Adventure Park

Located between the two aquarium buildings, the Adventure Park will get you up in the trees for climbing and zip lining. There are lots of levels, and you can start small on purple and work your way up through double black. Five and six year olds must stay on purple trails, and they must have an adult climbing with them. A note, my tall 6 year old couldn't reach some of the clips to unhook, so I had to be behind him the whole day. Behind worked better for us than me going ahead. Each time you get to a new obstacle you'll connect and reconnect using their locking system. Because of this system, which won't allow you to unconnect one hook until you're hooked into another, and you're not able to be disconnected at any point while up in the trees. 

Pricing: 

• General Admission for 3 hours of climbing: $64- ages 14 up, $54 ages 7-13, and $42 ages 5-6. Climbers must be at least 5. 
• All day pass: $99 per person 
• Non-climbing visitors do not need a ticket 
• Your ticket does not include access to the aquarium 
• Save money by purchasing your ticket online ahead of time 
• Check Groupon for specials 
• Monthly membership for $475 per year or a monthly pass for $79 for kids and $89 for adults 

You can bring food in or there is a cafe in each of the aquarium buildings. I'd recommend bringing lots of water as the climbing is a full body workout. We got the all day pass, and I'm glad we did. We got there at 9:30 and my kids climbed literally all day. They asked to go back as soon as we got in the car. 

Celebration Key:Carnival

Last week while sailing on the Carnival Vista, we got to visit Carnival's new private island, Celebration Key. Celebration Key is located on the Grand Bahama island.  It is divided into five portals; Paradise Plaza where you'll enter to live music or dancing, Lokono Cove which has shops to wander through, Calypso Lagoon, a freshwater lagoon featuring rentable cabanas and two swim up bars (including the longest in the world), Starfish Lagoon with a splash pad for kids, and Pearl Cove Beach Club which is an adults only private beach and infinity pool. 

You'll use your Sail and Sign card for everything. One meal per person is included or you can purchase a meal at a full service restaurant for 25% off. Kids eat free at the full service restaurant when they order the kids' meal.  Meal choices include seafood, burgers and fries, pizza, tacos, and more. There are sides, snacks, and ice cream available for purchase. There are free water stations around the island. Our group just got the included meals which ended up being too much to eat, plus one ice cream for the kids to split while we walked back to the ship. 

There are several shore excursions, or you can just hang on the island like we did. We did purchase the wristbands to allow access to the two big water slides. There are volleyball and basketball courts, ping pong tables,  as well as a music play area for kids. You'll want to check your events for the day for the parade. It was after lunch during our day there. If you need help walking, there is a tram that runs regularly through the entire area. 

Dinosaur Quest: Virginia Living Museum

Here now at the Virginia Living Museum, Dinosaur Quest is an interactive way to learn more about dinosaurs. With both indoor and outdoor components, visitors can view animatronic dinosaurs (one that spits water!) and then test your knowledge in a dinosaur maze, full of activities. 

You'll want to check the programing schedule for supplemental activities like their planetarium shows (you must purchase tickets), their Ambassador Animal Show, and their Super Science Show. Also be on the lookout for their T.Rex Trek where a walking dinosaur will make its way through the museum, and their Dino Discovery Family Camp In. 

As always at the Living Museum there is so much to see with indoor and outdoor components. This visit we found a butterfly house and a fairy garden play area which we had never seen before. If you have a dinosaur lover, be sure to head there before the exhibit leaves on September 7th! 

Just Birdies

New in Norfolk, Just Birdies is located in Lambert's Point and is perfect for a hot or rainy day. Book a bay for up to six people to play simulator sports and carnival games. Games include golf, zombie dodgeball, balloon pop, jewel match, bottle breaking, football, baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer, lacrosse, cricket, bocce, and rugby. Many of the sports have several different games included. What we loved about it is that it isn't just playing video games where you're sitting still. In these bays, you'll be aiming at a screen but using real balls and physically working to play. It gets kids up and moving to burn off energy. The bays are $40 an hour. 

They do book parties, and they have a weekly golf league. Check their events page for their live music schedule. They offer a summer play pass, good from now until August 31 with daily play for 2 hours on Monday-Friday from 11-5,  and Saturday and Sunday from 10-2. The pass works for a group of up to six and you'll also get 10 percent off of food and nonalcoholic drinks. I'm already planning our next trip! 

Bogey's 757

Located in the Chelsea district of Norfolk, Bogey's offers 18 courses to putt, plus a practice green outside. What really sets Bogey's apart is the level of interaction on their holes. You'll be playing games like foosball against the other people in your group, zipping on  zipline, bouncing your ball for pong, or spinning giant propellers while you putt. My favorite part was that the holes were all handmade by the owner, and they are locally themed. You can truly tell that a lot of love went into this place. 

Bogey's is open Wednesday through Friday from 3-9 and Saturdays and Sundays from 12-9.  Head to Bogey's, then stop next door at Smartmouth and grab dinner from a food drink plus drinks while the kids play one of their many games. It's a perfect afternoon/evening combo. 

General admission for the putt putt and outdoor putting green is $14 for adults and $12 for kids under ten. You can add an additional round for $8. On site they have a golf simulator for $30-$50 per hour. They also do birthday parties where you can rent a private room.