Money burning a hole in my pocket

[Suburban Rhythm]

I come before FOFC for their wise, far-reaching opinion...

I think there have been similar posts in the past re: having some play money, looking for ideas.

With the likely event the NHL season will be cancelled, I'll have about $3000 coming back to me from the Penguins.

How do I spend it?

My parameters-

While I certainly could do the responsible thing (and probably will with part of it). So let's say I have $1000 to use.

I'm looking for something fun to do with my family - me, wife, 8 year old daughter, 6 year old son. I've thrown the idea around of catching a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton AHL game (Penguins farm team), taking a weekend road trip with my son. My wife and daughter would be bored out of their skulls.

No real need/desire to upgrade the TV, phone, or anything like that.

Vacation plans for summer of 2013 are pretty much set, so changing those are going on a more elaborate trip probably isn't happening.

[Leroy Veritas]

The AHL idea sounds like a good one. Maybe do a double header weekend and find something in the daytime as well. I'm doing Norfolk and Hershey trips in the coming weeks for double headers. I plan to gorge myself on chocolate in Hershey and visit family & friends in Norfolk/VA Beach. With the talent playing in the AHL right now, it's really good quality hockey.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Leroy Veritas

The AHL idea sounds like a good one. Maybe do a double header weekend and find something in the daytime as well. I'm doing Norfolk and Hershey trips in the coming weeks for double headers. I plan to gorge myself on chocolate in Hershey and visit family & friends in Norfolk/VA Beach. With the talent playing in the AHL right now, it's really good quality hockey.

We might actually do a Bears - Baby Pens game in Hershey if we can find an acceptable date. The drive to Hershey from Pittsburgh is about 3 hours. To WBS will be double that.

Wish WBS played in Cleveland this year, I'd consider doing two day trips, Cleveland and Hershey.

Also considering either a Wheeling Nailers game (Pens ECHL affiliate, 1 hour trip) or an Erie Otters game (about 2+ hours).

[Comey]

If you have never been to Scranton, you won't miss a whole lot. It's a rather dead city. If you are able, plan a trip to see them in Hershey. There is a lot to do in the area, Baltimore's not far away if you want to head down there for a day...overall, Hershey > Scranton.

[Desnudo]

cabin in the woods?

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Comey

If you have never been to Scranton, you won't miss a whole lot. It's a rather dead city. If you are able, plan a trip to see them in Hershey. There is a lot to do in the area, Baltimore's not far away if you want to head down there for a day...overall, Hershey > Scranton.

The summer vacation, as it now stands, is exactly that.

We did the trip about 3 years ago, but the kids couldn't ride too much outside of the kids rides. This year, they'll be tall enough for most rides. So planning on a few days in Hershey, possibly a day at Dutch Wonderland too.

My wife's brother and his family are in Baltimore, so will swing through there for a day on the way home.

[Lathum]

Hockey hall of fame?

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Lathum

Hockey hall of fame?

Not a bad idea...

I don't know exactly how much my son would get out of the HHOF at 6, but he's way into knowing all teams, players etc.

And we could do a 3-4 day Toronto/Niagara Falls tour so my wife and daughter might actually enjoy it

[Crapshoot]

New tv?

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm

Not a bad idea...

I don't know exactly how much my son would get out of the HHOF at 6, but he's way into knowing all teams, players etc.

And we could do a 3-4 day Toronto/Niagara Falls tour so my wife and daughter might actually enjoy it

Niagra is great and Toronto is a cool city. CN tower is there as well as other attractions. HOF is really cool, you can take pics with the cup, etc...

[sterlingice]

I, too, would like to suggest things you have said are not good ideas in a way to show that I, too, did not read past the first line

SI

[sterlingice]

I always seem to see wacky short weekend-type getaways on Groupon that pique my interest. I've only tried one so far but that seems where you could check to find things in your area that you didn't even know existed and a lot seem geared towards multiple people or families. That said, I'm not sure what to do with the age range of 6 and 8 as the stuff I'm typically looking at ranges from like hot air balloon/airplane ride over city to adult classes (cooking, photography, hand gun) to somewhat older aged- like teenager- entertainment (laser tag, paintball, crazy trampoline place, etc).

SI

[spleen1015]

Give it to your wife to spend.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Crapshoot

New tv?

Not really needed. We have 2 we bought in the last 18 months.

Originally Posted by Lathum

Niagra is great and Toronto is a cool city. CN tower is there as well as other attractions. HOF is really cool, you can take pics with the cup, etc...

We did Toronto and HOF before the kids were born, and NF once since, a long weekend about 3 years ago. But those are certainly on the list

Originally Posted by sterlingice

I always seem to see wacky short weekend-type getaways on Groupon that pique my interest. I've only tried one so far but that seems where you could check to find things in your area that you didn't even know existed and a lot seem geared towards multiple people or families. That said, I'm not sure what to do with the age range of 6 and 8 as the stuff I'm typically looking at ranges from like hot air balloon/airplane ride over city to adult classes (cooking, photography, hand gun) to somewhat older aged- like teenager- entertainment (laser tag, paintball, crazy trampoline place, etc).

SI

Will have to look. I've never been big on Groupon/Living Social the few times I've looked.

But maybe I'm jaded because of my brother in law. He buys, seemingly, every one he sees, hardly uses any of them, or does so in a rushed manner (as in, this expires tomorrow...you want to go today?)

Originally Posted by spleen1015

Give it to your wife to spend.

Honey, is that you?

[Crapshoot]

Ps, one thing I really enjoyed back in PA was going whitewater rafting. Probably way too cold ow, But I remember driving a couple of hours outside Pittsburgh and having an honest to goodness blast on some really good water, including a big Class 4 at the end. Is your son to young to enjoy that? I guess you couldn't really do it till spring.

[cuervo72]

MalcPow might have an option for you to blo---invest your money.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Crapshoot

Ps, one thing I really enjoyed back in PA was going whitewater rafting. Probably way too cold ow, But I remember driving a couple of hours outside Pittsburgh and having an honest to goodness blast on some really good water, including a big Class 4 at the end. Is your son to young to enjoy that? I guess you couldn't really do it till spring.

Ohiopyle

I did ww rafting twice in HS and had a blast. I'll have to check it out, maybe there's a more family friendly for the kids.

[stevew]

Go hit up the Pro Football HOF in the morning, and then shoot up to Cleveland for a Lake Erie Monsters game at night. Looks like they are home almost every saturday in December.

[RainMaker]

This will be the lamest idea, but if you can't come up with anything good, just drop $1500 into each kids college fund.

[tarcone]

ROAD TRIP!
Jump in the car and drive south. There are tons of cool things to see on a road trip.
Stop when you want. Stop often. Find restaurants, road side tourist traps,
sports related stops.
Make it a long weekend. End up at Sea World. as a surprise. Spend a day and then road trip home.

[B & B]

Do what I do with free money.

Double it


Take Arizona St. + 3 1/2 and make it 6k.

Game kicks in six and a half hours, you have time.

[EagleFan]

Do a double header... two $500 prostitutes?

[M GO BLUE!!!]

A statue of Pumpy.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by M GO BLUE!!!

A statue of Pumpy.

Greensburg is about an hour from me...

But I figure it would get lost among the multiple Pumpy statues already erected.
(Yeah I used 'erected'...it's a Pumpy discussion).

[Logan]

Originally Posted by B & B

Do what I do with free money.

Double it


Take Arizona St. + 3 1/2 and make it 6k.

Game kicks in six and a half hours, you have time.

Should've given it to your wife to spend.

[Apathetic Lurker]

I hear the Overlook Hotel is looking for a winter caretaker this season..Take the money, rent a car and make it a roadtrip with the wife and rugrats.....