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For Brandcation Attendees (#4)

17 Jul By

The info below is subject to change and I will keep adding to it, so please keep checking back. Iten will be up on this page soon as well.

Sponsors

Dollywood (free admission + lunch)

  • Extra Info: We will allow you to split up in groups to run through Dollywood at your leisure. We will meet for lunch, please do not be late. They will be giving us a presentation about the brand at that time. We will then be able to go out again into the park. Dollywood will be offering vans for those bloggers interested in visiting the Dolly cabins. This is a unique way to bring something extra to your blog posts. They will bring you over and back to the park in groups. Please note that Dolly brands have been very generous and are looking at hosting Brandcation in a dolly cabin in the future (free of charge) so we would love your opinion if you would stay there.
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Cabin Fever Vacations (special rates for our group)

  • Extra Info: The cabins would love to have you blog on their site. This is a GREAT way to get some travel blogging exposure for future comped trips for your blog and a link back. I will help set up all interested parties.
  • Their Facebook
  • Their Twitter

Dixie Stampede (free admission to dinner show)

Titanic Museum (Free admission to sold out tour, usage of meeting rooms, and breakfast)

 

Wax Museum (free admission, gift. tickets to give away on your blog)

Country Tonight (free admission to concert show, optional event, tickets to giveaway on your blog)

  • Extra Info: This is not a planned event, but they have offered us tickets. Those interested I will pass tickets to you and your friends and you can go at will while exploring. The theater is a multimillion dollar theater.
  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Flashy Blinky Lights – sponsorship for special (surprise) event

(more info coming soon)

 

 

Info you may need:

Hosted by: Brandfluential
Hashtag: #brandcation

(it is also fine to tag your posts with additional hashtags like the location #pigeon forge , #smokeymountains , etc)

We are going to PIGEON FORGE, NOT GATLINBURG. These cities are very different, although only 5 miles apart. PF is hosting us, so please do not write that wrong in your articles.

Things you should know:

We would like to host a group rafflecopter giveaway with one of your posts. The city of Pigeon Forge has been very generous in offering up admissions, food, and information. Its been very Southern hospitality at its finest. We will send out the code in about a week after return and I will keep the tickets and fulfill the prizes. We will all be hosting the same rafflecopter and the prizes will consist of tickets from the locations we visited!

We fully expect you to blog about and include your opinion/pictures for all the comped events and any sponsors that paid for us to attend. You may include the Dolly brand events into one post if you prefer…sorta like a “Dolly Day” (dixie stampede, dollywood). Additionally, we have one sponsor picking up a special event, so we would like you to include “brought to you by ___________”. I will give you more info at that time since its a surprise. After all, the entire reason the companies want bloggers there are to BLOG. Brandcation #3 girls really did a great job (120 posts and over 1400 social media shoutouts) but we believe this group will do even better. When it comes to SWAG and GIVEAWAYS, the focus on this Brandcation will be less swag since we are all coming in from different locations. In any case, you do not have to do an individual post about swag sponsors (unless you would like to) but we do ask that you do one “thank you to” post at the culmination of the event. We will provide you with a digital cut and paste that are welcome to customize.

* Please tweet and facebook while you are live at some of the events. We will ask you/remind you and we do NOT want it to take over the event, but we may ask you during down times to give outs to the brands. Show them the POWER of what you can DO. Our presence at some of these places is a FIRST for them and its up to this group of bloggers to show how positive a strong group of professionals can be.

You will have some down time. Please bring money for some food on your own, snacks, and extras you want to buy. We have built in breaks between events and in the evenings.

WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN

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Because we realize that Brandcations are a special breed of event, we want to thank YOU for giving back to the sponsors in a timely fashion. Between now and 2 weeks after the event, every one of the following earns you an entry :

  • tweet/follow of a brand
  • facebook like/share/follow of brand
  • blog post about the events/brands/brandcation
  • pin of a brand
  • link to a brand, etc
  • stumble one of the attendees posts on brandcation/events
  • any other social media aspect you think of not listed but related to events
  • pre-event ideas: shout outs on twitter, encourage visitors to follow, ask people if they have been to those locations, ask fav rides at dollywood, etc.

One winner will be rewarded from an entry to win thier choice of one of the following three prizes:

“Moms Playtime, Surftime, Alonetime Prize”

which will be an iPad2

or

“Moms a Business Woman with a Blog Prize”

which will be a Canon T3 12.2 meg with 18-55mm lense

or

“Moms Relax, Get out of my room, I am reading Pack”

which includes Kindle fire + 1 year amazon prime + $100 amazon gift card

There will only be ONE winner, but its just out of 33 other bloggers, so your chances get higher the more you do. I will pull the winner by “as the winner is” plugin. Just please come back and put your link to your tweet/facebook/pin, etc. in the comments. Every comment for your posts/social stuff you make on this post is an entry.

In adddition to your comments, PLEASE PLEASE put your articles in this linky when you write them and make the title something for us to know what it is. For example, if you are doing a post on Dixie Stampede, please write (Dixie Stampede/Momdot) or (Pre-brandcation Shoutout/MomDot) etc in the title. We are going to turn over your articles to the brands at the end and its helps us collect them in an easy way.  This is absolutely the most important part of the end of the event for us as the staff for this. Your articles and thoughts on where we visited help us decide future locations.

linky below, please wait for it to load. You may start now!

 


124.
You are next… Click here to enter
This list will close in 157 days, 9 hrs, 6 min (7/25/2013 11:59 PM North America – Central Standard Time)

Filed Under: Brandcation Tagged With: ,

Brandcation Sponsorship Goes to…..

16 Jul By 32 Comments

I didn’t expect to have 36 entries in the Brandcation sponsorship contest. I really didn’t. I thought 5, maybe 10 bloggers, would enter and it would just be a matter of who was the most creative. I was SO wrong. There were not only 36 entries, but 36 fantastic and beautifully written entries, some that included video, some that were heartfelt and some that had fantastic reasons on why they wanted to attend our 4th Brandcation. I was just telling Lynsey we could almost run a whole new event based just on those entries, but unfortunately we only had the one spot to give away.

Or did we…

During the course of this contest, we unfortunately had a blogger have to give up her ticket due to a work situation. While we are VERY VERY sad to see her not be able to attend, we are going to gift out her ticket to a second winner and Lynsey from Moscato Mom offered to pick up the cabin tab.

So in the end, we have been able to pick TWO bloggers based on the generosity of our attending bloggers and their kindness in supporting the women on this event. Which goes to show you just what kind of event this is!

The judges on this sponsorship were Kim and Nicole (on the Brandcation staff) and Toni, Lynsey, and Jen, all whom donated towards the sponsorships. I asked them to send me their top 3 bloggers out of what they read, in order of their picks, and not to copy any other judge. There were two bloggers that were consistently in all the judges emails in spaces 1 and 2 back to me.

Without further ado, the winners are:

Melissa from Fun Saving Mom, whom put together a really authentic video on why she wanted to attend and what she does all day as a mom

and

Cyn from Daily Cynema, whom put up laugh out loud photoshopped photos of herself “attending”, while also adding her desire to bike to Brandcation for charity.

Let me make something super clear.

There was not one bad entry in the bunch. NOT ONE.

Every blogger that entered deserved to win and as bloggers ourselves, we understand the hearts that go into an entry and the hope to win in the end. The simple fact is there could only be 1 (and lucky for us 2) winners but it does not mean that we won’t have other tickets come up. If we do, we will revisit this list to see if we can offer them back out, so please let us know below if you would still like to attend if the ticket (but nothing else) was sponsored. You can read more about past Brandcation events here. If for any reason either of these two bloggers cannot attend, we will revisit the entries for a new winner.

We do BEG you to join the forum and get to know the bloggers (and soak up their knowledge) and hopefully be one of the first to grab a ticket on the next one we host.  I also will list there if we have a ticket open up for any reason. We have a major amount of fun, get to expose the bloggers to really fantastic content to share back on their blogs, and do a ton of bonding. At the end of the day blogging can be very lonely if you isolate yourself. We use Brandcations to connect to brands, bloggers, and to finally meet up with some “co-workers” in a healthy non-competitive environment.

Thank you for every blogger that took the time to enter. We are humbled by your time and thoughtfulness and talent.

~Trisha

Filed Under: Brandcation Tagged With: ,

Win a ticket and lodging to Brandcation!

3 Jul By 24 Comments

We sold out of Brandcation: Blog Lodge in a day and a half but have a surprise for interested in attending bloggers. We are sponsoring the last ticket, free of charge, and the lodging, free of charge courtesy of Minnesota blogger from Life with Levi, and $100 to help with your food and extra expenses/travel stipend courtesy of Toni from Just Stop Screaming to one lucky winner.

Information is below:

Three amazing and fun-filled nights with 33 of your favorite online bloggers building relationships based on memories, adventure, and blog talk.  Just like our last three Brandcations, there will be fantastic comps, lots of bonding, and as always lots of  local and national amazing brand introductions.

In the past we have done Blogggers on Bourbon (New Orleans), Bloggers Go Global (Orlando), and Bloggers Gone Coastal (Pensacola Beach). All the events were widely fun and have a solid reputation of providing a true bonding experience. Please note that while you may win your ticket and lodging, your transportation and  some meals are up to you. Please read all the details on our event page here and note the actual details and responsibilities of attending bloggers.

Here is a small sample of the weekend and is covered in your ticket:

 

WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN

To Enter To Win the LAST brandcation ticket (Worth $125) and the FREE Lodging (Worth $150) and a $100 travel/food stipend, we have a super easy entry!:

We want you to write a blog post and answer one of the two questions:

1) WHY you want to attend and what it would mean to you

or

2) WHY you want to go to Pigeon Forge and the place you are most excited to visit listed on our iten up there.

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NOTE: Please make sure link in your article per FTC rules that this giveaway is sponsored by MomDot (linking to this post is fine) , Minnesota Blogger Life with Levi  and Toni from Just Stop Screaming.

Once your article is done, please link the post on the linky tools below. Please note it may take a moment to load.

Details: Giveaway ends on July 13th. Winners will be selected by CREATIVITY and skill in the post, not random. We are looking for someone really excited to attend! Lodging and ticket is only useable for lodging and ticket and is paid directly to the event and has no cash value. Stipend for travel awarded to you after confirmation of attendance. Your ticket and lodging is not transferable if you choose not to attend will be awarded to a new winner chosen by our committee. Your travel stipend will be awarded at the event in cash (or up to 1 week prior in Paypal) to help you with food and related expenses.

Filed Under: Brandcation Tagged With: ,

Boggy Creek Airboats and Gatorland

13 Nov By 4 Comments

On the second day of our event, it was a Gator filled day, starting out at the light of the dawn and packing up to Boggy Creek to enjoy a brisk, if not freezing cold, day out on the water wading through the natural habitat of the alligator.

When we first arrived at Boggy Creek my car was high fiving and giggling like 5 year olds that we were the first car to arrive. We had stopped at the gas station and picked up coffees, because Orlando was experiencing a freak 30 degree cold spell that morning, before heading over so we were quite surprised when we got there to find no one else. It wasn’t long before we all realized that our car was separated from the other cars and we were at separate locations, both for Boggy Creek Airboats, but on completely opposite sides of the town 45 minutes away.

Because our boat trip was only to be 30 minutes as it was, we knew that we didn’t want everyone to wait nearly an hour for us four to get to the other side, so we told them to go ahead and go on and we would meet them at Gatorland. As we were getting ready to go, we decided to take a few photos to prove we were actually at the right place, wrong location, and would sneak into the boats for some pictures since no one was in the office.

Of course four women hanging out on a boat dock is ultra suspicious and before we even got a leg in on the boats, someone had pulled up and gone into the office. We decided to go in and explain ourselves and the manager at Boggy Creek got a good laugh and said she thought maybe we were tourists enamored with the airboats.

It wasn’t long before she had gotten on the phone to verify us and offered us our own tour through the location we were at. We were so grateful! After our driver had arrived, we hoped in the boat, along with four people from Great Britain – in shorts and no coats- and took a cruise.

Our boat operator was knowledgeable and took us right through the weeds and lily pads to all the favorite alligator hide out spots in hopes to see some sunning on the edge. Because of the freak colder than cold lows however, we didn’t manage to catch a glimpse of any gators.

That doesn’t mean the trip was devoid of wildlife! With the wind whipping in our hair, we saw two bald eagles, a variety of water birds like egrets and crane, and even a bird that our boat captain said was so rare that there are only 50 left in the world. We were also greeted by some beautiful plants and flowers, and I could really see what an enjoyable day this would be had it been slightly warmer.

If you are looking for a real authentic Florida Experience, make sure you put Boggy Creek Airboats on your list of a fun family adventure for your upcoming Florida trip!

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Discover territory that remains unaltered by man in the wilderness of the Central Florida Everglades. Let our experienced Master Captains take you into the breathtaking beauty of natural wonders, including wetlands, cypress trees, and wildlife. Ride with a certified U.S. Coast Guard Captain and see Florida Alligators, turtles, birds and more in their natural environment. This safe, exciting and educational airboat ride is filled with surprises and fascination. View wildlife on a U.S. Coast Guard Inspected 17 passenger airboat.

Each airboat tour is a unique experience and never the same. You will enjoy whisking across the surface of the water at speeds up to 45 mph while shooting between walls of tall grass. NOTE: The best time to see alligators is early in the morning (before 10:00 AM) during hot weather and later in the day in the cold.[/box]

*Tip: Bring your telephoto lens to capture of the wildlife and some chapstick to fight the wind

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After our adventure on water, we headed off over to Gatorland, a complete guarantee that we were going to experience some gators and right out the gate had a chance to hold and look a baby gator eye to eye. Don’t be fooled, these gators, even small, could remove a fingers so dont attempt in the wild!

Meeting up with us was our tour guide Donny, a local commercial celebrity, and he gave us some information about Gatorland and even told us about a fire they had a few years ago.

About Gatorland

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For over half a century, Gatorland has been creating fond vacation memories for millions of visitors who have entered through its gaping gator mouth entrance. Families, friends and employees alike have ventured through the glass double doors on their way to a journey through this natural, low-tech adventure. Located between Orlando and Kissimmee on the South Orange Blossom Trail, Gatorland is one of Central Florida’s oldest attractions, and provides a unique and natural alternative to the larger theme parks of today.

Founded by the late Owen Godwin in 1949, and still privately owned by his family today, Gatorland is a 110-acre theme park and wildlife preserve, combining “Old Florida” charm with exciting, new exhibits and entertainment. Known internationally as the “Alligator Capital of the World,” Gatorland today provides affordably priced family-fun with thousands of alligators and crocodiles, a breeding marsh with boardwalk and observation tower, one-of-a-kind reptilian shows, aviary, petting zoo, swamp walk, educational programs and much, much more.[/box]

The first thing we did was head over the alligator feeding area. While there is a fence initially to separate you, if you have signed up for their experience to feed an alligator, you go right in. Safety first at Gatorland and our tour guide went in first, made sure there were no hiding alligators out of the water, and let us in 10 at a time to throw food to the gators and take pictures a little too close for my comfort.

It was clear that the gators were used to eating well. They were massive beasts. That being said, dont let their size be an estimate of how fast or slow they are. Just by looking at them I was concerned in one leap I would have lost 4 mom bloggers.

I did manage to throw my portion of the meat out, but I didnt get much closer than that.

Donny, quite a funny guy, pretty much scared the pee out of Maggie and Blondie by shaking the bushes while they were taking a picture not 2 feet in front of the largest gator. Good stuff.

After that, we went over and saw four unique white alligators. They are not albino, but actually white gators with blue eyes. Our tour guide told us that someone was in the swamp and saw gators coming out of eggs and when they hatched I believe he said there were 12 white alligators, the only ones in the world. Currently there are only the 4 left  in the world and they are housed at Gatorland.

Off to lunch, where they serve, surprise surprise, Gator. I didn’t try it so I don’t have any comment on it. HA! Then our group split up and toured through Gatorland. I wandered around to capture some photos and was surprised to see birds that sat on the backs of gators all day. It didn’t think to ask, but am unsure if that is a captivity situation where they are fed so often a bird doesn’t matter, or if its some way that nature works itself out.

I don’t think you would ever catch me on the back of a gator in the water!

Gatorland also has an alligator “wrestling” show where they demonstrate turning an alligator on its back and the weirdest thing is it falls asleep. It goes dormant.

I have never seen anything like it! You can purchase tickets discounted right on their website.

Gatorland was a fun place and I heard from many of the bloggers its one of the places they are most likely to bring their kids back to in the area we were visiting.

Just make sure they dont set on the ledges…

~Trisha

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tickets were complimentary as part of Brandcation

Check out the +smallest towns in America

Filed Under: Brandcation, Family Travel Tagged With: , , , , , , ,