Frugal family fun: We zoom to the zoo for summer outings

City zoos offer wildly interesting and entertaining excursions for family – and often for a song. For years, our crew has carried season passes to the local zoo, enjoying significant savings on this family recreation choice.

Actually, our local zoo offered free admission for decades, but they underwent a huge overhaul several years ago and began charging a fee. But we found the changes worthwhile, as they added lots more animals and attractions.

The family pass (which includes access for four adults, multiple kids, and even occasional guests) costs about $100. At first, that may sound like a hefty sum, but taking a couple of grownups and a slew of kids to the zoo, the movies, or an amusement park can easily cost that much - especially if a return trip is in the works.

Included with membership are gift shop and snack bar discounts (with no need for keeping codes or coupons). We also get a colorful zoo magazine, free zoo concert /picnic tickets, and summer zoo camp discounts (although we don’t use the camp program).

Best of all, as members, we flash the pass and enter the zoo gates without waiting in line.

What’s more, our local zoo membership brings us free (or discounted) entry to approximately 150 other American Zoo Association locations nationwide, through an AZA reciprocity agreement. We’ve even stumbled upon other zoos and walked in free without presenting our passes, as they were able to look up our memberships online.

That’s a wild, screaming deal for summer family fun.

Image/s:

Milwaukee Zoo Peacock –

Creative Commons Licensing

Henry Vilas Zoo Penguins

- Creative Commons Licensing

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5 Father’s Day gifts and goodies to grab

Father’s Day is the third Sunday in June. That’s when we celebrate dads, grandfathers, and all sorts of paternal figures.

Need some fun ideas for Father’s Day gifts and goodies?

Why not skip the necktie this year? Here are some favorites, old and new. Click the title links to find these items online for convenient ordering.

1. Cuisinart CGS-134 3-Piece Grilling Tool Set with Grill Glove –  Lots of fathers love to grill, when they’re not grilling kids about chores, curfews, and homework. This great grill set fits the bill for the barbecuing dad on Father’s Day.

2. Metal Parking Sign - World's Greatest Grandpa – Having the grandparents over for a Father’s Day get-together? This fun parking sign is just the ticket. 

A “Dad” version is a super pick for placing in the family driveway or garage.

3. Spider-Killing, Burger Grilling Dad – Shown here on a trucker cap, this whimsical design is also available on tees, totes, and even a barbecue grilling apron for Dad. It reads: "Spider killing, burger grilling, still top billing (Just call me Dad.)." 

These creative gifts are only sold on CafePress.

4. Stealing Wonder: A Rhyming Race to Capture Grace – How about encouraging Dad with some inspirational lines to mark Father’s Day? 

This is not your everyday devotional poetry book.  These verses are gritty and real. Some are humorous, while others may touch readers’ hearts. Throughout, the real-life nature of God’s grace is experienced, as He is faithful, even when we are unfaithful, or simply not paying attention. 

Spoiler alert: Hope triumphs.

5. Victorinox 10-Function Swiss Army Golf Tool – This is just plain cool – a favorite gift for the golf-loving dad. Modeled after the long-popular Swiss Army knife, this tool includes a ball marker, a divot repair device, a golf club groove cleaner, and more.

Those with their hearts set on picking out Father’s Day neckties for dads might like to go the personalization route, adding their fathers’ monograms or names.

And certainly, no one ever said dads don’t like well-chosen chocolates, flowers and plants, or gourmet gift baskets for Father’s Day.

NOTE: This writer operates the CafePress online shop offering the #3 item and is the author of the #4 item, but has no affiliation or professional interest in the manufacturers or retailers offering #1, #2, or #5 and received no remuneration for reviewing any of these items here (with the exception of possible Amazon Affiliates percentages from orders of the same through product title links offered here).

Image/s:

Father’s Day gifts and goodies to grab

Created by this user with ecard template

Product photos – fair use

Feel free to follow on Google Plus and Twitter. Like this blog?  Check out Practically at Home on Facebook. You are also invited to join this writer's fan page, as well as the Chicago Etiquette Examiner, Madison Holidays Examiner, Equestrian Examiner and Madison Equestrian Examiner on Facebook.

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