Family Friendly Entertainment

Ever since starting Switchback, our family has toned back any spending, entertainment and travel.  Prior to starting this, and having a sales job, I was always out.  When paying for tickets is on your own dime, finding fun and enjoyable things for the family is both sickening and sad. 

Buying tickets to a professional sport (baseball aside) almost requires a second mortgage if you want to take a family of 5.  Tickets, parking, food, souvenirs , etc.  It all adds up and it ads up fast.  If you can afford it and - great. If not I am always in search of family fun that doesn't require insane costs!

Saturday Saturday Saturday!

I remember as a kid always hearing about Monster Jam on the tv - it was a spectacle of spectacles and it was always going to be one day only at the Metrodome.  It only took me 38 years, but I finally made it to one and took my family. 

Tickets cost a whopping $45 per person and we are about 8 rows back in the end zone.  While I am sure that the 50 yard line seats gave a slightly better view, we had the most epic view of the trucks doing the backflips!  Compare this to a NFL game and you can't get your left foot in the stadium for $45.

We parked on the street and even with the city of Minneapolis event rates, we saved about $10 from the closest garage.  Parking was $21 for the three hours. 

Souvenirs were where they get you! A shaved ice in a souvenir cup cost $30.  But.... it is a cup that the kids have used every day since.  I used it as a lesson to teach the kids about the costs of things like that and my two oldest had to split the cost of the cup with us.  My daughter is the oldest and when she realized how much it was handing over the money she balked and was dismayed asking questions like "Why does a plastic cup cost this much?" 

Aside from branded merchandise, food and beverage prices are standard.  Pro tip - we bring in collapsable cups and buy a bottle of water that we can refill and then split amongst us.  We refilled it 4 times saving us $22.00.

Family Fun

As a recovering alcoholic, I am always a bit timid to go to large events. It seems like there is always the drunken fools running around (full disclaimer that in my early 20's that was me) and saying things kids don't need to hear.  

Sure, there were plenty of alcohol sales and many people enjoying a beverage, but I  didn't encounter a single drunken person! That is a huge win for me and my young family.  It was nice being able to depart not having to explain what something meant or why someone was acting a certain way. 

And hey, I get it - alcohol is an addiction and a brutal one at that so if you are reading this and thinking I am judging you, I am not.  If you want to change I am here to help. 

Everything was truly kid and family focused with fun, engaging, and exciting things during the entire show.  My kids now want the remote control monster truck they were driving around the stadium at the intermission - which admittedly dad might want a bit more. 

Finding fun, family focused activities can be tough, particularly in the world we live in now.  This was a smashing success as a family and I am going to be advocating that everyone wanting to have a good family day look into it. 

I am thankful that the Monster Jam group has kept their focus on families and kids, particularly kids and making them feel special.  There isn't much else out there like this anymore and entertainment like this should be rewarded. 

Whats your favorite family entertainment?