Places to Visit

CHASE HOSTS HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILIES AT JACKSONVILLE ZOO AND GARDENS

October 18, 2016 By Marijean

CHASE HOSTS HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILIES AT JACKSONVILLE ZOO AND GARDENS

Activities and giveaways for kids provided between 6:30 – 10 p.m. on Oct. 27, 28 and 29

As part of the annual Spooktacular at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens event, Chase will offer activities and giveaways for kids of all ages on the Great Lawn inside the zoo on October 27, 28 and 29 from 6:30 – 10:00 p.m.

Once inside the zoo, families can visit Chase’s free “Little Monster Masquerade” area where kids can create their very own monster mask and paper cup mummies to take home. Chase also will give each child a Halloween trick-or-treat cinch bag and glow stick and offer the opportunity to spin a prize wheel for even more fun surprises. A themed “selfie” station will be on site for kids to take memorable photos in their costumes. As part of the 2016 Spooktacular, Chase volunteers will be offering palm oil-friendly candy to kids trick-or-treating throughout the zoo during these three nights of the Spooktacular celebration.

What: At Chase’s “Little Monster Masquerade” inside the Spooktacular, kids of all ages can create and take home their very own Halloween crafts, receive a trick-or-treat cinch bag and take photos with their families.

Where: Great Lawn at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

370 Zoo Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32218

When: Thursday October 27 – Saturday October 29; 6:30 – 10:00 p.m. nightly

“Partnering with the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens on this one-of-a-kind Halloween experience is a great way to celebrate with area families,” said Steve Vachon, head of branches for Chase in Jacksonville. “Together, we are happy to be providing kids with a safe and fun entertainment option during the Spooktacular.”

Tickets for entry to the Spooktacular at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens are $7.00 for members and $9.00 for non-members from Sunday and Thursday and $12 for members and $14 for non-members Friday and Saturday and on Halloween. There is a $1.00 discount for tickets purchased online.

About Chase

Chase is the U.S. consumer and commercial banking business of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM), a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.4 trillion and operations worldwide. Chase serves nearly half of America’s households with a broad range of financial services, including personal banking, credit cards, mortgages, auto financing, investment advice, small business loans and payment processing. Customers can choose how and where they want to bank: 5,300 branches, 15,500 ATMs, mobile, online and by phone. For more information, go to Chase.com. To learn more about Chase in Jacksonville, or the addresses to our 18 local branches, visit www.chase.com.

Marijean

My name is MJ. I have two wonderful children and work part time as well as volunteer at my children's school.

Our Trip To Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains

August 23, 2016 By Heather Little

*This post was written by Blog Contributor Heather Little

Don’t get me wrong…as a Florida resident, I love living near the beach, but sometimes you just need a change of scenery. This summer, my kids asked to take a trip to the mountains, so we decided to visit Gatlinburg, Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains. The great thing about Gatlinburg is that there is something for everyone – from quaint, romantic cabins for couples to fun, family resorts and everything in between. The list of activities is just as wide-ranging. For nature lovers, there are hiking trails of all levels that take you to beautiful sights like waterfalls, mountain overlooks, meandering streams, and wildlife encounters. For the more adventurous, there are mountain coasters, the famous Ober Gatlinburg Alpine Slide and gondola ride, moonshine distilleries, a space needle, and even a few haunted houses! Downtown you will find local art and crafts stores, restaurants, homemade candy, donut, and popcorn shops, as well as other fun attractions like mountain miniature golf and the Ripley’s Aquarium.

Photo Credit: TripAdvisor.com

If you take the main road through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, be sure to stop at the visitor’s centers on both ends. Oconaluftee at the south entrance offers a historic perspective of the area and Sugarlands on the north side is a great place to stop and talk to a park ranger and discover some of the wonderful plant and animal life in the area.

Summer in the mountains is a great time visit. The trees and vegetation are lush and green and on warm days, you can enjoy a dip in one of the creeks that runs through the Smoky Mountain National Park and downtown Gatlinburg. Fall in the Smokies is famous for its beautiful colors as the leaves change, making it one of the more popular times to visit. During winter and the holiday seasons, the streets are lined with holiday lights and the entire town has a festive mood. There’s nothing quite like bundling up with a cup of hot apple cider and a warm donut on a chilly, mountain night. But no matter what time of year you decide to visit, with beautiful scenery and activities for the whole family, it’s sure to be a fun-filled trip!

Have you ever visited Gatlinburg?

Heather Little

My name is Heather Little and my husband and I have two sweet girls and one crazy dog. We moved to Florida 6 years ago and have loved every minute of it! I enjoy crafting, good food, shopping, and of course travel!

Seaworld Orlando Salutes Florida First Responders with Free Admission in August #Seaworld

August 4, 2016 By Marijean

SEAWORLD ORLANDO SALUTES FLORIDA FIRST RESPONDERS WITH FREE ADMISSION

“Thank You” Offer for First Responders Available through August

SeaWorld Orlando, Firehouse Subs and Coca-Cola are honoring Florida first responders for their bravery, sacrifice and service with a special opportunity to spend a day at the park with their families. Now through August 31, first responders can register to receive free admission to SeaWorld Orlando through September 30.

In addition to complimentary admission, qualified first responders receive up to four discounted tickets for friends and family for just $49.50 per person, a savings of 50 percent off general admission.

Qualifying first responders include:

Florida Fire Rescue First Responders
Florida EMT/EMS Employees
Florida Law Enforcement Officers
Florida 911 Dispatchers

Qualifying first responders should visit SeaWorld.com/FirehouseSubs for more information on how to register. Tickets must be used by September 30, 2016.

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment also has a tribute program called Waves of Honor. Created in 2001, the Waves of Honor military salute program provides free admission to the SeaWorld and Busch Gardensparks, and Sesame Placefor active members of U.S. armed forces and as many as three direct dependents per service member. Information on current active duty and veteran ticket offers is available at WavesOfHonor.com.

SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.

SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: SEAS) is a leading theme park and entertainment company providing experiences that matter, and inspiring guests to protect animals and the wild wonders of our world. The company is one of the world’s foremost zoological organizations and a global leader in animal welfare, training, husbandry and veterinary care. The company collectively cares for what it believes is one of the largest zoological collections in the world and has helped lead advances in the care of animals. The company also rescues and rehabilitates marine and terrestrial animals that are ill, injured, orphaned or abandoned, with the goal of returning them to the wild. The SeaWorld^® rescue team has helped more than 28,000 animals in need over the last 50 years.

SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. owns or licenses a portfolio of recognized brands including SeaWorld, Busch Gardens^® and Sea Rescue^®. Over its more than 50-year history, the company has built a diversified portfolio of 11 destination and regional theme parks that are grouped in key markets across the United States, many of which showcase its one-of-a-kind zoological collection of over 800 species of animals. The company’s theme parks feature a diverse array of rides, shows and other attractions with broad demographic appeal which deliver memorable experiences and a strong value proposition for its guests.

About Firehouse Subs
Firehouse Subs^® is a fast casual restaurant chain with a passion for Hearty and Flavorful Food, Heartfelt Service and Public Safety. Founded by brothers and former firefighters Chris Sorensen and Robin Sorensen, Firehouse Subs is a brand built on decades of fire and police service, steaming hot subs piled higher with the highest quality meats and cheeses and its commitment to saving lives through the establishment of the nonprofit, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation^®. The founders are the real deal, the food is their creation and the company is built upon a family of franchise operators who share their same passion for serving others. In 2015, Firehouse Subs made its international debut in Canada, with plans to open more than 90 locations in the Ontario market and future plans for further Canada expansion. Also, in 2015, the brand introduced its first digital loyalty rewards program, Firehouse Rewards, which allows guests to earn and redeem points for each visit through a smartphone app. Firehouse Subs is consistently recognized as a leader in the fast casual segment. For the last three years, Firehouse Subs was ranked No. 1 by Technomic’s Chain Restaurant Consumers’ Choice Awards among fast casual brands in the categories of food quality (2016), service (2015) and atmosphere (2014). Forbes recognized Firehouse Subs in 2015 as a Best Franchise to Buy.

Quick Facts:

44 states, Puerto Rico and Canada

1,000+ restaurants

$20+ million donated to public safety organizations

Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla.

Marijean

My name is MJ. I have two wonderful children and work part time as well as volunteer at my children's school.

Main Event Entertainment is Inviting Pokémon Go Players This Weekend For Pokémon Go Fun!

July 15, 2016 By Marijean

Pokémon Go continues to sweep the nation with its free, location-based game that places players virtually inside the world of Pokémon. are looking for a safe and family-friendly “Poke Stop” or “Gym”, Main Event Entertainment, the ultimate fun destination, is inviting players into all of its 28 centers this weekend for even more Pokémon fun and a free $5 Bonus FUNcard!

This Saturday, July 16 and Sunday, July 17 only, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., consumers can come to any Main Event Entertainment center and show their Pokemon Go app to receive a free $5 bonus FUNcard.

Plus, many of Main Event centers are Poke stops and will be setting lures on Saturday and Sunday, July 16 & July 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to increase the chances for guests to catch the Pokemon characters. The following Main Event Entertainment locations are designated poke stops:

Avondale, Arizona
Atlanta, Georgia
Alpharetta, Georgia
Fort Worth (South), Texas
Grapevine, Texas
Katy, Texas
Lubbock, Texas
San Antonio North, Texas
Shenandoah, Texas
Webster, Texas
Tempe, Arizona

For even more fun, customers can also enjoy Main Event’s state-of-the-art bowling, multi-level laser tag arena, 100+ interactive and virtual games, and full service restaurant and bar.

Click here to find a location near you.

Marijean

My name is MJ. I have two wonderful children and work part time as well as volunteer at my children's school.

Aquatica Orlando’s “Cool” Summer Party Returns Friday July 8th #Aquatica #IslandNights

July 7, 2016 By Marijean

Beat the Central Florida heat this summer at Aquatica®, SeaWorld’s Waterpark®. Beginning this Friday, Aquatica will offer another way to cool off with Island Nights presented by Coca-Cola®. Taking place every Friday and Saturday night through August 6, guests can enjoy an evening celebration of summer with a special Island Nights soundtrack, extended park hours, a daily happy hour from 5 p.m. to park close, an evening menu sizzlin’ with flavor at Waterstone Grill and an evening kick-off party with a DJ and dancers. Event included with park admission to Aquatica.

Summer Festivities Include:

Evening Party-As the temperature cools down, the fun kicks off. At 5 p.m., the DJ drops the first beat with a burst of water over the crowd marking the start of Island Nights. Park goers can enjoy the atmosphere all evening long with the Island Night’s dancers or enjoy the tunes broadcasted throughout the park while hitting the slides.

Extended Hours-As part of Island Nights, park guests can enjoy extended hours every Friday and Saturday night with the park closing at 8 p.m.

Happy Hour and Special Offers- After 5 p.m., select food locations in the park will offer $2 off beer and wine; and half-price Refillable Souvenir Cups.

Sizzlin’ Island Flavors- Waterstone Grill features an Island Nights exclusive menu featuring a mojo pork sandwich and pineapple burger. Banana Beach will offer Hawaiian pizza, curry meatballs and pigeon pea rice.

Ihu’s Breakaway Falls- Experience Orlando’s tallest, steepest, and only multi-drop tower slide of its kind as the sun sets across the Orlando skyline. After climbing 80 feet into the air, guests step into one of three breakaway boxes anxiously waiting to see who will drop next as part of this wild ride.

Best Way To Play:

Guests can enjoy Island Nights for just $38 when they buy their tickets in advance online, a $20 savings off of general admission. Guests can also visit both Aquatica and SeaWorld for only $99 with the Choose Your Adventure 2-parks ticket option.

New this year, guests can ride more slides and save time with Quick Queue at Aquatica. With Quick Queue, guests can skip the regular lines and enjoy front-of-the line access to six of the most popular water-slides including Ihu’s Breakaway Falls, Taumata Racer and Omaka Rocka. Quick Queue is available online for as low as $15.

From high-speed water slides and exhilarating wave pools, to tranquil beaches and remarkable animal habitats, Aquatica, SeaWorld’s Waterpark has it all. This one-of-a-kind waterpark is home to some of the world’s most thrilling water rides, featuring 42 slides, rivers and lagoons, and 84,000 square feet of sparkling white, sandy beaches and breathtaking animal exhibits.

For more information, park hours and to purchase tickets, visit AquaticaOrlando.com. Events and times are subject to change. Follow Aquatica on Facebook and Instagram for the latest Island Nights information. Join the conversation with #Aquatica and #IslandNights.