Visiting Bismarck North Dakota??? Must Eat Here!

Space Aliens Grill & Bar - Bismarck, ND

1304 E Century Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58503
Phone: (701) 223-6220
Fax: (701) 223-2252

This place was very cool!

Plus on Tuesday nights Kids eat for $1.99

Enter the galactic center of the Space Aliens universe when you visit our Bismarck, North Dakota location. The mothership landed here first, determined to spread goodwill and good food. That’s right -- there is intelligent life down here and they know where to eat. Space Aliens® Grill & Bar pulls in children and adults alike with the irresistible gravitational pull of out-of-this-world food. Our restaurants beam up the imaginations of all earthlings that walk into our world. The décor features a 30-foot-high domed ceiling that displays a view of outer space. A force field of alien sculptures in the dining room, bar and arcade, showcase a variety of extraterrestrial settings and distinct personalities, encouraging each earthling to relax and enjoy the moment. Earthly explorers can enjoy a menu ranging from Martian Munchies™ to Alien Burgers™. It’s more than enough food to fuel them up for their next flight.

The food was BBQ style. The loaded potatoes were a meal in it self.
The value was very good. For a family of 6 bill was $64

HOTEL REVIEW Fairfield Inn & Suites Rapid City

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•    Fairfield Inn & Suites Rapid City

                                                            1314 N. Elk Vale Road · Rapid City, South Dakota 57703 USA

Before going I called and spoke to the manager Deborah. I explained that we were on a 40 day Road trip and I was hoping for a better price than posted on the web. After many conversations she was able to extend a great price for our 3 day stay. We planned the stay 4 months in advance.

Upon arrival I was greeted at the desk with a smile and tons of local information. To my surprise there were  4 water park passes at no charge waiting for me, which was much appreciated.

The Hotel was super clean and the staff was super friendly!

We stayed in the suite and loved the room. 

The Plush Bedding featuring crisp linens, fluffier pillows, thicker pillowtop mattresses. The rooms smelled fresh and really made us feel right at home.

• Spacious guest rooms with a well-lit work desk, two phones and data ports
• Free cable TV with HBO, in-room hair dryer, iron and ironing board
• Free High-Speed Internet Access
• LodgeNet Movie and Gaming System in every room
• In Room Delivery from Slider's Bar & Grill
• This hotel has a smoke-free policy 

The Marriott Fairfield Inn & Suites is the home to South Dakota's largest indoor water park! Conveniently located at Exit 61 off Interstate 90 with easy access to Rapid City Regional Airport, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, and Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. Come and let the kids unwind in our 30,000 sq. ft. "WaTiki" Indoor water park which includes waterslides, lazy river and arcade. Enjoy Slider's Bar & Grill a beautiful 210 seat restaurant adjacent to Our hotel. The menu boasts an appealing array of gourmet pizzas, slider sandwiches, salads and entrees sure to satisfy even the most discerning palate. The restaurant features a horseshoe shaped bar that features a huge 10 foot video wall to watch your favorite sporting event and a clear acrylic tube to watch the water park action unfold before your eyes. WI-FI and wired internet, and fitness center and complimentary breakfast sure to start your day out right!

Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park

Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park

1881 Wisconsin Dells Parkway, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965

We arrived at the park In August 2012. This was the first fun thing to do on our 21 day road trip. The kids were super excited and couldn't wait to ride the coasters. The lines weren't too bad. The water park was packed. Good value, pay one price and do it all! The food was a little pricey but overall ok. The buildings are replicas of Roman Architecture and brought me back to our amazing time in Italy. The rides were fun and we rode them all day. The water park indoors was great when it rained later in the day. We could still enjoy our time while it poured and lightning outside staying safe and sound inside.

HOP VALLEY BREWING COMPANY & RESTURANT

Hop Valley Brewing Company

980 Kruse Way, Springfield, OR 97477

Per suggestion of the desk clerk Mckenzie at Quality Inn & Suites in Springfield Oregon, we visited the Brewery.

The staff was inviting and the menu would please anyone. We sat outside as it was August and it was a comfortably cool night. The Waitress greeted us with a smile and sat us at our table upon arrival. We looked over our menus and were surprised that for such a hopping place the prices we reasonable and within our budget with a family of 6. My 6 year old and 8 year old eat off the kids menu and my 11 & 13 year old eat off the adult menu. When the food arrived it was fresh and super hot. It looked amazing our plate as well as the portions were huge. The food tasted delicious and our waitress made sure the kids were entertained with coloring pages and crayons. My husband and I were equally impressed with the fact that we didn't ever have to ask for a refill. The waitress made sure we had what we needed when we needed it. For a family of 6 our bill was $70 and we were stuffed and satisfied! Great Place, Great Food,Great Time!

If you are ever in Springfield Oregon this restaurant is a must stop and eat!

HOTEL REVIEW SPRINGFIELD, OREGON

                                              Quality Inn & Suites (OR164)

3550 Gateway Street, Springfield, OR, US, 97477

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Upon Arrival:

We pulled into the lot of the hotel. I was very impressed with its exterior. It appeared to have been newly remodeled. The entrance was so inviting. As I walked into the foyer there was a beautiful lounge with fireplace. I approached the front Desk and was greeted by a young lady, Mckenzie. She was so sweet. She welcomed us to the hotel. She told me all about the amenities. She was very informative. I expressed to her how Me my husband and my four children had been on the road and we were road tripping cross-country and this was one of many stopovers. We originally had 2 queen bed room booked. Mckenzie understand of our needs and offered us the Family Suite at no extra charge being that we were Choice Privilege Gold members. I had no idea what we were getting and graciously excepted. I had mentioned that we hadn't had anything to eat and Mckenzie suggested a few budget options for us as well as she gave us coupons for area restaurants. She encouraged us to try out a local place called 

HOP VALLEY BREWING COMPANY.

She gave me my keys to the room and We got all the stuff out of the car and headed to our room.

Room:

As I open the door I was pleasantly surprised with a kitchen area and sitting area. Which had a pull out couch, and TV. 

Next to my left was double doors opening to a spacious suite with 2 queen beds and full bath.With TV.

Walking through the sitting area to the right was the master suite with a king bed and full bathroom and TV.

The kids wanted to go for a swim so we enjoyed the pool.

Overall: 

This was such an enjoyable stay. Mckenzie made sure we had enough pillows and blankets as well as I needed milk late at night and she was so helpful in getting it from the kitchen without a hassle. The rooms were fresh and super clean.

After being on the road for such a long time it was nice to know that all our needs were met. The pillows and beds were super comfortable The bedding was clean and soft that we slept with such ease. This hotel is a great place to go with families. The staff went out of there way to make sure our night was enjoyable. Oh and the Restaurant she suggested, The food and staff were amazing.

We made our destination Crater Lake in Oregon well rested and ready for adventure! 

Thanks Mckenzie!

Quality Inn & Suites, a Springfield hotel near the Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend

The Quality Inn & Suites® hotel has easy Interstate access and is less than one mile from Gateway Mall and the Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend. This Springfield, OR hotel is centrally located five miles from the Eugene Airport(Mahlon Sweet Field), the University of Oregon, Valley River Center, Autzen Stadium, Regional Sports Center and PK Park, and is close to many Oregon wineries and golf courses.

Nature enthusiasts will enjoy the McKenzie River recreation area. This Oregon hotel's relaxing and inviting accommodations can help you have the runner's edge with a good night's sleep for the annual Eugene Marathon.

Additional nearby points of interest include:

• Hendricks and Armitage Parks
• Lane Community College
• Hayward Field
• Northwest Christian University
• Lane County Fairgrounds

The Splash! Lively Park Swim Center indoor water park is a favorite with kids. A variety of restaurants and cocktail lounges can be found in the surrounding area.

Hotel amenities and features include:

• Free high-speed Internet access
• Free continental breakfast
• Free local calls
• Free daily newspaper
• Pet-friendly hotel; extra fees apply

Guests of this Springfield, OR hotel will enjoy relaxing in the seasonal outdoor pool. A large parking area is provided for added convenience.

Business travelers will appreciate the business center with access to copy andfax services. The meeting room accommodates up to 30 people for most events and business functions.

All guest rooms at this Oregon hotel have refrigerators, microwaves, coffee makers, Quality Sleeper by Serta® beds, irons, ironing boards and hair dryers. Large two-bedroom suites are perfect for families. Non-smoking rooms are offered.

Whether traveling to Oregon for business or pleasure, make the Quality Inn & Suites hotel your home away from home when visiting the Springfield area. We look forward to seeing you soon.

SAVE $$$ on the TOP 5 ROAD TRIPPING SNACKS

Family Snacking

You can prepare these snacks in bulk to pass around the car and share with the whole family. These foods are sure to keep the kids happy so they don't start asking to stop at the next exit (until they need the restroom, that is).

Road Trip Snack #1 - Trail Mix
Trail mix is a quintessential road trip snack. Trail mix contains a variety of calorie- and fat-dense foods, meaning that it will satiate a car's occupants. Likewise, trail mix is somewhat varied, meaning that most people will enjoy at least one component of it. After all, who doesn't like M&M's? Another good thing about trail mix is that it doesn't leave one's hands sticky. On a road trip, this can do a lot to save a car's interior. The next time you go on a road trip, consider getting a bag or two of trail mix to pass around the car. Just be careful not to spill! Granola is a similar road trip snack, as are dried fruits.

Road Trip Snack #2 - Slim Jims and Beef Jerky
Again, "clean" foods are ideal for road trip snacks. If you get a craving for protein while on a road trip, some slim jims or beef jerky can do a lot to satisfy your hunger. Beef jerky is a good road trip food because it can be shared easily. Be careful though, because it might go more quickly than you planned.

Road Trip Snack #3 - Carrots and Celery with Peanut Butter
Granted, this road trip snack will require transport in a cooler. However, carrots and celery are healthy snacks and can ensure that you get at least some nutrition while on a road trip. Likewise, the peanut butter can provide some protein for anyone on the road trip that is a vegetarian. I recommend getting either the small, personal-sized peanut butter containers or putting several sizable dollops of peanut butter in the same plastic container as the carrots and celery. Cherry tomatoes are another healthy road trip snack to consider, though they are more likely to be damaged in transport.

Road Trip Snack #4 - Mini-Pretzels or Pretzel Sticks
Mini-pretzels and pretzel sticks are a good choice for a road trip snack because they aren't messy, sticky, or greasy. Likewise, they are fairly cheap and easy to find. However, the salt on these snacks will probably make road trip passengers thirsty, so be sure that drinks are available.

Road Trip Snack #5 - Water
Water's not really a snack, but the issue of road trip beverages must be considered. Water is the ideal road trip beverage because it hydrates, it won't make things sticky if spilled, it won't stain, and it doesn't contain diuretics like caffeine. This means that urgent side-of-the-road stops will be less likely during your road trip.


Save on snacks:

Snacks are big budget killers on road trips -- racks of Cheetos and Fritos at 99 cents are irresistible in convenience stores. Pick up cheaper chips at grocery stores in economy-sized bags instead and get twice as much for your money. Bring a cooler  and load it up with sodas and water.

Even better. We stop at Costco or BJ's. Pick up a case of water, snacks and drinks for the kids. While I'm shopping Hubby goes to fill up the tank. We get gas at a cheaper price there. 

Ice should not be an issue. Stop at the ice machine at your hotel and fill up for free!

Road trips can be a great source of fun in the summer, and having suitable road trip snacks can make the experience more enjoyable for all involved. 

GAS SAVING TIPS FOR TRIPS

Who doesn’t want to save on gas these days?

With these tips you will!

Shell Deal

Save 10¢, 20¢, 30¢ or more per gallon on Shell gasoline

Shell and Stop & Shop are teaming up to save you money. Save 10¢ or more per gallon at Shell when you earn points at Stop & Shop! Let your savings add up to 20¢, 30¢, or more per gallon, up to 35 gallons of fuel per purchase.* Offer available at participating Shell and Stop & Shop locations.
Here’s how

Use your Stop & Shop Card every time you shop at Stop & Shop. Don’t have one? Just go to Stop & Shop and fill out an application or visit www.stopandshop.com/shell - opens in new window to sign up online. Earn 1 point for every dollar sp

ent with your Stop & Shop Card, and save at Shell!
For example:

• 100 points = 10¢ savings per gallon of fuel for 1 fill-up
• 200 points = 20¢ savings per gallon of fuel for 1 fill-up
• 300 points = 30¢ savings per gallon of fuel for 1 fill-up
• 400 points = 40¢ savings per gallon of fuel for 1 fill-up
• More points = more savings!

Fred Meyers Gas Stations include Loaf N Jug KwikShop Tom Thumb TurkeyHill Quick Stop Kroger Frys  This is where one-stop shopping at Freddy’s is at its finest. First, use less gas by finding more of what’s on your shopping list in one stop at one store. Then while you’re here, fill up at a Fred Meyer Fuel Center and enjoy savings on every gallon just by showing your Rewards Card! Here’s how it works. Use your Rewards Card and enjoy these discounts: SAVE 3¢ per gallon Every day with Rewards... Any time you use your Rewards Card at a Fred Meyer Fuel Center, you’ll automatically enjoy a 3¢ per gallon discount. SAVE 10¢ per gallon When you redeem 100 Fuel Points for your Fred Meyer in-store purchases... Every time you earn 100 Fuel Points on qualifying Fred Meyer purchases during a calendar month, you'll earn a 10¢ per gallon discount on gasoline during your next visit to one of our Fuel Centers when you show your Rewards Card.* SAVE 15¢ per gallon When you redeem 100 Fuel Points, and you scan and pay with your Fred Meyer Rewards® Visa® Card** Don’t have a Rewards Visa yet? Apply today and SAVE 35¢ a gallon for 3 months! At Fred Meyer Fuel Centers | Details How to use your Fuel Points… Once you’ve earned 100 fuel  points with $100 in qualifying in-store purchases*, you may redeem them for one discounted fuel purchase (limited to one vehicle). Fuel Points earned in one calendar month must be redeemed by the end of the following month. It’s easy to see how many Fuel Points you’ve accumulated toward a 10¢ or 15¢ discount… Just check the bottom of your Fred Meyer receipt**. Anytime you’re over 100 Fuel Points ($100 in qualifying Fred Meyer purchases*), you have one of these larger discounts to use on your next fill-up. Follow your points online and set up your Rewards account… Visit Rewards online, and you can easily track your Fuel Points as well as your regular Rewards Points. Plus, you can update your preferred store and view weekly ads. It only takes a minute!

Fuel Rewards programs provide us with a fantastic opportunity to extend our savings beyond the grocery store and out to the fuel pump! If you are not already taking advantage of Safeway’s Fuel Rewards Program, you should be! Here is everything that you will need to know:

There are three different ways that you can earn points to put towards savings at the gas pump:

Every 100 points that you ear will save you .10 per gallon for a single fill-up at a Safeway gas station. You can use your points in increments of 100 and use up to 1000 points for a single fill-up.

         Save $0.02 to $0.04 at the pump Instantly 

• CHOOSE 1 OF 2 WAYS TO GET A FREE ADVENTURE CLUB CARD:

1. Online: sign-up for a card and it will be mailed to you.
2. Any Maverik Store: fill out a paper application for your Adventure Club Card and start using it immediately to accrue your Trail Points.  Your information will be entered into our system usually within 30 days.

WHAT YOUR ADVENTURE CLUB CARD GETS YOU:

• Earn 1 Trail Point for every dollar you spend for most in-store items (certain items are excluded like lottery tickets, phone cards, stamps, money orders, cigarettes, etc).
• Every month certain store items will earn you extra points, usually 2 times, 3 times, 5 times or even 10 times! The signage for these items usually is marked with a trail point symbol to show how many extra points you can earn.
• Every Tuesday all of your points earned for that day (regular and extra) are tripled!  Hello Triple Trail Point Tuesdays!
• You can “link” cards together to combine earned Trail Points. Any rewards earned will be mailed to the address associated with the primary card.
• To link cards, view purchases and Trail Point history or to manage your account, you will need to create an user account.Giving you the ability to track your Trail Points, learn about special offers, and stay informed.
• Earn 1 Trail Point for every gallon of fuel you purchase (sorry, no points are earned on the dollar value of the fuel, just the number of gallons).
• Trail Points accumulate for 3 calendar months (1 quarter) and reset at the end of that quarter. Points do not roll over to the next quarter.
• At the end of your quarter you are rewarded based upon the level you met.  There are 3 reward levels: Base Camp 500 points, Treeline 1000 points, Summit 1500 points.
• Rewards are automatically mailed to you in the form of a Maverik Gift Card pre-loaded with a cash value: $5 for reaching Base Camp, $10 for reaching Treeline and $15 for reaching Summit.
• You may also call customer service at 1-800-789-4455 for questions or to change something on your account.

A PARENTS TIP TO ROAD TRIP SANITY!!!!!

To keep the kids entertained this is a helpful tip that will keep the car quiet for a few hours. 

What kept them entertained at night and in between destinations? 

Redbox!

On our road trips we stop at all the Red Box's. I can't tell you what a lifesaver Red box has been. 

It’s convenient. It’s cheap, at a buck per night, per movie,  if you return the movies in on time. You can reserve movies at your local box via their website or on the fly.


Redbox movie kiosks are located in popular businesses such as Wal-Mart, 7-Eleven, McDonalds and Walgreens. If you’ve been to one of these places recently, there’s a good chance you’ve passed by a Redbox machine on your way inside.

Renting on line- Once you’ve selected your movie, choose the Redbox location where you’ll be picking up the DVDs. Don’t worry if you don’t know the nearest Redbox location, Redbox.com has a handy locator tool which allows you to search as close as 5 miles and as far as 20 miles. You can even select a location in a different city if you’re traveling.

It seems no matter how small the town was, a box was close by. 

We love REDBOX!

FREE LUNCH ROAD TRIPPIN' STYLE!

Make sure to pack the necessities. 

Knife, Scissors, and a Butter Knife. Wet Ones

Must haves for your cooler.

Mayonaise 

Jelly

Peanut-Butter

Bread crumbs 

Drinks

Tuna in a pouch

Chicken in a pouch

Plastic container (for Eggs)

Ice from the Hotel ($0)

We have a plug in Cooler in the car and a big cooler on the hitch. 

Most Hotels have hard boiled eggs at breakfast. Everyone grab an egg and store in the cooler.

As well as Bread.

The Tuna & Chicken can be mixed right in the pouch. (Add some bread crumbs to the mayonnaise for flavor.)

PB&J sandwiches 

Egg Salad sandwiches

TIP for keeping your bread from being flattened. Store in a plastic bag(shop-rite), most cars have a handle hanging by the front passenger side door with a hook (utility hook) tie it up so you don't squish it up. 

Not only is this a money a saver but it also allows for a quick picnic at a local park, or you may be out in the middle of now where with no place to stop. It is always great to be prepared. 

We found this great park on the road. It was the Worlds Largest Otter! 

Eating at the Falls!

RESTAURANT FAMILY NIGHT TIP!!!!

Check the food chains website. As well as local restaurants.

Most of the restaurants have a family night

Kids eat for $1.99

Kids eat Free Night!

Stick to dinning the family night deals and it can be a huge money saver.

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST TRAVEL EXPENSE?

Please be specific.

HOTEL FEES SAVER!

Make sure you check your final bill at check out.  A lot of the added fees can be removed. 

Safe Charge- I asked the lady at the desk what this was. She said it is for the use of the safe. they have no proof it was used or not and legally can not charge you. Tell them you didn't use the safe and would like the charge removed. Savings $4.00 Not a lot but on long trips it all adds up! 

Roswell, New Mexico

Sweat Saving Tip!

Bring a Umbrella. I remember being at Arches National Park and needed some shade. A black umbrella works best it will keep you cool and out of the sun. I was able to take the hike. It was no sweat!

 Its also great when the unexpected rain shower comes through.

Packing Techniques for RoadTripping Families

I am writing to let you know how useful your xxL bags are. Last year my family (hubby 4 kids and I) went on a 40 day road trip. This year a 21 day road trip. You can imagine how many clothes we would need to be pack for 6 people for that length of time. I could not have manage if it wasn't for your xxL zip-bags. My plan was to place 5 outfits (shorts, shirt, underwear and socks) for each of us in one big bag. This not only saved space in the car but our precious time. When we would get to our hotel for the night we would grab 2 bags, one carried all our toiletries, blow dryer , contacts stuff chargers etc. and the other would be our clothes. This was great because we didn't need to lug 6 suitcases in and out of hotels. Each night we spent at a new hotel so you can appreciate why simplicity was so important. The added touch is the label where I could write with a sharpe the destinations where each bag should be grabbed. We look forward to many more trips using ziplock bags. There are so many other families out there that road trip. I hope my tip gets out there to help others. 

ziploc.com

Money saving Tips while eating out.

Places to Eat.

TGI Fridays 2 course for $10, 3 course for $16.99 meal. Also, Become a Rewards Give me More Stripes Member  ( Get meals and desserts free also chips and salsa all you can eat free)

Apple-bees 2 for $20 (one App 2 entrees.)

KFC  Family Bucket of Chicken with Sides

ALWAYS ask your Hotel what restaurants are in the area and what discounts they have. Most you just show your room key and can save 10% off your entire order, Some free Appetizer, $5 off or Buy one Get one Free.

Going out for dinner with a family of six can be very expensive. Soda at $3 a pop is a killer. Save money and order water for all. Be prepared and bring the mix packets Hawaiian Punch Singles to go, Crystal Light Singles. There are so many flavors you can please everyone. Thats $18 soda with a Tip $3.60. Thats a $21.60 SAVINGS!

Road Tripping if fun but sticking to the budget can be tricky. using these simple Tips can keep you on track.