Our Day Out at the Geronimo Festival 2017

Arley Hall is the beautiful setting for this year's Geronimo Festival. The festival is running across this bank holiday weekend, and we visited today and had an absolutely amazing time. I'd go as far to say that this is the best Geronimo Festival yet! Freddy had a day filled with some incredible experiences and activities where he learned new skills, tested his nerve and had a huge amount of fun.

Animal encounters form a big part of the Geronimites' day. Little ones can meet exotic reptiles with Ranger Rob and learn about them in a hands on wildlife experience. Freddy and Kezia held a huge black and white lizard, which was stunningly beautiful. The Parrotman is there with a collection of colourful birds while The Feathery Folk have a selection of beautiful birds of prey for children to learn about. The Giant Tortoises are just wonderful and we loved petting them in their enclosure. Freddy rode on Geronimo the Donkey! We also saw some shows in the arena with horses and there were sheep for little ones to meet. Add to this the performing T-Rex, Bear's Big Bear Hunt and a host of weird and wonderful animal models and puppets, and kids are in for a wild time!

Arley Hall is in a gorgeous estate, surrounded by trees and fields giving the festival the most perfect venue. The colourful tents and decorations across the festival ground make Geronimo a wonderland for families, where there is so much to see, do and explore. There is a main stage where stars of CBeebies and other kid friendly acts perform. There are two circuses and also a main arena where you can watch knights on horseback, a stunt show and BMX riders. There is also a theatre zone where you can take in a show or you can go and listen to some magical storytelling.

If you prefer getting hands on there are plenty of craft activities to do, a funky junk workshop or a Play Doh area. There is music and dancing and lessons where you can have a go at playing a musical instrument. However your family likes to have fun, Geronimo has something to keep you happily entertained.

Freddy's favourite activities are the high adrenaline ones. He learned some trapeze skills, did archery, threw axes and fired a crossbow. He scaled a climbing wall, went caving in an interactive, replica caving trailer, had a go on the Ace inflatable obstacle course and zipped down the Skyfall zipwire. Freddy also learned how to fence and did some pretty impressive parkour over obstacles.  His favourite thing was The Air Bag, which saw him jumping from a high platform and landing on an inflatable crash mat. He was like a proper little stuntman!

There is absolutely loads of fun things to do at Geronimo. We missed so much that we are going back tomorrow to do the rest. Freddy really had a great time today, and speaking to other mums and also to my sister who came with her two little ones, the general consensus is that this year's Geronimo is a really fantastic family day out. With so many things included in the entry price, it's really good value. (The funfair costs extra, but with everything going on, Freddy didn't even have the time to ask to ride the carousel!)

There is still two days of Geronimo to go. Find out more at http://www.geronimofest.com.

The Launch of YouTube Kids - a safer place for kids to watch online videos #YouTubeKids

Yesterday, we spent the day at London Zoo to celebrate the recent UK and Ireland launch of the new YouTube Kids app. We had been trying out the YouTube Kids app for a few days beforehand with 6 year old Freddy, and were excited to spend the day with the YouTube team along with some favourite TV characters and some real life animals from the zoo.

The YouTube Kids app is a bright and colourful, kid-friendly version of YouTube for tablets and smart phones, available for free from Google Play or the App Store. With access to videos featuring nursery rhymes and songs, educational videos on topics such as maths, science and space as well as TV favourites such as Peppa Pig, Morph, Talking Tom, Postman Pat, Thomas and the Octonauts, there are countless hours of quality videos available. With large images and bold icons it is easy for little ones to navigate, allowing them to safely search and explore exciting content to entertain and educate them. An impressive voice search feature allows children to search for their favourite characters and shows, allowing independence and giving them access to a world of possibilities.

Content is listed in four categories: Shows, Music, Learning and Explore, bringing a host of family-friendly entertainment into an easy to browse format. Children can browse channels and playlists or search for something of particular interest to them.

Freddy loves being able to access his favourite videos and search for things that interest him such as Minecraft, Annoying Orange and Battle for Dream Island! He even did a search on London Zoo, the night before we attended the event, so he knew what to expect. As a parent, I am confident that he won't accidentally stumble across anything inappropriate (such as the 18 rated, expletive ridden, dubbed episode of Dora the Explorer we found him watching at age 3!) The platform is safe, age appropriate and, as it doesn't need the child to have an account, allows them to have a logged out experience free from the dangers of interacting with strangers online.

The YouTube Kids app has built in parental controls allowing the grown-ups to take charge of their child's experience by controlling broader search settings or using a built in timer to limit a child's screen time. As no platform can be guaranteed 100% perfect, there is an option to flag up anything that may concern you, making YouTube Kids safer for everyone. YouTube Kids can also be viewed on the TV using a Chromecast, Apple TV, games console or a smart TV, so the whole family can watch together.

The event at London Zoo was every bit as bright, bold, colourful, interactive and entertaining as the app itself!  Ian and I, along with Freddy, Megan and Kezia arrived at the zoo early and spent a lovely hour wandering around the Bug House and the Penguins before checking in to the event itself. The venue had been transformed into a child-friendly wonderland with a wild animal theme, which was so inviting and exciting for the little ones. We were spoiled with some delicious food, given marvelous animal make-up and kept well and truly entertained.

Freddy absolutely loved taking part in all the activities. He met reindeer, a llama, meerkats, an armadillo and an owl in up close animal encounters. He met and hugged Postman Pat, Talking Tom & Ginger and Captain Barnacles. He had his face painted with an incredible tiger design and dressed up in a tiger costume. He played in an Octanauts themed ball pond, challenged his dad to a game of Hungry Hippos, played with some great cuddly toy animals, sat in the musical singing bus, enjoyed some really fabulous food and of course played on the YouTube Kids app on the special iPads. It was a brilliant family friendly event!

The YouTube Kids app is designed for children between 3 and 8 years old, providing a safe online experience with rich content especially for younger viewers. It is fun to use and easy to navigate. I am really impressed with the app and love that Freddy can explore video content independently online, discovering new shows, learning new things and accessing videos on topics that interest him safely. It is great for when we are out and about, visiting grandparents or away for the night, guaranteeing that he has something fun to watch to keep him entertained whenever needed. I applaud YouTube for creating such an exciting and interactive app that kids will not only love using, but will also help keep them safer online, protecting them from viewing inappropriate content.

Paradise Wildlife Park - Snoozzze at the Zoo Review

Paradise Wildlife Park is a zoo set in the heart of the Hertfordshire countryside.  It is home to over 400 animals living in enclosures within the landscaped grounds.  Glass windows, viewing platforms and high walkways offer guests brilliant views of the animals, who are all very happy, healthy and well cared for.

We were invited along to enjoy a VIP experience at Paradise Wildlife Park, staying in one of their amazing onsite apartments for a Snoozzze at the Zoo! 

It was a three hour drive to PWP from our home in Shropshire.  We arrived at the Discovery Centre where we were given some much appreciated hot chocolates and biscuits and were briefed about our stay.  We were given our VIP wristbands and shown to our apartment, which was absolutely brilliant.  The Zebra Apartment was spacious, bright and airy and spotlessly clean.  The apartment is decorated using zebra print accessories including rugs, cushions, bed covers, headboards, canvas artwork and an armchair. The apartment sleeps up to 8 people.

There are two bedrooms, one twin and a double with very comfy beds, fluffy pillows, thick duvets and crisp white bed linen.  Both have a dressing table and a wall mounted TV.  A hairdryer is included in the double room.  The bathroom is huge with a large walk-in shower and plenty of fluffy, white towels.  Complimentary toiletries are included.  A kitchenette area includes a microwave, a fridge and coffee making facilities.  There is also a good supply of crockery and cutlery in the cupboards.  A utility cupboard includes an iron and ironing board and extra bed linen if you need to make up the sofa beds in the lounge area.  There is a big TV on the wall in the lounge which has lots of Freeview channels, there is also a DVD player and a selection of family films to watch.  The design and the specification of the apartment is impressive and we were all incredibly impressed.

                                  

The VIP wristbands granted us unlimited access to the zoo during opening hours plus gave us some extra perks such as a free train ride, free food pot and a round of mini golf.  Unfortunately, the St.Jude hurricane had uprooted some trees the night before we arrived, one of which had damaged the golf course so this was out of bounds.  A team was hard at work fixing the damage.  They were also working hard to keep the pathways clear of fallen leaves.  The post-storm weather for the days we were there was glorious, autumnal and crisp with clear blue skies.  We were very lucky.

There are a lot of play areas for the kids.  Slides, swings, playhouses, ride on toys, giant building bricks and a sandpit allow little ones to let off steam.  Regular keeper talks and shows on the central stage keep everyone entertained.  Halloween activities are taking place this half term and Freddy enjoyed watching four dancers lip synch and dance to some spooky songs while dressed in Halloween costumes!  There was a magician who made balloon models on afterwards.  A soft play area gives children an all weather play area to enjoy, while parents keep an eye on them.  PWP is also home to the National Speedway Museum.

 Freddy really loved the play equipment and his favourite was an old 60's Dennis Fire Engine that had been converted into a wonderful play thing. Freddy pretended he was a fireman, driving the engine and rushing to put out fires.  He also loved the old Gypsy Caravan which was over 100 years old and had been adapted with a slide coming out the back. Both demonstarte an inventive use of old vehicles giving them a new lease of life.

The Woodland Train is a little ride that goes on tracks through the woods where you can see model dinosaurs.  All the children onboard were very excited by it and some even screamed as we went past the T-Rex!  It costs £1 to ride the train, but it is free to VIPs.

But the star attraction of Paradise Wildlife Park is the animals!  From farmyard friends to the big cat collection to the penguin colony, all the animals were active and happy, keeping the guests entertained with their antics.  A Rainforest enclosure, Bat House and a Reptile Temple made interesting exhibits for smaller animals.  The zoo is home is the UK's biggest snake, a green anaconda called Optimus Prime.  He was huge! We loved the zebras who were gorgeous, and the rare White Lion family was a joy to behold.  Ares the Jaguar was a real hit as he stared at us through the mesh cage.  He was a powerful and beautiful creature.  We also saw wolves, lemurs, gibbons, meerkats, reindeer, camels, wallabies, tapir and some gorgeous red pandas among others.  I was surprised at how close up many of the animals were, and we all enjoyed being able to get a good view of them in their enclosures.  They are definitely the most human-friendly zoo animals I have encountered.

We enjoyed our evening in the apartment.  Once the zoo is closed, apartment guests have access to a back gate so they can go offsite to visit a restaurant for their evening meal.  The key fob activates the electric fence on your return.  We got ourselves a bit lost, but thankfully we had the phone number of a member of staff who is on call to guest who guided us home and then checked up on us later to see if we were OK.  Great service indeed!

The apartment was surprisingly quiet and peaceful overnight, but the gibbons sounded dawn chorus providing a wonderfully exotic alarm call in the morning!  Perfect.

Apartment guests are treated to an exclusive VIP breakfast at the Tiger Treetops restaurant in the morning.  Walking through the zoo before its official opening time afforded us an incredible view of the big cats who were as interested in us as we were in them. The restaurant is up a walkway overlooking the Amur Tiger enclosure where three gorgeous tigers live including Rocky the big male tiger. We were shown to a beautifully laid table and enjoyed a continental buffet breakfast while the tigers wandered around just a few feet from where we were sat.  It was quite an experience!  The waitress was attentive and friendly.

As we finished eating, the big cat keeper popped in and told us about the animals.  His passion, enthusiasm and knowledge was incredible.  He loved the animals he cared for and it came across loud and clear.  Another member of the team then took us on a guided tour of some of the areas of the zoo, and again his passion for his job came through.  We learned lots of interesting facts about the zoo, the animals, conservation and breeding programmes.  It is clear how much the employees of the zoo love what they do and the staff are all friendly, open and happy to chat to guests about the animals.

A part of this tour included a hands on animal encounter.  My girls absolutely loved this part of the day as they got to handle a Royal Python, Bearded Dragon and Gecko.  Freddy wasn't prepared to hold anything but was very interested albeit wary!  I fell in love with a Gecko.  It was so soft, almost velvety and sat happily in my hand while I admired his beautiful markings.  We also got to see some animal artifacts including a huge elephant tusk that had been confiscated by customs officers.  It was educational and an amazing opportunity that we all felt so lucky to have.  Unfortunately the unusual Tenrec was too grumpy to handle, but we got to look at this unusual creature in his house.  He looked like a cross between a mole and a hedgehog, but is actually related to an elephant!  A very strange little fella indeed.

  The zoo staff couldn't have been more friendly or helpful.  The facilities are good and there is a range of restaurants and kiosks for food.  There are vegetarian options available, so we had veggie burgers with chips and side salad  for our lunch which were pretty good and priced at £6.95.  Kids' lunch boxes are also available and Freddy enjoyed his cheese sandwich, drink, chocolate biscuits, apple and crisps which cost £4.95. There is ample seating throughout the park, and areas where you can enjoy picnics if you bring your own food to eat.

 Having the apartment on site is a real bonus when you have kids with you as you can access it throughout the day if you need a rest, a toilet stop or want to pick up or drop off something.  The Snoozzze at the Zoo VIP package is an excellent way to celebrate a special occasion in a never-to-be-forgotten, once-in-a-lifetime way. 

                            

The VIP Snoozzze at the Zoo package staying in the Zebra Apartment costs from £599.

• A fantastic and rare opportunity to stay over night at the animal park and experience the atmosphere and sounds of the wild as the sun goes down.
• Enjoy a sumptuous continental style breakfast whilst taking in the breathtaking images of the tigers from Tiger Treetops restaurant. It's almost as if they are dining with you! (served between 8:30-9:30am).
• Plus 2 whole days for you to enjoy and experience everything that Paradise Wildlife Park has to offer including the animal park, attractions & shows from 9.30am until closing time.
• Plus animal feed bags to hand feed some of our animals with their favourite treats.
• Plus a round of Safari Golf on the superb 18 hole course.
• Plus a ride on the Woodland Railway.
• Plus a fantastic opportunity to get hands on with some of "cute and cuddly" animal friends while an experienced and knowledgable animal team member gives you a guided tour of the animal park. Purely for apartment guests only! (9:30am - 10:30am)
• Plus VIP wrist bands for both days of your stay.
• Information pack which includes a local map highlighting locations of some of our favourite local restaurants, cinema, shopping centers etc.

Find out more about Paradise Wildlife Park and the Snoozzze at the Zoo packages on the website.  Plus discover details of PWP's extensive range of Animal Encounters, Experience Days, Zookeeper Experiences and Tours.

www.pwpark.com

We were invited to enjoy the Snoozzze at the Zoo experience for the purpose of this review but no additional costs were met nor payment received.