Springdale Park

April 26, 2012 By 1 Comment

What: Springdale Park; Where: 600 East Brent Lane; Cost: FREE

We are back to working our way through our parks list to bring you all you need to know about our local parks. We are so lucky to have so many parks and play spaces in Pensacola and we are still trying to visit all of them on the list!

We were on our way to the store on Sunday afternoon when we realized that the store wasn’t going to open for another twenty minutes. We just happened to be driving down Brent Lane past Springdale Park so we decided to stop and play for a few minutes instead of sit in the parking lot. The park is located off of Brent Lane and you can see it from the street. It is right down the road from the Rave Motion Pictures theater.

There is a large play structure with slides. There are several swings and my kids loved the rock climbing wall.

The park has an expansive open area that has a sand volleyball court and two baseball/softball diamonds. There is a small picnic shelter as well as benches scattered around the park. There is a drinking fountain but it was not working. There are no bathrooms at this park.

Springdale Park is located at 600 East Brent Lane.

Filed Under: Parks and Playplaces, Things to do Under $5

2012 Day Out with Thomas Ticket Giveaway

April 24, 2012 By

*This contest is now closed. Thank you to everyone who entered.

Day Out with Thomas Mystery on the Rails Tour 2012 is coming to Wales West Railways located at the Wales West RV Park in Silverhill, Alabama on May 5-6 and May 12-13.

Day Out with Thomas is a yearly event where you get to take a ride on Thomas the Train when he visits depots all around the US and Canada. There is a 20 minute ride with a Narrow Gauge Thomas the Tank Engine, a chance to meet Sir Topham Hatt, storytelling, live music, building with blocks and more.

Last year, Wales West also offered train rides on their smaller train and a look at the model trains. There are concession stands where you can purchase treats and drinks.

We visited with Thomas and his friends last year and my kids had a blast. I am so excited to announce that I have TWO family four packs to give away to two different people. There will be two winners and each winner will receive one family four pack.

Both family four pack sets of tickets are GOOD FOR THE 2:15pm TRAIN on SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012. Please make sure that you are able to attend before you enter!

How to Enter

Leave one comment in the post about your favorite Pensacola summer activity with your kids. Don’t worry about being creative with your comment because the winners will be chosen by random number generator. Leave your comment by Saturday, April 28 12midnight CST.

Terms and Conditions

No purchase necessary to enter or win. Sweepstakes is open only to legal residents of the 50 states and the District of Columbia and who are 18 years of age at time of entry. For this giveaway, entrants can enter 1 time. We will disqualify any entries that we believe are generated by scripts and other automated technology and Pensacola with Kids assumes no responsibility for late or misdirected entries due to SPAM, technological issues or for prizes lost in transit.

Prize is only good for 2:15pm train ride on Sunday, May 6, 2012 at Wales West RV Park Day Out with Thomas 2012. No substitutions including for cash are permitted, except that Pensacola with Kids reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater monetary value for any prize. Void where prohibited by law. Winners shall be responsible and liable for all federal, state, and local taxes on the value of their prize. Relatives of Pensacola with Kids are not eligible to win.

Winners

A randomly selected winner will be notified by email. Odds of winning depend upon the number of entries received. Winners must claim prize within 48 hours or the prize will be forfeited. Prizes will be shipped via mail shortly after the prizes have been claimed. Winner grants Pensacola with Kids the right to use his/her name in promotion without compensation or permission. Winner releases Pensacola with Kids from any liability arising out of participation in this Sweepstakes or the acceptance, use, or misuse of the prize.

Because this is a family site and we get a lot of spam comments, all comments on this site are moderated.  If your comment doesn’t show up right away, don’t worry!

Filed Under: News and Updates Tagged With: ,

Things to Do in Pensacola with Kids – Weekend Roundup – April 20, 21, and 22

April 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Here is the weekend roundup! If we missed an activity that should be on the list, leave us a comment or send me an email at jennifer at pensacolawithkids dot com. Have a great weekend!

Friday, April 20

Bands on the Bayou

Stargazing at Ft. Pickens

White Sands Bluegrass Fest

Saturday, April 21

Earth Day Pensacola

Barnes and Noble Storytime

Kids Read to Dogs

Palafox Market

Pensacola Community Soulfest

National Parks Week

Wildlife Sanctuary Annual Baby Shower

White Sands Bluegrass Fest

Sunday, April 22

National Parks Week

Military Appreciation Day at UWF Baseball Game

Filed Under: Things to Do Tagged With:

Military Appreciation Day at UWF Baseball Game

April 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment

What: Military Appreciation Day; Where: UWF; When: April 22, 2012; Cost: Free admission for military members and their families

On Sunday, April 22, 2012 at 1pm, the University of West Florida is hosting a Military Appreciation Day, presented by Pen Air Federal Credit Union, at the baseball game.  Instead of purchasing tickets, donations will be accepted from fans and the proceeds will go towards the Wounded Warrior Project. Military personnel will receive a free UWF t-shirt or baseball cap. There will be free admission and a cookout at 12:30pm for military members and their families.

There will also be activities for the kids. Children will be able to run the bases, meet the players after the game and jump in a bounce house.

Filed Under: Things to Do

Where to Take Swim Lessons In Pensacola

April 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment

As I write this post, I am currently watching my children learn how to swim the backstroke. We are in our third year of swim lessons at Milestone Aquatic Club. We chose Milestone mainly for the location but we have been thrilled with the lessons, the instructors and the progress that both of our children have made with weekly lessons.

Summer is almost here, the pools are heating up and the kids are ready to jump in. Learning how to swim is an important skill for children to have even if you don’t own a pool. There are many options for swim lessons around Pensacola.

Barracuda Swimworks

  • Ages: Beginner Private Lessons (adults and kids) & Swim Instruction for triathletes and competitive swimmers
  • Days and Times: See calendar
  • Location: Pensacourt, 3001 Langley Ave, Pensacola, FL 32504; Tanglewood Golf Course, 5916 Tanglewood Drive, Milton, FL 32570
  • Cost: Options for both $40 or $80 classes

Infant Swimming Resource - Specialized Self-Rescue (TM) Swimming for Children ages 6 months to 6 years

  • Ages: 6 months to 6 years
  • Days and Times: Vary by appt.
  • Location: Locations vary by instructor
  • Cost: $105 for a first-time national registration fee or $35 for refresher students, $75 a week

Milestone Aquatic Club

  • Ages: 3 and up
  • Days and Times: M & W 3:15-4; Tues & Thurs 3:15-4, 4:45 & 5:45; Sat 10:45am
  • Location: 35 New Market Street, Pensacola, FL 32533
  • Cost: $70 per month for weekly classes; $38 per month for Saturday classes

Pensacola Athletic Center

  • Ages: Swim lessons for every age
  • Days and Times: Vary by week
  • Location: 7700 Hwy 98, Pensacola, FL 32506
  • Cost: unavailable

Pensacola State College

  • Ages: Mommy and Me (ages 6m to 4yr) and Preschool Swim (3yr to 6yrs)
  • Dates and Times: vary by class
  • Location: 1000 College Blvd, Pensacola, FL 32504
  • Cost: unavailable

Seastars Aquatics

  • Ages: Water adjustment to custom lessons
  • Dates and Times: set with instructor
  • Location: Salvation Army Pool, South Pace Blvd; Home lessons also available
  • Cost: Vary for private and semi-private lessons

University of West Florida

  • Ages: 6mo and up
  • Days and Times: Times vary by date, lessons available Tuesday and Thurs evenings or Mon-Thurs mornings
  • Location: 11000 University Parkway, Pensacola, Fl 32514
  • Cost: $33 or $60

YMCA

  • Ages: 6mo to 12yo
  • Days and Times: Vary by locations
  • Location: Various YMCA locations
  • Cost: $30 a session for family members, $60 a session for program participants

Did we miss one? Send us an email at jennifer at pensacolawithkids dot com or leave a comment with the information. You can also use our Event Submission Form.

Filed Under: Things to Do Tagged With: ,

2012 Summer Camps in Pensacola

April 17, 2012 By 2 Comments

Spring break is over and we can already feel the humidity of summer in the air. Whether you are looking for full-time summer care or just a one week camp to help break up the summer, you can use this guide to help you plan.

This is not a comprehensive guide and is not complete by any means. I will continue to add camps to the guide as I continue to receive information.

Registrations for many camps have already started so don’t wait to plan your summer camps!

The list is in alphabetical order and lists the type of camp, age groups, dates and where the camp is held. Follow the link for more information or to register your child. We are not affiliated with any of the camps listed.

If you know of a camp we should add to our list, please send me an email at jennifer (at) pensacolawithkids (dot) com or leave us a comment with a link to camp information.

Argo Adventure Camp

  • Program Categories: Recreation
  • Age Group: Ages 5-12
  • Date: One week camps from Jun 11 to August 3
  • Location: University of West Florida
  • Program Categories: LEGO building and creative play
  • Age Group: Ages vary by camp
  • Date: Camp dates available throughout the summer; can sign up for one day at a time or full weeks
  • Location: Bricks 4 Kidz

Environmental Encounters Summer Camp

  • Program Categories: Science and nature
  • Age Group: Incoming 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders
  • Dates: June 4-8 or June 11-15
  • Location: Roy Hyatt Environmental Center

Explore UWF Summer Camps

  • Program Categories: STEM, History and Archeology, Reading and Writing, Art, Theater and Music, Sports, and more
  • Age Group: Incoming Kindergartener to  to Incoming 10th graders
  • Dates: One week camps from June 11 to August 10
  • Location: Vary by camp (Hellen Caro Elementary School, Pensacola Beach Elementary, Pensacola Historic Village- Downtown Pensacola, UWF Main Campus- Pensacola
  • Program Categories: Open gym, large group activities
  • Age Group: Ages 4-14
  • Dates: One week camps from June 4 to August 3
  • Location: Flip Factory
  • Program Categories: Surfing
  • Age Group: Ages 8 and up (must be a good swimmer)
  • Dates: Three day camps from June 4 to August 17
  • Location: Pensacola Beach
  • Program Categories: Nature
  • Age Group:
  • Dates: Information for 2012 not available yet (follow link to see last year’s schedule)
  • Location: Gulf Islands National Seashore

Kaleidoscope Associates Cooking Camps

  • Program Categories: Cooking
  • Age Group: Ages 6-9 and 10-14
  • Dates: June 25-27 and July 16-18
  • Location: Sanders Beach-Corinne Jones Resource Center

Kaleidoscope Associates Cooking Camps

  • Program Categories: Cooking
  • Age Group: Camps for ages 6-9, 10yrs and older
  • Dates: Camp dates vary in June, July and August
  • Location: Distinctive Kitchens
  • Program Categories: Sports
  • Age Group: Ages vary with camp (5-14)
  • Dates: Dates vary through June and July
  • Locations: Pensacola Catholic High School
  • Program Categories: Art
  • Age Group: Ages 5-13
  • Dates: One week camps from June 4 to August 17
  • Location: Pensacola Museum of Art
  • Program Categories: Opera production
  • Age Group: Ages 6-16
  • Dates: July 9-14; July 16-20
  • Location: Pensacola Opera
  • Program Categories: Swim, play, creative play, and more
  • Age Group: K5 – 5th grade
  • Dates: One week camps from June 2 to August 17
  • Location: Vickrey Resource Center, Gull Point Resource Center, E.S. Cobb Resource Center, Fricker Resource Center
  • Program Categories: Art, science and more
  • Age Group: Ages 6-14
  • Dates: One week camps from June 11 to August 10
  • Location: Pensacola State College
  • Program Categories: Sailing, swimming lessons, kayaking and more
  • Age Group: Ages 5-15
  • Dates: One week camps from June 4 to August 17
  • Location: Pensacola Yacht Club
  • Program Categories: Bowling
  • Age Group: Ages 5-18
  • Dates: June 18-25; July 9-16-23-30; August 6-13
  • Location: Cordova Lanes
  • Program Categories: Karate, swimming, bowling and more
  • Age Group:
  • Dates: One week camps throughout the summer
  • Location: PTSDA Karate
  • Program Categories: Recreation
  • Age Group: Ages 5-14
  • Dates: One week camps from June 18 to August 17
  • Location: Roger Scott Tennis Center
  • Program Categories: Tennis
  • Age Group: Ages 5-12
  • Dates: June 18-August 3
  • Location: Roger Scott Tennis Center
  • Program Categories: Fishing
  • Age Group: Ages 7-13
  • Dates: June 4-6; June 18-20; July 9-11; July 23-25; August 6-8
  • Location: Sanders Beach-Corinne Jones Resource Center
  • Program Categories: Theatre
  • Age Group:
  • Dates: Dates vary from June 4 to August 16
  • Location: Pensacola Cultural Center

University of West Florida Nike Tennis Camp

  • Program Categories: Sports
  • Age Group: Ages 9-18
  • Date: June 24-June 28, 2012
  • Location: UWF

YMCA Day Camps

  • Program Categories: Arts, sports, games and more
  • Age Group: Ages 5-12
  • Dates: One week camps throughout the summer
  • Location: Various YMCA locations
  • Program Categories: Sports
  • Age Group: Ages 6-12
  • Date: One week camps from June 4 to August 17
  • Location: Pensacola Christian College
  • Program Categories: Art, Music, Sports, Science and History
  • Age Group: Grades 9-12
  • Date: One week camps in July
  • Location: Pensacola Christian College

 

Filed Under: Features, Seasonal Activities, Things to Do Tagged With: , ,

Kaleidoscope Associates Cooking Classes for Kids at Distinctive Kitchens

April 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment

At Christmastime, we were thrilled to be invited to a Distinctive Kitchens cooking class. My son and I spent two days, a Friday evening and a Saturday morning, putting together a gigantic gingerbread house. During the first part of the class, we made gingerbread cookies and put together our gingerbread house. While we worked, the instructor told us stories about gingerbread and how to make our own perfect gingerbread.

Each parent/child pair got to make a cookie sheet full of gingerbread cookies. I am not a huge fan of gingerbread but when these cookies came piping hot out of the oven, I couldn’t help but try one. They were absolutely delicious.

After making gingerbread cookies, we learned how to put together our gingerbread house. The instructor worked step-by-step to make sure that we had a stable house held together with Royal Icing. After we knew our house was not going to crumble, we left it to dry overnight.

The next morning, we returned to Distinctive Kitchens to decorate our house. Big S and I spent three hours covering our house with more frosting and all of our favorite candies.

Our house wasn’t the prettiest, but we were pretty happy with it!

Kaleidoscope Associates offers a number of cooking classes for children of all ages. There are family classes as well as classes that are children only. Summer and spring break camps are also available.

Register now for summer camps, Preschool Chefs, and the Mother’s Day Lunch. On May 12th, you can drop your child off to learn how to cook a special lunch just for you. When they are finished (and you have enjoyed wandering downtown on your own), join your child for lunch! The fee is $45 for one adult and up to two children.

*Thank you to Kaleidescope Associates for hosting us at the cooking class. As always, opinions are mine and mine alone (well, with some input from Big S on this one!).

Filed Under: Places to Eat, Things to Do Tagged With:

Strawberry Picking in Pensacola

April 15, 2012 By 2 Comments

A few weeks ago, I posted on our Pensacola with Kids Facebook page that strawberry season was just about to open around Pensacola. We finally got to a Upick field this weekend and had a wonderful day spending it together as a family, getting some sun, and of course bringing home pounds and pounds of strawberries (35 pounds to be exact!).

We have been going to Andrew’s Sod ever since 2010. Even though we still have strawberries in our freezer from last year, we wanted to pick some fresh strawberries to eat by the handful and also to use in baking. The frozen strawberries really only work in smoothies now…which is just fine with us…we drink a lot of smoothies around here.

Andrew’s Sod has strawberries available for $1.50 (Upick) or $2.00 (they pick) a pound. We were told today that they will probably only be open for Upick for another week or so (today is 4/14/2012). The weather is supposed to heat up and apparently strawberries aren’t a big fan of the hot, humid weather.

Andrew’s Sod is located at 3900 Tungoil Road in Walnut Hill, Florida. Their hours for Upick are Monday through Saturday from 7am to 7pm and Sunday from 1pm-7pm. While we were there, we saw plenty of strawberries that were still ripening.

Another popular Upick field is Akers of Strawberries in Baker, Florida. According to their Facebook page, they also have strawberries still available for Upick. Akers of Strawberries is located at 1074 Melton Road in Baker, Florida. They are open Monday through Thursday from 9am to 5pm, Friday and Saturday from 9am to 6pm, and Sunday from 12noon to 5pm. Their berries are also listed as 1.50 for Upick. They sell already picked berries, too.

Things to Know Before You Go:

  • Wear sunscreen. It gets hot and there is no shade on a strawberry field. Both of my kids were glad to have their baseball caps, too.
  • Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes. You are walking through a field. If it rained recently, it will be very muddy. If not, it will be dry and dusty. The fields are also often uneven. My daughter fell several times while walking up and down the rows and not paying attention.
  • Be prepared to see bugs. Lots of them! I also wish I had sprayed my kids with bug spray. I didn’t come home with any bug bites, but both of them did.
  • Pack a cooler with some cold drinks and snacks. After the work of picking strawberries, you will probably be glad you have a cold drink. Both strawberry places sell drinks, but we always like to pack our own.
  • Bring cash or check. Some Upick places take credit/debit cards, but most don’t. It is better to be safe than sorry. Typically, the farms aren’t very close to an ATM!

When we got home, we washed all our strawberries and they are now drying. Now, we just have to decide what to do with all 35 pounds of strawberries!

Strawberry Shortcake anyone?

 

Filed Under: Seasonal Activities, Things to Do, Things to do Under $5 Tagged With: ,

Things to Do In Pensacola with Kids – Weekend Roundup – April 13, 14, 15

April 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Dragon boat races, a fishing clinic, and Lighthouse Days…there are plenty of activities to choose from this weekend. If there is a family-friendly activity we should add to the list, please leave us a comment or send us an email. Have a good weekend!

Friday, April 13

Bands on the Bayou

Story Time Pace

Saturday, April 14

Barnes and Noble Story Time

Lowes Build and Grow

Palafox Market

Lighthouse Days

Dragon Boat Races

Pensacola Jazzfest

PSA Kid’s Fishing Clinic

Sunday, April 15

Lighthouse Days

Pensacola Jazzfest

Filed Under: Things to Do Tagged With:

Lighthouse Days 2012

April 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment

What: Lighthouse Days; Where: Pensacola Lighthouse; When: April 14 and 15, 2012; Cost: Festivities are free; Tickets to climb the tower are $5 for Adults and $3 for Children

Celebrate Florida Lighthouses during Lighthouse Days on April 14th and 15th at the Pensacola Lighthouse. Festivities are free and include music, folk artisans, historic displays and children’s activities.

Tickets to climb the Pensacola Lighthouse are $5 for adults and $3 for children. Children must be 44″ tall and seven years or older. For your safety, flip flops and spike heeled shoes can not be worn if you are climbing the tower.

Filed Under: Things to Do
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