Dimpled knees and chubby hands. Sweet smiles and coos. Snuggles and soft sighs.
Babies.
I’ll pause for a collective awwww…
Done?
It’s no secret I love me some babies. In fact, I would have more if my husband didn’t cut us off at three. Why did he put a no vacancy sign on my uterus? Because kids, as wonderful as they may be, are mad expensive, yo!
First it’s diapers and wipes in bulk. Then preschools. Then sports and activities that force a second mortgage on the house. If the kids are in daycare, just light your paychecks on fire because there goes all your money. And if you’re lucky enough to have any cash flow left over, Disney, Nike, and other brands fashioned by the devil will flush it down the toilet for you. Travel teams, proms, colleges, weddings–YIKES!
Things. Stuff. They’re nice, but there is nothing more important than for a family to spend time together. Unfortunately, even that can get expensive. A Saturday for 4 at an amusement park translates into a couple hundred bucks; a family vacation can run into the thousands. Is that why you and the fam haven’t taken off somewhere together? Let me help.
I’ve teamed up with Experience Columbus to offer one lucky reader a free vacation! The Roar and Explore Adventure Getaway is enticing enough to get this Pittsburgh gal to jump the state border, and once you see what’s included, you’ll be jumping, too.
If your name is randomly pulled by my friend, Rafflecopter, you will win FOUR tickets to EACH of these places:
- Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, ranked the No. 1 zoo in America, unveils its 143-acre Heart of Africa exhibit May 22. Visitors can stand face-to-face with giraffes and feed them a snack; get up-close with lions as they board a grounded airplane; and take a camel ride in the Zoo’s newest and largest region. This stunning new exhibit is home to 150 animals and adds even more reason for travelers to visit the place famed zoo director Jungle Jack Hanna calls home.
- Zoombezi Bay, the world’s only water park inside of a major zoo, opens Baboon Lagoon this season. Ideal for younger kids, this active play land boasts eight water slides, fountains and a 1,000-gallon bucket dump. Beyond Baboon Lagoon, guests can splash and scream through 17 twisting waterslides, extreme raft rides, headfirst racers and the hair-raising 209-foot Cyclone, the world’s largest reducing-radius slide. Zoombezi also offers the more laid-back, adults-only Crocktail Creek*, a lazy river where moms and dads can relax. *They had me at Cocktail Creek
This. Is. Awesome.
- COSI, the nation’s top science center, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year by hosting The International Exhibition of Sherlock Holmes. Brand new this year and running only through September, guests get their own book full of clues and can join master detective Sherlock Holmes to participate in experiments and stay hot on a trail to crack a new mystery. In addition, COSI visitors can ride a high-wire unicycle, use sonar technology and get wild with loads of other hands-on activities that make science fun.
You’re excited, but all “Hotels are too expensive!” Have no fear. The fine people at Experience Columbus want to make sure you get a good night’s sleep after you exhaust your sweet little self in their city. Also included in this vacation package: TWO free nights at Drury Inn & Suites, the preferred hotel of the Roar and Explore Adventure Getaway. Amenities include free, hot breakfast and evening snacks; indoor pool; and complimentary wireless Internet.
Here’s the deal: you deserve a weekend away. Throw some underwear and a toothbrush in your suitcase and head to Columbus, Ohio where you and your crew will go to the zoo, science center, water park, AND stay the night FOR FREE. Take a ton of pictures, hug lots, and return home with happy hearts. Enter the raffle below, but not before reading the fine print. Which really isn’t so fine as it is typical sized font right here:
Winners MUST use their tickets by September 1, 2014. Do not, I repeat DO NOT, enter this giveaway knowing that you cannot get your behind to Columbus before September 1. If you are the chosen one (not Jesus, but the winner), I will need to contact you so please use the email you check most regularly to enter the raffle. If your name is pulled and you do not respond to me within 24-hours, I will have to choose another winner and that sucks for you and makes me sad. This giveaway ends at NOON (EST) on Wednesday, June 18, 2014.
If you would rather book your own Roar and Explore Adventure Getaway, have at it. It’s only $411 (plus tax) for a family of four. Book online at www.ColumbusFamilyFun.com or by calling (888) 795-3709. (Packages are designed for four, but additional guests may be added.)
And now, may the odds be ever in your favor.
I received free passes to the aforementioned attractions; complimentary hotel accommodations; and meal vouchers for writing this post.
The Columbus Zoo is fabulous! It is our Memorial Day tradition to go…but I’d love to see COSI again, I haven’t been there since I was a kid!
I’ve heard amazing things about that zoo! Can’t wait to see it AND COSI!
Which of the attractions would you be most excited to visit?
The Science center 🙂 My boy loves all things science and would be over the moon to visit there!
Good luck, pal!!!
Love to take the kids to the water park !!! I love them!
You’re a better lady than I; I want to avoid the water park because BATHING SUITS. #postpartumbodyblues
I would love to win this for a friend!!!
That’s so sweet of you, Catherine! GOOD LUCK!
This sounds like an amazing trip! Would love to win! Erin
You have to take your mom if you win 🙂
I’m sure I could find a few folks to take along with me and laneybug
Or don’t–mommy and daughter trip sounds amazing! 😉
My 2 year old would be in heaven at this zoo. I’ve heard it’s amazing!
I’ve heard the same. You can RIDE a camel!!!! Good luck!!
Zoombezi Bay looks super awesome! Now, can I live in Cocktail Creek – become a mermaid?
Only if you take me with you.
My kids would love the waterpark!
I’d love to check out their zoo!
We would love to go to the zoo!!
I love a free vacation AND When Crazy Meets Exhaustion!
YAY!! YOU WIN…my undying gratitude 😉
Love your blog and I think this would be an amazing trip of family fun, laughs, and memories! Thanks for the chance to win a trip to the zoo and waterpark 🙂
Thank you so much, Lisa! You’re a familiar Facebook “face” so I take your word for it 🙂 Good luck! xo
Love your blog! This is so nice!!!! And it sounds like am awesome trip!
Awww, thanks, Heather!
My son would be most excited for zoombezi bay, but i would be most excited for the zoo!
We are most excited about the zoo/aquarium!
I grew up in Columbus and loved going to COSI when it was in a prior location, but I moved away and haven’t been in years. Would love to check it out now!
My kids would love the zoo!
I see what ya did there, Mr. sZoonyder 😉
The Science Center would be AMAZING.
Looking forward to the zoo!
What a wonderful vacation!
The zoo! My daughter is obsessed with giraffes!
Everything you shared is truly amazing here in Columbus!!! We lived LIVED at the zoo for the first 8 years of my kiddos lives! Zoombezi Bay is so so fun! And Cosi is amazing!
I am really looking forward to visiting all of these places! Yay, Columbus!! (and Chris!)
BTW- LOVED your little disclaimer. It CRACKED me UP! 🙂
Tee hee! I love it when people read my writing and GET IT 🙂
The water park sounds fun.
What an awesome giveaway! The zoo would be the biggest hit with out kids 🙂
I would love to visit the science center! It looks like so much fun!
I would LOVE to win this! I grew up an hour away from Columbus so I know these attractions well and would be so excited to share them with my husband and daughter now! The Columbus Zoo is the best!
My kids would love to go to Zoombezi bay.
I’m excited about Cosi, the science center.
i would love to go to the water park, i love water slides!