Trampoline park fun

The days of saying there is nothing to do in Port Elizabeth is long gone. Loooonnnngggg gone.  Yes, a lot of the activities on offer is going to set you back a few bucks, but it's exactly the same wherever you are in the world.  We've had to choose very carefully this summer holiday is everything does add up to quite a lot if you do something that costs money every day. Supertube, laster games, ice skating, go-carting, wall climbing, putt-putt, and, and and.  Another one of the once that we did take the KidZ to was the Gravity Indoor Trampoline Park.  We went on a "two hours for the price of one" day and if the KidZ could go longer they would have.  The trampoline park offers so many different options of trampolines from the trampoline field to eurotramp pro trampolines, dodge ball, foam pit, slam dunk, and lots more.

Laser games is back in Port Elizabeth

Remember Laser Games? Wow, we used to play so often back in the days when there was still an arena at the old tenpin bowling and game centre next to Greenacres.  It's probably been a good 20 years since they closed down there so I was very excited to see that there are laser Games back in town.  Last week we took the KidZ for a game and the moment I headed into the room with the gun in hand all those memories came flooding back.  Best of all, now I can play it with my KidZ.

If you want to give it a go, you'll find LASER HEADQUARTERS at 44 Second Avenue, Newton Park.  They are open daily from 9am to 9pm and the cost is R60 for 2 x 15 minute games. All their contact details, if you need more information, can be found on their Facebook Page - laserheadquarters.  

The Slides at MacArthur's

On Saturday Miggie had her birthday party at MacArthur Pool and the kids spent most of the day on MacArthur's slides.  Even though they really are kiddie slides, even I decided to go down once or twice... or five times.  Who's counting?

Rock hoppings at Schoenies

The coastline at Schoenmakerskop with all its rocks, pools and gullies really lends itself to exploring youngsters.  Like a free treasure hunt jungle gym exploration facility. 

Feeding the donkeys

On Saturday we stopped by the East Cape Horse Care Unit based at Animal Welfare on Victoria Drive for the first time in a while to visit the donkeys.  Naturally we took a bag of carrots along but clearly we didn't have enough.  Will have to visit again quite soon. 

"Hey, did you bring us some carrots?"

"Don't hold it so far, I can barely reach..."

Shopping Centre Train

I wonder how many shopping centres have a kiddies train that do rounds though the centre like the one at Moffet-on-Main.  Moffet-on-Main is quite a popular spot for families with small children what with the Funky Frogs kiddies play area and a coffee shop for the moms (and dads) right next door.  Whoever added the train had a stroke of genius when they did that as it means that there are always kiddies around wanting to ride on it. So if you are in the centre over weekends and hear loud music and laughter coming from behind then you need to step aside.  The train is coming.

Giraffes on the beachfront

The harbour giraffes aren't the only giraffes you see on the beachfront.  There are also twenty kiddie giraffe rides at the Kings Beach Park play area.

Snake interaction at Animals in Wonderland

Over the last couple of days I have done a few posts about the PE Geocaching community's visit to Animals in Wonderland.  The main reason for our visit was an event celebrating World Snake Day and that was also the reason Animals in Wonderland was selected as the venue for the event.  Juan and Jeru has an extensive collection of snakes and other reptiles which they use as part of their educational visits (both at their premises or yours) and parties.  We were a fairly biggish group but with enough snakes to go around, we all - or most of us as some hid in the back - got the opportunity to handle at least one of their slithering pets. 

Wallace the pig dog

We have a couple of Daxies at home who think they are people and I have a friend who has a African Grey who barks like a dog and then says "I'm not a dog".  But have you ever seen a warthog who thinks he's a dog?  Spending an afternoon at Animals in Wonderland I met Wallace the warthog... I mean Wallace the dog... No wait, Wallace the pig dog... Wallace.   

Wallace is an orphan warthog who came to Animals in Wonderland as a tiny little piglet and was hand-raised to give him a shot in life.  Now Wallace runs around with the resident dogs, sleeps on a mat in front of the bed and sits when he's told so.  He also like to have his belly rubbed like his doggy siblings. But who doesn't? 

Interesting tit bits at Animals in Wonderland

Part of the experience at Animals in Wonderland is a room full of interesting tit bits where both kids and adults can discover new and fascinating things.  Among them there is a tank with a platanna frog and one with mudskippers.  Yes, mudskippers.  Those fish that walk  (or more like hop or skip - hence the name) out onto land.  I could not believe my eyes when two of them hopped out the water and onto the adjacent mud inside their tank. In the photo the Damselfly and Mrs Blaster are discussing how much the platanna frog grosses them out.

Animals in Wonderland

Last weekend I got to visit Animals in Wonderland for the first time during a Geocaching event we had there to celebrate World Snake Day.  Animals in Wonderland is an environmental education facility located out in Greenbushes.  They're not a rescue and rehabilitation facility but rather take in animals and birds that cannot be released again although they have and will continue to rehabilitate and release any animals that can be done so.  Animals in Wonderland caters mostly for school groups and kids parties, but also offer tours on request, but this must be booked in advance.  Not just is there a range of raptors and other birds, but also a few different mammals and reptiles. And snakes. Lots of snakes.  You'll also meet Wallace the Warthog who thinks he's a dog but I'll post about him in a day or so.

The facility has three Spotted Eagle Owls.  One of them, Mia, was hand reared and forms part of the education program.  The highlight of the Damselfly's visit was having Mia sit on her arm.  

Ziplining in Addo with Chasing the Rainbow

Follow the guys of Chasing the Raibow as they go zipling along the longest duel zipline in Africa. Right here in the Sundays River Valley at Sunland near Addo.

Beachfront fun by Chasing the Rainbow

As I mentioned yesterday, although it's winter, we've had a few gloriously nice summery days which goes great with the fact that it is school holidays at the moment as well.  So in the spirit of nice weather and fun times, today's Video Friday post is one from Chasing Rainbow showing fun activities they got to do on the beachfront with the family.

Early morning robots

One of the things I like most about the school holidays is the fact that there is so much less traffic on the way to work in the mornings.  This morning I stopped at the Walmer Library to replace a Geocache that needed some maintenance and snapped a picture of a road with absolutely no traffic. Well, not a real road though but the one where the kiddies go and ride their bicycles.

Cool off on ice this summer

We had to go and do a little shopping at Baywest Mall this morning and as always stopped to watch the skaters on the ice rink.  I tried to think how long it's been since the one at the old Tramways building closed down.  20 odd years?  The folk of PE had to wait a long time to glide over the ice again and looking at how good some of the skaters are I imagine a few of them are regulars. I even noticed the other day that there is ice hockey now as well.  Great to see the locals support the facility. 

Fun with science

When it comes to fun science, everybody becomes a child.  It's no difference at the NMB Science and Technology Centre in Uitenhage.  There are so many fun and fascinating things to try.  Things like lying down on a bed of nails to just name one.  Another one that always fascinates me is the floating ball.  How do they do it?   

NMB Science Centre

Looking for something to do with the kids this holiday?  Why not head out to Uitenhage?  The town has a few worth while spots to visit to keep the kids busy at.  Start at the Cuyler Manor Museum, visit the world class VW Auto Pavilion and round the day off at the Nelson Mandela Bay Science and Technology Centre.  Although the centre really has the potential to be so much more than what it currently is, it's sure to keep kids big and small busy for a while as they try out all the marvels of science explained for kids to understand.  Plus it's all hands on. More info is available on the listing on the NMBT website.

SAMREC's Must Touch Room

One of the attractions for visitors at SAMREC is the "Must Touch Room".  It allows interaction of the visitors, especially the kids, with different aspects of the marine environment.  There are just too many things to mention here, but visitors can touch shark teeth, a dolphin skull, stuffed marine birds and mammals, play games and learn lots of interesting facts while doing this.  Other than seeing the penguins, this must be the small visitors' favorite part of their visit to SAMREC.

Happy Valley - a kids' paradise

Happy Valley is one of the real Port Elizabeth institutions.  We all went there as children and its great to be able to take our children there these days.  For the decade or so Happy Valley has had a terrible reputation and very few people ever went there.  Three or four years ago all the characters were fixed up again and this year the stolen electricity infrastructure has finally been replaced.  The characters received a new coat of paint and two security guards are on duty in Happy Valley at all times.  Happy Valley is finally "open for business" again.  This is my favourite picture from our walk up the other morning.

Drama Princess in Wonderland

One of the favourite scenes in Happy Valley is the one of Alice in Wonderland.  Drama Princess decided to head down the rabbit hole, chomped on a biscuit and drank a potion before going to hang out with the Cheshire Cat.