Summer Family Fun + Games!

What do you get when you mix fun + marshmallows + ginger ale + and mustard? Something disgusting, but... you know what's not disgusting? Having a great Summer!

Summer shouldn't be solely about gaming, even though we recommend that it be on the activity list... but there are other things to enjoy. Get crafty, game on, and have some fun... under the sun! I'll kick this post off with a dose of gaming... crank up the speakers and enjoy!

Arts & Crafts don't have to be the same old same old... there are plenty of Printables from Play Nintendo that your children can enjoy. Check these out (many more where these came from):

Pikmin coloring pages:

Powered up activities:

Pikmin...in color!:

Up and away! Paper Mario Airplane:

Print & play with Peach activity book:

Printable Mario & Luigi Masks (Adult required):

Print & Play Princess Peach Crown: (Adult required):

DK dress-up fun! (Adult required):

Paper Pikmin (Adult required):

Stage Craft (Adult required):

Kicking it with Mario:

Wario 'stache mask (Adult assistance required):

If you serve up these activities to your kids once per day, you're looking at nearly a month or so worth of arts and crafts for them to enjoy. Grab crayons or coloring pencils, scissors, print... and dig in! Whether these activities are done at home, vacation or staycation... they're a perfect fit.

 Fun and Affordable Summer Activities for Families in Orlando, Florida 

Orlando, Florida, is renowned for its world-class theme parks, but there’s so much more to explore, especially for families looking for fun and affordable summer activities (even though those usually traveling to Orlando are here for the theme parks). On the most affordable note though, here are some top picks that won’t break the bank:

Crayola Experience Orlando

Located at The Florida Mall, the Crayola Experience is a vibrant, interactive attraction where creativity knows no bounds. Families can enjoy hands-on activities, from making personalized crayons to exploring the color playground. It’s a colorful adventure that kids and adults alike will love.

Fun Spot America Theme Parks

Fun Spot America offers a variety of thrilling rides and attractions, including multi-level go-kart tracks, a wooden roller coaster, and a splash pad. The best part? Admission is free for non-riders, and parking is also complimentary. It’s a perfect spot for a day of excitement without the hefty price tag.

WonderWorks Orlando

This “amusement park for the mind” features over 100 interactive exhibits that blend education and entertainment. From a ropes course to a 6D motion ride, WonderWorks offers endless fun for the whole family. It’s an affordable way to spend a day exploring and learning.

Lake Eola Park

In the heart of downtown Orlando, Lake Eola Park is a serene escape with plenty of activities for families. Enjoy a picnic by the lake, feed the swans, or take a leisurely paddleboat ride. The park also hosts free concerts and events throughout the summer, making it a great spot for budget-friendly fun.

Leu Gardens

For nature lovers, Leu Gardens offers 50 acres of beautiful gardens and landscapes. Admission is free on the first Monday of each month, providing an affordable way to explore the diverse plant collections and enjoy a peacefulday outdoors.

Central Florida Springs

Cool off from the summer heat by visiting one of Central Florida’s natural springs. Places like Wekiwa Springs and Blue Spring State Park offer refreshing swimming spots, kayaking, and scenic trails. Admission fees are minimal, making it a cost-effective family outing.

Orlando Science Center

The Orlando Science Center is a fantastic destination for curious minds. With interactive exhibits, live science demonstrations, and a planetarium, it’s both educational and entertaining. The center often offers discounted admission days, so keep an eye out for deals.

Disney Springs

While visiting the major theme parks can be pricey, Disney Springs offers a taste of Disney magic without the high cost. Stroll through the shops, enjoy live entertainment, and indulge in delicious treats. It’s a fun way to experience the Disney atmosphere on a budget. 

By the way, you can do something additional with this. You can resort hop... just take a free boat, bus, or monorail to the various Disney resorts and immerse yourself without an official resort stay. You can enjoy the atmosphere, the foods, as well as the desserts while being outside only during your transportation.

Big Tree Park & N Mills Ave

Not only do you have a park in this area, but it's right next to North Mills Avenue. This particular road isn't exactly a place presented to tourist, but it's a strip full of restaurants that also contains bars for those looking for that sort of thing.

Splash Pads and Playgrounds

Orlando is home to numerous splash pads and playgrounds that are perfect for cooling off and having fun. Many local parks offer these amenities for free, making them an excellent option for families looking to enjoy the outdoors without spending a lot. Lake Lorna Doone Park is one example of a park with a Splashpad, but... there is more than one option + some resorts have splash pads or mini waterparks.

Dezerland Park Orlando

Dezerland Park is Florida’s largest indoor attraction, offering a wide range of activities for families. Enjoy thrilling go-karting, explore the extensive Orlando Auto Museum, play boutique bowling, immerse yourself in The Pinball Palace, bounce at Jump Start Trampoline, and engage in black light combat with gel blasters in Toxic Blast. With so many unique attractions under one roof, Dezerland Park guarantees a day full of fun and excitement for everyone. Dezerland Deals.

Orlando offers a wealth of affordable activities for families to enjoy during the summer. From interactive museums and natural springs to vibrant parks and free events, there’s something for everyone. So pack your bags, gather the family, and get ready to explore all that Orlando has to offer without breaking the bank. Even if you plan to only go to the parks a portion of the time... you can utilize these other options as fun fillers. Dezerland gives you a place to get out of the sun, rain, and it's open at night. Now let's jump into portable gaming!

 Why Handheld Gaming Devices Are Perfect for a Summer Vacation 

Summer vacations are all about the relaxation, adventure, and making the most of your free time between travel. Whether you’re lounging by the pool, traveling to a new destination, or simply enjoying a staycation, handheld gaming devices like the Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and MSI Claw can enhance your summer experience.

Handheld gaming devices are designed to be portable, making them ideal for travel. The Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and MSI Claw are compact and lightweight, allowing you to easily slip them into your backpack or carry-on luggage. This means you can enjoy your favorite games whether you’re on a plane, at the beach, or at a fly resort. 

So you get the portability + convenience, the ability to connect to a resort TV if you want to use a bigger screen, you can jump online if you have internet access as well. By the way, even if you don't have internet access... you can still enjoy multiplayer on all three of these devices. Off top, you will be able to play multiplayer offline the easiest on the Nintendo Switch, you don't have to worry about using internet/hotspot or Ad-Hoc between two devices. 

If there are more than two gamers, the ease of connecting is even better with the Nintendo Switch and some games give you the ability to play together by way of only one person owning the game. Nevertheless, if you only have one handheld device on deck, and 4 controllers are available... you can still enjoy multiplayer action on these devices (preferably on a big screen). 

So take advantage of the versatility during your travels, fun it up, eat well, create some great memories and... game on!

 + Sophima 

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SEGA takes aim at Nintendo and it's a good thing!

Sega is fully embracing its roots and bringing back the old-school feel that made it a head-turning brand that rivaled Nintendo. As Nintendo's mainstay is the beloved Mario franchise, Sega has grown tired of the blue blur living in his shadow and wants to revamp the Sonic The Hedgehog franchise to surpass Mario in terms of quality and reach.

In a recent interview with Osamu Ohashi, Division Manager at Sega, he expressed his desire for Sonic to finally achieve the goal it was originally created for... to compete with Mario. Ohashi's vision is for Sonic to become a global phenomenon, just like Mario. He even envisions Universal Studios Japan creating a "Sonic Area" for fans to immerse themselves in the world of Sonic. It's clear that Ohashi and the entire team at Sega are passionate about making Sonic a household name once again. However, the question remains - is Sonic being held back by Mario's success, or is Sonic simply tripping over its own Sega-themed shoelaces? Only time will tell if Sega can revitalize Sonic and bring him back to his former glory and then some.

When it comes to video games, there's no denying that Mario's adventures are far more memorable, and it's not because people just want Mario to have better installments. There are Sonic fans who desperately want Sonic to catch his stride and not have this hit/miss reputation going on, they want Sega to go hard... to the degree that supporters can take a step back in awe.

Sega will have to study Mario games, especially the 3D ones... but Super Mario World is certainly one to take notes on also based on the depth it has. I can still go back and play that game but at the same time... I can go back and play certain Sonic games too. What has Nintendo done differently though? 

They've kept it cohesive, borrowing from the past (Mario's movements from Super Mario 64... can be seen in Super Mario Odyssey), but... they kept things moving forward in solid ways that decrease frustration and rev up the fun factor. Put the necessary time in to make everything smooth on a fluid level, and bring in a writer who can draw someone in with a captivating story or something. 

By the way, Mario rolling around... totally feels like something borrowed from Sonic (but he moves much smoother with it). What can Sonic borrow?

Oh yeah... the city from Super Mario Odyssey... totally reminds me of Sonic Adventure.

That's not to say that Sonic can't be as thrilling without using pointers from Mario's adventures, but Sega needs to get serious about what they want to do with him if they're going to take on Nintendo. While games like Sonic Colors, Sonic Generations, and Sonic Frontiers have their merits, Sonic Adventure is the stand-out game for me that they should honestly consider exploring again but... in an all-new way and building upon it. I'm reminded of Sonic's movies and despite him living in a city, he has the ability to travel through rings. They can totally play on that and other emeralds from the past (see what I did there?). By the way, Super Mario Bros. Wonder also feels like the second coming of Super Mario World to me.

Mario has his adventures, but story isn't something Nintendo goes in-depth on by way of a script using voice acting. They let the captions and action do the talking. You play and proceed, and while you do get to enjoy progression as you make your way to big bad Bowser... an epic story showcasing Sonic's personality can help him win with little differences such as that. Add real comedy in there... Sonic has way more personality... and people saw it in the films.

This isn't to crap on Mario, he's the more squeaky-clean character... whereas Sonic was more of that cool character who's a little rough around the edges. By the way, Sega has other dope games... so it's not like they don't know how to deliver solid games, they just need to break things down to a science with Sonic.

Sega has tried in the past and continues to try in regards to the story... which is something I don't think they should abandon.

Anyway, Sega it's good to see this energy from Sega. Sonic Superstars is a step in the right direction, and if they continue to maintain a competitive spirit... we win. Sonic is still around for a reason, and it's because gamers want to support it. So keep on going Sega... keep what works while finding ways to wow the audience with new gameplay mechanics and exciting adventures. No longer should Sonic simply fly through environments though (I've always said this)... unless the section justified it. He needs to bring back the sense of wonder and excitement that made players fall in love with him in the first place.

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Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Nintendo Direct + The Super Mario Bros Movie... is probably the only movie I'm going to see next year!

I'm not big on going to the movie theaters, especially after the big bad C reared its head, but... I might have to make an exception. The Super Mario Bros Movie is something I really want to see, outside of being a gamer, it looks amazing and... I'm just curious about the experience.

On top of that, Super Nintendo Land is headed our way in Orlando (also in 2023), so I'm just excited all around. Not to a fanboy degree, because I still have a love-hate relationship with Nintendo, but... Mario's a classic and great animation is always an eye-catcher. This poster might even find its way into the studio somewhere.

Check out The Super Mario Bros Movie Direct... below, and game on!

The Super Mario Bros Movie description

From Illumination and Nintendo comes a new animated film based on the world of Super Mario Bros. Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic (collaborators on Teen Titans Go!, Teen Titans Go! To the Movies) from a screenplay by Matthew Fogel (The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part, next summer's Illumination film Minions: The Rise of Gru), the film stars Chris Pratt as Mario, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Charlie Day as Luigi, Jack Black as Bowser, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong, Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong, Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek and Sebastian Maniscalco as Spike.

The film is produced by Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and by Shigeru Miyamoto for Nintendo. The film will be co-financed by Universal Pictures and Nintendo and released worldwide by Universal Pictures.

The Super Mario Bros Movie is headed to theaters... April 7, 2023!

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