Senior Portrait Contest

Do you know a teen who will be a high school senior next year...your child, a relative, a baby-sitter, etc.? If so, they may want to enter the Senior Portrait Contest that our advertiser Chin-Azzaro Studios is running.

The contest is open to all Class of 2014 graduating high school seniors. They will be picking the most creative answer of why they deserve to win. You can enter on their Facebook page.

The contest winner will receive a 2 hour photo shoot with 2 setups (on location and in studio) with up to 4 outfit changes. They will also receive 10 retouched digital photos and 1 yearbook ready image that can be printed and shared. The prize has a value of $500.

Contest ends June 30, portrait session must be held by August 30, 2013 in the Ann Arbor area. Winner must be an enrolled high school senior, and must sign a model release (if under 18, parental consent is required) so that photos can be used in future Chin-Azzaro promotions. Hair and makeup are the responsibility of the winner. Prints are not included, but can be purchased.

Full details can be found on their website.

Bad News at Rolling Hills Water Park

New Slides at Rolling Hills
from their Facebook Page

Yesterday I shared pictures of the new slides that are opening this year at Rolling Hills Park. We are very excited to try out the new slides.

Rolling Hills Water Park is reporting today that the lazy river will be closed at the beginning of the season for repairs. Honestly, this is not that surprising to me as last summer they were periodically having problems with some of the water features on the lazy river and it was closed once when we were there.

They had planned a $1 price increase for the water park this year. However, they will be charging the 2012 rates until the Lazy River is re-opened.

I hope they can get the lazy river repaired and re-opened quickly. With the cool weather forecast for this weekend, it will probably inconvenience less people than on a normal Memorial Day weekend.

Sundae at the Ann Arbor Art Center

Who doesn't love ice cream sundaes?

Sundae @ The Ann Arbor Art Center will be held on Sunday, June 15 from 1-4p. For $10 (free to Family Level and above Members of Art Center) you will have the chance to paint a ceramic bowl and create your own ice cream sundae.

You can find more information and buy tickets on Ann Arbor Art Center website. Ann Arbor Art Center is located at 117 W. Liberty St in Downtown Ann Arbor.

Kiwanis Club Funds KinderConcerts by A2SO

Have you attended one of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra's KinderConcert at the library yet? We attended a couple when my daughter was younger and she really enjoyed them.

Kiwanis Club has given a $2500 grant to Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra to help fund these concerts for the 2013-14 season. Read more about it in the following press release from the Ann Arbor Symphony:

KIWANIS GRANT TO ANN ARBOR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ANNOUNCED
Ann Arbor – The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra is pleased to announce the receipt of a $2500 grant from the Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor. This funding will help support the 2013-14 KinderConcerts Series. Kinderconcerts are free 30-minute concert programs hosted by the Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Dexter District Libraries. Toddlers to six-year-olds join A2SO musicians, a child movement specialist, and a pianist for a delightfully guided introduction to the orchestra through storytelling and motion. 

The Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor has been providing grants to local nonprofit organizations for more than 90 years. It is part of Kiwanis International, a worldwide service organization whose mission is, “Serving the Children of the World.” Locally the Ann Arbor Kiwanis Club, which raises funds though its weekly “Thrift Sale” and “Warehouse Sale,” will distribute well over $200,000 this year to assist local nonprofit groups in improving opportunities for the children, youth, and adults of the greater Ann Arbor Community. For more information on the Ann Arbor Kiwanis Club and its funky Thrift Sales, please visit www.a2kiwanis.org.

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The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra is a premier regional orchestra offering live, symphonic music for audiences of diverse ages and classical music experiences. The A2SO touches the lives of over 76,000 people every year, from tiny tots to seasoned citizens in venues ranging from the Michigan Theater to Hill Auditorium, as well as schools in the five-county area including Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Dexter District Libraries, and senior citizen centers. 

For concert or educational programming information, contact the A2SO by calling (734) 994-4801 or emailing info@a2so.com. For media inquiries, contact Stephanie Roose at stephanie@a2so.com

Disney Junior Live on Stage Coming to The Palace

Last week on my Fun with Your Kid blog, I shared information on Disney Junior Live on Tour: Pirates & Princesses.

The show will be at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Friday, November 1 with shows at 4p and 7p. Tickets go on sale through Ticketmaster on Tuesday, March 28.

We never saw a Disney Junior Live show when my daughter was younger. However, she has enjoyed several Disney on Ice shows and the Imagination Movers in concert. Based on these experiences, I would recommend this show to families with preschoolers who love Disney Junior.

Splash Universe vs. Splash Village

My daughter loves swimming and is so excited that the summer is here and the pools will be opening soon. In March we spent a day at Splash Universe in Dundee and on Sunday we visited Zehnder's Splash Village in Frankenmuth.

Both Splash Universe and Zehnder's Splash Village are within a day trip of Ann Arbor. So which should you visit?

In my opinion, I would pick Splash Universe for a day trip and Splash Village for an overnight.

Water Park Features
Both parks are small indoor water parks with Splash Universe at 25,000 square feet and Splash Village at 30,000 square feet.

"Big Slides"
Both parks feature two large tube slides that are at least partially enclosed and extend outside of the building. At both places you ride on either a single or double tube. When we have been at Splash Universe, it seems we are often waiting for a tube (especially a double tube). At Splash Village we never had to wait for tubes. - Advantage: Splash Village

Lazy River
Both parks feature a lazy river. The lazy river at Splash Village is shorter than at Splash Universe. However, it includes more water features such as fountains and bucket dumps making it more fun for the kids.
Advantage: Splash Village if you like the water features, Splash Universe if you just want to float.

Spray Playground
Both parks have a spray playground that features a large dumping bucket. The structure at Splash Universe includes numerous (5 I believe) slides, of different configurations as well as rope nets to climb. The structure at Splash Village features only a single slide and only has stairs to enter it. Splash Village does have a number of fountains in this area. However, they are not enough to overcome the extra slides at Splash Universe.
Advantage: Splash Universe

Kids Pool
Both parks feature an area for little children that includes a small slide. The slide at Splash Universe is smaller and would be better for younger children. Splash Village features a larger slide that even my 7 year old used several times. The area features a see-saw and bouncy chairs for infants (20 lbs and under).
Advantage: Splash Village

Swimming Area:
Splash Universe features a "family whirlpool" at the center of the lazy river. There is minimal area for kids to swim in this area, but it features jets like a hot tub but without the heat. Splash Village features a basketball pool that also had 3 floating lily pads to play on. There is definitely more room to swim at Zehnder's Splash Village (although the lily pads caused drama with my daughter since they were dominated by big kids who did not give her a turn). Both facilities also featured a lily pad trail for the kids to walk/crawl across. I did not see a big difference in this feature between the two parks.
Advantage: Splash Village

Hot Tub:
Zehnder's Splash Village has a hot tub that is available to all ages. The hot tub at Splash Universe is for adults only, but has been closed before when I have been visiting. The family whirlpool that allows free swimming provides an underwater bench for parents to sit on and jets without the heat for the kids. I prefer the adults only hot tub at Splash Universe, especially now that my daughter is getting older.
Advantage: Splash Universe

Outdoors
Splash Universe offers an outdoor spray grounds in the summer months. We have mostly visited in the winter, and when we visited last Memorial Day weekend, they were completing cement repairs so the outdoor pad was not open. To my knowledge, Splash Village has no outdoors component. Honestly, if it is warm enough for the outdoor features, I would rather enjoy the outdoors with a day trip to Rolling Hills with its wave pool.
Advantage: Splash Universe in the summer

Logisitics:
Changing Areas/Showers/Lockers
Splash Universe provides ample showers and changing areas for day guests and hotel guests who have already checked out. (I am going to reference the women's facilities as I have not seen the men's). There are numerous curtained rooms for changing as well as private curtained showers. The bathroom/changing rooms are accessed from within the water park. At Splash Village, the locker/bathrooms are just outside of the waterpark. They also provide towels for both day and hotel guests. There is a curtained room with 4 open showers and a small bench. There is a single long bench for changing with no privacy. There are family changing rooms available at Splash Village, but they are even further down the hall from the waterpark. At Splash Universe, the lockers are between the men's and women's changing rooms/restrooms. Splash Village provides lockers inside each changing room.
Advantage: Splash Universe

Waterpark Seating
Splash Universe provides most of their seating in the cafe area. This area provides minimal visibility of the waterpark. They do offer some recliners in the waterpark area that offer a better view, but they tend to fill up early. There are some benches near the lazy river and sprayground providing in park seating. Splash Village offers a large area of tables near the entrance and scattered tables throughout the park. There was also seating near areas that did not include tables.
Advantage: Splash Village

Food
Splash Universe offers a cafe that includes drinks, ice cream, pizza, burgers, chicken fingers, and more. We typically buy a whole pizza for our family. You can request a pitcher of water at no charge.
Splash Village offers their food from a window. When food service is closed, beverages are available from the bar window. Since we visited on a package that included a group pizza lunch, I did not investigate the food options.
Advantage: Unknown



Price
Splash Universe frequently runs day pass specials that are announced on their Facebook page. In the past they have offered discounted day passes for local residents (Washtenaw County qualifies). I do not see these listed, but I suggest asking about it. We have visited 3 times, and have always had a special admission deal. I have never seen day pass deals advertised for Splash Village nor do I know of any regional discounts.
Advantage: Splash Universe


Distance
Splash Universe is closer to Ann Arbor, making a shorter road trip. Where you live in Ann Arbor can have a big impact on the distance comparison. I live in Southeast Ann Arbor so Splash Universe is only 20 minutes from me, while Splash Village is 80 minutes....a difference of 1 hr each way. Whereas If you live in North Ann Arbor, you may be an hour from Splash Village and 40 minutes from Splash Universe making only a 20 minute difference in distance.
Advantage: Splash Universe

Surrounding Area
The Frankenmuth area offers a number of additional activities from exploring Frankenmuth, Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, and the nearby Birch Run outlets. Dundee features Cabela's. With the extra activiities in Frankenmuth, there is more to do beyond the waterpark if you are there overnight or for a weekend.
Advantage: Splash Village

Conclusion
Overall, while Splash Village offers a number of advantages over the Splash Universe, I feel the price, distance, and logistics tip the scale in favor of Splash Universe for a day trip, particularly if you are on the south side of Ann Arbor where the distance in difference is greater. However, for an overnight stay, I would select Splash Village as there is more to do besides the water park.

Of course, my whole evaluation may change in 2014. In March, Zehnder's announced a Splash Village expansion that, among other improvements, will add 30,000 square feet to the waterpark - doubling its size. The expansion is scheduled to break ground in August 2013 and open in summer 2014. In that case, I think the trip to Splash Village may be worth it.

New Slides at Rolling Hills

Staff ready to test them out - from Rolling Hills Facebook page

With Memorial Day Weekend approaching, the local pools will be opening which includes Rolling Hills. We are very eager to see the improvements that they have been made.

This summer will include a new main entrance, new changing rooms (including a family changing room), outdoor locker area, and the biggest attraction - a new slide tower.

My daughter has been hoping that the new slides would be ready this season. Today Rolling Hills released photos from their new slides. Looks like they'll be open with the park.

Speed Slide Test -
from Rolling Hills Facebook page

Unfortunately this weekend's weather is not looking like good water weather...67 as a high on Saturday and Sunday and 70 as a high for Monday. With overnight lows in the 40s, the water will be pretty chilly.

We purchased our vehicle admission pass for Rolling Hills this winter when we went sledding there. We can't wait to use it for the water park.

For Washtenaw County residents, the vehicle admission fee is $5/day or $25 for a yearly pass. Park admission is $8 on weekends/holidays and $7/weekdays for county residents. Children 36" and under are FREE. For non-residents, vehicle admission is $9 and water park is $10 (weekend/holiday) and $9 (weekday). The park is typically open 11a-7p on weekdays and 11a-8p on weekends.

Waterpark admission fees did increase by $1 this year. This is their first price increase in several years and, in my opinion, well worth it for the enhancements that were made.

Zehnder's Splash Village Review

Yesterday my family joined my daughter's Girl Scout troop for Girl Scout day at Zehnder's Splash Village. The troop paid for the scouts with the cookie money they raised and extra family members paid their own way. Most of the other parents also accompanied their daughters. My daughter had been counting the days until the event since she loves water parks. She was especially thrilled to be going with her friends.

Zehnder's Splash Village (from zehnders.com)

Zehnder's Splash Village is located in Frankenmuth next door to Bronner's Christmas Wonderland. It is a little over an hour north of Ann Arbor, depending on where you live in town. They offer overnight stays with waterpark admission included and full or half-day passes. Our visit was a special Girl Scout Day package that included waterpark admission, pizza lunch, arcade tokens, and a patch.

We stayed at the water park for almost 6 hours (10a-4p). The water park features two large tube slides, a lazy river, a spray-playground with a slide, a basketball pool, a kids pool, and a hot tub. My daughter loved everything at the park. I thought the lazy river was a little small. On the plus side, tubes seemed to be readily available and we hardly ever had to wait for a tube.

Lazy River (from zehnders.com)

My daughter really liked the concept of the basketball pool especially since there were three lily pads available for play. Unfortunately, the lily pads led to a problem as they were dominated by big kids and she was never able to get a turn on one. She did get the chance to walk/crawl across the lily pad trail which was in a separate area of that pool We finally pulled her out of that pool because of the drama it had caused.

Basketball Pool
(from Zehnder's Facebook Page)

Tables were spaced throughout the park so we were able to find two tables for our group of 13 to be able to store our bags & shoes. Single use lockers are also available in both the men's and women's locker rooms for one token (tokens are 2 for $3 from a machine).

I did not realize that Zehnder's Splash Village provides towels for waterpark guests. We would have been able to pack much lighter...I had packed two towels for each of us - one to use throughout the day and a second towel to use at the end of the day. Next time I'll bring one towel per person for the end of the day since the provided towels are small and don't provide much privacy for changing.

The changing room facilities were on the small side and offered minimal privacy. There was one bench in the locker area and a curtained room that contained a small bench and 4 open showers. Similarly, the arcade was small and understaffed, especially when there was a group package that included arcade tokens. We visited the arcade after lunch to allow our food time to digest before returning to the pool. There was only 1 attendant on duty to handle trading vouchers for tokens, prize redemption, and machine problems. They did eventually call a second person in. On the plus side, I found the prizes fairly nice. For 150 tickets, my daughter received a cute purse. Since all of the adults also had 12 arcade tokens, we decided to evenly split them between the girls. We also had a few people cancel (pre-paid), so each of our girls received 30 tokens. Most of the games were 2 or 4 tokens, but my daughter had no problem winning those tickets with her 30 tokens.

We had a really good time at Splash Village. It was a little far for a day trip especially since Splash Universe is much closer (20 minutes vs. 1hr 20 minutes) to my house (look for another post comparing the two). I will definitely keep my eye out for discounted nights at the hotel so we can use the water park, explore Frankenmuth, and shop at Birch Run. Since we had a very busy weekend, we came home right away when we left the waterpark.

I have to apologize for not taking many pictures at the park, but I mostly left my phone in my bag because of the water. I have a few pictures of the girls in our troop which don't show much of the park. I did find a few photos from the Zehnder's website that I shared above.

Memorial Day Pancake Breakfast at Yankee Air Museum

At Last Year's Event

With Memorial Day next weekend I was starting to pull together a list of activities planned for the weekend. Since Memorial Day weekend marks the start of summer, it will be a busy weekend as various pools and such open. As I was thinking of what events were happening, I remembered that last year we attended the Yankee Air Museum's Pancake Breakfast on Memorial Day. We had a great time attending the event, so I wanted to make sure to add it to the blog.

This year's Yankee Air Museum's Memorial Day Commemoration will be from 8a-2p. The pancake breakfast will be from 9-10:30a in the Hangar Bay Area. Breakfast is $6/person and veterans eat free. Admission to the museum is free as part of the commemoration.

There will be a special Memorial Ceremony from 11a-noon. The ceremony will be held outdoors, north of the museum. They will also have a blood drive from 8a-2p.

Details on the pancake breakfast are included in the May issue of the Yankee Air Museum's Hangar Happenings Newsletter.

Open Play at My Urban Toddler

My Urban Toddler is having a special open play session in Saturday, May 18 from 9a-1p. 

Open Play costs $10 for the first child and $7.50 for additional siblings. Open play is typically 9a-3p Monday through Thursday. 

My Urban Toddler is located on Michigan Avenue in Saline just east of State Rd.