This summer we are staying close to home and searching out our Top Ten Summer Hot Spots in the area. Of course Six Flags Great Adventure made the cut and even came up at the top of the top! It’s located less than two hours from NYC, in Jackson, NJ,  so it’s perfect for us!

I can remember as a child going to Great Adventure and having so much fun. I never dreamed I would be back with my three children making memories and sharing stories of my adventures there as a child.

Recently we hit the road and took a visit to Great Adventure with the family. Having three children that span from 21 to 13 to 5 can sometimes present a challenge when it comes to finding things to do that will keep everyone happy.

I am so excited to say that we spent from the park opening until closing without any complaints! Everyone had their ride choices and there were plenty of rides that the entire family could enjoy together! That was a wonderful feature that I loved about the day!

Our day started by arriving at the park opening and heading right to the Safari Outpost located inside the theme park. 

The most exciting part of the tour, along with seeing many, many different types of animals was when were taken off the road to a separate area and let off of the bus. We were in an enclosed area and given a mini lesson by our Safari Tour Guide about giraffes and other animals on the grounds. We were able to get an up close look and feel of Ostrich eggs, animal horns, etc.

The best part came right after. Our Safari Tour Guide had a bucket filled with carrot pieces and gave us a lesson on how to feed the giraffes. When we were feeling confident he guided the giraffes over to us. It was a once in a lifetime experience to get that close to a giraffe, let alone have it gently take the carrot from our hands. From youngest to oldest we all took more than one turn feeding the massive long necked, beautiful creatures. We also had the chance to pet them. It was wonderful. I would recommend this tour to anyone of any age. The tour is about $24.99 per person and must be purchased in addition to your theme park ticket. It is worth every penny and more!

You can enjoy the day with your friends or with your family and put a smile on everyone’s face!

My sons and hubby were thrilled to ride Kingda Ka, the tallest coaster in the world and fastest in North America! They also loved all of the Thrill Rides they could fit in, including- Batman The Ride, Superman:Ultimate Flight, Green Lantern, Nitro, The Dark Knight, El Toro and Bizarro! Okay, so have I mentioned that my family is filled with BIG Coaster fans? Not a coaster fan? You may still love the new Sky Screamer, the 24 story high swing ride!

I’m not part of the coaster club, but I did love the Family Rides! 

Thank goodness there were plenty to choose from. My favorites were Big Wheel, Congo Rapids and the new Air Jumbo! I guess a tiger does not change its stripes, since I have loved The Big Wheel since I was a child. I am proud to say that now I have passed that love onto my children! 

Of course, if you have little ones there is a lot of fun for them, too!

They can enjoy three different areas with Kids Rides : Safari Kids, Looney Tunes Seaport and Bugs Bunny National Park or Splish Splash at the Golden Kingdom Splashwater Oasis!

My daughter had fun riding both alone and with one of her older brothers (and of course Mom/Dad).

Her advice to everyone is to ride The Jumpin Joey and the Porky Pig Camp Wagons. She claims they are much more fun than Kingda Ka! My older sons had a different opinion, 

but they let her have her fun!

By the way, you will get hungry with all the delicious scents at Six Flags, so be prepared to “Yum Down” some delicious goodies when you visit. 

I don’t even want to admit how many times we stopped  off during the day for a treat or two! 

You can check out all the eateries right here!

If you have the chance to visit Six Flags Great Adventure & Wild Safari, don’t miss it!

We will be going back soon to check out Hurricane Harbor and the Drive Thru Wild Safari (with our own car). I will definitely let you know how they both go! We can’t wait and are going very very soon!

1. Follow 3decades3kidsBLOG  and leave a comment telling why you want to go to Great Adventure or your favorite memory from a past trip!
2.  “Like”  3decades3kids on facebook.
3. Follow @3decades3kids on twitter.
4. Follow @elgeorgia on twitter.
5. Sign up at the top of this blog for EMAIL UPDATES.
6. Visit Great Adventure on facebook https://www.facebook.com/sixflagsgreatadventure?ref=ts  and leave a comment that 3decades3kids sent you!

Giveaway ends July 15th at 11:59pm. Winner will be chosen by random.org and notified by email. Winner has 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. Good Luck! 

Crafted by the team that was behind the epic “Walking With Dinosaurs,” the dragons of “How to Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular” are truly incredible to behold. Each of the many dragons featured in the show is so detailed in appearance and life-like in motion that it’s no surprise to the audience when they start to engage in typical dragon behavior– like spitting fire and taking to the skies!

Though it may have not been a surprise to see such things, it certainly proved exciting, as the flying and fire-breathing dragons made for some of the best parts of “How to Train Your Dragon Live!” Particularly enthralling was the scene where Toothless and Hiccup finally take flight for the first time. As Toothless spread his wings and lifted into the air, it felt like the audience was being lifted up alongside him, and gliding through the seaside air on that first monumental flight.

Contest ends August 1st, at 11:59pm. Winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted by email. Winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. How To Train Your Dragon Live is responsible for ticket delivery. Tickets will be at Will Call and must be picked up in person the night of the show. Good Luck! 18+/usa

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON LIVE SPECTACULAR SHOW AND TICKET INFO
                 
NASSAU COLISEUM
1255 Hempstead Turnpike, Uniondale, NY 11553
www.nassaucoliseum.com

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1                                                            7:00 PM#
THURSDAY, AUGUST 2                                                                7:00 PM+
FRIDAY, AUGUST 3                                                                       7:00 PM+
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4            11:00 AM*            3:00 PM*     7:00 PM*
SUNDAY, AUGUST 5                 11:00 AM*            3:00 PM+

REGULAR TICKET PRICES:
#  $68.00, $53.00, $38.00, $23.00
+  $78.00, $63.00, $48.00, $28.00
*  $88.00, $73.00, $58.00, $38.00
A limited number of additional VIP experience packages are also available.
GROUP SALES TICKETS: Call (800) 882-ISLES ext. 3 or email groupsales@newyorkislanders.com or visitnassaucoliseum.com/groupsales.htm

IZOD CENTER
50 State Route 120, East Rutherford, NJ 07073
www.izodcenter.com


THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27                                                               7:00 PM+
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28                   11:00 AM#                                 7:00 PM*
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29            11:00 AM*    3:00 PM*             7:00 PM*
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30                                                                    7:30 PM+

REGULAR TICKET PRICES:
#  $69.50, $54.50, $39.50, $24.50
+  $79.50, $64.50, $49.50, $29.50
*  $89.50, $74.50, $59.50, $39.50
A limited number of additional VIP experience packages are also available. 
GROUP SALES TICKETS: Call 201-460-4370 or email groupsales@njsea.com or visit IZODCENTER.com/groupsales

Visit:     www.DreamWorksDragonsLive.com 

In “Brave,” Merida spies tiny blue lights after escaping into the forest in search of a change of fate. Forming a path that dares her to follow, the lights lead Merida to a mysterious location that holds the power to change her destiny—just not in the way she imagines.

“The will o’ the wisps are in a lot of Scottish folktales,” says “Brave” director Mark Andrews. “They were said to lead you to treasure or doom—to change your fate—but they’re an actual phenomenon of swamp and bog gas seeping up through the earth and interacting with the natural resources to create the blue flames. People would follow these lights thinking they were little fairies, and basically drown or get sucked down into the bogs.

“We made the wisps like actual little spirits,” Andrews continues. “They’re almost like Marley’s ghost in a way, because Marley’s ghost isn’t an evil spirit—even though he’s frightening, he’s trying to warn Ebenezer to change his ways. That’s what the wisps are doing. There’s a duality to them, because they’re either good or evil—they lead Merida into more and more trouble, but in the end, they’ve led her exactly where she needs to go.”
https://www.facebook.com/PixarBrave All materials provided by Disney Pixar/Brave. In theaters now!

and Discount Code
Now at the 
Lunt-Fontanne Theater
245 W. 46th Street
NYC

When it comes to movies gone Broadway I am really not the biggest fan, 

I could not wait to check it out.

Ghost the musical had many upbeat moments that kept you from
sinking too deep into the actual sadness of the story. 

For those of you who are not very familiar with the whole story line of Ghost here it goes.

Molly and Sam are very in love with each other. Molly is a sculptor and Sam is a banker who has found out a little too much information. On the way home from Molly’s Art Showing they are mugged and Sam is killed. Sam’s best friend Carl(Bryce Pinkham) is behind the attack. The information the mugger was after was not in Sam’s wallet and now Molly is in danger. Sam is caught between the world of the living and the dead and must find a way to help Molly.
Luckily Sam is guided by others who are also trapped in between worlds and also by the help of a Storefront Psychic who goes nutty when she realizes she can actually have contact with the spirits.
Along the way the truth is revealed and you will have to fight hard to hold back the tears.
Ghost the Musical on Broadway is a great story and a wonderful show. I would recommend 
this to anyone who loves a good love story. The special effects are also one of a kind and amazing, bringing Broadway to a whole new level.  
I’m sure the question of afterlife has all crossed our minds, 
especially when it concerns the death of a loved one. 
Watching Ghost will make  you Believe all over again.

As if the show was not wonderful enough, when it ended we were lucky enough to enjoy a Talk Back with some of the actors. I could see after the Talk Back exactly why Ghost was so awesome. You could just feel the love and devotion of them to the show. They Believe in Ghost and so will you!


I also have something very special to share with you, it’s a terrific offer from The Moms.

Disclosure: An invitation to Ghost The Musical was extended to me by The Moms with no expectation of posting. Special thanks to Denise Albert/Melissa Gerstein and the cast of Ghost The Musical.
All opinions are that of Diane Sullivan.