Thursday, October 15, 2020

21 Must See Family Friendly Halloween Movies

Source


Some of the fondest memories as a kid were spent watching Halloween movies with my family while enjoying special treats and decorating the house with Halloween spirit. 

I watched a good majority of these movies as a kid, yet remember them as if I watched them yesterday.  Hope you can find some favorites that you'll love and create some traditions of your own.

If you want to make sure the content of the movies you show your family is appropriate, this website (Kids in Mind) covers all the details, including level of language and violence. 


***Descriptions from IMDb, Images from Google Images
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.



Jack Skellington, king of Halloween Town, discovers Christmas Town, but his attempts to bring Christmas to his home causes confusion.


A Troubled child summons the courage to help a friendly alien escape Earth and return to his home world.

An orphaned boy enrolls in a school of wizardry, where he learns the truth about himself, his family and the terrible event that haunts his magical world.

A boy inadvertently breaks three important rules concerning his new pet and unleashes a horde of malevolently mischievous monsters on a small town.

                        Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
Wallace and his loyal dog, Gromit, set out to discover the mystery behind the garden sabotage that plagues their village and threatens the annual giant vegetable growing contest.


Three Former Parapsychology professors set up shop as a unique ghost removal service.


In order to power the city, monsters have to scare children so that they scream.  However, the children are toxic to the monsters, and after a child gets through, 2 monsters realize things may not be what they think.


When a shy groom practices his wedding vows in the inadvertent presence of a deceased young woman, she rises from the grave assuming he has married her.


When a boy's beloved dog passes away suddenly, he attempts to bring the animal back to life through a powerful science experiment.


A misunderstood boy takes on ghosts, zombies and grown-ups to save his town from a centuries-old curse.


When a young girl living with her good0witch grandmother learns she too is a witch, she must help her grandmother save Halloween from evil forces.



Con artists plan to fleece an eccentric family using an accomplice who clains to be their long lost uncle.



A curious youngster moves to Salem, where he struggles to fit in before awakening a trio of diabolical witches that were executed in the 17th century.


The Spirits of a deceased couple are harassed by an unbearable family that has moved into their home, and hire a malicious spirit to drive them out.


An afterlife and therapist and his daughter meet a friendly young ghost when they move into a crumbling mansion in order to rid the premises of wicked spirits.


Three teens discover their neighbor's house is really a living, breathing, and scary monster.


Sixteen-year-old Sarah is given thirteen hours to solve a labyrinth and rescue her baby brother Toby when her wish for him to be taken away is granted by the Goblin King Jareth.


Dracula, who operates a high-end resort away from the human world, goes into overprotective mode when a boy discovers the resort and falls for the count's teenaged daughter.

Dracula and his friends try to bring out the monster in his half human, half vampire grandson in order to keep Mavis from leaving the hotel.

An animated adaptation of "The Wind in the Willows" followed by "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"


Audience-Teens and Adults
An adventurous 11-year-old girl finds another world that is a strangely idealized version of her frustrating home, but it has sinister secrets.


Friday, July 24, 2020

American River Cherry Company U-Pick Cherries and Berries- A Charming Farm with Sweet Fruit and Sweet Views



2240 Dias Drive, Placerville, CA 95667
530-748-9957

Opens Spring-Summer for U-Pick

Website
Facebook
Yelp for more reviews and information

From the time I planned on having children, I have vowed to give them the best life possible, filled with lots of love, adventures and lessons.  American River Cherry Company was the perfect place to achieve all of the above.

The drive from Reno to get to the farm was scenic.  You drive through Lake Tahoe and the El Dorado National Forest, the same drive you would take to Apple Hill, since they are in the same vicinity.  If you're coming from Reno, you'll pass a beautiful waterfall just before you arrive that can be found right next to the freeway on the left (Bridal Veil Falls, Pollock Pines).  There's a pull-over area where you can check it out up close.  It flows year-round.

Driving the streets to get to the farm was fun, with winding roads covered by shade-giving trees that lined the road.

Upon entering the farm, my eyes were caught by the beautiful "Homes & Garden" house, blanketed with beautiful flowers, tall trees, and freshly mowed green grass.  You can find a hammock hanging out in front- an ideal place for a nap.  If you go down the hill to the left of the house, it will lead you to the pond, where you will find the perfect picnic area with a classic red picnic table & swing, water lilies, Koi fish, and playful dragon flies.  My kids had fun running up and down the hills after picking fruit.

After parking, we made our way to check in at the barn.  Before arriving, I printed and filled out their liability waiver from their website to save time.  At the barn, I loved that they took the time to supply sanitized pens so as to reduce the spread of germs.  The workers (masked) were welcoming and gave us our buckets.

As soon as we entered the farm, we were greeted with berries- berries to the left and berries to the right.  The kids screamed with delight and set out to collect as many as they could.  Further down you will find whimsical cherry trees creating a beautiful landscape.

The available selections will depend on the temperature and pollinators, so make sure to call ahead of time for more information.  We went a couple of weeks after opening and found that lots of cherries had already been picked.  I would suggest following them closely on their Facebook page to keep up with updates so you can catch them right when they open.

The kids especially had fun collecting blueberries, which were perfect in height and plentiful.  I can't describe how special it is to be able to pick your own blueberries.  There's no comparison with store-bought berries.

If you are traveling with little ones, it is especially helpful that you arrive early in the morning and early in the season to avoid hot temperatures.  Just in case the little ones are only interested for a short while, you can find pre-picked selections at check-in so you don't leave empty-handed.

In the end, we all had the time of our lives and decided to make cherry and berry picking at the American River Company, a family tradition.

Notes:
*hand wash station available
*Popsicles and honey for sale at check in
*Berries are super fragile (esp, fresh-picked), so if you can round up some clam shell containers from the store or Amazon, storing the berries in them would be the best way to transport and prevent damage
*check out their website for varieties and prices
*don't forget sunscreen, water, and hats
*don't forget to check the weather to plan accordingly
*If hungry, In-N-Out nearby
*Boa Vista Orchards is a Apple Hill farm that is open year-round if you're looking for goods-baked, packaged, frozen, fresh produce
*They state that there is an entrance fee($5/person, 12 yrs and younger-free) on their website, but when we went, we were not charged.  If charged, you may feel like you're not getting your money's worth, but I think the atmosphere and experience alone is worth the entrance fee and would gladly pay.
*Koi fish feed available next to pond- bring quarters
*Not too many parking spots in front of house, so if lot fills up, park outside and walk up hill
*keep berries separate from cherries due to difference in price


Categorized under "U-Pick and Seasonal/Holidays"