We are a family that loves going on bike rides. My son was a bit late in having his training wheels taken off his two-wheeler. This year however, he was now ready to ride without that extra help and he took immediately to this no found freedom.  His first day he rode for hours. He cried out” look how fast I am going dad; I am really good. “ “Yes you are, but you have to be careful Dak.” I warned.

He was so confident, he now wanted to ride every day after school. He now wanted to go farther, so first we took back streets to Rita’s while Lisa, the dogs and I walked. He was now ready to go on an even longer bike ride. So we rode as a family to our friend’s house. The ride was probably over a mile and a half each way. He handled it easily, never complaining about being tired.

So on a Friday after school Dak and I went on a bike ride, Lisa was working and would be home in about an hour. The plan was to ride 2 miles to a park and have Dak play for a while and then ride home. As we started on our late afternoon adventure, the traffic was a lot more then I expected.

We were almost at the park when Dak fell down behind me. I looked back and saw that his knee and elbow were scraped badly.  With tears coming down his cheeks he screamed,” I want my mommy, I want my mommy.” I said, “ Buddy we have to get you home so we can take care of your wounds. I was annoyed with myself thinking what idiot takes his son on a bike this far from home and worst what fool forgets his cell phone.

After 10 minutes of walking his bicycle and not getting much closer to home, I said “Dak can you ride the rest of the way.” “I can try,” was his reply. Five minutes later he fell down again. A nice mother traveling with her children in the car saw Dak fall and pulled over to ask if I needed help. I said,” Could you please.”? We left the bicycles and she gave Dak and me a car ride to our house. I was very appreciative and touched by her kindness.” Dak’s wounds have now healed, but we’ll stick to riding around our house for the time being.

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One could say the Demeter family of Toms River was formed with a little bit of divine intervention.  Mom Janine met her future husband, Andy, when she took her white car for its weekly wash at the establishmentowned by Andy’s family.  After dating for about 18 months, they were married in June of 1994 at the Crystal Point Yacht Club in Point Pleasant.  “You never know where you’re going to meet the love of your life,” Janine quips.  She and Andy spent six years enjoying married life and getting settled, before they were blessed to become parents to son Drew, now 10.  Daughter Ally, age 8, and six-year-old son, Evan, round out this faithful family.

The family is “local to the core,” Janine attests.  Andy grew up in Brick and graduated from Toms River North High School. He works as general manager at Silver Bay Car Wash Express Lube, the business owned by his mother and stepfather, MaryLou and Vince Galati, for 22 years.  Janine says that although Andy’s work days are long, they are so grateful that he has been able to steadily provide for their family during this economic downturn.  Janine was born in Point Pleasant Hospital and raised in Brick, graduating from Brick High School, just as her parents, Allen and Pat Dey, had.  Allen even penned the school’s alma mater song!

Janine’s days are spent not only caring for her family and their home, but also serving as a volunteer for the Parent Teacher Fellowship at Ambassador Christian Academy in Toms River, the Pre-K through eighth grade school that the children all attend.  Janine explains that the academy, also known as ACA, is the only accredited classical Christian school in the area, and that ACA has “educated minds and hearts for over 31 years.”  Janine notes that she and Andy are most thankful for this schooling, as the family is built upon a strong faith in God.  Janine says her foundation as a mom is “faith, family, friends and fun,” and that the entire family is also active in their church, Bethany Bible Chapel on Church Road in Toms River.  Noting that the children are “the best of friends,” Janine adds that they are “fearfully and wonderfully made as unique individuals,” quoting Psalm 139:14.  She claims that the kids “understand we are a family, a unit and a team and work together as a whole.” Because of this philosophy, the family “does pretty much everything together,” noting there will be time for separate teams and activities later in life, but for now, they enjoy being together as much as possible.

YCT: Tell us a little about your family and the personalities of each of your children.

Janine: Drew is a history buff, especially anything having to do with the military.  He studies Latin and Spanish and has received honor grades all four marking periods this year.  He’s known as a great friend to all at school and enjoys participating on the school’s bowling team.  Since being introduced to archery at a Christian sleep-away camp he attends for two weeks every summer, he’s become quite a marksman; we even have a hunter friend give him lessons in the summer.  He’s also passionate about boarding – skateboarding, skimboarding in the ocean, and snowboarding in the winter.  I’d describe Ally as having a gracious heart and lots of friends.  She’s a wonderful blessing to me in this house full of boys.  She’s organized and loves to be in the kitchen with me.  Her favorite subject at school is math, and boy, does she know how to take charge, which is especially helpful on school mornings!  Now Evan is affectionately known as “Hank the Tank,” because he is all-boy and full of energy, energy, energy!  Given instruction and guidance, he can channel that energy to good use and has become a great helper in his full-day kindergarten class, and around our house as well.  If I ask him to weed the garden, he may stay out there for hours!

YCT: What is a typical day like in your home?

Janine: There is no such thing as a typical day in our home!  We are blessed to have a lot of family all here in Ocean County – both sets of grandparents, 13 aunts and uncles and 14 cousins to be exact – so there is always someone coming and going.  We often have people over for dinner or visits.  We try to take things as they come and go, and take life as it comes to us.  In the summer, my big rule is to get the chores done before the fun adventure for the day.  We enjoy the outdoors year round and we are so fortunate to have a large protected stretch of woods that abuts our back yard.  The woods will never be developed and we really take advantage of that for adventures and play time.

YCT: What activities do your children participate in after school?

Janine: After the kids complete their homework, they usually go outside to play and take bike rides.  We live on a small, safe street so the kids can ride their scooters and bikes, and play basketball without worry.  We’re the only family on our street that doesn’t have a dog, so the kids walk the neighbors’ dogs.  They know the names of all the dogs and their humans!

YCT: What is your favorite thing to do locally with your family?

Janine: We often go to Island Beach State Park in Seaside for fun and fishing and where we spot red foxes, instead of the old “yellow cars” game.  We like to go bike riding, especially at Toms River’s Winding River Park or on the Manasquan Bike Path. We also go hiking in Cattus Island Park in Toms River and Bass River State Park in Tuckerton.  For Evan’s sixth birthday in February, we had a hiking party for 17 people through the snow covered trails at Bass River State Park, then hotdogs and s’mores cooked over the fire pit in our backyard.  Last winter, during the snow days off from school, we had a major Olympics party in our back yard – I told all the moms to dress in layers, because we were going to be staying outside through it all!  The past few years we had season passes for Great Adventure and went often.  This year we decided on state park passes, which allows us to bike and hike all the state parks.  I thought this would be especially informative this year, as it will augment Drew’s study of New Jersey as a fourth grader in school this past year.

YCT: Do you have any favorite local vacation spots?

Janine: For the past three summers, we have gone to Pennsylvania for vacation.  We have climbed Bushkill Falls, an amazing waterfall system in the Poconos.  We have canoed the Lehigh Gorge and hiked Boulder Field in Hickory Run State Park.  The trips always conclude with a day at Camelbeach, a water park near our vacation spots.  But the best spot of all is the Jersey Shore.  We are beach bums when given the chance and take advantage of the local attractions like Breakwater Beach in Seaside and Jenkinson’s Aquarium in Point Pleasant.

YCT: Have you ever gone on vacation without the kids?

Janine: Since we’ve become parents, we have taken two trips without the kids.  During the years Andy and I each turned 40, we went away for a few days to relax in the sun & sand.  We are so lucky to have both sets of grandparents here in Toms River, when they are not staying at their other homes in Florida.  Therefore, we were able to go away with peace of mind.

YCT: Do you have a favorite family-friendly restaurant?

Janine: We try to go out about once a week to cost effective restaurants such as Five Guys, TGI Fridays and Friendly’s – all in Toms River.  It’s nice to incorporate a little education in the meal, too.  For instance, Five Guys offers potatoes from different states on a rotating schedule and the kids get a kick out of learning a bit about the state their fries have come from!

YCT: What is your favorite date night location and how often do you get to go out with just your husband?

Janine: Since Andy works such long hours, the kids and I always try to pop in for a car wash or to just visit.  We like to pull him away to dine at Surf Taco in Toms River or bring in a “picnic pizza” so we can eat together.  We feel that we are primarily ‘mom and dad’ to these young children, so we don’t go off alone too often.  However, I’m sure date nights will come back to us at some point.  We often reconnect at the end of the day sharing the day’s activities regarding children or business on our back deck watching the sun set and the moon rise.

YCT: What is your favorite non-mommy thing to do and how often do you get to do it?

Janine: Yay and yes!  I believe all moms should have an abundant amount of “gal friends” to give advice, laugh and cry, and having so many you always find one free when you or she needs it most.  I have an artsy side and when my friend, Karin Killian of 2friends hand-made ribbon, gifts and accessories, asked me to join her at local craft fairs, I jumped at the chance.  Together we attend about 15 outdoor craft venues a year from Long Beach Island to Monmouth County, including the Festival of the Sea in Point Pleasant, Brielle Day and the Toms River Sailfest.  It’s a great opportunity to promote her business, be outdoors and meet new people.

YCT: What is your husband¹s favorite non-daddy thing to do?

Janine: Andy is a different story – his friends all come to him, as he is a steady fixture at the Silver Bay Car Wash.  In his free time, he enjoys spending time in the yard and garden but is never alone as he always has six little helping hands.  He spends lots of time working – this is how our family is balanced right now.

YCT: Do you patronize any advertisers from our magazine?

Janine: Ally has gone to Sparkle Diva and we have celebrated the kids’ birthdays at the Jersey Shore Pirate Adventure and with Gamin’ Ride at our home.  We have had swimming lessons at Pied Piper Swim School. We make a platter once a year at  Color Me Mine and we frequent Bee Mine consignment shop in     Toms River.

YCT: Do you have any parenting advice that you would like to offer our readers?

Janine: Growing up I had a dear family friend named Katherine Mead who was a mother of seven.  She once told me to get up before the kids.  Of course, this was hard when they were babies but since they have been school age, this has become a wonderful habit.  I wake up one half hour before the kids to pray, meditate and be still.  Then I have my morning coffee and am ready for morning hugs and all that the day may bring.  I also think that being flexible and spontaneous works very well for us – to overcome stress and upsets during the day.  For example, sometimes we have a picnic dinner in our own living room, just for a change of pace.

YCT: What is your favorite part of Your Child Today magazine?

Janine: My favorite part is the ‘Focus on the Family’ feature.  I use the ‘Calendar of Events’ section over and over to find great local events for our spontaneous adventures!

POST ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS ARTICLE. WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR OPINIONS.

Another school year has come to a close which means it’s time to gas up the car, pack up the kids, and take a family road trip this summer.  Where will your family visit during the months of July and August?  If you’re stumped for ideas and not sure where to take the troops for a special vacation this year, check out one of Your Child Today’s “Top Nearby Family-Friendly Travel Destinations.”  All of the selected parks and resorts are outside of New Jersey, but luckily for Shore area families, they are all within a reasonable driving distance.

Smugglers’ Notch Resort, Vermont: This all-inclusive family resort, located in the picturesque mountains of Vermont, is well worth the journey north.   In addition to separate activities for kids and adults, there are plenty of events for the entire family as well.

While the kids are kept busy and happy in one of Smugglers’ many camp programs, parents can pursue some of their own hobbies and interests through guided hiking tours, kayaking, fishing clinics, garden tours, and other specialty programs.

Smugglers’ popular health and wellness workshops showcase aromatic herbs, essential oils, and spices this summer under the guidance of knowledgeable herbalists from Vermont’s Purple Shutter Herbs.  New sessions include Herbal Manicure, Bath Fizzies, Lip Balms and Energizing with “Zoom Balls,” a sweet treat made with herbs and spices that deliver an energy boost. Yoga, fitness walking, meditation and aromatherapy classes are also available.

If you would like to enjoy a taste of Vermont, a farmer’s market will be available every Monday morning at Smugglers’. Local farmers and specialty food vendors will offer a bountiful selection of goodies including fresh-from-the-field vegetables, locally raised meats, maple products, artisan cheeses, spicy condiments and wines.

If your family is adventurous and would like to see some of the sights outside of the resort, day trips are also available.   A new outing explores Vermont’s beautiful lakeside “Queen City.”  Resort day trippers have a new outing to choose from with Discover Burlington, which joins perennial favorites A Taste of Vermont and the Montreal Day Trip.   After a stop at a local coffee roaster, guests can head to the shops and boutiques on Burlington’s renowned pedestrian-friendly Church Street Marketplace, take in the waterfront of Lake Champlain and spend time in the lakeside ECHO Center, aninteractive science museum that all ages enjoy. The journey back to Smugglers’ includes a photo opportunity at a covered bridge.

What’s New: This summer, the resort is offering two vacation packages to increase family vacation choices. The Resort’s new SimplySmuggs Vacation Package offers flexibility to families who want to make a la carte selections from the Resort’s varied menu of award-winning children’s programs for ages 3 to 17. When registering for those programs prior to arrival, families will enjoy a discounted rate of 25 percent on the children’s programs they select. Vacation package rates for a family of four in a one bedroom mountainside condominium start at $1176 for a 3 day/3night stay on the SimplySmuggs Vacation Package in July (shorter or longer stays are available).  The Resort’s popular FamilyFest Vacation Package includes Smugglers’ award-winning daylong children’s programs, and offers the best value for families interested in a comprehensive package. Rates for a family of four in a one bedroom mountainside condominium start at $1395 for a 3 day/3 night stay on the FamilyFest Vacation Package in July (shorter or longer stays are available).  Camp activities for ages 3-17 include nature discovery, games, arts and crafts, and pool and waterslide fun.  In addition, children ages 7-15 may elect to concentrate on performance, arts & crafts, nature & hiking or adventure and games. The SimplySmuggs and FamilyFest Vacation Packages offer discounts for families interested in specialty camps focusing on outdoor adventure, tennis, skateboarding, and videography.  Both the SimplySmuggs and FamilyFest Vacation Packages include full-equipped mountainside condominium lodging, unlimited use of eight heated pools and four waterslides, daily guided walks and hikes for all levels of ability, two teen centers, mini golf, disc golf, and use of the skate park. Family programs and entertainment included in the package are: bingo, dance parties, a family magic show, and more. Nightly entertainment for adults is also included. Both packages feature unlimited use of the FunZone Family Entertainment Center- an indoor play center for all ages featuring climbing and bouncy inflatables such as a giant slide and obstacle course, plus a kids’ climbing wall, miniature golf and arcade games.  Package information is available by visiting www.smuggs.com or by calling the resort’s reservationists at 1-800-451-8752.

Sesame Place, Pennsylvania: On a really hot summer afternoon, spending the day at Sesame Place is a great way for your kids to get wet and stay cool.  Don’t miss this popular park in Langhorne which features characters from the hit television series and is only about an hour from the Shore area.  Your kids can splash around and frolic on one of the many water rides or they can stay dry and take a spin on the carousel, roller coaster Blast Off, Vapor Trail or Flyin’ Fish rides.  If you need to catch your breath and relax for a few moments, sit back and relax for one of Sesame Place’s interactive shows, like Big Bird’s Beach Party or the all-new Elmo Rocks! Rock n’ roll show.  Your kids will have a blast rocking out with Elmo, Zoe, Cookie Monster, and the loveable duo, Bert and Ernie. If you know your kiddies won’t be able to cram all of the fun into just one afternoon, purchase Elmo’s Any 2 Day Ticket (you can visit another day at no additional charge) and stay overnight at one of the area’s many hotels.

What’s New: Sesame Place is celebrating its 30^th Birthday this year!  There will be many events throughout the summer to commemorate this milestone.  Beginning July 9^th, middle school children are invited to one of the “Friday Nights –Summer Nights Series” events.  The pre-teens and teenagers are invited to an exclusive after hour’s DJ dance party from 6:30-10:00 pm at Sesame Place.  Kids can mix and mingle, enjoy water rides, enter dance contests and win prizes throughout the evening.   Mark your calendar for July 30th and celebrate Sesame Place’s 30th Birthday with a beautiful fireworks display, set to a Sesame Street sound track. Fireworks are at 9pm on Friday only and twilight admission is not valid.   Then, on September 5^th, celebrate Labor Day with fireworks at 8:30pm.  For the best view of the night sky, have your family watch from the park’s front plaza!  The fun doesn’t stop once the kids go back to school.  The park is still open on weekends with plenty of special events to entertain the little ones.  On September 18th and 19^th, treat your kiddies to a Hip Hop Harry Live Concert.  Characters from the popular television show from Discovery Kids and TLC network will perform on the Sesame Place stage for three shows daily.  Hip Hop Harry, a loveable dancing bear will teach kids about art, dance, language, and music all through the use of hip hop fun!  Reservations are required for these shows.  And, on September 25, the park is open just for 2010 & 2011 Season Pass Members from 4:30– 7pm, complete with a live DJ and kids’ dance party.  Finally, beginning on September 25th through October 31^st (weekends only), celebrate Halloween at Sesame Place with the Count’s Halloween Spooktacular.  For more information, call 1-866-GO-4-ELMO or visit www.sesameplace.com

Mystic, Connecticut: Located on the banks of the historic Mystic River, this coastal village offers terrific restaurants, quaint shops, and of course, the Seaport.   Mystic Seaport is divided into four sections: a re-created 19^th Century Village, where guests can learn about each building’s role in a coastal community; the Waterfront, an area with tall ships and other historic vessels; the Preservation Shipyard, which restores antique vessels using traditional methods and tools; and Exhibits and Galleries, including “Mapping the Pacific Coast: Coronado to Lewis and Clark.”

What’s New: Tugs! – Mystic’s newest, interactive exhibit that explores the American tug, tow and barge industry.  This exhibit is for visitors of all ages and is open through spring 2011. For more information about this specific exhibit, check out www.mysticseaport.org/tugs.  Mystic Seaport Sundays – Guests are invited to come after 5 p.m. for free!  There will also be live music, food, and a cash bar at Spouter’s Tavern, and one of the most beautiful spots to watch a summer sunset in Mystic.  This is a great way for families, couples, or even singles to unwind and relax at the end of the day while enjoying the peaceful and beautiful grounds ( www.mysticseaport.org/summersundays).

Does your family enjoy boat rides?  If so, enjoy the sights of the Mystic River and take a cruise on the steamboat Sabino, or rent rowboats or sailboats from the Boathouse (www.mysticseaport.org/boathouse).  There are many authentic experiences to choose from as well, such as watching a blacksmith pound iron in the Shipsmith shop to conversing with an 1876 roleplayer that is strolling the grounds.  Mystic Seaport just launched a website sharing this “Earn Your Sea Legs” promotion and it can be found at www.earnyoursealegs.com. The site also features new 30-second TV spots, as well as great new special offers and discounts which always come in handy!  For more information, call 888-973-2767 or visit www.mysticseaport.org.

Hersheypark, Pennsylvania: Known as the “Sweestest Place on Earth,” this is a great family destination with plenty of sights and attractions.   The town of Hershey has made significant improvements in the past three years, resulting in $185 million worth of new offerings for guests. Hersheypark has more than 65 rides and attractions, including 11 roller coasters – more than any other park in Pennsylvania.  The park also features The Boardwalk at Hersheypark, which is home to nine water-based attractions.  One-price admission to Hersheypark provides access to all of those attractions and to ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park, which throughout 2010 is celebrating the 100^th anniversary of a zoo in Hershey. Guests can enjoy a ride on Great Bear, a looping inverted steel roller coaster, and then walk across the bridge to ZooAmerica to see real great bears.

What’s New: Adjacent to Hersheypark is Hershey’s Chocolate World, which this summer will debut “Create Your Own Candy Bar,” an interactive, hands-on attraction that immerses guests in the process of creating a candy bar. This first-of-its kind attraction gives consumers the ability to select their favorite candy bar ingredients, operate authentic factory equipment and design packaging for a custom candy bar.  Definitely leave a few hours of your trip for a stroll through Chocolate World as it provides a lot of hands-on activities and exhibits for the kids.  Plus, there are many places to buy delicious Hershey treats and desserts.  Save your calories and splurge for a sweet chocolate confection.  You’ll be glad you did!  For more information, call 1-800-HERSHEY (1-800-437-7439) or visit www.HersheyPA.com.

Peddler’s Village, Pennsylvania: For more than four decades, Peddler’s Village has been a popular leisure destination.  Located at Routes 202 and Street Road in Lahaska, this charming village offers a unique shopping and dining experience. Peddler’s Village features 70 quality specialty shops and six restaurants.  In addition, there is also the 70-room Golden Plough Inn and Giggleberry Fair family entertainment center.   Giggleberry Fair provides hours or fun for the entire family.  In addition to the beautifullyrestored 1922 Philadelphia Toboggan Company Grand Carousel, this 10,000 square foot attraction houses Giggleberry Mountain, the Game Room, the Painted Pony Café, and the newest attraction, Giggles Discovers.  Enjoy free seasonal festivals and year-round family events at Peddler’s Village.   For more information, please visit www.peddlersvillage.com or call 215-794-4000.

What’s New: The 32nd Annual Scarecrow Competition and Display is scheduled for September 6.  The competition will feature colorful scarecrow creations on outdoor public exhibits through October 24, 2010.  Participants enter their inventions in one or more of six imaginative categories. The public votes for their favorites, awarding thousands of dollars in cash prizes to the most spectacular creations. Admission to the display is free.  Don’t miss The 31^st Annual Scarecrow Festival on September 18-19, 2010.  This weekend of traditional family fun will include scarecrow-making workshops, pumpkin pie eating contests, pumpkin painting, live musical entertainment and children’s activities.

Jellystone National Park, Lancaster, Pennsylvania: If your kids enjoy camping, this is the place to have some old-fashioned fun with your family.  Plan on spending lots of time roasting marshmallows around the campfire, fishing, and getting back in touch with nature.  The campground has 165 campsites and 29 cabins situated on 63 wooded and rolling acres in scenic Southern Lancaster County.   Owned and operated by the Ryan family, they are celebrating their 21st season this year at Jellystone.

Deluxe and Rustic cabins are available for rental with full hook-up campsites.  Each rental comes with a picnic table and a fire ring.  The park also offers modern restrooms, laundry, propane, camp store/gift shop, and an arcade room.  Activities include:  pedal carts, volleyball, hayrides, movies, crafts, bingo, horseshoes, shuffleboard, bike rentals, visits from Yogi Bear, theme weekends and food events.  The park is adjacent to 100 acres of hiking trails and bird watching at the adjoining Theodore Parker Natural Area.  Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts are part of a National Franchise that has over 70 great parks in the US and Canada. For more information on the Jellystone Park in Quarryville, PA please visit their website at www.jellystonepa.com  The national website for all of the resorts is campjellystone.com.

What’s New: Jellystone has a new 40,000 sq. ft. interactive water playground and swimming/activity pool which is open daily through June 12.  Guaranteed to provide many hours of fun for your kiddies as well as the adults!  Pack your bathing suit and get ready to splash around and have some laughs at Jellystone this summer.

Woodloch Pines, Pennsylvania: Nestled in the pristine forests of the Pocono Mountains Lake Region of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Woodloch Resort is the ideal destination for family vacations, reunions, weddings and corporate retreats. Featuring a private lake and miles of beautiful scenery, this 250 acre resort is located only two and a half hours from New York City and is the perfect combination of old world charm, gracious hospitality, and modern resort conveniences.  The best of a Woodloch vacation is that your family doesn’t need to worry about paying for food and activities.  The all-inclusive packages provide three delicious meals daily, endless activities, nightly entertainment, amenities and a variety of accommodation choices from classic standard rooms, fully-furnished guest homes and waterview suites with private balconies. Family Circle Magazine recognized Woodloch as “One of the World’s Best Inclusive Resorts.”  Woodloch has also been recognized by Parents Magazine as one of the “Top Ten Best Winter Resorts.”  So, remember to keep it in mind when you’re planning a get-away during the winter months this year.

What’s New: New in 2010, Woodloch Pines will offer “A Night on the Town” Broadway-Style Theme Show and Comedian.  They resort also debuts a 28’ Rockwall for your climbing pleasure! This is sure to be a hit with the kids, as they are always up for a new adventure and challenge!

Lake George, New York:  If your Jersey Shore family is looking for a change of scenery, travel to upstate New York to this popular vacation destination located in the southern Adirondack Mountain region.  Lake George offers crystal-clear water and mountainous terrain in a beautiful and breathtaking setting.  Be sure to visit Million Dollar Beach on Lake George which is very clean and family friendly.  There are always trained lifeguards on duty.  Admission to the beach is “free” but the parking is $8 car and $3 per motorcycle. Million Dollar Beach has the best changing rooms and most “sand” of all the Lake George beaches.  There are also many other activities to keep the family busy and happy including: hot air ballooning, boat rides and cruises, fishing, golf, spa services, horseback riding, fireworks, farmers’ markets, min-golf, and parasailing.  As for lodging, your family can choose to stay in a traditional motel unit or a bed-and-breakfast if you prefer.  There are also numerous restaurants and ice cream shops to choose from throughout the area.  For more information about this family resort, check out the website lakegeorge.com.  The website is extremely informative and will provide lots of information regarding places to stay, eat, and activities for your family.

What’s New: Check out the Family Fun Festival which runs from July 5-9.  There will be many free events for the family throughout this five-day festival.  Be sure to see the Rock Band 2 Video Game Competition, the Lego and Duplo Building Contest and a Sand Castle Building Contest.

We hope Your Child Today’s “Top Nearby Family-Friendly Travel Destinations” will be a helpful resource for your family this summer.  Now that the kids have just finished school and are asking what the family will do this summer, it’s time to hit the computer and make some reservations.   Use this list to create a road trip which best suits your family.  If your kids are on the younger side, pick one of the closer spots and make it a day trip.  If you have older children, you may want to go further and spend a few days.  Whatever you choose, the most important thing is to take the time to enjoy your family and have fun making the memories that will last long after your trip is over.

PLEASE  POST YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT ANY OF THESE FAMILY- FRIEDNLY DESTINATIONS. WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS.

Lately, whenever I walk around the house, I see one.  Maybe there’s a pink princess on the family room floor, a red pizza slice on the kitchen table, or a brown baseball bat on the sink in the bathroom.  Finding them in the bathroom really drives me crazy!  If you have a child over the age of five, you know what I’m talking about.  They’re Silly Bandz!  Chances are you have lots of these colorful rubber bracelets sprinkled throughout your house, just as I do.  These slinky rubber bands which are worn around the wrist are shaped like animals, musical instruments, princesses, sea creatures, flowers and many other things.  They are the latest kids’ craze and are the main topic of conversation in schools across the country.  In fact, some schools have even banned the bracelets because teachers and administrators find them to be too distracting.

The bracelets, which are made of colorful silicone molded in different shapes, return to the original shape when taken off the arm.  Usually, kids keep them in plastic baggies they can securely close so none of their precious commodities will get lost.  Half the fun is collecting the bracelets and the other half is trading them with friends, which helps keep the trend fresh and exciting.  These transactions can take place on the school bus, on the soccer field, at the lunchroom table, or anywhere else. Here’s how it works:  One kid will take a band off her wrist, hold it up, and ask what bands other kids will trade for it.  Then the transaction occurs.  According to one of my six-year-old daughters, once the trade is made, the deal is sealed.

“The person really has to make up their mind before they trade Silly Bandz, because when you trade it, you trade it and that’s it,” says Chloe.  “You’re never going to get that Silly Band back again.”

The fad, which hit stores about a year-and-a-half ago, is the brainchild of Toledo, Ohio businessman Robert Croak.  Many different suppliers sell virtually identical bands, all with different brand names, but most kids call them all “Silly Bandz.” BCP Imports has a trademark on that name. A spokesperson for the company says the number of employees at the main office shot from about 20 a year ago to almost 70 today.  At around $5 for a 24-pack, they’re a relatively cheap collectible.  This factor definitely contributes to their staying power and popularity.  Plus, they are sold pretty much everywhere moms and kids frequent on a regular basis like supermarkets or other local stores.  Pretty convenient, huh?

Penny Chandler, a Brick mother of four, fully understands the Silly Bandz craze.  Her girls actually look forward to going to the doctor because they know they can get Silly Bandz after the appointment.

“My four daughters, ages 5, 5, 3, and 2 receive Silly Bandz at our chiropractor’s office which we visit on a regular basis,” says Chandler.  “The girls really look forward to it!  They can exchange one if they have doubles, or just simply add to their collection!  They are crazy about displaying them at the dinner table and with friends wherever we go. My youngest daughter fell a few weeks ago, and it was then that I realized just how powerful these silly bands really are!  As she sat hysterically crying in my lap, a seven-year-old young man handed her a corn dog band which made her so happy.  It was like he gave her a million dollars!  It really helped dry up all of those tears!”

Wow!  Now they are a healing mechanism!  Being able to console a kid during a crying episode is quite significant.  So, just what does this fad have that drives kids over the edge and can wipe away the tears, too? My other six-year-old daughter, Chelsea, finds it exciting and fascinating to see which bands she’ll come across every day on the school bus.

“I like Silly Bandz because you can trade them and you can get different ones,” says Chelsea who particularly likes the glow-in-the-dark bands.    “It’s cool to trade them, but it’s a little hard, too.  Some people aren’t good traders.  You have to be careful.  The people who have the most Silly Bandz usually have the best ones.  That’s who I like to trade with.”

True twins who even think alike, Chloe wholeheartedly agrees with her sister and fellow Silly Bandz buddy.

“I like Silly Bandz because they are so cool,” says Chloe who likes the princess Silly Bandz the best.  “I like to trade with the kids who have the best ones because they might have the one that you really want.  Then, once you get it, you don’t have to worry about it anymore.  I’m just so happy that I can trade Silly Bandz.”

As if the excitement wasn’t enough, now kids can trade the Silly Necklace which debuted in June.  At the moment, they are only available online at sillybandz.com.  It will be interesting to see if the Silly Necklace will enjoy as much popularity as the bracelets in the upcoming months.  There’s one thing I know for sure: the Silly Bandz bracelets are here to stay for a long time in my household.  My daughters are so obsessed with looking for new packs in the stores and then trading with their friends, that I can’t even imagine them losing interest in this new hobby anytime soon.  Just when I thought we had enough Silly Bandz to last us a lifetime, I’m hit with another desperate request:  “Mom, can we get the New York Yankees Silly Bandz?  Please?  I don’t have them and they are my favorite baseball team!  Pretty please with a cherry on top!”  How can I resist?  Guess where I’ll be tomorrow morning?