Where is it: 4/153 Oxford St, Bulimba, open everyday from 10am, 9am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday Why we love it: Every little kid’s dream shop - packed to the brim full of amazingly beautiful, fun and creative toys! And it stocks some very special dolls! Tell me more: We love visiting toy shops, and we’ve visited quite a few. So I think that we can judge a good one when we see it - and Crackerjack Toys in Bulimba is definitely one of the good ones! Our visit to Crackerjack was inspired for a particular reason - to check out the beautiful Miniland dolls. Miniland dolls are lovely dolls that are of fabulous quality, anatomically correct, oh so cute and they come in different races as well, and our little girl is a big fan. They are stocked at quality toy stores, so we knew that we would find them at Crackerjack! The range of Miniland Dolls includes Asian, Caucasian, African, and Latin American, and different sizes/ages as well, so if they like your little guys can play with a doll that looks like them, or perhaps does not look like them. And they look great too. Realistic enough to educate (fantastic if your little one might be getting a little brother or sister in the future), but not so realistic that the kids forget that they are toys, Miniland Dolls are the perfect balance! They are the perfect little friend or sibling and definitely help in developing social skills as well as allowing your little one to care and nurture for their new best friend! But back to Crackerjack - this store is like a kids’ wonderland! There are toys stacked into every little nook and cranny, it reminded me of Disney’s original ‘Santa’s Workshop’! It goes without saying that our little girl was suitably impressed, as would every little kid that visits. Fabulous toys, games, puzzles, clothes, books, arts and crafts and their aim is to stock environmentally friendly products designed to be passed on through siblings or even generations. There is also a focus to support local businesses where possible, be it manufacturers or distributors of this wonderful range of toys. We came to choose a Miniland Doll but upon entering and seeing the marvelous range of toys here, I was a little concerned that I might not be able to leave without taking half of the store with me! In the end my little girl did make her choice of doll and we also grabbed a wonderful bespoke outfit from the range Love by Abi Rose. These lovely clothes are made for the Miniland range and also come in matching designs for the kids - wonderful! We also picked up a beautiful little basket for our doll to sleep in - the whole combination looks so cute and our little girl was so happy! Website: https://crackerjacktoys.com.au/ Miniland DollsCrackerjack Toys Shop
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Where is it: Various venues around Australia. What’s it all about: With fantastic music and engagement, this is a super fun way to introduce kids to music and bands Tell me more: Lah Lah and her Big Live Band have been entertaining kids with live performances and TV shows for 10 years now and they are still as popular as ever. Their fun music is infectious with both the little guys and adults alike and provides the perfect platform to introduce music and musical instruments. We caught a fantastic performance at Lah Lah’s Stripy Sock Club Live Tour 2019 and we had a wonderful time - they are such an entertaining band and we couldn’t help but love the whole show! Website: https://lah-lah.com Stripy Sock Club Live Tour 2019Where is it: 70 James Street, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane Why we love it: A fantastic hotel that totally matches its fashionable location! Tell me more: James Street in the inner suburb of Fortitude Valley is the premiere boutique shopping and dining location in Brisbane, and has established itself as one of the city’s most lively precincts. So you would expect that the accommodation options here would live up to the high standard that James St sets. And Sage Hotel James St does just that! Sage Hotel is a modern and wonderfully comfortable motel perfectly located for exploring and enjoying James St as well as the rest of Brisbane. We stayed in their Superior Double Double room with 2x double beds and a sofa bed which had more than enough room for the 5 of us, and even a special little treat for our little girl - her very own tee-pee tent to sleep in! Such a lovely little touch that excited the kids no end. The beds were super comfy and we were provided with a lovely continental breakfast in our room (there is no restaurant in the hotel, but plenty close by) so we could ease into the morning after a fantastic night’s sleep. Like all 93 rooms at Sage, ours came with free wi-fi, a fantastic range of in-house movies, air conditioning and pod coffee machines (yay!). It also had a balcony with views across to the city, and while there is no on-site pool or gym, as a guest at Sage you will receive complimentary access to Function Well 24-hour Fitness and the Valley Pool - both just a short walk from the hotel. All this is topped off with a selection of exquisite and locally sourced selections in the mini bar. All of these little details made for a very relaxing stay! But back to its location - James St. This short little stretch of road is home to a huge range of fashion labels, gourmet food and cafes, markets and lifestyle shops, this leafy street offers a relaxed and resort-style vibe different to all other shopping districts here in Brisbane - and everything is within walking distance. At night the relaxed vibe starts to give way a little with a number of classy bars, cinema and entertaining restaurants setting the mood, and if that’s not enough, it’s walking distance to the entertainment and nightclub precinct of ‘the Valley’. No wonder it’s such a popular spot. We can’t rate Sage Hotel highly enough - a fantastic location, lovely facilities and friendly and professional staff all combine beautifully here at Sage Hotel James St., and if you have the chance to stay we’re sure that you’ll love it too! It’s the perfect place to base yourself for a relaxing staycation, a weekend of shopping or to experience Brisbane’s nightlife. Website: https://www.nexthotels.com/sage/james-street-brisbane/ Superior Double Double RoomJames St Precinct and Valley PoolWhere is it: Centred around Brisbane’s cultural heartland of the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art, but also in other venues across Brisbane! Why we love it: Such a varied range of films as well as a peek behind the scenes, live entertainment and showbiz excitement! Tell me more: The Brisbane International Film Festival is the largest film festival in Queensland and it features over one hundred short and feature films packed into nearly two entertaining weeks. While there is a focus on locally produced or influenced cinema, there are movies from all over the world and covering all genres. It’s an exciting time for lovers of cinema, and it’s fantastic to be able to take part in some of the excitement! We were very fortunate to be able to share in the experience of the world premiere of ‘The Wishmas Tree’, a fantastic animated movie made right here in Brisbane! Website: https://biff.com.au Where is it: Events across the state and internationally! What's it all about: Talk Like a Pirate Day started as a bit of a joke between some mates in 1995 and has since grown into an international event! Here in Queensland, we recognise the day as a day to fundraise the Childhood Cancer Support organisation! How can I join in: Lots of schools, sporting clubs and other organisations have events on for Talk like a Pirate Day! Here in Brisbane, the big event is at the Queensland Maritime Museum at South Bank! So make sure you've got your got pirate costume, put on your best pirate voice, get into the pirate spirit and come along for special pirate activities and check out the museum too! Tell me more: The Childhood Cancer Support (CCS) organisation does some hugely important work supporting kids with cancer and their families. Events throughout the year both help CCS raise needed funds and also provides the kids with an opportunity to get out have some fun! The Talk Like a Pirate Day event at the Queensland Maritime Museum is a great event held annually on the 19 September that has heaps of piratey things to see and do! With pirate parades and costume competitions, jumping castles, pirate games (even some sword fighting lessons!) and heaps more, this is always a fun day out! Yarrrr! Contact: www.talklikeapirateday.com.au 2019201720162015
Where is it: Various venues throughout the Logan City Council Region Why we love it: Keeping our kids active and occupied through school holidays with structured and fun events! Tell me more: Most of the local councils in the Brisbane region have these fantastic programs where kids can get involved in structured programs through the school holidays. Krank is Logan City Council’s program of free and low cost programs and they have some fantastic options available – everything from learning to cook through to go kart racing! As would be expected, these programs are very popular and placements can get snapped up quickly so keep an eye out on the website for opening release dates. And even if you can’t get into your preferred activity it’s a great opportunity to get into something that you haven’t tried before. Website: https://www.logan.qld.gov.au/community-support/community-development/krank Colour Blast Run, Griffith UniversityNinja Obstacle Course, Riverdale ParkLittle Cheffs, Logan Enterteinment CentreGo Karting, Kingston Park RacewayWhere is it: 57 - 63 Warwick Rd, Ipswich Qld 4035 Australia Why we love it: A very welcoming and relaxing apartment hotel for both short and long term stays! Tell me more: Travelling with kids can be a bit of a handful at times, so anything to help is always welcome. Sometimes the simple things can make the biggest difference – and we’ve found that a little bit of space for the kids can make your holiday even more relaxing! Quest Apartment Hotels are a fantastic choice in this regard, offering studio and multi-room serviced apartments across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji and they are great for a weekend away or and extended stay. And as well as having the extra living space, having your own kitchen and washing machine can make a huge difference to your holiday! Quest Ipswich is the perfect choice for families visiting Queensland’s Heritage City. It’s a modern facility that’s conveniently located and very welcoming and comfortable. They offer studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. The studios are a perfect alternative to your typical hotel room and feature a kitchenette while all other apartment types include a fully equipped kitchen. All rooms are serviced daily (except for Sundays) and wi-fi is available all throughout. There is also a swimming pool and barbeque area and although there isn’t an on-site restaurant, there are a number of local restaurant options that offer a charge-back facility. We stayed in one of Quest Ipswich’s two-bedroom apartments and it was the perfect size for our family. The bedding options can be adjusted to suit your requirements and we also made use of the optional sofa bed in the lounge. All rooms featured reverse cycle air conditioning and we even had a small balcony. It was a lovely stay here at Quest Ipswich and with the kids having their own space we certainly noticed that we felt a whole lot more relaxed when our stay came to end. We can’t wait to visit Quest again! Contact: https://www.questapartments.com.au Where is it: 40 Edward St, Brisbane City Why we love it: One of Brisbane’s fantastic heritage listed pubs that is comfortable and inviting and maintains is historic charm (plus it has wonderful food)! Tell me more: Like many old buildings, Brisbane’s Port Office Hotel has seen more than its fair share of ups and downs, most recently in January 2019 when what was thought to be a small fire took hold in the restaurant. This ‘small’ fire turned out to be quite a bit more significant than was first thought – it had found its way into the ceiling and caused a huge amount of damage to the whole building. It took owners Nick and Meagan Gregorski seven months to rebuild, relying on a lot of hard work and all the while still maintaining a small part of the hotel to their loyal patrons. Now all that is behind them and this wonderful pub and restaurant is as magnificent as it has ever been! Tastefully refurbished and comfortably furnished, it still exudes its heritage charm. The Port Office is now fully re-opened with public bar as inviting as would be expected and a new menu awaits (with a few dishes that they couldn’t say goodbye to) in the restaurant. This is a fantastic example of Brisbane’s heritage and is a must visit to get a feel for this city’s culture (and a great meal)! Website: https://www.portofficehotel.com.au/ Where is it: 10a Merle Finimore Avenue, Ipswich QLD 4305 (within the Queens Park precinct) What’s it all about: A perfect place to satisfy your hunger while relaxing (or playing) in Ipswich’s fantastic Queens Park! Tell me more: One of the best things about living in Queensland’s south east is the fantastic weather, and there’s no better way to take advantage of this than by visiting the wonderful public parks and gardens! One of our favourites is Queens Park in Ipswich – it has so much to offer, including an awesome café right within the park. Choose from a light snack or a hearty meal, fantastic cool drinks and wonderful coffees! It’s open everyday (except for some public holidays) so it’s a perfect option if you forget your picnic! It’s also great to visit the café just to enjoy the peaceful surrounds of the park and right next door there is an awesome little environmental centre where you can learn about the local environment. Website: https://www.queensparkcafe.com.au/ Where is it: North Ipswich, only 10 minutes’ drive from Ipswich CBD What's it all about: One of the great museums in Queensland's Museum Network - dedicated to rail workers and the history of rail in Queensland! How can I join in: The museum is open daily and is an easy drive from Brisbane so head along at any time, or keep an eye on their website for special programs! Tell me more: The Workshops Rail Museum is a really fun place to visit at any time, but for kids, it's especially fun when they have their special programs on, like Day out with Thomas! They also have special school holiday activities, Easter and Christmas events and many more throughout the year! The museum is situated on and in the actual workshops and rail yards that constructed and maintained much of Queensland's early rail network! There are a number of actual trains that you can get up close to, heaps of historical artefacts and lots of memorabilia. The kids will love the dedicated play areas, and the whole museum is really spread out so you can relax as you wander around at your own pace! A really fun day out for the whole family! Contact: http://www.theworkshops.qm.qld.gov.au/ Amenities: Full amenities including a café - picnics are welcomed too! 👍👍👍👍👍 Cost: Reasonably priced and a good deal on annual passes! 👍👍👍 Parking: More than enough parking available - some of the event days do get busy though! 👍👍👍👍 Access: Access has been considered and ramps added to all areas of the museum! 👍👍👍👍 Entertainment: The special programs have some really good entertainment on offer! 👍👍👍👍 Best for: Little kids and adults should enjoy this one! 👍👍👍 Summary: We keep coming back to this museum! The kids always find something here to entertain themselves with, and we just love that there's so much space to wander around in - it just feels so relaxing! 👍👍👍👍 Hints: Look out for the special programs - they make the visit so much more worthwhile! The MuseumSciencentreBush MechanicsPast ExhibitionsA day out with Thomas June - JulyA Room for Wild Animals |
AuthorBrisbane Family Explorers Archives
April 2024
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