Detroit Zoo!!

One of my favorite experiences as a family was going to the Detroit Zoo. I’ve been to a Zoo back in Oklahoma but honestly it was nothing like the Detroit Zoo.  With the big water tower standing tall, it really makes you feel like you’re going to see something pretty amazing!  The zoo is a pretty large establishment; it’s on 125 acres with many naturalistic habitats. 

The zoo is visited frequently, with more than one million visitors annually. The zoo has 3,300 animals of 280 different species!! There are different exhibits including: Arctic Ring of Life, Australian Out Back Adventure, Great Apes of  Harambee, National Amphibian Conservation Center, Holden Museum of Living Reptiles, Penguinarium and the Butterfly Garden.

The zoo has hours year round, and I really enjoy visiting when it’s not blistering hot. Not only are we more comfortable, but the animals are more lively as well!

The Zoo is hours of operation are: April 1 - Labor Day 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (Wednesdays in July and August until 8 p.m). Day after Labor Day - October 31 10 a.m.-5 p.m. November 1 - March 31 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Prices are: General Admission Prices: Adult, 15 years - 61 - $14 Child, 2 years - 14 - $9* Senior, 62 years+ - $12 Active military w/ID - $12 Under 2 years - Free Detroit Zoological Society Members - Free

The zoo has different rest stops and playgrounds incase the children get restless. They also have different animals with holes in the face so you can take funny photos!

I really love penguins; they’re one of my favorite animals... however I was not aware that they were so smelly! Ewww!! Makayla did not enjoy the penguins because of their smell!

I think that our favorite attraction at the zoo is the Arctic Circle, with the polar bear. It really is amazing to be sitting in the tube with a polar bear sitting right on top of you and to your right or left there is a sea lion swimming around for attention.

One of the experiences at the Zoo that we have not done yet is where you can feet a Giraffe. I think that it would be pretty amazing to be up close and personal to such an amazing animal. However, their big black tongues are probably kinda intimidating!

Makayla enjoys walking through the butterfly Garden, If you’re lucky enough maybe one will land on you!!

In the center of the Zoo is the location of the Rackham Fountain: It was  built in 1939 and dedicated to the first president of the Zoological Commission. The fountain features two 10-foot-tall bronze bears in a 75,000-gallon pool with life-sized sea lions, turtles and frogs. The fountain is a favorite meeting place and one of the Zoo’s most-photographed attractions.(Taken from the Detroit Zoo Website)

On your way out you can visit the gift shop to purchase all different sorts of souvenirs, there are different price ranges on items and it’s really fun to explore the store.

For more information on the Detroit Zoo visit: http://www.detroitzoo.org/

Zoo Facts are from the Detroit Zoo Website. All pictures are personal unless otherwise  noted.

Cider Mill!!

Autumn and fall in Michigan can be unbelievably beautiful! The way the leaves turn colors and how the cool crisp air hits your nose when you first walk outside is a fond memory of Fall for me.  I think it is one of my favorite times of year in Michigan. Back in Oklahoma we have something similar to a Cider Mill but we just call it a pumpkin patch.

Blakes Apple Orchard was the first “Cider Mill” that I had ever been too. I can imagine the smell of fresh donuts being fried, the caramel being melted for the Caramel Apples and the delicious Apple Cider that they serve: Hot, Cold, and as a slushie. (The slushie is pretty amazing!!)

Blake’s pretty much has it all: A Haunted house, a Hay ride, pumpkin patch, pick your own apples, petting zoo, playground, a little market, plus they have special things during specific times of the year!

I loved going to Blakes Apple Orchard and seeing Makayla ooh and awe over all the different animals that we got to get so close to and feed. Of course, she loved the miniature ponies! She was however scared of the wicked witch that sits up top and protects the pumpkins.  We each got a pumpkin, however for whatever reason we didn’t carve them.

We Paid around 8.00 each and a couple dollars for feed for the animals. Then each got pumpkins and that cost us around .30 cents a pound.

I hope we’re able to return to Blakes earlier in the year this time so we can have better weather and make masterpieces out of our pumpkins, as this will be our first Halloween/Fall as “The Hamills.”

Blakes isn’t only a “fall” thing. They open up in June and have different festivals. I recently went to the Lavender Festival. There were several different people with different booths set up selling something’s related to Lavender and other things not. 

All photos are personal

A Little Creativy Never Hurts!

Photo Found on Google

Royal Oak has a really fun atmosphere with different types of shops and entertainment. One of my favorite places to go in Royal Oak is Creative Art Studio. This is a great place to take kids (it can get some what pricey) and let them have free expression.  Creative Arts Studio is located at 114 W. 4th Street, Royal Oak, MI 48067.

With that said, I’ll be honest. I’ve never taken Makayla. It has become tradition that my friends and I go around my birthday. Saturday nights after 6 PM is considered adult night. You’re allowed to bring in glasses and bottles of wine or your favorite beers.  Sometimes parents are there with their children, but they do let them know that there is a possibility of people drinking.  

                                    They have many different things that you can do here:
                                                                Pottery Painting
                                                                Mosaics
                                                                Glass Fusing
                                                                Beading
                                                                Hand Wax
                                                                PMC Clay
                                                                Wheel Throwing
                                                                Raku Work Shop
                                                                Hand-Build with Clay

I’ve only ever done the pottery painting. The cost includes an $8 studio fee, which allows you to use all their paints, brushes and they fire it in the kiln.  You pick a piece off the wall and those prices range from $5.00-$40.00. It all depends on what type of project you want to do. They have figurines, blank plates, salt and pepper shakers, banks, tea pots.  They also have holiday themed pottery; Halloween, Christmas etc. 

The last time I went, I painted a Cupcake Jar! Here are some pictures of it! :)

I do plan to take my step daughter to this establishment one day, but I do like my nights out with the girls doing my own thing every now and again.

If you like tea, go across the street to Goldfish Tea. They have a large selection, and a pot will only run you about $5.00 or so. And you can continue to steep it over and over. It’s a really unique shop and you can purchase tea sets there! J

http://creativeartsstudios.com/    Photos are personal unless noted

Movie Theater Fun!

Photo Found on Google

 My favorite theater is the MJR Theater at 15 mile and Van Dyke. (There are several different locations, this is just my preference) The seats are comfortable, the actual theaters are a decent size and they always keep it clean.  If you go to a showing before 12 PM on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday they price of a ticket is $4.50. Movies between 12 and 6 PM any day of the week are $5.00. They offer a student discount for night time shoes for $8.50, the regular price is $10.00.The  consession stand has all sorts of things to choose from. I like to get Makayla the kids pack. It has the right amount of popcorn, a small drink & some gummies for $4.75. The best part is if she's really hungry or thirsty, you get one refill on both!

One of my favorite things about MJR is their reward card. It’s free to sign up and each movie ticket you purchase, you get 10 points. The points add up and at certain increments you get free, yes I said FREE stuff.  See the chart to see point increments and rewards. (courtesy of the MJR theater website). The best part is once you reach 500, you continue to earn rewards over again! I know that the movie theater can add up to be a large cost, but when you can earn free popcorn and drinks with a movie ticket of $5.00 I find this movie theater really awesome!

Makayla, my step daughter, loves going to the movie theater. She enjoys taking pictures with all the different movie 3d poster’s that they have had up. Our latest photo shoots at the movie theater included Madagascar 3 and Brave.  I think that my favorite fun addition they had in the lobby of the movie theater was the life size Alvin and the Chipmunks.  We also enjoy clapping at that “special” part during the MJR theme song. The first time I came to this movie theater, I was in shock by that part. It’s a lot of fun to watch Makayla clasp her hands in anticipation for that part. 

For more information about MJR theater please visit: http://www.mjrtheatres.com/index.asp

All photos are personal, unless noted otherwise.

Another theater that is really cool is the Emagine Theater in Royal Oak. You do have to pay for parking, but if you just remember your space they’ll add it on to your ticket price. I believe it was $2.00. I thought that the theater had a pretty upscale atmosphere. You’re able to choose from a few different types of seats.  The ticket prices vary upon the times you go and which type of seating you choose. Their ticket prices are comparable to MJR’s. Matinee’s are $6.00, $5.00 for children. Evening ticket prices are $10, $8 if you’re a student.

In some movies they have seats that are called “D-Box” these seats move during action scenes. So, if you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to feel the rumble from the screen, the “D-box” seats are for you. However, they are an additional $8.75 a ticket on top of your current ticket price.  

The luxury seating is a section of seats that have leather seating and more leg room.  These seats come with an upgrade price of $2.50 per seat. When we attended a movie at this theater, we chose this section and I didn’t find it any more comfortable than regular seating. 

A cool thing about this movie theater is that there is a bowling alley on the opposite side and as you enter the lobby you see the concession stand and off to the left there is a bar. That’s right; if you’re 21 or older you’re able to take an alcoholic beverage into the movie with you! Bonus! 

I think that this theater is more of a date night spot for our family than a theater we’d all go as a family.

Photos of Emagine theater are courtesy of the emagine entertainment website.
http://www.emagine-entertainment.com/

Sunday Fun Day!!

I've decided to write my blog about Family Fun things that can be done in the Metro Detroit area. Entertaining kids can be an expensive expense especially in today's economy. Money is tight but that doesn't change the fact that kids get stir crazy if they're in the house for too long! 

My step-daughter, Makayla, will be 6 on July 12, and we met with her friends today to celebrate her birthday. We took the kids to Joe Dumar's Field House. They have two locations; the one that we went to is located at Mound and Hall Road. You can visit their website here http://www.joedumarsfieldhouse.com/entertainment/index.php

Walking into the Field House!

"The Bayou Adventure" has many different options for kids to choose from

Entrance as you walk into the Bayou!

              Bayou Golf (Putt Putt)
              Caj’n Cliffs(Rock Climbing)
              Gator Tag(laser tag)
              Slot car Raceway
             Cowa bungee(trampoline)
             Ropes Madness
             Shark Slide(out of order)
             Shoot out(free throw contest)

                                                                                      

They also have some arcade games that take tokens you can buy from the station and you can win tickets to get prizes!  Each activity is $5 each. They have combo packs that you can choose from: 2 activities and 4 tokens for $10.00 4 activities and 8 tokens for $15, 6 activities and 12 tokens for $20.  Of course you don’t have to purchase a combo pack; you can come in and play one game for $5 dollars and leave. There was also a restaurant and what seemed to be a basketball course on the opposite side of the building. All of the activities are inside of the “field house”

                                             

View of the Golf Course 

Each of the children got the 2 activity game pack. And the parents each did one activity. We all chose to do Bayou golf together and the girls decided to do the trampoline jump.

The Bayou Golf course has 9 holes complete with bridges and water falls. The field house seems to be like one of those tent domes. We chose to do indoor putt putt because we thought it would be cooler. I do have to say that the bayou golf area was a little warm, but the other parts have giant fans to keep everyone cool. That was my only complaint, probably because I get hot very easily.                                                          

Next up was the trampoline jump. It’s a safe and fun environment and they take safety very seriously. The children had to be weighed before even stepping foot onto the trampoline jump. After they weighed the girls, they put a harness with a bungee cord on them. They used a machine to raise the bungee up that way when the children jump, they can get more “air.”

Makayla on the trampoline

Makayla’s friends tend to be a little more adventurous then her because they liked bouncing really high and Makayla stayed lower to the trampoline. Each girl really seemed to enjoy their time bouncing!

After all the girls were done on the trampoline, we decided to play games with our coins. Each game was 1 token. Makayla ended up with 69 tickets to get prizes with! Of course the prizes cost a lot of tickets. A cheap stuffed animal was worth 600 tickets. Makayla ended up with two water squirters, a bracelet, and a bouncy ball. Even 1 piece of candy cost 100 tickets. Crazy!

All in all I found this place pretty enjoyable, not too expensive and there are a lot of options for different type of children. I think it's somewhere we'd go back to in the future!

One word of advice though, be careful not to wake up Terwiliger, the Bayou Guardian. He was an 18 foot animatronic troll. He is pretty creepy looking and naturally Makayla was scared of him. We were walking out and she screamed while walking past him! 

Terwiliger

 All Pictures are my own personal images that I took.