Road-Trip Entertainment For Kids

Never worry again about fighting, fidgety kids in the backseat when you are traveling. Just visit Rad Roadtrips first! You can download free activity books for kids especially designed to keep them entertained in the car! RadRoadtrips.com

Baby's First Circus

Free Ticket for Baby’s First Circus® from Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey!

Parenthood brings many wonderful firsts - your baby’s first tooth, your baby’s first steps... and of course, your Baby’s First Circus!

The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Baby’s First Circus program is for parents of newborns (up to 12 months old and living in the continental United States).

Meals For Kids

Search kids meal deals and kids eat free restaurants in your area using their dynamic search tool. Just enter your zip code or city and state to get started.

KidsMealDeals.com

24th Annual Arizona Renaissance Festival

24th Annual Arizona's Annual Renaissance Festival

A 30-acre medieval playground where history is the theme, 12 stages of continuous live entertainment, royalty, jousting tournaments, an artisan marketplace and the Pleasure Feast, a day of 16th Century play for the whole family.

The Arizona Renaissance Festival is an outdoor event that combines entertainment and shopping reminiscent of what may have been found in a village market. More than 2,000 costumed characters strive to make you feel as if you have stepped into a village festival during the European Renaissance.

Shop for historical crafts; eat a giant roasted turkey leg; take part in games of chance and skill (think carnival games but with archery instead of air guns.) There are 12 different stages where various types of entertainment can be enjoyed: sword fighting, comedy, magic, music, maybe a duel of wits or jousting knights.

Possibly the most unique experience at the Renaissance Festival is the interaction with actors on the street who make everyone a part of the VILLAGE AT PLAY.  Those washer wenches don’t just act silly on the stage, they make sure their audience members make fools of themselves too. The King is not just  some guy in a crown; when you meet royalty at the Festival, it is hard not to bow with everyone else. Maybe you will be asked to carry a secret message for the Lord  Sheriff, or you may find yourself the object of a poet's admiration or scorn. Don’t shy away from these encounters…you’ll have so much more fun if you jump right in!

The only real way to find out what the Arizona Renaissance Festival is all about is to visit and experience the fun for yourself.  There are different ways to save – so come and play at the Arizona Renaissance Festival.

February 11 - April 1st 2012
12601 E. Highway 60
Apache Junction, AZ 85118
$12 children, $22 adults, under 5 are free,
Weekends, 10 am - 6 pm

520-463-2700 or http://www.renfestinfo.com

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Ingredients:
8 oz semi sweet chocolate squares or 1 pkg semi sweet chocolate chips
1 container of strawberries (or apples or bananas)

Camelback Mountain Cholla Trail

Camelback Mountain Cholla Trail
North Invergordon Road and East Cholla Lane
Phoenix, AZ 85253
http://www.phoenix.gov/parks/hikecmlb.html

Camelback Mountain is one of the city's largest peaks, and it has a reputation of being quite a hairy climb. But its eastern-side trail, Cholla, offers a way to blow off some steam without having to call in the rescue helicopters. Younger children can easily climb up to the “saddle” of the camel — the halfway point to the summit — and older ones can venture on. Great views of the city and clear pathways make this a great way to spend a couple of hours outdoors with the kids. (Parking is a little further offsite so be prepared to start hiking right out of the car!)

Info: Free

Hours: October 1 to April 30, daily 7am to 5:30pm; May 1 to September 30, daily 5:30am to 7:30pm

It’s A Dog-Gone Rescue in Downtown Glendale

See rescue dogs in action in downtown Glendale for a fundraiser that that allows participants to be part of real rescue demonstrations.

"It's a Bear Hunt" on Feb. 25 will benefit fallen Glendale police Officer Brad Jones' family. It is on 58th Drive between Myrtle and Palmaire avenues in downtown Glendale. Arizona Search Dogs will be conducting a live search for people.

The work done by these dogs involves reward and play-type incentives so each person will receive a bear and then the victims will reward the dogs with a bear once they are found. The bears have been donated by Bears & More, a downtown Glendale shop.

Participants will need to register, sign a waiver and pay a $10 registration fee. Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. with the first hunt beginning at 8:30 . Each person will have about 10 to 15 minutes to hide along the street and alleys before the dogs are released to find them.

In addition to the live search, raffle prizes will be offered. PetSmart has donated a $100 gift card.

Details: 623-930-4500 or visit www.visitglendale.com.

4th Annual Walk in the Wild at the Phoenix Zoo

4th Annual Walk in the Wild at the Phoenix Zoo
Saturday, February, 18, 2012

Click here to purchase registration online.

Grab your sneakers and head to the Phoenix Zoo for the Fourth Annual Walk in the Wild as we honor the endangered Sumatran tiger. Strut, run or prowl your way through the 5K route inside the Zoo all while you learn about the Sumatran tiger. Participants receive a commemorative T-shirt, goodie bag and admission into the Zoo for the day. All proceeds benefit the non-profit Phoenix Zoo.

Walk as a team or as an individual . . . either way you are in for a ROARING GOOD TIME!

(Please note that this is not a competitive or timed walk/run)

Colossal Cave Mountain Park

Colossal Cave Mountain Park
16721 East Old Spanish Trail
Vail, AZ 85641
(520) 647-7275
http://www.colossalcave.com/

Take a guided tour through these lesser-known caves just outside of Tucson (Vail is about two hours from Phoenix), where you will walk down six and a half stories into the amazing caverns. The trek is easy for children, and they will love to play archaeologist while walking through all the stalactites and stalagmites, and learn about how caves form. A few ghost stories and tall tales from the guides add to the fun, and trail rides are available in the park as well.

Info: Cave Tour: Adults $8.50, children 6 to 12 $5, 5 and younger free

Hours: March 16 to September 15: Daily 8am to 5pm; September 16 to March 15: Daily 9am to 5pm

Arizona Falls

Arizona Falls
5700 East Indian School Road
Phoenix, AZ
http://www.srpnet.com/water/canals/azfalls.aspx

Formed by a natural 20-foot drop along the Arizona canal, the Falls reopened recently as a restored hydroelectric plant and fun spot to hang out with your children. A viewing platform, dance floor and lit waterfalls can be enjoyed 24 hours a day at no charge. The gears operating the plant can be seen, allowing you to watch it all work beneath a shaded structure. [Photo credit: Cogdogblog]

Info: Free
Hours: Daily

Amazing Jake's Food & Fun

Amazing Jake's Food & Fun
1830 East Baseline Road
Mesa, AZ 85204
(480) 926-7499
http://www.amazingjakes.com/

This is sensory overload for kids — in a good way. Go carts, rides, black light bowling, laser tag, rock climbing wall, and tons of video games in an indoor play land. An absolutely huge buffet is part of the entry price, and surprisingly, the food is pretty darn good. A bar area is available for parents and grandparents, which might take the edge off the noise of kids gone wild.

Info: 3 hours unlimited fun and buffet: Adults $21.99, children 4 to 10 $18.99
Hours: Monday to Thursday 11am to 9pm, Friday 11am to 10pm, Saturday 10am to 10pm, Sunday 10am to 9pm

Valentine's Coloring Pages

Cupid, draw back your bow, and let your arrow flow, straight to my lovers heart for me... hey, there's a song in there somewhere!

It's almost Valentines day! Check out these coloring pages for Valentine's Day from Grandparents.com:

Coloring Pages:

I Love You Card

Hearts

Love

Cupid



Find more Valentines Day Fun at: Grandparents.com

Complimentary Subscription to Better Homes & Gardens.

Sign up here for a complimentary 24 issue subscription to Better Homes & Gardens.

Enjoy 24 issues! No strings attached. You'll never receive a bill.

Better Homes and Gardens magazine delivers ideas and improvement projects for your home and garden plus recipes and entertaining ideas. Some features include: decorating, repair, food recipes, gift ideas, health tips, gardening, travel, entertainment and product news.

Get it Free.

Free Cookie at Quiznos on Valentine's Day

Print out the voucher and bring it to a Quiznos on Valentines day for a free cookie. No purchase required.

Get it Free.

Food During Baby's First Years - A Guide

Good nutrition is very important to your baby's proper growth and development.  This guide will help you make healthy choices about feeding your baby from birth to 12 years of age.

Age	Developmental Skills	Appropriate Skills
Birth to 6 Months	Baby can suck and swallow but tongue thrust reflex pushes out solid food.	Breast Milk or iron-fortified formula
6-7 Months	Baby can sit unsupported, and tongue thrust reflex is lessened.	Breast Milk or iron-fortified formula, rice cereal, applesauce, strained and pureed bananas and pears.
7-9 Months	Baby can munch food, and use thumb and index finger to pick up foods.	Breast Milk or iron-fortified formula, teething biscuits, mashed potatoes and avocados, strained and pureed peaches, carrots and squash.
9-12 Months	Baby can grind food, hold a cup and self feeding skills improve.	Breast Milk or iron-fortified formula, rice cakes, bite-sized cheese cubes, soft tortillas, egg yolks, oatmeal, yogurt, tofu, noodles, peas, strained and pureed chicken.