Travel Archives - Pea of Sweetness

Family Fun at Castaway Bay Indoor Waterpark

March 9, 2016 by Emilee Evans

Winter has been completely unpredictable this year. It has gotten cold but it hasn’t snowed much yet, which means we haven’t really been getting out much. Having some family fun in a beautiful 82 degrees but only driving less than an hour to get there? It is the perfect option to beat those winter blues!

Disclosure: I received a complimentary stay and admission to facilitate my Castaway Bay review. Regardless, all opinion are my own and those of my family.
Castaway Bay is Cedar Point’s 38,000-square-foot indoor water park. It has a fun tropical theme with 237 hotel rooms and suites as well as a day spa, fitness center, craft and child activity center, three restaurants, shops, an amazing arcade and more! It’s a fun-filled family paradise that’s always at that beautiful 82 degrees!

Castaway Bay Review

Hotel Room

We arrived at Castaway Bay around 4pm on the day of our check-in. Hotel guests are able to use the water park on both days (lockers and storage is available), but we chose to just check in and have a relaxing first day and enjoy some of the many other amenities. First, we were so ready to go check out our room and get our adventure started!
Castaway Bay definitely gives you that fun tropical feel with all the bright colors and great decorations.

We headed up to our room, and as soon as we got in there the kids got so excited. We stayed in a Tarpon Suite, which includes a King Bed and 2 bunk beds. I have to say, we were thrilled. As a family of 5, it isn’t often we can find accommodations that comfortably fit all 5 of us. More than that, though, the kids were so excited they had a “separate room.”

Of course, their room was completely separate. It was separated by a curtain and even had a bamboo window with a shade from the bunk bed area to the main area. It has a desk with chairs, night lights above the beds and their own TV! It was so nice!
The main area of the room has a desk and chairs, a King Size bed with the coordinating tropical theme, an armoire with TV, and a screened-in balcony with lounge chairs. Of course, it was too cold to hang out on the balcony, but the kids had to go check it out!

The Tarpon Suite has a very generous walk-in closet and even another closet! The bathroom has double sinks outside with a small refrigerator, coffee maker and microwave. The shower is a nice size and there were numerous little toiletries!

Activities for Kids and Family

After having dinner at Quaker Steak & Lube, which is attached to Castaway Bay, we decided to check out all the kids’ activities and, of course, the arcade! I was really impressed with the number of activities they have available. The arcade is amazing. I couldn’t believe how big it is! There are so many different activities from physical games to video games. You can win tickets and redeem them for prizes, so it’s a lot of fun. I even got to play some Candy Crush on a huge screen!

That evening the kids got to do a fun craft. They got to make picture frames, and all materials were provided – for free. They had so much fun decorating them!
Later that evening we got to watch a cute Peanuts movie, which was actually the story of how Charlie Brown got Snoopy! Then Snoopy came in a for a bedtime story, and the kids got to give him hugs before we settled in for the night!

Indoor Water Park

The next day we were more than ready to have some fun at the water park! First, the kids went back to the craft room to make their souvenir t-shirts, which was a fun way to start the day, but then off to the water park we went! The kids were so ready to get started! We grabbed life jackets and headed to the wave pool! The wave pool was a great place to get started because all three kids could have fun in it! The waves come in cycles so there are also times with no waves.

Unfortunately, one of the big areas was closed likely due to the slower time of year. As a homeschool family, we like to take breaks during the week when places are less likely to be crowded, but sometimes it results in this sort of thing. Regardless, there were still plenty of fun things to do. We definitely spent the most time in the wave pool, but I also tried the Tropical Tube Slides (wow! they were fast!), and all but our little guy took a ride (or two) on Rendezvous Run, which is also called the “water roller coaster.” Oh my goodness, it is SO much fun!

There were numerous towels available, which was extremely convenient. There were also lockers available to keep our more valuable things and plenty of lounge chairs for our towels and sandals. There were also many life jackets available, and we found some that didn’t fit as well, but because there were so many to choose from it was easy to just find another.
We spent most of the day at the water park just enjoying ourselves and having fun. We swam in the pool with floating animals, ate some pretzels and pizzas, and had some fun with the awesome shark!

Overall, we had a great time at Castaway Bay. We loved all the additional activities that are available, the water park was a blast, the temperature was wonderful, the atmosphere is so much fun, the room was ideal for our family, and it’s all just a short drive away!
Spring is around the corner, but you don’t have to wait for the warm weather to have some fun in the water! Head to Castaway Bay for a fun family getaway!
Want to see more of our fun? Check out all of our pictures of our Castaway Bay Review on Facebook!

(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3”; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));

Castaway Bay Review

Posted by Pea of Sweetness on Sunday, March 13, 2016

For More Information:

Visit the Castaway Bay Website
Connect with Castaway Bay on Facebook and Twitter

Giveaway!!! {Giveaway Ended 3/24/16}

Would you like to enjoy some family fun at Castaway Bay? You could win 4 Day Passes to the Indoor Water Park! This giveaway runs through 3/24/16 and is open to US residents ages 18+. *Please note travel and accommodations are not included.* CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY NOW!

7 Travel Hacks to Save You Time and Money

July 8, 2015 by Emilee Evans

Even the most savvy travelers face problems now and then. If you’re planning a trip, you’ll want to make travel as seamless as possible. Keep these seven travel hacks in mind to have a memorable vacation.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.

1. When you pack up to return home, toss the leftover soap from the hotel bathroom into your dirty laundry bag. This will keep your laundry smelling as fresh as possible until you can wash it. If you don’t have any leftover soap, use a dryer sheet. Or, ask the front desk for a new bar of soap first thing in the morning, then use it in your luggage.
2. On long flights, wear a thick nighttime face moisturizer. This type of lotion is super hydrating and there’ll be plenty of time for it to sink in during the flight. It’ll help to keep your face moisturized and luminous on the dry airplane. Regular face moisturizers may not be thick enough to combat dry airplane air.
3. Fold up one or two small bags and pack them in your luggage. Once you’re at your destination, you can carry your belongings in something smaller than your carry on bag. Some travel stores sell thin backpacks that fold into themselves when they’re not being used.
4. Keep your power cords organized by storing them in a glasses case. If you’re storing a few cords in the same case, bundle each one up in a rubber band to keep them separate. Before leaving the house for your trip, find out what type of outlets the hotels in Singapore have. If your plugs won’t fit in the outlets, there’s no point in taking up precious space in your luggage with those cords.
5. Instead of packing a bunch of makeup, just bring along an all-in-one product that will serve as blush, lipstick and eye makeup. You’ll save space in your luggage and you won’t have to worry about leaving your favorite cosmetics behind. You can also use your mascara as eyeliner by gently pressing the wand on your lash line. Plus, the less makeup you bring, the faster it will be for you to get out of the hotel room in the morning and start sightseeing!
6. Put a couple lemon slices and some honey in a thermos, pack a tea bag in your carry on, and ask the flight attendant to fill the thermos with hot water. You”ll have a comfort drink ready to go with all of your favorite ingredients.
7. Pack an infinity scarf, which does more than just give your outfit a chic edge. You can use one as a blanket if you’re chilly on the flight or to cover your eyes if you need to block out the light to get a cat nap.
Travel can be a major stressor. Simplify it by following these seven tips and enjoy your hassle-free vacation.
This article was contributed by Fiona Moriarty of Hipmunk, a complete travel platform that allows you to do everything from comparing charter flights and train rides, to finding the best resort hotels and Airbnb rentals.

Family Fun at Cedar Point and Hotel Breakers

June 3, 2015 by Emilee Evans

Summer is here! Can you believe it? If you’re looking for family fun this summer it’s definitely a great time to visit Cedar Point and stay in the newly renovated Hotel Breakers! I was so excited to visit and share my fond memories and a great experience with our family! We definitely had family fun at Cedar Point and Hotel Breakers!

Disclosure: As a Cedar Point Blogger, I received a complimentary stay and tickets for our family. Regardless, all opinions are my own and those of my family.
I grew up here in Northwest Ohio and would visit Cedar Point regularly. It was an amazing opportunity to take my family there for the first time (including my husband who is from Texas). It had been years since my last visit, and I was excited for the chance to ride my favorite roller coaster again as well as check out some of the newer ones including the newest one – Rougarou. Of course, I was just as excited to check out the updates to Hotel Breakers!

Renovated Hotel Breakers

Upon arriving we headed to our hotel. We opted to visit the park the following morning so we could take advantage of the great one-hour early entrance for hotel guests. Wow! Hotel Breakers looks fabulous! We were greeted by a beautifully decorated and colorful lobby. Carousel horses adorn the walls in beautiful art prints and there are great carousel horses decorating the lobby. As a mom, though, I most appreciated the colorful seats and kid area with kids’ shows playing. It made checking in much more pleasant as the kids were entertained!

After checking in we headed to our room, which was equally colorful. It’s decorated with great primary colors. It really does look fresh and updated. We had a basic room with 2 Queen beds. Each bed had a generous number of pillows. It had a mini-fridge, microwave, dresser, desk, TV, a chair for lounging and more! The bathroom contained great toiletries and had lots of extra hooks in the tub which proved to be great for our bathing suits!

Shortly after getting settled we decide to explore! There is a great patio area by the beach that is gorgeous! The fire pits are amazing! It was perfect because it was a little cooler outside. We visited the week before Memorial Day, so the outdoor pools were closed, but they were working hard to get them ready for the next week, and they looked great! We did walk in the beach a little and watch sand sculptors making a sculpture of the hotel!

Then it was time to explore indoors! We had a lot of fun playing in the indoor pool, and my husband and I took turns using the hot tub. It was so relaxing! It was a great size and depth for the kids at 3ft! Next to the hotel is a fun little arcade! We had a blast there, and two of our kids win Pomemon plush toys from the claw machine, so they were extremely thrilled! There are a variety of restaurants and a fitness center as well!

We definitely enjoyed our stay at Hotel Breakers! It looks beautiful, has many great amenities, has comfortable beds, and the early entrance to the park is an awesome bonus!

Cedar Point

The next morning we ate breakfast at Perkins in Hotel Breakers and we’re excited for our early admission. We started in one of the kid areas and felt like we were the only ones there! It was pretty awesome! It was a great way to get the kids warmed up for the day! Having kids there was a totally different experience, but I was thrilled by all the things they could do! Even our 5 year old was able to ride a variety of rides (if he wanted to, of course)!

The kids got to spend some time with Snoopy and friends and see some dinosaurs, which our 5 year old particularly loved! Of course, as a homeschooling mom, I also appreciated the Town Hall Museum, and we spent some time in there learning a few things, too! So we had fun and learned a lot! It was great! There is also a great arcade full of amazing old school games – like this giant pinball machine with a cue ball!

Because I am more of roller coaster person than my husband, I opted to go on the big coasters while he stayed with the kids. He likes them, but doesn’t LOVE them like I do. Our 9 year old did go on the Blue Streak with me, which was really neat! It was one of my first roller coasters as well! Then I had to ride my favorite, the Raptor, which definitely is still my favorite! I love it! I had to check out the Rougarou as well, which I realized I had ridden years ago as the standup roller coaster the Mantis. I’m loving the updates, though! The new colors are great, and the floorless cars definitely make it a new ride! It’s fun!
We even got a glimpse of the big rides from our gorgeous room view!

Parent tip: If possible, I would recommend taking along an extra adult or even planning your trip with another family so little ones can have supervision while you and your spouse can ride the big coasters together. We tried this but were unable to have someone meet us up there that day unfortunately. I would also recommend taking a wagon. It was a bit chilly that day, so I was carrying jackets at random times, and our youngest wanted to be held a lot. It would have been perfect to have a wagon for holding the extras as well as tired kids! Of course, don’t forget the sunblock!

Overall, we had an amazing time at Cedar Point! I think it’s great fun for the whole family! There was so much for the kids to do and learn! It is definitely a well-rounded experience for the whole family! We can’t wait to go back!
Want to see more of our adventure? Be sure to check out the Cedar Point and Hotel Breakers Photo Album on Facebook!

What’s your favorite ride at Cedar Point?

For More Information:

Visit the Cedar Point Website
Connect with Cedar Point on Facebook and Twitter

Making a Holiday Splash at Schlitterbahn Galveston

December 19, 2014 by Emilee Evans

Christmas is right around the corner. With all the hustle and bustle it’s a great time to take a day to relax and have fun with the family! Start a new holiday tradition with Schlitterbahn!
Disclosure: I received complimentary tickets to facilitate my review. Regardless, all opinions are my own and those of my family.

Schlitterbahn Galveston

Schlitterbahn Galveston is a short drive from Houston and offers a fun way to celebrate the holidays with the family! Enjoy festive Christmas music, beautiful trees and decorations, and even surf with Santa! The best part is, most of it is indoors and heated which means you get to enjoy some of the great waterpark attractions while staying comfortable! There is nothing like saying you had fun at a waterpark in the winter!

I love how Schlitterbahn creates a festive atmosphere for the holidays. The decorations were gorgeous and even included ornaments made by children at the park! One of the things we loved the most was the “snow.” Snow in Texas! We were greeted by snow at the entrance, and even got snowed on while floating down Torrent River!

One of our highlights was definitely the Boogie Bahn. Our older two children both decided it was something they must do. I’m a bit of a worrier, so I was a little nervous. The staff was extremely helpful, though, and they not only gave them detailed instructions but were also there to help if needed. They did great and has a lot of fun!

Of course, we had to also go back to Surf with Santa at the Boogie Bahn when he was there. First he put on an amazing performance.

Then, it was time for the kids to Surf with Santa! He took each child out for a good amount of time! It was so much fun!

Our preschooler particularly enjoyed the Wasserfest Kids Area. It has warm shallow water and a Pirate ship to play on with slides. There is even a big frog with a tongue slide! This is a great area for the younger kids, but even our daughter and oldest son (ages almost 7 and 8) enjoyed it, too!
It’s a great area to take a break for lunch as well. There are many picnic tables available as well as lounge chairs to just sit back and relax while the kids play.

There is one big fun ride that is open during the winter season called the Guada Loopy and Loopy Luge, which we enjoyed a few times! We went on a Sunday so it was less crowded, which we discovered has one down side – there are no lines for the ride so you don’t have a chance to catch your breath when you go up the stairs! Ha! They are so much fun!

Of course, you have to take a ride down the Torrent River! Simply sit back and enjoy the huge waves!

If you have a younger child that doesn’t like the waves like our little guy, there are two play areas for younger children with slides. This was great for letting him play and switching out to take turns going down the Torrent River. I’m pretty sure he went down those slides close to 100 times! He loved it!

Our fun at Schlitterbahn lasted until well past lunch, and we did some shopping at the Gift Shop and then the kids went on the Holiday Bounce Houses outside on our way out!

Moody Gardens Ice Land

Schlitterbahn Galveston is conveniently located to other great family fun attractions at Moody Gardens. To round out our family fun weekend we went to Moody Gardens Ice Land, which is a spectacular display of ice sculptures of Sponge Bob and friends.

Because we went on a Sunday, it was not at all crowded, and we basically walked right in! (If you have children with special needs like ours this is definitely ideal!) We went over some fun Trivia then stood in line for parkas for less than 10 minutes, got our picture taken, then went inside for the fun!

The details in the sculptures are absolutely amazing. Even the stairs were ice with the metal handles built into it. They also had things like the fun ice slides!

Of course, it was obviously cold at only 9 degrees, but you can see and do everything in a pretty short amount of time as it’s not very large. The kids even braved sitting in ice seats for a picture!

We really enjoyed looking at all the sculptures. It is just absolutely amazing detail! It was a great way to wrap up our fun family weekend!

Accommodations

If you are visiting from out of town or have a little further to drive, there are convenient accommodations at the Moody Gardens Hotel, which is within walking distance of both locations. It is a beautiful hotel with amazing amenities and you definitely can’t beat the location close to all the family fun! You can purchase a “Stay and Play” Package to include your Schlitterbahn tickets with your accommodations!

We’re moving up to Ohio this weekend, so this was also a great way to have fun with my mother in-law as well before we go! I know when we come back for our holiday visits, this will definitely be included in our holiday tradition!
Are you ready to start a new holiday tradition? Take a day off from the hustle and bustle and make a holiday splash at Schlitterbahn with your family!
Be sure to connect with Schlitterbahn on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Google+ and YouTube

Castaway Bay Review

Hotel Room

Activities for Kids and Family

Indoor Water Park

For More Information:

*Giveaway!!!* {Giveaway Ended 3/24/16}

Renovated Hotel Breakers

Cedar Point

For More Information:

Schlitterbahn Galveston

Moody Gardens Ice Land

Accommodations

Giveaway!!! {Giveaway Ended 3/24/16}