Entenmann's Little Bites recycle, reuse, replenish Earth Day campaign

For many families, school lunches and daily snacks can be a great way to be eco-friendly. From reusable containers to recycling, kids and parents can take little steps to be a little more green. Entenmann's Bakery wants to help make green living a little easier with its first ever Little Bites “Recycle…Reuse… Replenish” Fully Recyclable Lunch Earth Day awareness campaign and sweepstakes.
Entenmann's Bakery has partnered with TerraCycle, an international leader in the collection and reuse of non-recyclable post-consumer waste. This campaign, Little Bites “Recycle…Reuse… Replenish” Fully Recyclable Lunch Earth Day, is a way to educate consumers and reward them for re-purposing trash.
The Little Bites “Recycle…Reuse…Replenish” campaign is aimed to educate consumers on how to recycle Little Bites Pouches and turn trash into cash for schools through the point redemption process, complete with a Sweepstakes activation on Facebook for a chance to win an assortment of prizes, including a grand prize of $5,000 cash.
"We’re thrilled that our Little Bites are in lunchboxes at mealtime and now with the Little Bites Pouch Brigade recycling program to reuse the pouches and limit waste, it's a win-win for parents, kids and schools,” said Maureen Sticco, Director of Marketing Services, Entenmann’s.
“We are very excited to partner with Entenmann’s to help teach kids about how to recycle, reuse and replenish the earth,” said TerraCycle CEO Tom Szaky.
By partnering with TerraCycle, Entenmann’s demonstrates its dedication to recycling and reducing the amount of Entenmann’s Little Bites pouches that end up in landfills each year. The recycling and upcycling experts at TerraCycle are committed to creating new lives for Entenmann’s Little Bites pouches by taking the used packaging and turning it into innovative new products, while awarding points for schools that can be redeemed as cash for every Little Bites pouch received.
Now through April 30, Entenmann's Facebook page is hosting the giveaway. Lucky winners may receive an assortment of weekly prizes including Little Bites coupons, upcycled Little Bites-branded Lunch Sacks made by TerraCycle, $25 Home Depot Gift cards to start an Earth Day garden and a $5,000 cash grand prize through a sweepstakes link on the Entenmann’s Facebook page. All entries must be received by 11:59: p.m. ET April 30, 2014. Official Rules can be found at www.entenmanns.com.

Lindt Gold Bunny is an Easter basket favorite

For kids, the Easter basket on Easter morning brings joy. For one special morning, sweet treats are allowed at the breakfast table. One iconic Easter basket item is the chocolate bunny. This year let the Easter basket pay it forward with the Lindt Gold Bunny.
For the fifth year, the Lindt Gold bunny will be raising funds and awareness for Autism Speaks. The number one selling chocolate bunny is the only bunny that gives back. Now through April 20, 2014, Lindt will donate 10 cents to Autism Speaks for every Gold Bunny purchased. Lindt hopes to donate more than $130,000 through a variety of charitable events.
In addition to the iconic Lindt Gold Bunny, Lindt offers a variety of chocolate treats. The global leader in the premium chocolate category, Lindt can fill the Easter basket with chocolate goodness. From dark chocolate truffles to milk chocolate chicks, there is an option for every chocolate taste. For more information on the company and retail location, please visit www.lindt.com.
Let your family's Easter basket bring happiness to more than just your little ones. Add a Lindt Gold Bunny to the basket and help Autism Speaks.

Busch Gardens Serengeti Safari, a date with a giraffe named Cupid

Busch Gardens Tampa is more than just thrill rides. For the animal enthusiasts, the theme park offers unique animal encounters that will create lifelong memories. The Serengeti Safari is one of them.

Busch Gardens Tampa

The Serengeti Safari adventure allows guests a chance to be up close and personal with the animals on the Busch Garden Safari. In an open-air touring vehicle, guests travel out to the 65-acre Serengeti Plain. During the tour, guests see animals including, zebras, giraffes, ostriches and more. The tour culminates with a personal encounter with one of the giraffes.

The highlight of the tour being able to feed one of the Busch Gardens' giraffes. On the tour, our family met Cupid. Each guest was able to feed Cupid some lettuce. The giraffe would come to each guest and take a piece of lettuce. At one point, the guests could even pet the giraffe on the neck. The adventure gives guests a very intimate and unique experience with a breathtaking creature.

Here are some facts that guests learn on the adventure.

• To a giraffe, lettuce is like ice cream
• The giraffe has seven bones in its neck, just like a human
• The giraffe's tongue is darker in color to help reduce sunburn.
• A pack of giraffes is called a tower

The Serengeti Safari can be added to any Busch Gardens Tampa ticket admission purchase. Prices start at $39 and are subject to availability. The special tour is recommended for ages 5 and older. A camera or smartphone is highly recommended. Busch Gardens does provide a photographer and these photos can be purchased after the tour.

St. Augustine presents The Journey: 450 Years of the African-American Experience

St. Augustine, Florida has been a popular city to visit. Some travel to this historic city in search of the Fountain of Youth. For the history fans, this city is more than a quest for longevity. St. Augustine is the oldest continually habituated city in North American and is brimming with important milestones. Now visitors can learn the city's place in African American history in the exhibit, The Journey: 450 Years of the African-American Experience.
Historian, teacher, and playwright James Bullock shares St. Augustine's role in African American history. Throughout this special exhibit, visitors can understand the culture and heritage that the first legally sanctioned free African American town oldest city brings to the community.
African-American heritage in the United States begins 450 years ago when blacks, both free and enslaved, were among the 800 colonists who established the St. Augustine settlement under the leadership of Spanish explorer Admiral Pedro Menendez de Aviles. From St. Augustine's earliest days through the turbulent 1960s, African-Americans have played key roles in the development of both the city and nation. This vital contribution by people of color is well-documented, but not well-known. That is about to change.
Journey: 450 Years of the African-American Experience tells the fascinating story of blacks who helped settle the nation with original documents and artifacts, interviews, photos, art and more. The Journey exhibition is designed for cultural and heritage visitors interested in the full history of America and its beginnings and comprises four themes: Genesis of the African-American Experience; Fortress of Freedom; Breaking the Chains; and Crossroads of Change.
A few interesting facts in this exhibit include:

• African-American heritage in the US begins in 1565 when blacks, both free and enslaved, were among the 800 colonists who established St. Augustine.
• Africans were among the explorers and soldiers who first discovered Florida, sailing with Ponce de Leon and Pedro Menendez – not as slaves, but as soldiers in the service of Spain.
• In 1738, slaves fleeing from the British were granted their freedom by the Spanish who occupied St. Augustine, Florida.
• Fort Mose has also been recognized as one of the original sites on the southern route of the Underground Railroad.
• On June 9, 1964, Civil Rights movement leader Martin Luther King was arrested in St. Augustine during a protest for human rights.

The Journey: 450 Years of the African-American Experience is located inside the St Augustine Visitors Information Center and runs through July 15. The exhibit is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults; $4 for seniors; $3 for youth 7-12; under 7 free. For more information, please visit www.Journey2014.com.

Travel tips for families from Kendra Thornton

As families ponder the idea of a vacation, the questions of how, where and when need to be addressed. From a quick trip close to home or a highly anticipated trip to Orlando, Florida, families can benefit from travel advice. Kendra Thornton, a national travel expert, shares her tips on a variety of travel concerns for families.
What tips do you have for traveling through an airport with small children?
For many families, traveling through an airport can be a trying experience. It is best to allow at least 30 extra minutes of travel time when traveling as a family. From security check points to emergency bathroom breaks, the extra time makes families feel less frazzled. If your family experiences some travel difficulties, like long delays or lost luggage, ask the airport baggage service center for assistance. In many cases, this department keeps family travel necessities like diapers, formula, etc on hand for emergency cases.
When is a good month to travel as a family?
For families with smaller children, May is a perfect month to travel. A destination like Orlando can be a great choice for families. During the month of May, Orlando offers amazing weather. Plus, many popular attractions and theme parks have shorter lines during May.
In May 2014, Sea World and LegoLand are offering free admission for children. LegoLand is opening a new ride during May too. With so many theme parks, shopping, and hotels, Orlando offers numerous fun activities for the entire family. For more special offers, please visit www.visitorlando.com/may.
What's the benefit from under-planning a family vacation?
A little bit of free time allows the whole family to relax and could be some of the most memorable family moments. In Orlando, many hotels have amazing pools and themed in-house entertainment that can be a fun diversion. For example, the Nickelodeon Hotel in Orlando has character meet and greets and movies that don't need to be pre-planned.
These travel tips are just a few of the items that Ms. Thornton shared. For more information on traveling with families or traveling to Orlando, please visit www.visitorlando.com.