Todays Discussion is brought to you by Travelodge and National Geographic
Our family loves to travel and explore new places. We especially are trying to show our kids all the really fun places that will impact their lives! Just a few weeks ago, we had the chance to take an impromptu trip up to Duluth, Minnesota to explore the city and all sorts of other fun touristy things that the city offers.
To find the best deal for places to stay while I’m out of town I usually look for package deals or other things that benefit our vacation somehow. I mean, after all – we’re going on vacation to explore – I’d rather spend less money AND get tickets to someplace for my family to enjoy!
So when I was offered the chance to have Keith Bellows, Editor-in-Chief of National Geographic Traveler and author of 100 Places that Can Change Your Child’s Life talk to all of us about some unique ways to get the most out of our summer travels and to get free tickets to over 135+ zoos across the country, I couldn’t resist!
It’s a ZooCation!
It’s all thanks to ZOOcation, a new promotion launched by Travelodge hotels in partnership with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and National Geographic, which allows families looking for a summer adventure to get children into their favorite zoos, FOR FREE, just by staying at a Travelodge hotel. Among the many zoos you can visit include Zoo Miami, The Columbus Zoo, The San Francisco Zoo, the Philadelphia Zoo and many more. A full list of participating zoos is available at www.aza.org/zoocation.
Check out the video that Keith Bellows made for us!
Win It!!!
One Lucky Reader will win 2 free nights at a Travelodge in the form of Wyndham Rewards Points (so you can use them anytime you want at essentially any Travelodge).
How to Enter:
Mandatory Entry: Leave a relevant comment on this post.
Then: Fill out the rafflecopter form.
Be sure to come back each day for extra entries!!
Rules: You do not have to be a blogger to enter/win. An email address is required to enter. The winner will be chosen randomly through Rafflecopter and contacted via the email registered in rafflecopter. A reply to the winning email is required within 48 hours before a new winner is chosen. One person entering per household please. US only please.
This giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST on July 18th, 2013
I was given the same two nights hotel that I am giving away. This in no way influences what I am writing.
Mary Happymommy (@mami2jcn) says
My husband and father in law are the only “dads” in my life. My husband is awesome!
Sarah C. says
Thanks for the video. He makes some really great comments on involving your children and how important zoos are.
latanya says
My husband is an awesome father to our son!
Julie Lynn Bickham says
Never heard of a Zoo cation before, what a great idea!
Mihaela D. says
this sounds perfect for a family 🙂
cindyd navarrro says
The dad in my life is the one who has always ben their for me and is my biological father he has been the bestest dad ever and i love him
vickiecouturier says
we love to travel with the grandkids an give them some time to spend with us going to the zoo an other outings
vickiecouturier says
my Dad has passed but he was a wonderful Father an is terriblly missed,my husband is a great father too
Ellen B says
I can’t remember when I last took a vacation 🙁
Jennifer Mae Hiles says
I would love to get away for a weekend. My husband and I never went on a honeymoon (that was 4 years ago) and have never been on a vacation together, it’s about time we do!
nannypanpan says
my dad is great and does anything for his kids, even before he does for himself
Robin Wilson says
My dad has become even more important to me since my mom passed 4 years ago. He is a great dad and source of comfort!
Brynn says
We love animals and going to the zoo. Thanks for the chance to win.
KJ Skib says
What a great family trip!
Geoff K says
This is a great promotion – and a great way to get kids involved with learning about the natural world while on vacation!
Ann Fantom says
My daughter has just started asking for us to take her to the zoo again. I see a zoo trip in our near future…
Katie K says
Looks like agreat affordable way to get in an extra weekend away. Thanks for the chance!
Denise S says
I’d love to take a trip like this soon!
Lisa Evanoff says
Love reading all the comments about the dads on here, mine has been in heaven for awhile now, and these really make me smile. Love the zoo-cation idea!
Kitty says
It’d be fun to visit a zoo! great giveaway!
Melissa Vaught says
I would really love to take my hubby and kids on a weekend vacation before school starts back, and this would really help get us to our goal! A Zoocation sounds so fun and was right up the alley of what i had in mind! Thanks for the chance!
Marta says
Great giveaway! It will be nice to have a family getaway!
Suzanne K says
I’d love to go to the San Diego Zoo and see the pandas
Stephanie Larison says
We’re going up to see family sometime this summer, this would be great to win while we’re visiting everyone!
Serena Powell says
Such a great giveaway! I am a huge fan of zoos
Deb F says
So many great zoo’s to see all around it will be hard to pick which one to see!
Tina M says
I’d love to win this!!
PAIGE CHANDLER says
I can’t wait for vacation this summer and not having to cook
Jacob says
This would be so cool! Travelodge is my favorite chain to stay in, for good reason!
Andi W says
The zoo is such a great mini vacation for kids and adults alike!
Melissa Green Hartley says
I would love to take my mom to Branson for a 2 day vacation .. thank you
Natalie Vandenberghe says
We are about a two-hour drive from the zoo. It would be great if we could make a mini-vacay out of our visit by staying at a TraveLodge. Thanks for the giveaway.
Lisa Baker says
My husband and I love checking out zoos in various cities, so this would be perfect for us! I would probably choose Philly (where I’m from) or San Francisco.
amy deeter says
i love to travel.great giveaway
carol says
this would be great for our next vacation…
Shawn says
We love zoos!!
Brandi Kerr says
I love vacations
mimi says
I love the zoo and i love vacations so a zoocation sounds like the ultimate getaway!
Tricia Andrews says
My daughter and I will be doing a roadtrip to 4 states in August. We will be visiting zoos and science centers in 4 states. They are fun and you learn something while you are there!
Carolyn G says
This place looks amazing
Dawn Sollitto says
We visit the Bronx Zoo yearly. I would love to visit a zoo in another city!
April Yedinak says
I love the Zoo here and we like to visit as often as possible. Thanks for the giveaway.
Allison W. says
Thanks for the great giveaway!
Deci MacKinnon says
I love staying at Travelodge.
Jennifer Simmons says
I live in Atlanta, GA and would love to use this to go to Chattanooga Zoo! Perfect Zoocation! Thank you!!!!!
Laura Workman says
Awesome family giveaway!
amy w says
This would be perfect for upcoming trips to Portland
Lesley Baxter says
Love it
Danielle Papsis says
The idea of a Zoo cation is cute.
Kate Johnson says
Love the Zoo cation idea for little darlings.
crystal smith says
Love the idea of a Zoocation for the kids; we haven’t made it to the zoo yet this year but hoping to soon. I know it’s always a great way to get learning conversations started about animals and the outdoors 🙂
Samantha Mauk says
My daughter has been anticipating a trip to the zoo for the better part of this year, we have been waiting until it cools off just a bit so that we don’t burn to death on the blacktop (:
This would be fabulous to have, we have to drive a couple of hours to our Zoo, I’m always elected to drive back home and it would be indescribably awesome to drive over to a hotel and rest.
joseph gersch jr says
it is so much fun tey have partnered with zooos
s riches says
I remember every trip to the zoo that I ever made. From the first time to the last time. Zoos are great!
Linda G. says
we love to take small trips and explore the interesting sights around our state
Tess Crosswhite says
I love zoos! My dad did too!
Mariah says
I would love to have these for our fall getaway to an area pumpkin patch
Rosanne (@rosannepm) says
I’d like to take my son and his family somewhere. My son and grandson both have had rare illesses in the last 2 years requiring advanced medical care.
Shane says
Just took my niece to the Wild Safari Park in SD and would love to take her to the SD Zoo!
Jennifer says
This would be amazing to win! Thank you so much for the chance!
Deb S says
We love visiting the zoo. Really want to go to the zoo in Boston soon.
Richard Hicks says
This is such a great idea. Might make a trip to our zoo now and stay with them!
brich22 at earthlink dot net
Lisa Garner says
This would be the perfect way to afford a weekend trip to the Lake!
ky2here (@ky2here1) says
We’d love to upgrade to Wyndham for our new Year’s vacation.
William K says
I haven’t been to a zoo in a few years
Susan Smith says
This would be great to use when we visit our families
Angela says
Love the idea of a zoocation!
Karrie Millheim says
I am hoping to do a trip this summer. Its great they have this
Jaque R says
This would be wonderful for an upcoming trip I am planning, I am very fond of Travel Lodge accomodations. 🙂 Thank you.
Malissa campbell says
This sounds perfect! WHo doesn’t like a mini-vacay and some time near a zoo?
Wayne Dougherty says
My wife and son would love to getaway for a couple days, Thanks for the great prize.
Kelly A says
Our family hasn’t been to the zoo in ages! What fun!! 🙂
DanV says
This would be fun for a vacation
Natasha Tucker says
Zoocation sounds like so much fun!!
Sarah VM says
My family really want to go to the Philadelphia Zoo. It’s always a great time there. Thanks for the great giveaway!
Helen S says
Sounds like this would make an awesome vacation!!!
schnoodleDo (@schnoodleDo) says
I could use this right now – leaving tomorrow for a road trip from Austin, TX -> Michigan (I’m dreading this)
kelly mcgrew says
i’d like to use for a small vacation. thanks!
tina reynolds says
I love going on vacation taking the kids too a new zoo they love it. They get so excited too see the animals
andrea howard says
our family travels often and I like travelodge because there are so many around the country and are reasonably priced
Toni Marie Caravello (@tonic67) says
I am hoping to win and are we able to choose where we would like to stay and when?
Vicki D. says
We need a vacation and we love going to zoos. We especially like to watch the monkeys.
Christine burd says
Travel lodge and Wyndham are very good companies.. Travel lodge has been great for our family vacations . My wonderful husband has taken us many times to the Cheynne mountain zoo in co.springs and San Diego zoo -both excellent.
Samantha D says
I have had a wild hair about wanting to visit Louisville, KY (and have a hot brown!) This would be the perfect vacation helper!
May Avalon says
this would be great for our next vacation…
Amanda Sakovitz says
I would love to go away this summer but money is tight. Thanks for the giveaway.
Deborah Wallin says
As a single mother, I don’t have money to take my kids on a vacation, so I would dearly love to win this. They are great kids, and deserve some time away.
Susan Climan says
I had no idea that you could get free tickets to so many attractions just by staying at a Travelodge!
Buddy Garrett says
Our granddaughter would love to visit the zoo. This promotion is great.
teenoviedo (@teenoviedo) says
We have a wonderful zoo in Central Florida. The elephants are the main attraction and have been for many year. Recently a zip line was added for extra fun. Zoos are a terrific way to spend family time while learning at the same time.
Thomas Murphy says
I would love to stay at a Travelodge in FL.
Michelle Bush says
Trips to the Zoo never get old, no matter what age you are.
Carolyn Daley says
I would love to win two free nights at Travelodge for when I go back up to Central FL.
Rosey says
We travel to see the grandbaby at the end of the summer, this would help w/the accommodation expenses, woot!
Kelly Amos says
We are members of the NC Zoo Society and have privileges at other parks as a perk. The points would be a real blessing in helping us make plans to use those benefits! 🙂
DC @ Young Adult Money says
This is a great giveaway! My wife and I always try to visit the zoo at least once a Summer. I actually proposed at the Japanese Garden of a Zoo/Conservatory where we had our first date :0
meme says
My kids and I are planning on going to the zoo this summer
star says
hope to win
Allison says
What a great prize! We are traveling quite a bit now too
DJ says
The zoo is one of my BFF’S.