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Sesame Place: A Great Family Trip
by Colleen Lunn Scholer
He's red, cute, cuddly and furry and although he is a monster, he has managed to capture your little one's heart. Yes, many of us have children who are in love with Elmo! And since he lives on Sesame Street, an educational program that many of us also grew up with, it's hard not to love him back. As I watched my children laugh and clap at their first live performance of Sesame Street Live, I knew where we needed to go for their first theme park experience - Sesame Place.
With great children's music for the car (I highly recommend the Putumayo Kids CDs with their upbeat, melodic and culturally authentic music) and some special treats, we set out for the road trip from Maine to Langhorne, Pennsylvania (near Philadelphia), home of Sesame Place, the nation's only theme park based on the award-winning television show Sesame Street.
We spent the night in a hotel in Langhorne just a few minutes from the park. There are several family friendly hotels to choose from, many of them have package deals that include overnight stays along with admission to the park. Getting to the park and parking was very easy, although you do have to pay a parking fee ($13 for general and $16 for preferred). I recommend the preferred parking spaces as it's nice to be close to the exit after the long, fun day at the park.
The look of joy on my children's faces (ages 19 months and 3 1/2 years) as we stepped out of the car to joyful Sesame Street music and the faces of their favorite characters all around was priceless. They were so excited we could barely keep up as they ran towards the park entrance.
We started our day with breakfast with Cookie Monster and many other lovable characters from the show. It was more than just a meal as we had time to mingle with the characters and to get lots of precious photos. This all-you-can-eat buffet is an additional cost but children under 2 are free.
After breakfast we started our adventure on many great rides, including water ones. You'll want to make sure you pack your swimsuit and towel and wear clothes that make for easy changes. The whole family enjoyed Big Bird's Rambling River, a relaxing, leisurely float in inner-tubes throughout Sesame Island. There are life jackets for all children and adult non-swimmers. And although the Sesame Neighborhood wasn't a ride, we spent lots of time there as the children played on the fire truck and in Mr. MacIntosh's Fruit stand. The outdoor re-creation of the classic Sesame Street television stage show set was also a great back drop for more photos.
While it would be hard to mention every ride we did, the Flyin' Fish in Elmo's World and the train in Twiddlebug Land were some of our favorites. As our day progressed, it was easy to see why the park was named one of the top four theme parks in the Northeast by Family Fun Magazine.
I agree with the theme park's motto "they grow up so fast, but they are only young once!" So, don't wait, head to this great park this summer.
The park is Located just 30 minutes north of Philadelphia and 90 minutes south of New York City, Sesame Place is the place for kids and the kid in all of us. For more information, call 1-866-GO-4-ELMO or visit www.sesameplace.com
Tips for Preparing Your Visit to Sesame Place
The following preparatory tips will be helpful. Parents should remember to check the Sesame Place website for all details www.sesameplace.com or call 1-866-GO-4-ELMO- including dining schedules and nearby hotels:
- Plan your day, keeping flexibility in mind. It will be fun to view the website with your children and make a list of everything they would love to do. Then choose priorities, just in case there isn't time to do it all. This will be a big help as you enter the park and begin the adventure.
- Review the park map and check show schedules. Plan meals and activities around show times. For example, if you want to be sure to see the "Rock Around the Block" parade, have lunch early so there's plenty of time to get a good spot for the parade.
- Select which dining with the characters meal is timed best for your visit. Make reservations in advance.
- If you are staying overnight, find a hotel nearby so the child can go back for a nap. Get your hand stamped for re-admission.
- Consider what clothing to bring by how you plan your day. Do you want to do water rides immediately? If so, you could wear bathing suits under clothing and bring another outfit for later. Remember to pack water shoes, towels and a change of clothes - perhaps two bathing suits.
- Have keys and valuables in a small case that you can wear or easily hold.
- When meeting the Sesame Place characters, suggest the children ask them "yes" and "no" questions, as the lovable walkaround characters will happily respond to these type of questions.
- Bring your cameras and you'll notice photo opportunities at the park for professional shots you might want to purchase.
- Knowing young children, anything is possible. The youngster eager to meet Elmo might get shy when first meeting him. Take your time. Let him look from afar until he is comfortable getting close enough for a hug and a photo!
- Remember, each child is an individual. At each stage, a child will experience the park in a unique way. Older siblings love the water rides and will enjoy being the teachers for their brothers and sisters.
Grand Opening of Sunny Day Carousel in 2008
 It will be a bright and sunny season at Sesame Place with the grand opening of the Sunny Day Carousel (opening day is Saturday, May 3, 2008) creating a colorful and lively atmosphere to the center of the park. This one-of-a-kind carousel is Sesame Street themed with thirty-six custom-created cute, colorful, muppetized horses and two benches resembling Snuffleupagus. The area will be filled with the sounds of traditional calliope and organ presentations of the most popular Sesame Street songs, including such favorites as "Rubber Duckie," "C is for Cookie" and most appropriately the Sesame Street theme song, "Sunny Days."
More You Might Like:
A Visit to Disney World
Car Trips With Kids
Hotel Stays With Small Children
San Diego For Families
Travel Games for The Preschool Child
About the Author:
Colleen Lunn Scholer is a freelance writer who lives in Maine with her husband and two young children.
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