The splash pad is open from April to October. It is open on Monday through Wednesday from 12pm to 5pm and Thursday through Sunday from 11am to 8pm. According to Parks and Recreation, an automated system monitors water quality and may shut down the fountain for short periods of time until treatment can return the water quality to safe levels for public health and safety.

Visiting the splash pad is free. While there, you can grab a treat or a bite to eat at deLuna’s Grill. The grill is open from 10am to 5pm.

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

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

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?

My family loves to go to baseball games. When we travel, we make sure that we see a local team play, both Major and Minor League games. We have been to stadiums all over the United States and I have to say that the Blue Wahoos’ stadium is absolutely beautiful. While you are watching a game, you can see the tops of sailboats, seagulls flying above the field and the breeze coming off of the water will help keep everyone cool on a hot summer day. The stadium is small enough that there really isn’t a bad seat in the house.

Unfortunately, we weren’t able to get Opening Day tickets but we spent Sunday afternoon exploring the park and trying to find answers to the questions you asked. As we collect more information throughout the season, I will update the guide.

Where should I park? * Can I bring a Stroller * Does my child need a ticket? * What are the seating options? * Can I Bring My Own Food? * What sorts of food options are available? * Kid Friendly Activities * Blue Wahoos Kids Club * Blue Wahoo Gear

Where should I park?

Parking is available in a number of lots all around the baseball park. At most, you will be walking about ten minutes from your car to the stadium. The walks are mostly on the sidewalks. We have not attended a night game yet, so I am not sure if street lighting is an issue.

If you wait until you get to the stadium to cross the street, there will likely be a police officer there directing traffic and helping pedestrians.

Refer to Pensacola Parking for a map of the parking available during a Blue Wahoos game.It seems as if there was more parking available then on the map that may not be city sponsored.

If you are arriving early, I recommend that you start to look for parking as close to the stadium as possible and work your way back. When we went to the Sunday game, we arrived an hour and fifteen minutes before the game and we realized that we could have parked directly across the street from the stadium.

On South Reus Street, there is parking available for $10, $7 and $5 and $3, depending on how far down the street you will walk. Our walk was only a few minutes and we were in $3 parking. My husband arrived late to the game (around the 5^th inning) and he was able to find parking only three blocks away from the stadium. Some parking fees support Winterfest and other parking fees support the city. Winterfest lots are marked as such.

Can I bring strollers into the stadium?

The short answer is yes. The long answer is that it needs to be a stroller that can fit under your party’s seats. An umbrella stroller to get you from the car to the stadium and back would be the best way to go if you need a stroller.

When do you have to buy your child a ticket?

Children ages two and up must have a ticket. If your child is under the age of two, they can sit in your lap. We sat in the Box seats and they are fairly roomy compared to other stadiums we have visited but if you think you will need the extra space, purchase your child a seat.

What are the seating options available?

There are several different seating options at different price points. Like I mentioned before, I think that the park is small enough that there really isn’t a bad seat in the park. The park is small enough that even if you are in Section 117, about as far away as you can get from homeplate, you can still see much of the game. Our seats were in Section 115, and we felt like we had a great view.

$5 – General Admission/Standing Room Only – For $5, you gain access into the park but you are not given a seat location. The Berm is a grassy area in the outfield and is a great place for families to sit. You cannot bring chairs, but you can bring a blanket to sit on. There are some bar stool type chairs available and they are first come, first served. If the party deck is not in use for the game, that will be open for General Admission use as well.

$8 – Reserved – These reserved seats are on benches with backs. Each spot on the bench has a number and you will sit in your assigned seat.

$10 – Box – If you purchase Box seats, you will be sitting in a stadium seat. We sat in Box seats for our first game. We felt the seats were comfortable and roomy for the most part with enough leg room to move around.

Can I bring food into the park?

You are not permitted to bring food into the park. That being said, I had a couple of fruit snacks and crackers that I always carry with me in case of a food meltdown in the middle of a store and we weren’t stopped at the door to empty my bag.

What sorts of food options are available?

I was pleasantly surprised at the food options and pricing available throughout the park. It is definitely ballpark fare but that is part of the fun right?

My son had a kid’s hot dog and French fries and it was $5. That is comparable to most kid’s meals at a restaurant, however this does not come with a drink. There are a couple of drink options, but we decided our best bet was to purchase the Souvenir Soda for $5 (a smaller soda is $3). Refills for the Souvenir Soda are $2 each and you can bring the cups back to your next game. I bought one Souvenir Soda for me and one for my children to share. When we wanted another drink halfway through the game, it was nice to only have to pay $2.

Other food options include a shrimp po’ boy, hamburgers, chicken tenders, wraps, salads and more. Most of the meal choices are $4 to $8. Nachos are $5, a slice of pizza is $3 and French fries are $4.

There are vendors throughout the park selling different things like snowcones, Dippin’ Dots, and more. Each of my kids had a snowcone (Watermelon for Little S and Wahoo – cherry and blue raspberry – for Big S). The snowcones are all $4 and they come in a medium sized cup. Bring cash for the vendors because not all of them take credit cards.

Are there kid-friendly activities at the park?

Watching a baseball game together is a great family-friendly activity but if your kids are like mine, they may be a little antsy halfway through the game. One of the things we do when watching a ball game, is spread out the trips to purchase food. We had lunch during the first inning so I told my kids that we were not going to have any snacks until the 5^th inning. This gave them a time to watch for and helped them to pay more attention to the game.

On Saturday nights, there is a fireworks show immediately after the game.

Sunday is Family day. At the end of the game, children are allowed on the field for a post game Catch-on-the-Field and kids can run the bases.

On Tuesdays, there is a special player autograph session behind home plate.

If you are going to the game during a promotional giveaway, you will need to arrive early because supplies are limited.

Kazoo, the mascot, is always wandering the park, too!

What is the Blue Wahoos Kids Club?

For $35, you can enroll your children in the Blue Wahoos Kids Club. The benefits include five game tickets for the Sunday games (April 15, May 13, June 17, July 15 and August 19), pre-game activities on Kids Club game days, off-site activities throughout the season, fun with the Blue Wahoos mascot, kids club newsletter, and official Kids Club hat and membership card. To join, fill out the form.

The tickets are general admission tickets so if you are planning on purchasing seats for yourself, you will need to order the tickets over the phone or at the stadium. When you purchase your tickets, they will make sure that you are seated with your kids but it will cost a few extra dollars.

How much will Blue Wahoo gear cost me?

Children’s T-shirts start around $12. We bought adult sized hats for the kids because they liked how they fit better. Those hats ran us $18 each. Basic adult t-shirts are about $19. The line was long and many of the items were not priced yet so it was a little chaotic.

This weekend, head out to the Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds for the Gulf Coast Renaissance Fair.  There will be jousting, dancers, merchants and more.  The last time we went, my son loved watching the jousting competitions and my daughter loved the fancy costumes.  The Gulf Coast Renaissance Fair will be held March 3rd and 4th from 10am to 6pm.    See the schedule and videos from the Mobile Renaissance Fair on their website.

Registration must be made in advance for most camps and drop off hours.

Brickz for Kids 

• December 17th from 2pm to 5pm – Drop and Shop – $6 an hour per child
• December 19th and 20th from 10am to 1pm – Winter Wonderland – $30 per day or $50 for both days
• December 22 from 10am to 2pm – Drop and Shop – $6 an hour per child
• December 23 from 10am to 2pm – Drop and Shop – $6 an hour per child
• December 27 to 30th from 10am to 1pm – Christmas Holiday Camp – $30 per day with a discount if you sign up for all four days

Confetti Couture Events

• December 16th from 6pm to 8pm – Holiday Spa Party – For girls ages 7-12 - $25/guest– includes holiday treats, mud mask, and choice of man or pedi
• December 21st from 6pm to 9pm – Polar Express Pajama Party – $15/guest – includes holiday treats as well as a fun Polar Express craft/activity to take home

Flip Factory

• Dates: December 19-23
• Cost: $65 a week or $20 a day

On Thursday, December 8, head down to Seville Square for a great holiday concert.  Hear the McGuire’s Irish Bagpipe Band, Clark & Co,, and Kitt Lough.  Santa will be there and Jared Willets of Channel 3 in the Morning will read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.

The concert is free and there is usually a vendor selling snacks.  We always pick up a quick dinner and pack a thermos full of hot chocolate.

In researching events to add to the December calendar (which will hopefully be done tomorrow…how is it already December?!?), I came across the Nights Before Christmas event across from Seville Quarter.  You can experience the spirit of Christmas Adventure with an interactive lighted walk-through adventure.  There is a sleigh ride spinning tunnel, candy cane maze, and pictures with Santa.

The event is open Friday and Saturday evenings from 6-9.  Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for children.

We will finally be home after two months of constant weekend travel so I think we might have to go check this out!  We will let you know what we think afterwards! Have you been yet?  If so, leave us a comment with your thoughts.

The turkey is all put away and I am all ready to decorate our house this weekend.  We are hoping to put up the Christmas tree tomorrow and get it decorated.  I love watching the kids decorate the tree.  They go through each ornament and ask to hear stories about how we got them.  They like to claim the ornaments we have bought for each of them throughout the years.  We travel a lot and we always pick up an ornament in each city to remember our travels.  The kids play “remember when” with each ornament they take out of the box.

For the past few years, we have been putting up a fake tree.  I fought it for as long as I could but my husband finally talked me into it.  I am not going to lie…I love the convenience but I miss the excitement of picking out the perfect tree.  To compromise, we make a trip to a tree farm each year to visit, wander around the trees, and more.  Here are a few Christmas tree farms in the area.  If I missed one, please leave me a note or send me an email and I will update the list!

As always, confirm the hours of operations, price, etc because things might change.  Before you go, check the website because many tree farms only accept cash or check.

Fish River Trees (Summerdale, Alabama) – We visit Fish River Trees every year and it is one of our favorite holiday family outings.  It is not just a place to cut down your Christmas tree but you can visit Santa and his reindeer, get a cup of hot chocolate, and tour the farm.  New to the farm this year is a manger scene complete with live animals!  Open daily from 8am to 5pm until December 24th.  See the website for activity schedule.

The Christmas Forest (Pensacola, Florida) – Christmas trees range from 5 to 10 feet tall and they each cost $30 no matter what size.  They have potted Christmas trees for those of you that want to plant your tree after the holiday season is over.   They are open Monday through Friday from 1pm to 5pm and Saturday from 9am to 5pm until December 20.

Whispering Pines Christmas Tree Farm (Milton, Florida) – Christmas tree prices run $2-3 a foot.  There are staff members to assist you if you need help.  They are open Monday through Sunday from 9am to 5pm until December 18th.

Have you seen those beautiful orange and black butterflies flying around?  Those are the Monarch butterflies flying south for the winter from Canada to Mexico.

This weekend, visit the Panhandle Butterfly House in Navarre to learn more about these butterflies and their migration.  The Monarch Madness Festival is not only fun for kids but also educational.  Children can participate in tagging monarchs, visit the butterfly house, and make butterfly related crafts.  There will also be a bounce house.

You can also help track the monarch butterfly migration by reporting your observations at Journey North.