Jersey Kids

September 25, 2015August 28, 2016

Amazon Prime Sale $67 Today

If you’ve been on the fence about getting Amazon Prime, today is your day to buy. From 12 a.m. Eastern time until midnight Pacific time today (September 25), Amazon Prime is $67 (a $32 savings from its normal rate). They are offering it on sale as a way to celebrate Transparent winning an Emmy. If you’re interested in in buying, use this link as it has the sale info mentioned on it. It’s also an affiliate link, but that won’t cost you anything extra. It’s still $67 for one year (presumably the second year it goes back up to the regular price).

With Amazon Prime you’ll get free two day shipping in addition to access to all their streaming movies and television shows (like Transparent!). There are other benefits as well, like access to 800,000 free ebooks via a lending library, and access to music and playlists.

September 11, 2015April 27, 2016

Remembering…9/11

Remembering.

Continue reading “Remembering…9/11”

September 8, 2015August 28, 2016

Treat of the Day: 10 Below Ice Cream in Chinatown

When I heard about the new ice cream place called 10 Below in Chinatown, where they made the ice cream in front of you in two minutes, I knew we had to go. Soon! I saw these pictures of ice cream rolls with cute toppings and it was a done deal. So I told my kids that we were going into the city to get ice cream, and they thought I was nuts. Sure, we eat ice cream. A fair amount of ice cream. But planning a trip to New York City just to eat ice cream? Well, we added in a few other things on the itinerary too, but planned to get there on the early side (and on a weekday before school started) to avoid the lines.

10below1 — Don’t come to 10 Below if you’re in a hurry. You’ll have to wait no matter what time you come.

Continue reading “Treat of the Day: 10 Below Ice Cream in Chinatown”

August 21, 2015August 28, 2016

Shopping at H Mart in Edison New Jersey

When I go to a foreign country, I make plans to visit a grocery store. I love seeing all the different products, since it tells you a lot about their culture (like what they eat). So on my recent trip to the Korean Island Spa in Edison, I checked out HMart, which is in the same strip shopping center. It’s a huge Asian grocery store. I’ll share some of my findings.

In addition to the grocery section, they have a mini-mall indoors, with a vendors selling Gangnam style socks (above), as well as make-up, household items, kids’ fun accessories and a dessert shop. Continue reading “Shopping at H Mart in Edison New Jersey”

August 20, 2015August 10, 2018

Review: Island Spa (Korean Spa) in Edison

The last two summers I spent a day at King Spa Fitness in Palisades Park, NJ. It’s a huge Korean spa, and one for which non-Koreans like me need a culture lesson before going. I was thinking of going back this summer, when a friend told me that Island Spa in Edison just opened up this summer, in July. In the name of research, I went there instead.

The exterior of the charcoal island at Island Spa. Photo copyright Deborah Abrams Kaplan

Island Spa and Sauna is on Route 27 Continue reading “Review: Island Spa (Korean Spa) in Edison”

August 20, 2015August 28, 2016

Helpful Tips for First-Time New York Travelers

This post is written and brought to you by Estapermits.org, a professional U.S. consular service provider.

People from around the world visit New York for so many different reasons—and all reasons are valid because NYC is indeed a place worth visiting at least once in a lifetime.

If you are travelling to the Big Apple for the first time, you’re in for what may be one of the best travel experiences you’ll ever have, so make sure that you make the most out of your stay.

There will be a few challenges though, because New York City is huge. Manhattan itself is large, and throwing the other four boroughs into your itinerary would require at least a few years to get in their nooks. Continue reading “Helpful Tips for First-Time New York Travelers”

August 19, 2015October 12, 2019

Adirondack Extreme with Kids

Ever since I went to Flagstaff Extreme a few years back with my family, my kids and I were dying to do it again. Especially since my son was now tall enough to do the full course (in Flagstaff he was too short/young). And my husband missed out on that experience and wanted to try as well. This “aerial treetop adventure course” has multiple courses of ropes obstacles and ziplines. On our recent trip to the Adirondacks, we booked some time at Adirondack Extreme near Lake George.

Continue reading “Adirondack Extreme with Kids”

August 18, 2015October 12, 2019

White water rafting on the Hudson – Adirondacks

When you see the Hudson River in New York City, or even the Hudson River in the Hudson River Valley, whitewater rafting is not something you think about. But further upstream just past Lake George, you can raft in the white caps, over 17 miles of class III-V waves. While there are two handfuls of reputable companies, we went with Wild Waters, connected to the Glen River Lodge where we bunked. You can read our review of the Glen River Lodge here.

This outfitter has been around some 30 years, and on a busy Memorial Day weekend, we had several bus loads of eager paddlers joining us on the journey.

The gear shack had everything we needed – Continue reading “White water rafting on the Hudson – Adirondacks”

August 14, 2015August 28, 2016

Review: Glen Lodge in the Adirondacks

We were looking to raft in the Adirondacks near Lake George, and came across the Glen Lodge and Market when researching. Their rafting/lodging special was too good to pass up ($199/person for 2 nights’ lodging, breakfasts, rafting day and dinner). We came with 2 families, booking three of the lodge’s seven rooms.

glen lodge 1 — The Glen Lodge in Warrensburg has seven rooms and a woodsy feel.

The rooms were all upstairs. They had plenty of space and were stocked with tables, chairs, toiletries and a hair dryer. While not fancy, it was quite comfortable and warm. One treat was Lake Champlain chocolates on the nightstand. Continue reading “Review: Glen Lodge in the Adirondacks”