Windsor Playland Safari is Family Fun
Windsor Playland Safari is Family Fun
Disclosure: Our family received a free bracelet and lunch in exchange for this blog post about Windsor Playland Safari Park! We love this theme park and wanted to share it with our readers. All opinions are our own.
If you want a great day of family fun at a theme park, you don’t need to go far! Just check out Windsor Playland Safari Park!
Overview
For an overview of the park and everything it has to offer, check out my video.
Mini Golf
Windsor Playland has a full 18-round of mini golf.
They also have mini golf, pool! I have never seen this before! But, get four people together and come try it out!
Go Karts
This might have been the highlight of the day!
Grab a helmet (with a hair net) and get buckled in! There are staff around to teach any newbies what to do.
There is a full track, and it’s tons of fun to whip around the course!
Word of advice: Talk to your kids about shoulder checks and lane changes!
What a fun way to feel the speed!
There are also Fast Go-Karts available for those 16+. I can’t imagine going faster than we did, but if you are well practiced, this is another option!
Regulations
There are no height restrictions. They have cushions to help children reach the pedals. It is mostly about the comfort of the child.
Closed toed shoes are always safest, but not a requirement.
Waterslides
“I LOVE IT!”
When we were there, a 3-year-old boy went down the waterslide with his grandmother for the first time. He shrieked with delight when they got to the bottom and couldn’t wait to go again!
I know how he feels. We love the waterslides here, and have come almost every year for our son’s summertime birthday.
I like the waterslide because my head doesn’t go underwater at the end, and it’s fast and fun!
Regulations
There is no height restriction on the slide. This makes it even more of a family-friendly place to visit.
For children who are too small, a parent can go down with them.
Life jackets are available to borrow on a first-come first-served basis.
They also have Little Swimmer diapers and extra towels on hand if you need one of those, too!
There are life guards on duty, so I can also sit by the pool and read my book, or have a nap, and I know my kids are safe!
Canteen
There is a full canteen onsite. There is everything to make a kid happy from burgers to chicken fingers, hot dogs and fries. There are lots of drinks, candy and cotton candy!
It’s wonderful that you don’t even have to leave the premises for a full day of family fun!
There are tons of picnic tables with shade for you to sit outside to eat.
Coming Soon: RC Race Track
Windsor Playland is just putting the finishing touches on the remote control car raceway! It will be open in the 2018 season.
You will be able to rent an RC car or pay a nominal fee to bring your own!
Prices and Hours
Hours and prices are subject to change.
Open Daily
Go Carts and Mini Putt
10 am to 8 pm
Water slide & Pool: Noon – 6pm
Canteen: 11 am – 8 pm
We highly recommend the all-day bracelet for $25 (STC) that comes with a round of mini golf, 5 laps on the Go Karts, and all you can use waterslides and pool! It’s a great deal!
And, if you come on a Tuesday and buy 4 bracelets, you will get a 15% discount! (STC)
Learn more about hours and prices here.
Anniversary Celebration: August 4, 2018
Join us in celebrating our 1st Anniversary! There will be half price waterslide as well as lots of fun for free. We will have an amazing magician show, face painting, free cake, and lots of amazing door prizes.
More information about the celebration here.
Location
Windsor Playland is located right off Highway 101 at Exit 5a.
Overall
Windsor Playland Safari Park is now under new management. They have spent a lot of time, effort and money upgrading the park! It’s freshly painted and upgraded and looks wonderful!
It’s time to come to give Windsor Playland a chance to show that you can have an awesome day of family fun right here in the Valley!
PEI Preserve Company and the Gardens of Hope
PEI Preserve Company and the Gardens of Hope
One of my all-time favourite places to visit is the PEI Preserve Company in New Glasgow, PEI.
And, It’s not just because our dear friend Cynthia works there, and we get to have a mini visit when we go in!
I love the setting, the gardens, and not to mention the jam!
PEI Preserve Company is a Handcrafted Food & Tea & English Fine Bone China Shop in the heart of one of Canada’s prettiest villages.
The Preserves
When you go into the shop, there is a whole table full of samples you can try! You can experience some of their unique creations like strawberry grand marnier, and raspberry jam made with champagne! You might just fall in love with a new flavour once you try it!
You can also watch them making the preserves through the open window. Nothing was on tap the day we were there, but you can just imagine!
The Cafe
On site is a beautiful cafe that is open from July to October (subject to change). There are beautiful views of the river and surrounding gardens.
Although I went with my mom, I would definitely go with the kids, too, and there is a kids’ menu with lots of things to choose from.
The food was outsandingly delicious!
Check out their famous potato salad, or enjoy nachos and their in-house salsa (which you can buy in the shop, too!)
Gardens of Hope
Next to the Preserve Company is the Gardens of hope, built on 12 acres along the hills and shorelines of the River Clyde. The sanctuary contains a variety of pathways, outlooks and structures designed to capture nature’s beauty!
The gardens are so whimsical, you never know what you are going to find!
With all the pathways to explore, and so many hidden treasures, it makes the perfect place for kids to run around and explore.
There are also plenty of benches and shady gazebos to sit and enjoy the views.
Entrance to the garden is by freewill donation.
At the top of the hill, there is a butterfly house. There is an admission fee to this part only. Subject to change.
Our favourite part of the gardens is the Magical Forest, where you will find windows to your imagination and have fun exploring the magical path!
Oh, and there are sheep!
So, the next time you are in New Glasgow PEI, you need to stop in to check out the PEI Preserve Company and the accompanying Gardens of Hope! Sample some jam, check out the cafe, and walk through the gardens. It makes the perfect outing!
Find out more about the PEI Preserve Company and Gardens of Hope and their opening hours.
While You’re in the Area
Head across the street to the famous New Glasgow lobster suppers!
In the same area, you will find the best toy store – The Toy Factory. At the back, children can help make their own wooden toys and have their name engraved on it, while in the front is every toy imaginable!
New Glasgow, PEI makes for great family fun!
Uncommon Common Art is great family fun!
Uncommon Common Art is Great Family Fun!
Since he was about 4 years old, Thomas (10) has been obsessed with the Uncommon Common Art program.
He loves it so much, that I decided to write about our experiences in hopes that some others will go out and enjoy it, too!
Here’s what the website says:
Uncommon Common Art (UCA) is a community wide art exhibit that highlights two of Kings County’s greatest assets – the natural beauty of the Minas Basin Valley and the abundance of creative people who live in the area.
his innovative seasonal project brings visual art out of institutions and galleries and shares it directly with the community, making it accessible to everyone. UCA was born out of a simple observation of the sometimes subtle and beautiful impact that humans have on nature. While we are inundated with news and information about mankind’s negative impact on our natural surroundings, this project promotes and recognizes our creative and beautiful touches in nature.
Through this project we hope to engage and educate about art, environment, physical activity, and our rural community. In addition we seek to promote, support, and bring together artists and their work.
How Uncommon Common Art Works
There are usually 17 art installations all over Kings County that are out between June and October.
Pick up your booklet at a visitor information centre, or some of the local cafes may have them, too.
Inside the booklet, there is a map showing where all the installations are located. Each page has more information and directions on how to get to each piece.
Once you get there, there is a sign board explaining the installation.
At the bottom of the sign, there is a raised number. Do a rubbing at the back of your booklet, over top of the corresponding number.
Once you have seen all of the installations, there are instructions as how to send in your ballot for a monthly prize draw!
Why We Love Uncommon Common Art
Thomas loves maps, and he loves numbers. When he was 4, he kept the map for the Uncommon Common Art exhibits in his car seat cup holder. He could tell you every number and what exhibit it was, without looking. He still can from previous years.
To him, it’s like a big scavenger hunt. He loves the joy of finding the art in a public place, and he loves crossing them off his list.
Every year he has his favourites, and sometimes we go back to see them a few times!
We get to drive around the countryside, explore new places, and talk about the meaning of the art.
Uncommon Common Art Events
There are great programs offered through Uncommon Common Art from summer camps, workshops and weekly artists talks.
Check the website for details on these events.
You can also support the program through the Eye Candy Machines. Buy a token and, like a gumball machine, you will receive a piece of art from one of the artists, from the machine!
Whether you are ambitious and try to see them all, or even take in a few near you, please go out and support this great program. It’s free, so take advantage!
You may be inspired to make some of your own art!
Learn more about Uncommon Common Art
Hiking Trails at Smileys Provincial Park
Hiking Trails at Smileys Provincial Park
Our family spends a lot of time at Smileys Provincial Park. Although we have never camped there (we have lots of friends who have), we enjoy going there for picnics.
We often have a picnic in the open area with the playground. Or, sometimes down by the bride. The river there is shallow and makes a great place for the kids to cool off.
While everyone was cooling off, I decided to go check out the hiking trail. Although I had been here dozens of times, I had never hiked the trail.
A short hiking trail is tucked away in the far corner of Smiley’s provincial Park.
The trail itself is mostly hard packed gravel and has slight elevation changes as it meanders through an evergreen forest. To get to the start of the trail, you will walk through a towering tunnel of maple trees (near the children’s play park) as well as by a good example of a gypsum outcrop with a gnarly pine growing right over it.
The Route
I like maps, so I made sure I had a screen shot of the map from the website with me all times, since the trail really isn’t labeled.
There are several off-shoots heading to various parts of the campground, so technically, each time you walked it, you could go a slightly different way.
Directions to the Trail
You don’t need to pay admission to go into the park as a day visitor.
Go through the park, past the playground and picnic area. Continue through to the campground.
At the tree, bear right.
At the top of the hill, there is a large field with swings at the back.
Cut through the field to the sign marked HIKING TRAIL at the back.
Throughout the trail there are Orange squares you can follow, to keep you on the right path. Several times, the trail has off-shoot paths that will take you into the campground. Each time, try a different one!
I followed the orange squares and veered to the left.
I went around gypsum ponds, by fields, and through an old-growth forest. It was really beautiful and quiet in the woods!
I came out in another section of the campground, near the public showers.
The loop was about 1km and took about 10 to 15 minutes to complete.
It was definitely an added bonus to our trip to Smileys Park!
Directions
Smileys Provincial Park is located past Windsor towards the Rawdon Hills.
The next time you are looking for an outing, check out Smileys Provincial Park for a picnic, swim and a hike! 
Five Islands Provincial Park Camping and Hiking Trails
Five Islands Provincial Park Camping and Hiking Trails
Thanks to our son, we went camping at Five Islands Provincial Park.
All grade 4 students are given two nights free stay at a provincial park in Nova Scotia. When Daniel was in Grade 4, we went to Dollar Lake Provincial Park near the airport.
Five Islands Provincial Park has always been on my list to explore, so we headed there to check it out!
Five Islands is perhaps best known as the setting for the famous Kluskap story where Kluskap tries to drive away Giant Beaver by throwing five great sods of mud into the bay, thus creating the islands.
We booked a site online before we got there. Although the site shows some pictures, it is hard to tell exactly what you are getting.
We ended up with a serviced site with a phenomenal view of the Minas Basin which led to beautiful sunsets.
There isn’t much shade at any of the sites, but there is a great breeze off the water at night.
It was really fun looking across the Minas Basin and seeing Cape Split and Blomidon from the “back side”.
The boys were excited because just last month they had a private flight where they flew over Cape Split and the Five Islands!
Beach Combing
You can access the beach from the public-use area. During high tide, you can swim at the beach.
During low tide, you can walk the shore to explore the rock formations.
Hiking
There are a few hiking trails that are accessible to non-campers, and some that can be walked off season when the main park is closed.
Trail Maps for Five Islands Here.
We combined the Estuary Trail with the Economy Mountain Trail to make an approximate 7 km hike.
They call this area Economy Mountain for a reason. Most of the trail is up and down the mountainous area, making for steep hills. Combined with the many roots and narrow paths, the trail is not suitable for strollers, or small children.
Despite this, the trails were lovely through different types of forests.
We also hiked the Red Head Trail. Downhill to the end, the trail offered beautiful viewpoints.
This campground would make a great launching point for visiting the Parrsboro shore and surrounding area, rather than spending the entire time in the park itself.
There is a lot of things to do along the shore. Check out our blog post:
Do take time to explore Five Islands and surrounding area!
Basin Head Provincial Park and Singing Sands Beach, PEI
Basin Head Provincial Park and Singing Sands Beach, PEI
If your friend told you to jump off a bridge, would you do it?
Yes! If you were at Basin Head Provincial Park in PEI!
We were tipped off to the beach by a friend of our from PEI! Once we heard about it, we knew we had to go!
About Basin Head Provincial Park
Basin Head Beach is located off route 16, east of the town of Souris on the way to the most Eastern tip of PEI.
Basin Head beach itself extends NE for many kilometers lending itself to long walks, beach combing and solitude. The water is warm during the summer months and the sand is fine. Called the “singing sands” since the sand squeaks when you walk on it.
The Bridge
The bridge is the best feature of the provincial park!
Jumping off the bridge is the highlight of the trip to the park. The water is deep enough to jump, and the area is surrounded by lifeguards, making it safe to jump, if only you are brave enough!
The current here is actually pretty strong, so after you jump, you are pushed along, and can swim to the edge of the wharf where you can climb up the ladder and repeat the process.
Or, so I’m told.
I didn’t actually jump! But, I heard it was fun!
The Facilities
Basin Head is a day use park featuring a supervised white sand beach, play area, food on site, washroom and shower facilities.
Dogs are allowed on the beach but have to be on leash.
The park is also home to the Basin Head Fisheries Museum which is dedicated to maintaining the history of fisheries in that area and is also a Federal Marine Protected area due unique flora and fauna only found there.
The beach is gorgeous and you can watch the ferry come and go for the Magdalen Islands!
Directions
Basin Head Provincial Park is located at the Eastern end of the Island, about 50 minutes from Charlottetown.
Next time you are looking for a fun beach to visit, check out the Basin Head Provincial Park in Eastern PEI!
And, go tell your friends to jump off a bridge!
