend arriving to the castle early so you can explore and visit.  We were able to ask questions about the hawks and also visit the torture chamber and learn a little about history.  Note that the torture chamber is $2 per person extra and is not recommended for sensitive persons.

Thanks so much for Medieval Times for inviting us to visit the castle. We can’t wait to return again!

Medieval Times Discount Code:

Want to check it out for yourself?  Go to the Medieval Times website  and enter promo code RF4020 at checkout.  This code will give you 40% off Adults and 20% off Kids admission tickets.  Enjoy your visit!

 

Stone Mountain Christmas 2018 – A Christmas Tradition

November 14, 2018 By MommyOctopus Leave a Comment
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My husband has been reading a book that talks about traditions being vital to family dynamics.  The other day, we asked our children what traditions are most important to them.  Among them were Thanksgiving with the local sheriff deputies, Easter with the cousins, and Stone Mountain Christmas.

I have to agree that Stone Mountain Christmas is such a precious and fun time as a family.  I love strolling down the walk and seeing all the Christmas lights, riding the sing-a-long train, and checking out fun shows while drinking hot chocolate and eating cinnamon bread.  Of course there is always the parade and Snow Angel feature to top it all off.  This year, a special guest and fireworks appeared before the parade!  It was so magical!

My son and I have started a tradition where we try to copy the dancers as they go through the parade.  He loves to dance and it’s a great time to break loose and have a little fun.  We got a few funny looks, but mostly smiles and we danced.

This year we decided to watch a few more shows instead of just visiting the main attractions.  We watched Christmas in the City, which was a musical production.  It blew us away!  Even our 3 year old had his eyes glued to the show!  I definitely recommend taking the time to watch that show.

At the end of the night, our hearts grew 3 sizes and we made yet another wonderful memory at Stone Mountain Park with Stone Mountain Christmas.  Our kids are getting older now and time is passing so quickly.  I love knowing that my kids are storing these wonderful memories in their memory bank.  We can hardly wait to go back again next year!

For more information on Stone Mountain Christmas, please visit Stone Mountain’s website.

6 Tips for Visiting Silver Springs State Park in Florida

March 12, 2018 By MommyOctopus 1 Comment
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When we went to Disney a few weeks back, we had a day before we could check in when my husband was off work and we didn’t quite know what to do.  We decided to leave Georgia early and venture out to Silver Springs State Park.  Silver Springs State Park is Florida’s first tourist attraction and one of the largest artesian springs in the world!  At Silver Springs, you can enjoy Glass Bottom Boat Tours every single day of the year!  I thought I’d share a few tips for visiting Silver Springs that you might find useful if you take a trip.

6 Tips for Visiting Silver Springs State Park in Florida:

  1. Be prepared to see wildlife and be aware of your surroundings:  We saw an alligator not far from a walking path and had a black rat snake slither out of a bush and right across the path in front of us!  Signs are also up in various places to beware of monkeys!

    Source: http://www.silversprings.com/

  2. Glass Bottom Boat Tours are a MUST, but can cause motion sickness!  This is quite an incredible attraction, but not everyone may enjoy it.  Please know that when the boat driver gets to one of the springs, the boat goes very slow and somewhat turns to give everyone a great view.  If you’re prone to motion sickness, you may want to bring medicine with you.  I enjoyed the first spring and after that, spent the rest of the time with my eyes close and trying to not lose my lunch!
  3. Allow time for exploration: Since we drove down from Georgia, we arrived early afternoon.  After waiting for the boat, we didn’t have much time to explore.  There are fun things along walking paths like the frog slide and then you can always grab an ice cream or snacks from their eatery.
  4. Use this as an educational field trip!  There is so much to learn from the signs and facts to the types of springs and more.  We were able to use this as a homeschool day for our family since there was so much to learn.
  5. Keep an eye on their event calendar: This park often has extra events such as garden tours, music events, ranger programs and more!
  6. There is a wonderful hotel across the street!  We stayed at the Holiday Inn and Suites Silver Springs during our visit.  It’s conveniently located right across the street from the Silver Springs State Park!  We could walk with the stroller across the road and be in the park’s parking lot.  This hotel was pretty nice and comfortable and had a decent free breakfast in the morning.

Overall we had a great time.  Whenever we go back, I will definitely be brining motion sickness medicine with me! It would have made the boat tour more enjoyable, but it was still an amazing experience.  The kids thoroughly enjoyed it and my husband and I did as well.  Definitely recommend taking the drive!

Have you been to Silver Springs State Park?  I’d love to hear your thoughts!  

Six Flags Presents Holiday in the Park!

November 23, 2017 By MommyOctopus Leave a Comment
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Our friends at Six Flags over Georgia invited our family in the other day to experience Holiday in the Park.  This has become a treasured tradition for our family and the kids greatly look forward to seeing all the lights, riding the rollercoasters, roasting s’mores, and watching the seasonal shows.

During Six Flags’ Holiday in the Park, you can enjoy 30 themed holiday attractions plus 16 themed sections, including the popular Christmas Tree Lighting.  You can also find Carolers, watch a lovely show called Because It’s Christmas (bring your tissues!), meet characters, and even take a train ride to the North Pole to visit Santa and Mrs. Claus!

There is just something magical about being at Six Flags during the holiday season.  Holiday in the Park is open on select days and times from November 18, 2017 – January 3, 2018.  You can visit the calendar to plan your trip.

With our older kids, we went from section to section and conquered all the rides since crowds weren’t too high.  Everyone got to ride what they wanted to ride, and usually multiple times.

For tickets and for more information, please visit the Six Flags over Georgia Holiday in the Park website.

Georgia Aquarium: New Attractions and Experiences!

November 17, 2017 By MommyOctopus Leave a Comment
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We love visiting the Georgia Aquarium because there is always something new to check out!  We are super excited to share that visitors can come face-to-nose with one of the world’s most feared predators at National Geographic’s photography exhibit, “SHARKS: On Assignment with Brian Skerry” coming to Georgia Aquarium this October. The exhibit will open at Georgia Aquarium this October for a limited-time run through April, marking the first time the exhibit has been shown outside of the National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C.

The Georgia Aquarium currently houses six species of sharks. Can you and your family find them all during your next visit?

  • Whale shark
  • Sandbar shark
  • Pacific blacktip reef shark
  • Zebra shark
  • Spotted wobbegong
  • Tasselled wobbegong

Here are a few more details about this exclusive exhibit:

SHARKS: On Assignment with Brian Skerry

National Geographic Explorer and award-winning photojournalist Skerry has spent more than 10,000
hours underwater exploring the world’s ocean with a camera to show why sharks need to be protected
and appreciated as an integral species within our ecosystem.

“SHARKS” allows you to dive into the depths of the ocean with tiger sharks, great whites, oceanic
whitetips and shortfin makos through large-scale images and videos captured by Skerry. This marks the
first time Skerry’s exhibit has been shown outside of the National Geographic Museum in Washington,
DC.

Virtual Reality Simulator: Dive in Prehistoric Seas

The Virtual Reality Simulator: Dive in Prehistoric Seas experience is a state-of-the-art motion-based
virtual reality ride using the latest visual display technology. Georgia Aquarium visitors can be
“transported” back in time and glimpse amazing marine life of the distant past in this VR experience.
The ticketed attraction offers an eye-popping, first-person adventure for up to four people at a time.
Admission is $10 per person/per ride, or $8 for Georgia Aquarium members. Please note some height
restrictions apply and eyeglasses may not be worn during the adventure.

For more information and for tickets, please visit the Georgia Aquarium website.  

Stone Mountain Christmas 2017 Starts Now!

November 13, 2017 By MommyOctopus Leave a Comment
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Friday night, we went down for our annual trip to Stone Mountain Christmas.  We enjoyed a meal at the Campfire Grill to start off the evening, met some characters, and ventured on from there.  As always, it was such a magical time watching the parade, riding the train, drinking hot cocoa, watching it “snow”, and viewing the new “Tree Lighting” ceremony.  Select dates from now until January 3rd, you can head on over to Stone Mountain Park to enjoy Stone Mountain Christmas!  Even the dinosaurs are excited for Christmastime.

Stone Mountain Park’s Christmas Adventure Pass includes access to exciting attractions, seasonal live entertainment, and more! Check their calendar for individual attraction hours and show times.  Be sure to buy your tickets online to check out the special Meal Deal combo they have offered as this deal is online only.

One of our annual traditions is getting a photo of us kissing under the mistletoe.  Of course we couldn’t miss out on that!  😉

The kids also enjoyed cookie decorating.

Stone Mountain Christmas is a must-do on my Christmas Around Atlanta list.  If you haven’t been, you’re definitely missing out.  Be sure to take a train ride to hear all about the special “gift” you can receive at Christmastime, too!  But bring your blanket!  It can get a bit chilly.

Georgia Aquarium Celebrates International Whale Shark Day – August 30th!

August 27, 2017 By MommyOctopus Leave a Comment
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This past week, our family was invited down to the Georgia Aquarium for the day.  We were so thankful for the invitation because it’s been years since we visited.  If you’re planning to go soon, August 30th would be a great day for a trip because it is International Whale Shark Day and the Georgia Aquarium has some special events planned!  Check out the line up:

Schedule for Wednesday, Aug. 30

10:30am: Narrated whale shark feeding at the theater window in Ocean Voyager Built by The Home Depot

11:30am-2:30pm: Fun and educational whale shark activities in the Atrium.

  • Whale Shark Plinko Trivia Game
  • Pin the Satellite Tag on the Whale Shark
  • How your Thumbprint is like a Whale Shark’s Spots
  • Photo opportunities with Domino, Georgia Aquarium’s whale shark mascot
  • Sign a Pledge Bookmark with a seeded “Earth” that you can plant at home

To plan your trip, I recommend making sure you have about 4 hours minimum to visit the Aquarium.  Many wonderful shows are offered and you won’t want to miss them!  Both the Dolphin Celebration show and the Sea Lion show were among our favorites.  They kept the attention of the whole family, including our wild toddler.

Throughout the aquarium, keep your eyes peeled for activities to do with your children.  They can vary from Touch Tanks to information cards on finding and identifying the creatures that you see.

Huge thanks again to the Georgia Aquarium for hosting us for the day!  We can’t wait to go back!

For More Information:

For more information about the Georgia Aquarium and International Whale Shark Day, please visit their website.  You can also view special offers for the Georgia Aquarium to save a little money on your trip.  You can also follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

7 Tips For Making the Most of Dinosaur Explore at Stone Mountain Park

March 26, 2017 By MommyOctopus Leave a Comment
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7 Tips for Making the Most of Dinosaur Explore at Stone Mountain Park

 

Stone Mountain Park has recently completed a new attraction in their Crossroads area.  Dinosaur Explore is set to open on March 30th and runs through the 2017 season.  This attraction features more than 20 life-size dinosaurs with special effects that give them the appearance of moving and roaring just like dinosaurs might have when they were alive.  The Dinosaur Explore attraction is included with a daily Adventure pass and with Mountain Membership.

We had the privilege of being at Dinosaur Explore during the ribbon cutting ceremony this past week and being among the first to check out the new exhibit.  We were blown away!  All 7 of us had a great time visiting the dinosaurs and digging in the sandpit for fossils.  If you’d like to see what to expect on the path, check out my Facebook live video.

My 18 month old couldn’t get enough of the dinosaurs and we ended up walking through the exhibit several times to satisfy his desire for seeing the dinosaurs.  He wanted to stop and wave at each one and then growl at it!  Even the 13 year old and adults were having fun exploring the exhibit.

It was so much fun that the park employees are completely in character at this attraction.  There are dinosaur trainers and even a scientist that talks about how he made the Dinotorium.  Very well done all around.

There are so many things to experience in Dinosaur Explore.  I’ve posted some tips below to make sure you don’t miss a thing.

7 Tips For Making the Most of Your Dinosaur Explore Trip at Stone Mountain Park

  1. Be sure to visit each dinosaur along the path and read the facts.  There are interesting tidbits all along the path so your Dinosaur Explore trip can count as a learning activity, too!
  2. Take your time and watch each of the dinosaurs move.  You never know how they will move or the sound that they make.  Let your little ones set the pace and watch as they soak it all in. 
  3. Visit the Dino Dig and dig in the sand.  At the bottom, you just might find a fossil or even a bone!  We did!
  4. Visit with Bagel!  Look for times posted when Bagel, the dinosaur in training, makes his presence.  The trainer will walk the audience through helping Bagel perform tricks including singing!  Feel free to ask questions about Bagel.  The employees are all in character and love to talk about the exhibit.  You can pet Bagel as well.
  5. Watch for Hattie, the baby dinosaur.  Hattie is seen in a little carrier being held by her handler.  She loves interacting with the public, but remember use only 2 fingers and pet the dinos only on their nose or chin so they don’t get nervous 😉
  6. Look for Reggie, the dinosaur that walks around and visits with the public.  He’s fun to pet as well.
  7. Swing by the Dinotorium to let the kids unwind and run off some energy.  The Dinotorium is 4 levels of fun, featuring super slides, trampoline floors, climbing structures and over 65 interactive games for families and children.

For More Information:

For more information and tickets, you can visit Stone Mountain Park’s website.  Dinosaur Explore is available as part of the Adventure Pass.

Also, be sure to read our post about camping at Stone Mountain Park.  It’s fun for the whole family!

Huge thank you to Stone Mountain Park for inviting us out to check out this new exhibit.  We had a blast!  

 

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