• Fun Around Town: Big Celebrity Cats at Hollywild Animal Park (Wellford, SC)

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    “Mandela” the white lion!

    Our family had a great time at Hollywild Animal Park.  Upon entering the park I was given a packet with a very nice “Welcome” letter from Kim along with a map, her business card, a bracelet for each of us to wear, and other park information. The workers from the Safari Bus driver to the Creature Feature Show to the Gift Shop Clerk and the various ones we encountered throughout our journey through the park were always willing to answer any questions we had along the way (most of the questions were the kids asking about various animals).  It was a wonderful activity to do with the family.

    As I have mentioned in a couple other posts several of the animals that reside at Hollywild have been stars in Movies, Commercials, Print Ads, Sport Events, TV Shows, events, and much more.  The animals seemed friendly, content, and interactive with the people passing through the park.

    It was great that even the lions were up and active while we were at Hollywild!  Usually at the zoo and other places you don’t often see the lions moving or playing around too much in their pens.  The white lion paused while moving around so we were able to get some shots of him, but the brown lion didn’t ever stop moving for a good picture.

    We ended our trip through the park about the time they were getting ready to close.  The workers were starting to feed the animals their dinners so that was pretty cool to watch some of the animals munching down on one of their favorites treats.

    For more information about our adventure at Hollywild you can check out our other blog posts:

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    He looks very serious!

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    He hears the worker getting his dinner meal ready and started pacing.

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    On the move!

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    Relaxing on his rock

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    Look at the length of those whiskers!

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    Peaceful and relaxing

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    Beautiful tiger

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    Love how his tail is sitting on the rock below him.  He was curious about us watching him though!

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    Those eyes are looking directly at us!

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    Siberian Tigers – he looked so serious, but colorful up on the rock.  Not an animal I would want to meet in the wild though he looks amazing.  Featured in the following:

    • Movie – Man Hunter
    • Movie – Betsy’s Wedding
    • Movie – Reversal of Fortune
    • Movie – Price of Tides
    • Movie – The Real McCoy
    • TV Ad Campaign – Land Rover
    • Gallery Portraits – Valerie Shaff Photography
    • Countless live appearances at special events

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    Cougars were out and walking around.  These cougars featured in following:

    • Commercials – Lincoln-Mercury (1983 to 1991)
    • Movie – Date With an Angel
    • TV Program – Rescue 911
    • Movie – Reversal of Fortune
    • Movie – Last of the Mohicans
    • Movie – Miracle on the Mountain
    • Commercial(s) – Coca-Cola

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    Black Leopard was busy eating its dinner time treat.  Not sure what it is, but fresh meat of some kind.  Seeing it’s eyes watching us through the grass gives me goose bumps.  The leopards were featured in the following:

    • Calendar – Great Cats
    • Print Ad Campaign – Kemdura Paper
    • Audiovisual Production – Leslie Advertising
    • Score Boards – Carolina Panther
    • Caesar, a Black Panther, has been a star in the National Football League for the Carolina Panthers

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    The white tiger just finished his dinner and is taking a walk around his pen.

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    So pretty!

    Hollywild Animal Park Coupon Discount (Free Child’s Admission):

    • Print off the coupon for Free Child’s Admission with purchase of an Adult Admission and bring it to the park with youLimit one per family. $8 Value. This coupon is valid during our Park Season which is open Weekends in March, Daily April through Labor Day, and Weekends from Labor Day through the end of October. Please visit our website for seasonal hours prior to your visit. Coupon not valid during our Holiday Lights Safari Benefit.  Expires: 10/24/2015.

    A special thanks to U.S. Family Guide and Hollywild Animal Park for offering a special discount to our readers.  Any specific product information was provided by Hollywild Animal Park and U.S. Family Guide, however, the opinions expressed in this post are our own.  We did receive tickets so our family could visit and share our experience.

  • Fun Around Town: Baby Animal Barn & Creature Feature Show at Hollywild Animal Park (Wellford, SC)

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    Someone came to say “hi” to me!

    It is no great surprise to us that the Baby Animal Barn and the Creature Feature Show at Hollywild Animal Park were a big hit with the kids.  There is something extra sweet about interacting with a soft fluffy baby animal.  The girls could have spent even longer petting and feeding the goats.  They were very entertained by them.

    It was fun to watch them bottle feed the goats.  Several of the little goats had obviously had some red juice earlier that day because their faces and mouths were covered with red drips.  It was a great spot to have the kids interact a little more with the animals.  You can’t pet every animal (like the lions, tigers, and bears for obvious reasons), but you could pet and feed some of them which made the experience more fun for the kids.

    For more information about our adventure at Hollywild you can check out our other blog posts:

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     They had the most beautiful face and big eyes!

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     One of the parents with the little baby named “Marshmallow” they were so soft!

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     Saying “hi” to the crowd of goats!

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     Brina petting and talking with a friendly goat!

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     Jake got the girls bottles to feed the goats.  They loved it!

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     Love the pink/red bottle drippings all over the face of this little goat.  Too cute!!!

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    “Hey, do you have any treats for me!”

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     The hot pink tongue cracks me up.  So adorable even with the hot pink spots on its face!

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     Karlie feeding a little one.

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     Brina feeding one of the goats while chatting and laughing at some of the other goats in the pen.

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    Brina feeding and petting the baby goat at the same time.

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    She probably could have stayed all day.  Brina loves her goats and they are pretty entertaining to watch!

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    No matter where you stood there was always a goat friend nearby to greet you and see if you had any more treats to share!

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    Karlie loving it!

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    Having fun with my family.  Thankful for a good time together learning about a variety of animals at Hollywild.

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    Brina would be content to do this everyday.  She loves animals!

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    Trying to make sure everyone gets their turn with the treat!

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    This one looks super soft!  He must have gotten enough to eat and is now taking a little rest.

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     Bottle feeding the goat.

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     Karlie giving a little goat a treat!

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     Smart goat!  A kid dropped a bottle inside the pen which got kicked around a few times to where it was unreachable.  This goat picked up the bottle off the ground walked over to the fence and propped it up so it could easily drink from the bottle.  Hilarious watching it, but very resourceful if you want a little sip.

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     The newest baby in the group.  Super soft and cute!

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     The little guy decided to take a rest in the feed bucket.

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    Karlie petting the zebras and animals next to the goats

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     Brina giving him a good rub!

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     It was cute hearing the girls talking with the animals.  I really liked how the animals were very active and friendly.  All the ones you could pet always came to the fence which made the kids happy.

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    We got there a few minutes early so relaxing for a minute while we wait for the Creature Feature Show to start.

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     “Speedy” the turtle!

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     “Marshmallow” not sure about all the people looking at her.  She was still a little bit timid.

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     Talking about Marshmallow

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     Another soft one to learn about and pet.

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     Petting the turtle

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     Petting the turtle and talking with the worker about the animals.

    Hollywild Animal Park Coupon Discount (Free Child’s Admission):

    • Print off the coupon for Free Child’s Admission with purchase of an Adult Admission and bring it to the park with youLimit one per family. $8 Value. This coupon is valid during our Park Season which is open Weekends in March, Daily April through Labor Day, and Weekends from Labor Day through the end of October. Please visit our website for seasonal hours prior to your visit. Coupon not valid during our Holiday Lights Safari Benefit.  Expires: 10/24/2015.

    A special thanks to U.S. Family Guide and Hollywild Animal Park for offering a special discount to our readers.  Any specific product information was provided by Hollywild Animal Park and U.S. Family Guide, however, the opinions expressed in this post are our own.  We did receive tickets so our family could visit and share our experience.

  • Family Outings: Ice Skating

    Karlie and Brina ice skating for the first time with Daddy!

    There is a local ice skating rink in our town that is open all year.  The first time the girls went ice skating was for a friends birthday party and they had a blast!  Even though ice skating traditionally is a “winter” sport it is a wonderful way to spend a couple hours cooling off during the heat of the summer too! If you look around you can often find tickets to your local ice skating rink as well. Who knows you may even run into a friend or two (we have) which makes it even more fun!

    Here are some pictures from another fun ice skating adventure!

    Brina skating backwards?!  No just turning around to look at Mommy

    Karlie getting around on her own….with a little help from the wall!

    Daddy pushing his girls around the ice skating rink

    Daddy and Brina skating

    Mommy pushing Karlie around the ice rink!

  • Family Outings: Teaching About Gun Safety & Target Practice

    Daddy with his two little girls following him!

    We have been teaching the girls about gun safety because we have a lot of family members who hunt, fish, and target practice.  Recently we took the girls to the Shooting Range to teach them a little more about gun safety and to target practice.  We think it’s important to demonstrate to the kids safety with the serious items such as guns.  It was quite the fun adventure for the family.  Daddy was patient and good with showing the girls the basics.  Karlie was ready to put up a target in the house for practicing with her nerf gun.  They both wanted to know if Daddy would take them back to the range again.  Glad they had fun.  The range was a busy place and great opportunity to spend quality time with the family.  It was pretty cute seeing Jake in hot pink ear plugs too.

     

    Here are a few pictures from our Family Outing to the Shooting Range:

     

    Remember to bring your ear plugs!

     

    Daddy and the Girls!

     

    Daddy getting set up!

     

    Targets are Ready!

     

    Going over all the gun details and steps with Karlie!

     

    Daddy helping Brina reload the gun.

     

     

    Karlie getting into target practice!

     

     

    Brina getting her practice at target shooting.

     

     

  • Family Outings: Strawberry Picking

    We went Strawberry picking this past weekend and had a blast!  The entire family was picking so we had our gallon done in no time.  We stopped by Hunter’s Farm in Easley, South Carolina. The strawberries were $8.50 a gallon if you pick your own and bring your own container.  Here are a few pictures from our adventure Strawberry Picking:

    Karlie and Brina picking fresh strawberries at Hunter's Farm!

     

    Brina with a handful of strawberries!
    Karlie with a handful of strawberries!

     

    Brina showing off her strawberries!
    Karlie showing off her goodies!
    Brina enjoying her time picking up strawberries!
    Gallon full of fresh strawberries!
    Fresh Strawberries!!!