We Love Kids™ Picks

Happening Now - "We Love Kids" Pick, Bermuda,The Fairmont Southampton and The Fairmont Hamilton Princess

We just returned from an amazing family vacation in Bermuda and without a doubt the best choice we made was splitting time between the Fairmont Southampton and the Fairmont Hamilton Princess, the two premier hotels in Bermuda. We have always known Fairmont to be among the most luxurious choices on the market, but in Bermuda, for families, they step it up a notch. With kid friendly restaurants, activities and amenities, and a staff so eager to please, we can't wait to go back.

Happening Now - "We Love Kids" Pick, Lancaster,Kitchen Kettle Village

We were in Lancaster over the weekend in support of the just published Lancaster edition of our guides and we decided to spend the night at Kitchen Kettle Village, one of our favorite spots in all of Lancaster County. Please try to visit Kitchen Kettle Village this summer it is an amazing attraction that your family will love. In fact, our Lancaster book has more images from Kitchen Kettle Village then any other Lancaster attraction in the book, that's how much we LOVE Kitchen Kettle Village! And I'll let you in on what I think is one of Lancaster County's best kept secrets. Besides an incredible assortment of shops, activities/events and food, the village has overnight accommodations available that will enhance your visit to PA Dutch country and create a truly memorable summer experience that your family will want to repeat again and again! There's simply no place quite like Kitchen Kettle Village!

Happening Now - "We Love Kids" Pick, Hyatt Regency Baltimore

We LOVE Baltimore it is a great American city and summertime is a fantastic time to visit. During our travels to Baltimore we have stayed at a number of family friendly properties but there is one property that is tops on the list - the Hyatt Regency Baltimore. Located in the heart of the Inner Harbor area the location, amenities and experience is first class all the way. The staff of the Hyatt is always the most professional, the most courteous, and the most family friendly. This place loves families and they LOVE kids! We can't wait to head back to Charm City again this summer!

Happening Now - "We Love Kids" Pick, On-Line -The Big Me

We were at a soccer tournament over the weekend and there was a vendor at the event that is worthy of a We Love Kids pick. The concept is simple, send in your favorite image(s) of the kids and they will enlarge into a picture you will be able to "peel and stick" in your kid's room. We love this idea and the ease of which the process works at The Big Me website. Plus with excellent customer service and great deals, now is a great time order a 7-Foot Jumbo sized picture that you will enjoy for many years to come.

Happening Now - "We Love Kids" Pick, Philadelphia -Arden Theatre Co., If You Give A Mouse A Cookie

We love cookies and we love Philadelphia's premier theatre for kids, the Arden Theatre Company. The theatre's adaptation of Laura Joffe Numeroff's bestselling book, If You Give A Mouse A Cookie, has been extended through June 27, 2010- DO NOT MISS this production it is superb and your kids will love it. Arden does so much for kids and the community that it's easy to forget how dependent the theatre is on donations and support from the community. Also, for more behind the scenes fun at Arden consider enrolling your kids in Arden's Kids Crew or the Arden Drama School for classes and more.

Happening Now - "We Love Kids" Pick, HAMMONTON, NEW JERSEY - DiMeo Blueberry Farms

Hammonton, New Jersey is the "Blueberry Capital of the World". We love to visit the 100 year-old DiMeo family blueberry farm for the world's best blueberry plants (ready to fruit this June 2010!). And if you can't make it to Hammonton, no worries, they will ship SUPER-HARDY HIGHER QUALITY 3 YEAR-OLD PREMIUM BLUEBERRY PLANTS direct to your door! This is a family of real old-fashioned blueberry farmers that sell direct to commercial blueberry growers and home gardeners across America. Ask for Anthony DiMeo III, the hardest working guy in Hammonton, and tell him ABC City Guides for Kids sent you - he loves kids and families and will tell you exactly what you need to create your own backyard fruit garden.

Happening Now - "We Love Kids" Pick - Various U.S. Cities- The Lion King

Over 45 million people worldwide have come to discover the wonder, the majesty, and the truly one-of-a-kind experience that is The Lion King, the world's most spectacular musical. Hailed by Newsweek as "a landmark event in entertainment," The Lion King is a breathtaking adventure that stretches the boundaries of Broadway, from the heart of Africa to the plains of your imagination.

See it now. Remember it forever.

March 2, 2010 - "We Love Kids" Pick - Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, A Valerie Beck Chocolate Tour

We love Chocolate and We love Valerie, an entrepreneur who came up with an awesome idea - guided chocolate walking tours now present in 3 of our favorite ABC City Guides for Kids cities, Boston, Chicago and Philadelphia. There are many tours and options available year round. Even private tours can be arranged; Valerie will do her best to accommodate your needs and your party. This is a tour we could do with our kids over and over and over again. Please let Valerie know we said hello!

March 1, 2010 - "We Love Kids" Pick-Philadelphia, March 20, 2010,Big Bird's Birthday Bash at Sesame Place

Put on your dancing shoes and get ready for Big Bird's Birthday Bash with all-you-can-eat buffet, character appearances, party favors and more! Elmo's World Live! stage show will explore the concept of dance and there will be unlimited Sunny Day Carousel rides all day long. This event is open exclusively to 2010 Season Pass Holders and reservations are required. To book call 1-866-GO-4-ELMO. We'll see you there!

February 19, 2010 - "We Love Kids" Pick- NEW YORK, April 23, 2010-January 2, 2011,King Tut at the Discovery Times Square Exposition

I'll never forget seeing the King Tut exhibit with my parents as a kid in 1979, a life size poster of the young pharaoh's tomb is still hanging in my parents house! Now it's time to bring my own kids to a much larger collection of treasures from Tutankhamun's tomb and I can't wait.

Two Family Days have just been announced forTutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs.On Sunday, May 9 and Sunday, June 13, special family-friendly programming will include Egyptian-themed face painting for children, a mummy wrapping activity, and family-friendly exhibition tours in the afternoons. A special King Tut memento will also be given out to children in attendance.

Families can save on the price of admission with the purchase of a Family pack (2 adults, 2 children ages 4-12) priced at $83 Monday-Thursday / $93 weekends, which is a $17 to $21 savings off of regular admission prices. Children under 4 are free.

Thousands have already pre-registered for tickets - please don't miss this incredible opportunity. Click here to pre-register.

February 18, 2010 - "We Love Kids" pick - GUITAR CORE

My daughter just started playing the electric guitar and I wanted to get her something special. I came up the idea of custom guitar picks and went online and discovered this amazingly family friendly and fun site, GUITAR CORE. Although there is no phone number, I sent in my order and was contacted within hours with suggestions on how to improve my order. The graphics department and Terry know and understand what kids want and what's cool. Terry was so helpful that I had no choice but to award this awesome company with a "We Love Kids" pick (no pun intended!) Oh and to match Emily's red guitar I decided on custom red picks with white lettering - "EMILY ROCKS!" and a peace sign! Thanks again Terry, YOU ROCK!

February 28-March 7, 2010-"We Love Kids" pick - PHILADELPHIA -http://www.theflowershow.com

Every year we look forward to The Philadelphia Flower Show (the largest indoor flower show in the world), and we think this year's show is going to be the best for families. This year's show "Passport to the World" will feature more family friendly activities then we can ever remember. The show will feature a 28-foot tall hot air balloon covered with 79,000 dried flowers, a life sized elephant in an Indian wedding-inspired display and a 15-foot waterfall as the kids take a trip to the Amazon. Once again there will be a Family Lounge, filled with fun stuff for the kids to do as well as goody bags from the good folks from Fisher Price! We just love the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) and the Philadelphia Flower Show and They Love Kids!

P.S. For great value consider the Family Fun Pak - you'll even receive free membership to the PHS.

Winter 2009-"We Love Kids" pick- Big Apple Circus

We learned about Big Apple Circus a couple of years ago and now make it our family tradition. The intimacy of the show, combined with the unparalleled performances, makes this show one that we look forward to all year. This is a must see show, not only because Big Apple give so much back to the community, but because it creates an experience that you can share with your children that will stay with you and them forever. The circus troupe is composed of internationally acclaimed acts that clearly love what they do and are among the best in the world. DO NOT MISS Big Apple Circus!

Fall/Winter 2009-"We Love Kids" pick- Grounds for Sculpture

There are a handful of sculpture gardens in the country that we love to visit. In St. Louis we love Laumeier Sculpture Park, in New Orleans we enjoy the Sculpture Garden at NOMA, the sculptures in Chicago's Millennium Park are awe inspiring. But when it comes down to our favorite it's Gounds for Sculpture, just outside Princeton, New Jersey. For us it's all about Seward Johnson and his life size sculpture recreations of famous Renoir, Monet, and Rousseau paintings (as well as his recreations of other well-known nineteenth-century paintings throughout the gardens). The park and museum are open year-round with lots of fun family events and special exhibitions.

Fall/Winter 2009-"We Love Kids" pick-Pennsylvania Academy of The Fine Arts

We spent yesterday afternoon learning about Barkley L. Hendricks and it was super cool. After spending time in the gallery viewing his true-to-life, stiking life-size portraits we headed to studio 4 for an artmaking workshop led by Ruth Bridges who was Barkley Hendicks' high school art teacher. In the studio there was a live model and we were all artists for the afternoon. For more information about free Sunday programs in conjunction with the Barkley L. Hendricks: The Birth of the Cool exhibit click here.

Fall/Winter 2009-"We Love Kids" pick of the Season-Chocolate World and Hersheypark

We have been visiting Hersheypark and Chocolate World since we were in diapers and our kids have too, and you know what . . .the place just keeps getting sweeter and sweeter. At Chocolate World the Chocolate Tour Ride has always been free (as are the first 2 hours of parking) and the kids have a blast learning about Milton Hershey and how many kisses are made on a daily basis. There is also an amazing Chocolate House-A Sweet Candy Chalet-with every available square inch of the house covered in HERSHEY'S famous chocolate and confectionary products. Must visit attractions include the new Chocolate Tasting Adventure (AWESOME), the Really Big 3-D Show (AWESOME), Factory Works (AWESOME), and Hershey Trolley Works (AWESOME). Even if you just visit to pick up gifts for the holiday season in the marketplace shops, Chocolate World is the perfect example of what "We Love Kids" picks are all about.

At Hersheypark its Christmas Candylane time and the magic of the holidays comes to life with a million twinkling lights, rides for all ages, festive decorations, and Hershey's Product Characters decked out in their holiday best. Be sure to check out the newest attraction-N.O.E.L. (Nights of Extraordinary Lights)-a musical light show that is held in Comet Hollow. The "middle bridge" offers great views of the spectacular show.

Fall 2009-"We Love Kids" pick-Terhune Orchards

We love apples and our favorite place to pick 'em is Terhune Orchards in Princeton, New Jersey. Don't miss Fall Family Fun weekends! (try saying that 5 times in a row). Visit the Orchards' pick-your-own farm on Van Kirk Road to pick your own-no ladder required!

Summer 2009-"We Love Kids" pick-Sesame Place

We have been visiting Sesame Place for years with the kids and even visited with our parents when we were kids! Over the years certain things have remained constant. There have always been great menu selections with healthy items, the park is always immaculate, the lines generally manageable, and the characters visible and attentive. What's new is the magnitude of the newer attractions and the newest, The Count's Splash Castle, is simply awesome. The largest attraction ever opened by the park, Splash Castle is over 38,000 square feet of tipping buckets, water slides, bridges, water wheels, and more! We're thinking next year we'll skip our swim membership and spend our weekends at Sesame Place with a season pass (2010 season available, August 1). For dinner after the park we recommend BYOB, Mamma Mia Trattoria (585 Middletown Blvd., 215-750-3663), in the shopping center next to the Sesame Place parking lot.

Summer 2009-"We love Kids" pick-Nickelodeon Suites Resort

We were in Denver last week and during a visit to the Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys we experienced the sites and sounds of an old nickelodeon player. Now for those of you that don't know, (I certainly didn't) a nickelodeon is an early type of motion picture theater with an admission price of five cents ("Odeon" is derived from a Greek term for theater and of course a nickel equals five cents!). Anyway, seeing and hearing this awesome player got me thinking about our awesome visit to the Nickelodeon Suites Resort in Orlando. Just like the nickelodeon player has its place in American history, the Nick Hotel is an unequaled entertainment powerhouse today. We love all that Nick Hotel does for families with an incredibly well executed game plan and a winning staff to help create an unbelievable family vacation experience. The Nickelodeon Suites Resort might just be our "We Love Kids" pick for the century!

Summer 2009-"We Love Kids" pick-Lancaster, PA

Now is a great time to visit Lancaster, PA. It is one of our favorite regions to visit because it is so kid friendly. We love Barnstormers' baseball and the Hands-on-House Children's Museum. We love playing a round of miniature golf at Lost Treasure Golf on Lincoln Highway. We love having lunch on the Strasburg Rail Road and then visiting the Choo Choo Barn and the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania just across the street. For good eating we love Miller's Smorgasbord, the restaurants and bakeries at Willow Valley Resort and DJ's Taste of the 50's on Old Philadelphia Pike (just down the street from one of our favorite Amish farms where we love the homemade root beer, potato chips and fudge-you can't miss the sign, it is a large mug of root beer that reads, "Cold Root Beer"). Make sure to also visit Dutch Wonderland and Kitchen Kettle Village as well, great attractions that love kids. For lodging consider, Willow Valley Resort. The resort has some amazing family packages running this summer and is an awesome property and the ideal launching pad for a visit to the attractions of Lancaster.

June 5, 2009-"We Love Kids" pick-Winnie's LeBus Manayunk Restaurant (Philadelphia)

Every once in awhile we find a restaurant that consistently goes out of its way for families and kids, Winnie's LeBus in Manayunk is such a place. During "Kid's Happy Hour" kids Eat for $2.00 every weekday between 5pm and 7pm (2 children per adult entree) and the kid's menu is extensive, healthy and fun. But besides the fact that they love our kids every time we visit, the breads, bake goods and bar make this place one of our favorites for "date night" even without the kids.

Spring/Summer 2009-"We Love Kids" pick-Panasonic Lumix Digital Cameras

We take a ton of images when we visit a city or region to work on a book, and we have tested many digital cameras in our search for the best. While working on ABC San Diego several years ago we found that Panasonic Lumix digital cameras were just off the charts awesome. We've never looked back. We love the design features, quality and value we get from Panasonic. Even our kids are now "expert" photogs.

Spring/Summer 2009-"We Love Kids" pick-Dollar Rental Car and Thrifty Rental Car:

We are always on the road working on our books and we have done extensive research regarding car rental companies. We have identified two rental car brands committed to providing excellent value, customer service and reliability. They love kids and families and we love them and consider them the "official rental car providers" for ABC Travel Guides for Kids!

Spring/Summer 2009 - "We Love Kids" pickTropicana Atlantic City

We recently spent a weekend in AC with the kids and we visited the Tropicana and the kids had a blast. The IMAX Theatre at Tropicana features family friendly shows all Summer long and the restaurants and shops of "The Quarter" are fun for the whole family. Look for our "3 Days, 2 Nights in Atlantic City" column in June.

Through May 31, 2009-"We Love Kids" pickCezanne and Beyond

For great value and a full day of fun visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The kids especially enjoyed the Cezanne exhibit and learning about the tremendous influence the 19th-century master had on other famous artists. Also noteworthy are the fabulous (and free) family programs and printed family guide. Other must visit permanent kid friendly exhibits include the armor collection and Japanese Temple. The museum goes out of its way for families in so many ways it is one of our favorite art museums in the country and the first art museum chosen for a "We Love Kids" pick.

April 28 - May 2, 2009-"We Love Kids" pick Philadelphia International Children's Festival

Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Philadelphia International Children's Festival at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts at the Univeristy of Pennsylvania. The festival is the oldest of its kind in the United States and one of the top ten children's festivals in the world.

March 1-8, 2009-"We Love Kids" pick-The Philadelphia Flower Show

The Philadelphia Flower Show is the largest indoor flower show in the world. This year's show celebrates the art, the fashion, and the gardens of Italy at BELLA ITALIA (Beautiful Italy). The show goes out of its way to accommodate families and children with a Family Lounge, filled with fun stuff for the kids to do, as well as movies, coloring and reading areas strategically located throughout the show. We love the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) and the Philadelphia Flower Show and the kids look forward to the show every year. Purchase the Family Fun Pak and you'll even receive a free one-year membership to PHS.

February 24, 2009-"We Love Kids" pick-Dancing Meatballs:

We are constantly searching the web, newspapers, magazines, and whatever we can get our hands on, for affordable and fun activities for our family and the ABC Kids community at large. Our friends at Dancing Meatballs have been doing the same thing for years, sharing their "cool finds" with as many people who will listen. We urge you to sign up for their free weekly newsletter - you'll feel their love as they share their amazing finds and awesome activity suggestions.

February 9, 2009-"We Love Kids" pick-Longwood Gardens:

All we can say is WOW! Longwood Gardens is the ideal place to escape the cold and enjoy magnificent plants from around the world. Our kids loved the Indoor Children's Garden and the spectacular treehouses (Nature's Castles). Inside the Conservatory the kids were real detectives thanks to their very own Longwood Gardens Kids' Map and Guide that was given to them upon arrival. We all really enjoyed the stamp hunt and learning about plants in different parts of the Conservatory, (but the kids talked about it the whole time during our delicious lunch in the cafe). Other favorites included the tree insect-catching plants, banana trees, Tropical Terrace, Silver Garden and learning about how Pierre du Pont built these amazing gardens at the Heritage Exhibit.

January 26, 2009-Our First "We Love Kids" pick-SOUTHWEST AIRLINES:

We travel a lot to work on our books and it is important for us to travel with an airline that loves kids and families. We have found an airline committed to providing excellent customer service to our family and that is why SOUTHWEST AIRLINES is the "official airline" for ABC Travel and Guides for Kids and winner of our first "We Love Kids" pick.