Hosted trip. May contain affiliate links. All opinions within are my own. May receive a small commission if you purchase something through an affiliate link. Thanks for supporting my small business.
I grew up watching the Powerpuff Girls, so I felt nostalgic vibes when I stayed at the Cartoon Network Hotel in Lancaster, PA.
The Cartoon Network Hotel has themed rooms, an outdoor pool with a slide, a Powerpuff Splash pad, an indoor pool, campfires, an outdoor movie screen, on-site dining at the Cartoon Kitchen and Bearista Cafe, an arcade, and a play area for the kids. (The coffee was really good at the Bearista Cafe). Em was able to create her own Powerpuff Girl, play interactive games on a big screen, color a design then have it come to life on another big screen.
I loved the convenience of having everything in one location. The kids had a blast in the pool and Powerpuff Splash pad. The Cartoon Network Store also had really cool shirts, mugs, stickers, toys, stuffies, etc.
We also enjoyed Dutch Wonderland, a family fun amusement park geared towards younger children (ages 1-8). (Perfect for Em and Nick!) We loved the rides; especially the train, carousel, and trucks. There are many places to take pictures. We also got a Dutch pretzel with beer cheese and mustard, which was delicious.
A fun time was had by all! Make sure you check out the Cartoon Network Hotel and Dutch Wonderland on Instagram, too! (Also — I have a Cartoon Network highlight reel, so you can see more of our stay and the rides at Dutch Wonderland!)
Fom Mania has amazing products that will bring lots of sensory enjoyment during the summer season. I know Em will love blasting J and me with foam and that this will provide hours of screen-free time.
I can’t wait to use Storypod with Em! This will enhance her imagination and allow her to learn new things before entering Kindergarten. Storypod gifted us Crafties, audiobooks, and trivia cards. Em has a strong desire to learn, so I know Storypod will be a great asset to her learning.
We already have the Happy Unicorn book by Clever Publishing, so it was only fitting to complete the set! I truly believe you are never old enough to partake in a lift-the-flap book!
Benny the Brave in The First Day Jitters, Gen the Grit in I Quit!, Chloe the Calm in The Bedtime Blues, and Keisha the Kind in My Little Sister Situation come in the 4 Book Box Set — perfect for tackling all the big emotions!
As an occupational therapist, this wobble balance board has so many uses! I can see Em integrating it into her forts and I can’t wait to see how well she does balancing and playing.
Em has been asking me for an ice cream maker so we can make our own delicious concoctions. She will also get some chocolate syrup, sprinkles, and a recipe book!
This post contains sponsored items. Thanks for supporting my small business.
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Sponsored post. Contains affiliate links. May receive a commission if you purchase through my link and use my code. Thank you for supporting my blog & business.
J & Em love to kick back, relax, and retreat from the busyness of school and work by sitting around the @tikibrandproducts Patio Smokeless Fire Pit. We also received the screen, poker, and tabletop cover, too.
We love how it is easy to set up, can be used with a wood pack or firewood, and is sized for gathering with family and friends.
Do you like to gather around your Fire Pit? Let me know in the comments!
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Although this post contains sponsored/hosted/affiliate material, all opinions within are honest and my own. Thank you for your continued support!
We prepared for our trip to Mystic, CT by watching Mystic Pizza. If you haven’t seen it, make sure you do so for it’s a classic. (Julia Roberts, Lili Taylor…I mean, c’mon!)
When I told Jason I landed a #hosted trip at Hilton Mystic, he looked at me with his sly smile and said, “Well, Danielle, you know what I always say…’You can never go wrong with a Hilton.’” He has literally said that statement since I met him almost 13 years ago. (As a quick aside, before Jason met me, he has been to only a handful of places; I have dragged him to the Caribbean, Europe, and around the USA; he quickly realized he married a woman with a thirst for adventure. When in doubt, book a Hilton.)
We arrived at the Hilton Mystic and checked into our double bedroom. (Thank you to CC & Christine for an easy check-in/out process). Our room was spacious and tidy. The bathroom had a tub shower, which is always helpful for a preschooler. Hilton Mystic has a gym (that I actually got to use), a pool (that plays a movie at 7 PM every weekend), an arts and crafts room (shoutout to Annie & Betsy, you both were so patient and kind to Em), and an on-site restaurant The Irons, which served an amazing breakfast buffet. Hilton Mystic also has a fire pit area and several areas to take pictures. We had our picture taken with the infamous ship’s wheel and pirate.
The first night in Mystic, we went to Mystic Pizza and grabbed a whole pie with meatballs, and two Mystic Pizza lagers. Em had a 6″ kid’s plain pie. Em finished her entire pizza and J and I housed the meatball pie. The dough was sweet, the sauce flavorful, and the meatballs homemade. The brews were ice cold and refreshing after a 3+ hour drive.
Then, we went back to Hilton Mystic and made a sensory bag and some artwork in the craft room, and then watched a movie while splashing in the pool. Pool towels are provided, which is a huge plus. There is a variety of seating options; chaise lounges, tables, and comfortable sofas. The pool water was crystal clear and heated.
Downtown Mystic was the quintessential New England town, filled with restaurants, bars, shops, and ice cream parlors. We got some chocolate and Oreo fudge for dessert. Downtown Mystic has lots to see and do.
The following day, our first stop was the Mystic Aquarium, followed by the Mystic Seaport Museum. Both venues are indoors and outdoors, so if it rains the entire time like it did during our stay, make sure you pack your raincoats, rain boots, and umbrellas.
The Mystic Aquarium was super fun and located right across the street from the Hilton Mystic. Emilia enjoyed watching the beluga whales, learning about different types of jellyfish, and viewing Stretch the snapping turtle. She also got to touch string rays and hermit crabs in the touch tanks. We learned so much about the different sea creatures.
The Mystic Seaport Museum blew us away, both figuratively and literally. We loved exploring different ships. (the pictures don’t capture the size of the ships relative to our heights; trust me, they are humungous). Emilia enjoyed the Children’s Museum where she got to play with all of the toys. We also learned historical tidbits about how sails were made, how boats were built, etc. The on-site tavern was a great place to enjoy some local brews and gave us adults a place to kick back and relax and study the map.
Red 36 was our sport for a late lunch/early dinner. I opted for the hot lobster roll and clam chowder. Delicious.
Sift Bakery was where we stopped for dessert and splurged on a cookie and macarons. I understand why Sift came highly recommended. I will be back for more goodies.
Then we took a drive and wound up on DuBois Beach. It was magical. The sea breeze paired with some sunshine was the perfect ending to a day of exploration. Emilia collected rocks. Jason sat on the rocks. I paced the beach in deep thought. It was perfect. I am so lucky to have had this experience with my family.
We scurried back to the Hilton Mystic where Em made a penguin with Annie in the arts and crafts room. Then, we enjoyed another movie in the pool.
The nice part about our Mystic trip was that at the end of a long day, Hilton Mystic was there to entertain Emilia (arts and crafts and the pool) and add comfort to our stay. The beds and pillows were fabulous; I slept like a rock. The on-site restaurant, The Irons, serves breakfast and dinner, perfect for families with littles that need added convenience. The fire pits would have been a great place to sit and enjoy a glass of wine. (Darn rain!) I got an amazing workout in the gym. As most of you know, Jason is a stickler for cleanliness, and our room was cleaned thoroughly, as well as the communal spaces (arts and crafts room, pool, elevator, lobby).
Bottom line: We need to return to Mystic. A weekend was just a taste of all that Mystic, CT has to offer and I am itching for more adventure. Be sure to book your stay at the Hilton Mystic through my link.
Have you been to Mystic, CT? Let me know in the comments!
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Realm of Vibes 