The Great Wolf Lodge

What an amazing place to take your kids! This resort was the perfect weekend getaway for our family. Some of the highlights were:

- Huge indoor waterpark
- Talking tree and animals in the lobby
- Outdoor Miniput
- Video Arcade
- Story time in the lobby – all the kids get to listen to stories in their PJ's!
- Scheduled daily kids activities

We tried to book on-line but the hotel was full. We decided to check in person when we arrived at Niagara and got lucky when a very reasonably priced room was available. Our room was a very nice standard room, but you can also book fun kids themed rooms with bunk beds, fireplaces and lofts.

During the year the Lodge has special rates and packages for Halloween, Christmas and birthdays. It would be a great place to go with extended family to celebrate a special occasion or holiday.

My two kids are still talking about their weekend at Great Wolf Lodge, especially the waterpark (which is the size of about 2 indoor football fields). It was a weekend that will bring us all happy memories for quite some time!

~ Shannon

Child's Life August Contest

Just a few days left to enter our August contest - We are very excited to have David Grossman, MBA Mortgage Consultant, offer our members a chance to win a 4 Night/5 Day Cruise to the Caribbean or Mexico departing from either Florida or Los Angeles. The cruise includes accommodations for two, gourmet meals, shipboard activities and entertainment aboard a Carnival Cruise Line ship! Click here for more info and to enter.

Like Riding a Bike!

Anyone who has taught a child to ride a bike will know that it isn't as easy as it looks. Parents need patience and perserverance to help their child master this skill. When your child is finally riding on their own, don't be surprised if you feel that same swelling of pride that your babies first steps brought! I'm still gushing and telling everyone I know about my son finally really mastering his bike a few days ago!

If you feel your child is ready, Fall can be a great time to take off the training wheels. After a summer of riding your child is more comfortable with the way their bike feels, taking the wheels off now instead of next spring - when your child has had a whole winter without practice - can speed up the process.

Here's a bright idea for a young child to learn biking without training wheels – Peddle Free Bikes. You guessed it - these training bikes have no peddles, instead a child just pushes with their feet on the ground, and lifts them up to glide. The premise is similar to what a scooter teaches, giving a child the feel for the balance they need for riding a two wheeled bike. This kind of ingenuity doesn't come cheap though - considering the lack of peddles, gears and brakes, the model pictured here from Kettler still costs around $179.99 CDN. As with all Kettler bikes though - it will probably last forever! Norco makes a training bike reported to resale closer the $100 range. Thinking of trying one out? Give us your feedback, we'd love to hear your review!

Remember children must be wearing a helmet when riding this (or any other style) of bike!

~Justine