Last week, CN Tower made an exciting announcement. In what will be the most thrilling attraction Toronto has ever seen, EdgeWalk, the first of its kind in North America, will open August 1, 2011. As the world’s highest full circle hands-free walk on a 5 ft  wide ledge encircling the top of the CN Tower’s main pod, 356m, (1168 ft , 116 stories) above the ground, this thrilling experience will offer an adrenalin-fueled rush like none other.

“We think it’s fitting that Toronto’s newest attraction in 18 years should be at the city’s most defining landmark,” said Mark Laroche, President and CEO, Canada Lands Company, Owner and Operator of the CN Tower. “EdgeWalk is both thrilling and unique and will push visitors to their limits – literally and figuratively. This will be among Toronto’s, if not the world’s, greatest attractions.”

“During our 35th anniversary year we are excited to introduce visitors to the most exciting attraction in our history,” said Jack Robinson, COO, CN Tower. “We’re extremely proud of the records the CN Tower has held throughout the years, including our strong safety record.  Our facilities and engineering team supervised the EdgeWalk project design and build to ensure that it is both exciting and safe.”

Groups of six to eight people will be able to walk “hands-free” along the edge of the tower while attached to an overhead safety rail via trolley and harness system. If you’ve ever visited CN Tower, you’ll understand just how HIGH and how extreme this experience is!

For more information on the EdgeWalk, please visit my original coverage of the attraction at Traveling Mom.

Photo Credit & rendering courtesy of CN Tower

Exciting news for families! The world’s largest LEGOLAND park in Florida has revealed their official opening date.

Since the information on the park broke ground last year, park officials have been keeping the date top secret. This new 150-acre theme park witll cater to kids ages 2 to 12 offering more than family focused shows and attractions as well as 50 “pink-knuckle” rides from race cars to roller coasters.

“I’d estimate 80 percent of the inquiries we’ve received have been about our opening date,” said LEGOLAND Florida sales manager Todd Andrus. “Guests are all but begging to know the date, so they can book their flights and accommodations, and purchase admission tickets.”

So, what’s the date? LEGOLAND Florida will officially open: Saturday, October 15, 2011.

The park also unveiled a new online reservations program to make the vacation booking experience even easier.

For more information please visit www.LEGOLAND.com.

Photo Credit: LEGOLAND

We featured a sneak peak into the new Wizarding World Of Harry Potter last month, however the opening date wasn’t yet finalized. Now, not only has Universal Orlando Resort revealed the opening date (June 18th), they have also given us some exciting details into this highly anticipated attraction!

What is expected to be one the most exciting theme park experiences ever created:  Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, will be one of the three themed attractions within the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The other two will include the Flight of the Hippogriff and Dragon Challenge.

The revolutionary 360-degree theme park experience offers the first-ever combination of live-action, advanced robotic technology and innovative filmmaking – specially designed and developed for this brand-new adventure.

A newly created ride system envelops guests in filmed action scenes and moves those scenes with them as they travel through the ride, allowing more time in the center of the adventure and with their favorite characters.  This fusion of robotic technology and filmed scenes has never been achieved until now.  In some cases, the technology used was invented specifically to achieve the highest level of guest experience.

The Adventure

Imagine…
…meeting Harry, Ron and Hermione as if they were in person
…soaring over Hogwarts castle with Harry
…being swept into a Quidditch match
…feeling the chilling effect of a Dementor
…exploring your favorite places inside Hogwarts castle
…living adventures you’ve only been able to imagine – until now.

The Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey experience starts as soon as you walk through the gates of Hogwarts.  Within the towering Hogwarts castle, you explore a truly magical place. You journey through iconic locations taken from the films and take in the extraordinary detail of each scene.  They include:

Dumbledore’s office: Here, you meet the Headmaster as he welcomes you to Hogwarts.

Hagrid’s Hut

Room of Requirement: Here, with hundreds of floating candles above, you take your seat on an enchanted bench and begin the Forbidden Journey.

In the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, you first meet Harry, Ron and Hermione and in the Gryffindor common room, you meet three additional characters who prepare you for your journey.

Other locations: In addition, guests will pass through the Dungeon passageway and hallways of Hogwarts where they will have the chance to see hundreds of wizard portraits from the films, including several magical talking portraits created exclusively for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, including the four founders of Hogwarts. Guests will even get a glimpse of the Sorting Hat.

For the latest news about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, visit www.UniversalOrlando.com.

Photos: Universal Orlando Resort

Harry Potter film stars James and Oliver Phelps, who play Fred and George Weasley in the Harry Potter series, attended the opening of Harry Potter: The Exhibition at its exclusive Canadian venue, the Ontario Science Centre, last Thursday (April 8).

Located in a 1,300 square metre exhibit space, this cool new exhibition offers an inside look at the magical world of Harry Potter, allowing families to experience first-hand the amazing craftsmanship of hundreds of authentic props and costumes from the Harry Potter films.

Some of the artifacts include: Professor Snape’s robes; Professor Trelawney’s crystal ball and exotic wardrobe; costumes and props from Professors Lupin™, Lockhart™ and Umbridge™; props and artifacts from the Yule Ball. Immersive settings from the film sets such as the Great Hall, Hagrid’s Hut and the Gryffindor™ common room can be found at the exhibit as well as costumes from characters such as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and Professor Dumbledore™.

Children will be able to experience activities only available at the famed Hogwarts such as pulling a screaming mandrake from its pot or tossing a Quaffle through a Quidditch™ goalpost.

The exhibition will be on view until Sunday, August 22, 2010 and admission – which includes general admission to the Science Centre’s exhibition halls, is $27.50 for adults; $23.50 for seniors and youth (ages 65+ and 13-17); $20.00 for children (ages 4-12). For Ontario Science Centre members, admission is $14 for adults; $12 for seniors and youth; and $10 for children.

Tickets are now available online at www.OntarioScienceCentre.ca, by calling 416-696-1000, or by visiting the box office.

Photo Credit: Warner Brothers and Ontario Science Centre

America’s oldest conservation and recreation organization, the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) is offering 12 Family Adventure Camps throughout July and August.

Adventures including fly fishing the AMC’s 66,500-acre Maine Woods conservation land, remote canoeing, exploring the summit of Mt. Washington, hut hiking along the Appalachian Trail and rafting on the Androscoggin River. Guided activities will include easy-to-moderate hikes and hands-on naturalist programs such as pond studies, forest ecology, and wildlife watching. 

AMC Family Adventure Camps are a great fit for kids ages 5-12 and are based at four AMC lodges in New Hampshire’s White Mountains and Maine’s Moosehead Lake Region, each of which offer access to local trail networks and ponds. Camps at both lodges spend an overnight stay at one of three different AMC huts.

“Families with younger kids can opt for lower-elevation Zealand Falls Hut or Lonesome Lake Hut, and older or more experienced families can take a moderately challenging hike to Mizpah Spring Hut, located just below tree-line.”

All-inclusive package rates vary by location and start at $590 for adult non-members and include five-nights’ accommodation, all meals (dinner includes fresh baked bread, soup, salad, entree, and dessert), and guided programs and instruction. At Highland Lodge, guests also have free use of the L.L. Bean gear room.

Child rates apply to ages 12 and under and start at $350 per child. 
AMC members receive discounted rates.

Visit Appalachian Mountain Club for schedules, dates and details. To make reservations call (603) 466-2727.

In celebration of the American Girls doll store opening in Colorado, Denver-area hotels will be offering promotional packages that include a bed for the famous dolls. The Hotel Monaco Denver, Westin Tabor Center and the Embassy Suites Denver Tech Center are  among the hotels offering the pint-sized beds.

On Saturday April 3, 2010, American Girl Brands will be opening the doors to its 8,500-square-foot store in the new Vistas outdoor retail area of the Park Meadows mall in Lone Tree. The Denver Business Journal reports, it will be the eighth U.S. retail American Girls outlet. In addition to carrying the full line of American Girl books, dolls, outfits, accessories and girl-sized clothing, the Park Meadows store will also have a Doll Hair Salon and “Creative-Tees” boutique where kids can design their own doll-sized shirts.

What’s Included?

Westin Tabor Center and the Embassy Suites DTC will offer a welcome letter “to your girl and her doll” and an in-room movie in addition to the doll-sized beds included in their American Girl Store packages. The Westin will provide cookies and milk, a good-nights message and store as well as a turndown service while the Embassy Suites provides full breakfast, snacks, juice or milk and transportation to the new store.

Hotel Monaco Denver‘s “American Girl Getaway” package, which includes the tiny bed, “a young lady will visit the Renaissance Aveda Spa to get a professionally styled hairdo just like their very own American Girl doll, and the doll will have the luxury of sleeping in a bed just her size,” the hotel said Wednesday in a statement.

The package will start at $199 a night and includes a copy of American Girl magazine, a children’s bathrobe (to take home) and valet parking. It is available now and will be offered until December 30 2010.

Photo Credit: American Girl

The new Ridemakerz located at Downtown Disney West Side at Walt Disney World Resort offers customized and tricked out rides for kids.  This new attraction allows kids of all ages to build the toy car of their dreams.

This fully interactive experience involves kids in the entire process. From moving through various shop zones to choosing from the dozens of paint jobs and bodies, sound effects, coloured treads, pinstriping, radical wheels, spoilers, decals and more. Over 649 million different variations are offered including a remote control option.

Photo Credit: Walt Disney World Resort

Located on the Gaslamp Quarter’s waterfront, the stylish Manchester Grand Hyatt is offering some great discounts with their “Sunshine on Sale” package. This urban resort is comprised of two spectacular towers, the 33-story Seaport Tower and the 40-story Harbor Tower, the latter of which is 497- feet tall, making this the tallest building on the West Coast waterfront.  Connecting the two towers is a four-story building with a rooftop pool  and 25,000 square-foot deck.

This San Diego family hotel offers spectacular views and lavish amenities such as two water view pools and whirlpools, recreational games, state-of-the-art fitness centre and award-winning on-site dining and nightlife options.  Free breakfast, lunch and dinner is offered daily for children as well as a free third night stay for those wishing to extend their weekend holiday. Babysitting can be arranged for those wanting to step out for a little nightlife.

Most guest rooms offer spectacular water views or partial water and city views. For those wanting an upgrade, the Deluxe Bay View Room  provides panoramic views of San Diego Bay and the Pacific Ocean from floor to ceiling windows on two walls!

All dates/rates are available on online or you can call (800) 233-1234 for more information.  Reservations for the “Sunshine on Sale” package must be made in advance, and a minimum three-night length of stay is required for this package, available between now and May 27, 2010.

Titanic fans rejoice!  The brand new Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. is set to open Thursday, April 8, 2010! A star-studded Grand Opening is scheduled and is to be hosted by Regis Philbin. Descendants and family members of those who were on board the Titanic will be attending the christening of the ship and the weekend-long event is open to the public!

A free concert by country music legend Neal McCoy, Beatles cover band Liverpool Legends (hand-picked and managed by George Harrison’s sister), nightly fireworks displays and special events and performances will be just some of the activities featured up to Sunday, April 11.

The Titanic Museum Attraction is a permanent, half-scale, three-deck reproduction of the Titanic anchored in water to create the illusion of the Titanic at sea.  Inside, visitors will find full-size reproductions of the Titanic (built to actual Titanic blueprints) of the Third-Class quarters, dining rooms and of course the famed centerpiece known by all – a $1 million exact reproduction of the Titanic’s Grand Staircase. The First-Class suite which was occupied by Macy Department Stores founders and owners Isidor and Ida Straus, and used in James Cameron’s blockbuster movie as Rose’s suite will be another one of the attractions.

This amazing museum will house 20 galleries displaying hundreds of authentic, priceless Titanic artifacts that were either carried from the ship and into lifeboats by passengers and crew, or were found afloat soon after the sinking and quickly salvaged by rescue boats.

“We pay respect to Titanic by telling the story of the ship and her passengers,” said John Joslyn, owner of the new Titanic Museum Attraction. “Visitors learn the individual stories of those onboard the ship as they are learning about the ship itself. We have spent years researching these people and their stories are absolutely amazing.

“In addition to an unparalleled collection of artifacts, we have built Titanic Museum Attraction as a completely interactive attraction. You hear the wonderful stories as you’re going through the museum, but you are also experiencing things the way they were in 1912 when Titanic sailed. It’s one thing to hear about the men who shoveled coal into the boilers – but it comes to life for you when you pick up that shovel and feel what it means to shovel coal into a furnace.”

This highly interactive world class museum will offer a hands-on experience for children, teenagers and adults.

Some of the fun experiences:

• Walk Titanic’s Grand Staircase
• Touch the frozen surface of an “iceberg”
• Feel the chill of that fateful “Starry Night”
• Study some of the largest, most detailed Titanic models ever built
• Grip the ship’s wheel and follow the Captain’s commands
• Tour world-class galleries and the rare historical artifacts they hold
• Sit in a Titanic lifeboat and listen to actual survivors tell their stories
• Send an SOS from the Marconi Wireless Room
• Test their balance while standing on mini-decks built to show the ever-steeper slope of Titanic as she sank
• Watch children eight years and younger explore the special interactive TOTanic Play-and-Learn Room
• Dive to Titanic’s wreck site via spectacular underwater camera footage

The Titanic Museum Attraction Grand Opening event will begin Thursday, April 8, 2010 at 10 a.m. and continues with special events and celebrity guest appearances throughout the weekend. Tickets are now available online at www.TitanicPigeonForge.com. (Note: The outdoor Grand Opening and christening are free and open to the public, but admission to the Titanic Museum Attraction requires a ticket.)

One of the top family resorts in North America the Great Wolf Lodge, is attempting to break the Guinness Word Record for the “World’s Largest Waterslide-athon”!

All 11 Great Wolf Lodge locations including Ripley’s Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls will participate in this event on March 26, 2010. It will take place over 24 hours with one designated slide per resort and each slider will count towards breaking the record. They are working with the Guinness Book of World Records to comply with their rigorous certification standards. The current Guinness World Record for this attempt was set in Germany in 2007 with a total distance of 1357 km.

In celebration of this event, the Great Wolf Lodge is supporting five of the Niagara Region Big Brothers Big Sisters organizations. Participants in the Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls “World’s Largest Waterslide-athon” will be asked to donate $1 per slide, with proceeds going to the Niagara Region Big Brothers Big Sisters organizations. Great Wolf Resorts corporate office will be matching each donation across all 11 lodges up to $50,000. In addition to this, Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls will also match each donation made to their resort up to $5,000!

“Join us at Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls for Fun in Fundraising as we splash our way to a Guinness World Record as we support Big Brothers Big Sisters. Great Wolf Lodge is proud to be offering this exciting community event at our wonderful waterpark. We invite any and all groups, teams and clubs to join the pack in this worthy cause for one of our communities’ most important organizations,” says Keith Simmonds, General Manager of the lodge.

If you are in Southern Ontario or looking for a fun getaway, be sure to check out this resort! In addition to the Big Brothers Big Sisters foundation, local high schools and businesses will also be participating in the event. All rider names will be entered into a number of exciting draws, including a chance to WIN A FREE NIGHT STAY INCLUDING MEALS FOR 4, SCOOPS KIDS SPA AND LOTS OF OTHER GOODIES.

To book or for further information please visit Great Wolf Lodge or call 1.800.559.9653.