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Category: Green Travel

  • Wishing You: A Very Furry Christmas at Sesame Place

    Wishing You: A Very Furry Christmas at Sesame Place

     

    Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred,

    and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit,

    become a child again at Christmas-time.

    ―Laura Ingalls Wilder

     

    I have this thing about Christmas. Don’t get me wrong, I love it, I just think it should stay in December where it belongs.

    But the combination of Sesame Street and Christmas at Sesame Place’s A Very Furry Christmas was too much even for me. They do a great job doing Christmas up right; my curmudgeonly heart felt all full of Christmas cheer even though I hadn’t had my turkey yet, and that’s really saying quite a lot.

    My little niece Eva was unavailable for this excursion, and I wasn’t sure at first if I should go. Jeff felt our kids are too old for Sesame Place. Jacob had other plans anyway.

    But on an impulse I messaged my childhood buddy Larry and his wife April, who have a daughter only two weeks older than Cass, and they were awesome enough to meet me at the Street on short notice.

     

    This is Larry. And the Count.
    Larry is on the left. 

     

    (I was originally going to include a shot of the two of us at my freshman year Christmas dance, but figured that would be unnecessarily embarrassing for everybody. My early holiday gift to you!)

    Make no mistake, Sesame Place is magical any time of the year, but the Christmas carols playing, characters in holiday finery, snow falling and Christmas lights shared with friends made this one of the best days I’ve had in a long time. I couldn’t stop dancing. That was probably embarrassing for everybody as well, but as far as I know no photographic evidence exists.

     

     

    Oh, and I think the girls had fun too. Too old for Sesame Place? Not even close. Heck, I’m pretty sure I’m not too old for Sesame Place.

    Please note: this is a very photo heavy post. And this is just a fraction of the photos and videos taken. Sesame Place is a camera-happy parent’s dream.

     

     

    After an hour in the Dine with Me restaurant loading up on festive cookies, Rice Krispie treats, cupcakes, hot chocolate and apple cider, and being photographed with the characters, we spent the rest of the day cruising for more photo ops, watching the girls go on rides and the nets, and taking in the parades and lights.

    Originally I thought we’d leave fairly early… that once it got dark and we saw the lights, we’d get cold and bounce. Nope, we stayed until just about the end, we were having so much fun… and we didn’t even see everything! A Very Furry Christmas has:

    • a 25-foot Christmas Tree that lights up the night in sync with Sesame Street holiday tunes (this was fun)
    • THREE Christmas shows
    • Santa’s Workshop: the big man in red on hand listening to Christmas wishes and posing for photos (Santa was great)
    • Sesame Place Furry Express, a brand new trackless train ride, which takes guests on a tour through the Twiddlebugs’ Gingerbread Cookie Factory and ends the journey with samples of their famous gingerbread treats (we missed this entirely!! Booo!!! I love the Twiddlebugs)
    • concerts and character meet and greets (Imagination Movers was there the day we were, but we didn’t go see them.)
    • lights, lights, everywhere. So pretty.

     

    the girls were amazed by the “snow”

     

     

    Random highlights:

     

    The girls marked on the map all the places we stopped and saw a character, or went on a ride, or whatever. It was Ava’s idea, and I think if you have kids who get antsy waiting for the parade or in ride lines this is a smart way to keep them occupied.

    Near the front of the park there is a vending machine filled with individual diapers, wipes, disposable cameras, diaper rash ointment, bandaids, formula, pacifiers, a carabiner that fits onto a stroller handle… flipping genius if you ask me.

    I believe I saw another vending machine with gluten-free snacks and indeed gluten-free was available in a number of spots throughout the park (the Starbucks definitely being one).

    We had a bit of a scraped knee incident and visited the First Aid office, where the staff was speedy and generally lovely to deal with.

    We learned it can take a little while for the photographs taken around the park to be downloaded for purchase. FYI.

    There were warming stations that looked like lamp posts strategically placed around the park to keep you comfortable.

    The potato soup is not vegetarian.

    The parade is just as fun to watch a second time, in the dark.

     

     

    And, if you yell his name loudly enough, Cookie Monster will in fact turn and gape at you 🙂

     

    I’m hoping to make this a new Christmas tradition! My boys were sad they didn’t go once they saw the photos, and I can not wait to take Eva next year. Fun for young and old kids alike. Even if you’ve done Sesame Place tons of times before, A Very Furry Christmas is a hugely rewarding holiday experience, totally worth the price of admission.

    YOU should go this year.

    • Dec 1 & 2, 2012 (1-8 PM ): A Very Furry Christmas Variety Days
    • Dec 8 & 9, 2012 (1-7 PM ): Sprout’s Pajama Party Weekend
    • Dec 26 & 27, 2012 (1-7 PM ): Caillou Meet & Greets
    • Open daily from December 26th through December 31st
    • AND Sesame Place will celebrate New Year’s Eve with fireworks set to Sesame Street themed music.

     

    Admission tickets for A Very Furry Christmas are $21.99 and include a free second visit. Guests with 2012 and 2013 Season Passes can upgrade their Season Pass to include unlimited admission to all 20 operating days of a Very Furry Christmas and a 30% discount on food and merchandise for $14.99.

    For a complete schedule and all the deets go to sesameplace.com.

     

     

     

    Disclosure: I received four admission tickets to A Very Furry Christmas as part of Media Day. All opinions are entirely my own! 

     

     

  • Sesame Place Spooktacular!

    Sesame Place Spooktacular!

     

    You’ve never seen a street like Sesame Street before. Everything happens here. You’re gonna love it!
    -Gordon

    You’ve never seen Sesame Street like this before.

    I got to hit Sesame Place for The Count’s Spooktacular… and it was freaking spectacular.

    Part of it is getting to be there with kids the right age. I went with my daughter Cassidy, and also with my niece Eva, who’s 2 and sooo into everything Sesame Street. She was beside herself just seeing the decorated water tower and the parking lot signs designated by character.

     

     

    I loved seeing her face riding the carousel the first time. This is what it’s all about, folks.

     

     

    The place was all spooked up… but not in any way scary. Just enough to get the kids all excited about Halloween.

     

     

     

    Kids were encouraged to come in costume for the fun of the thing, and also for the trick-or-treating stations strewn throughout the park. They gave out candy, but also toothbrushes, juice boxes and non-sugary snacks, which was nice.

     

     

    The water rides were closed— one day I’ll actually get to go on the water rides— but the other rides were open. I think they enjoyed the non-ride fun more, though: the push-carts, enormous rope wall thing (I have no idea what that is called) (UPDATE: it’s called Nets N Climbs), little playgrounds. No lines, for one thing.

    There was also Halloween-specific stuff going on; an Abby Cadabby hay maze, another maze through the Count’s Castle, pumpkin decorating. And face painting. Face painting isn’t Halloween-specific but this seemed a good place to mention it 🙂

    My favorite part was being ON Sesame Street itself. This is not new.

     

     

    And of course getting my picture taken with MY favorite character, BERT.

     

     

    DRESSED AS A PIGEON.

    We had cupcakes with all the other media people invited for the day. Eva yelled at me because I didn’t give her a fork. That girl has manners, y’all.

     

     

    And then we were lucky enough to have Big Bird, Abby Cadabby, Elmo, the Count, and Cookie Monster come hang out, dance a bit and pose for pictures.

     

     

    Then we walked the park a bit more for souvenirs and to get ready for the big parade. Photos opps abounded.

     

     

    FYI: go find a good place for the parade way earlier than you think you need to. We sat a little bit back, and Eva nodded off before it came. Which was a little bit disappointing for us adults, who were totally riding the high of being with a kid at Sesame Place, but OK. Baby girl had a full, happy day.

     

    That’s my baby brother Robbie (I know, blame my parents), and it was his first trip to Sesame Place, too.

     

    If you have the chance, you totally need to get yourself to Sesame Place for some Spooktacular fun! It’s $20 off when you buy your ticket online and totally worth the price of admission; if you’re on a budget I do highly suggest packing a lunch. You can be stamped leaving the park and then return.

    Also, good news for those with allergies: Sesame Place now boasts a new line of allergy-friendly dining initiatives, including personalized service and more menu options.

    2013 Season Passes to Sesame Place are on sale now!

    With a Season Pass you can enjoy unlimited admission in 2013, plus FREE unlimited admission during 2012 The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular.

    Season Pass Members enjoy the following benefits (some restrictions do apply):

    • 30% off in-park food and merchandise
    • Free parking
    • Discounts on admission for guests
    • Exclusive character Meet and Greets,
    • Exclusive Pass Member events
    • More!

     

    October 20th and 21st: Abby Cadabby’s Fairy Pumpkin Party

    Help everyone’s favorite Sesame Street friends celebrate Abby Cadabby’s birthday with her very own Fairy Birthday Party! This hour long party includes an all‐you‐care‐to eat dinner buffet, singing, and dancing with your Sesame Street friends. What birthday party would be complete without singing Happy Birthday to the Fairy‐in‐Training! Dinner is at 5:00pm and is by reservation only. Children under 2 are free.

    October 29th and 30th: The Count’s Halloween Party

    Take a break from all of your Halloween fun at The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular and enjoy the new dinner menu at Dine With Me! Celebrate Halloween with a terrific all‐you‐care‐to eat dinner buffet plus singing and dancing with all of your favorite Sesame Street friends at their very own Halloween Party! Dinner is at 5:00pm and is by reservation only. Children under 2 are free.

    October 30th: Halloween Costume Contest

    Come dressed in a Halloween costume to compete in the annual costume contest at Sesame Place! Registration will begin at 10 a.m. in front of Monster Rock Theater and there will be competitions for boys, girls, and families. All of the contests will take place at Monster Rock Theater and winners will be posted at the Welcome Center. All winners will be invited to be special guests in the Neighborhood Street Party Halloween parade.

    More details and ticket info at sesameplace.com.

    Disclosure: I received 4 Sesame Place passes free of charge as a representative of the media. All opinions are my own. Also, how adorable is my niece?

     

  • Over 60% of Car Seats Contain Toxic Chemicals

    Over 60% of Car Seats Contain Toxic Chemicals

    baby-carseat

     

    Kids need to be in car seats. Good ones.

    Every kid. Every time.

    Car seats save lives.

    So it really sucks to find out that more than half of car seats are exposing kids to toxic chemicals. Babies are particularly vulnerable since they are rapidly developing and tend to spend a lot of time in their seats (especially if, like mine, they slept well there).

    Also, keep in mind that the repeated heat-and-cool cycle and UV exposure inside cars can possibly accelerate and intensify toxicity. Happy happy, joy joy.

    The latest research, based on tests of over 150 car seats currently on the market (2011 models), was just released by the nonprofit Ecology Center. They tested for:

    Bromine: Associated with the use of brominated flame retardants (BFRs), which are added to plastics for fire resistance. Some BFRs have been associated with thyroid problems, learning and memory impairment, decreased fertility, and behavioral changes. A recent peer-reviewed study published in Environmental Science & Technology found a majority of baby products tested, including car seats, nursing pillows and baby carriers, contained chemical flame retardants either associated with adverse health effects or lacking adequate health information. Although fire retardants in foam are necessary to meet certain fire-safety standards, non-halogenated fire retardants are available, and many have a better safety profile. Brominated flame retardant chemicals that are either deemed toxic or that lack adequate health safety data were detected in 44% percent of the 2011 car seats tested. (NOTE: HealthyStuff.org did not test for all hazardous flame retardants, particularly chlorinated flame retardants (CFRs), and seats may contain other chemical hazards).

    Chlorine: Associated with the use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is widely used in plastics and is of concern to the environment and public health during all phases of its life cycle. PVC contains chemicals called phthalates, some of which have been associated with decreased fertility, pre-term deliveries, and damage to the liver, testes, thyroid, ovaries, kidneys, and blood. There is also evidence that phthalates can pass from mothers to babies through the placenta and through breast milk.

    Lead: Lead is sometimes used as an additive in plastics. Exposure can lead to a number of potential health effects, including brain damage, learning disabilities, and problems with the kidneys, blood, nerves, and reproductive system.

    Other: Other chemicals tested as part of HealthyStuff.org include antimony, arsenic, chromium, cobalt, copper, mercury, nickel and tin. The substances in this category are allergens, carcinogens, or cause other adverse health impacts depending on the concentrations and exposure levels.

    It’s sort of amazing that we have something called the “Toxic Substance Control Act” in place but it doesn’t really seem to be doing much to control toxic substances, does it?

    Or that carseat companies think to cover car seats in flame retardants in the name of safety, but don’t check to ensure the flame retardants used are safe themselves.

    Anyway. That’s the bad news. Here’s the good news:

    • While 60% of the car seats tested contained at least one of the bad chemicals, many tested contained none at all. Score! Support those companies!
    • The Ecology Center first started doing these tests in 2008. In three short years, average rankings have improved by 64%. You know why? ‘Cause people care and companies will listen. Keep talking!
    • Generally speaking, I think flame retardants are probably a good call with car seats. There ARE safer flame retardants out there. Look for them and ask for them by name 🙂

    So here’s the best and the worst. Baby shower accordingly.

    Most Toxic 2011 Car Seats. Do Not Buy.

    Infant Seat:

    • Graco Snugride 35 in Edgemont Red/Black
    • Graco SnugRide 30 in Asprey

    Convertible Seat:

    • Britax Marathon 70 in Jet Set
    • Britax Marathon in Platinum

    Booster Seat:

    • Recaro Pro Booster in Blue Opal
    • Recaro ProSPORT Toddler in Misty

    Least Toxic 2011 Car Seats:

    Infant Seat:

    • Chicco KeyFit 30 in Limonata
    • Graco Snugride 35 in Laguna Bay (that color’s not listed on Amazon)
    • Combi Shuttle 33 in Cranberry Noche (ditto)

    Convertible Carseat:

    Booster Seat:

    I’ve linked the good ones, but you’ll still need to do your homework to figure out which fits your safety/ comfort/ convenience/ toxicity ratios.

    And even if you already own one of the more toxic ones, and can’t afford a new one, just remember ANY CAR SEAT IS A GOOD CAR SEAT. Oh my god, it drives me insane when I see cars on the road with kids cruising all over the backseat. Or sitting up front when they are CLEARLY too young. SAFETY FIRST.

     

    Check out www.HealthyStuff.org for the complete list of car seat rankings. And while you’re there, sign the petition asking Graco and Evenflo to disclose and phase out hazardous chemical flame retardant additives.

    They’re listening. Are you getting noisy?