The Wax Works- Newport, Oregon

Momma Told Me: Sometimes life gets a little cheesy.

Okay, I'll admit, I've had an unnatural fear of wax sculptures from an early age. There is something simply creepy about a replica of someone so smooth, and slightly imperfect just staring back at you from marble eyes. And the 2005 film House of Wax didn't help ease that discomfort either; between Paris Hilton's cameo and the thought of being 'waxed' alive, you could say I'd rather brush elbows with Pennywise the clown than any wax sculpture of a celebrity. And now that that's been said- I decidedly had to buck up when my niece and I visited The Wax Works, at Mariner's Square- Newport, Oregon on our road trip this past Summer.

You may recall that Mariner's Square is this lovely tourist trap spot nestled in the bay of Newport, Oregon. While the Square itself is a collection of 3 family attractions (Ripley's Believe It Or Not!, The Wax Works, and Undersea Gardens) there are several quaint downtown restaurants and shops to browse as well. While these attractions don't seem to have had many new exhibits or updates since the 80's, its a great way to kill an afternoon for about $25 a person (which will get you an all day pass to all 3 of the attractions.)

Remember that fear I was telling you about? Well they don't tell you that this particular wax museum's (and several older ones usually are) very poorly lit. Perhaps the dramatic shadows and sharp lighting add thematic value, but I just found the whole thing unnerving. I can't really say whether the more lifelike sculptures put me any less on edge than the older, more rounded ones- we were walking from dark room to dark room pretty much alone. I tried my best not to imagine an axe murderer waiting in the wings behind Marilyn Monroe. Thankfully I had my wing man by my side.

In general there was a good range of sculptures to take in. From regional content such as the rustic loggers, mysteriously disappearing parachuter, and Big Foot to the more modern exhibits with movie characters and celebrities, we slowly took in it all. The biggest highlight for me, and arguably the most modern and realistic sculpture was Johnny Depp. I'll now hang my head again as I tell you that Sabrina (12) had no clue who he was, even with the 'Pirates' poster hanging behind him. I would have snapped a selfie with Mr. Depp but again- that fear....

When I wasn't glancing around anxiously with 'wax museum paranoia I was paying attention to the unique details that went into each character and set. I actually found myself curious where the hair was sourced from, horse, synthetic, or human; and wished that there was more information provided in each room to help answer these questions. And just how does one get into professional wax sculpting?  I'd suppose it starts as a harmless hobby, just like taxidermy?

Not too far down the hall from Johnny was a Lord of The Rings exhibit that best portrayed The Wax Work's need to reach a younger crowd through interactive elements. While some of the buttons weren't quite working, the idea was that a visitor could stage their own scene through the use of steam vents, lighting, and a remotely controlled dragon head. It seemed to occupy the tween for a good amount of time and earn me some 'cred' as the Aunt who drug brought her there in the first place.

Around the corner was a sort of Indiana Jones meets witch doctor setup with giant vases guests were encouraged to 'reach into,' steaming crypts, and a giant Plasma ball that again captivated the tween. Then it was down through a hallway across a bridge that was suspended in the middle of a room where the walls constantly spun, reflecting various lights. The effect was to feel as though you were falling through a vortex, and I don't suppose such a short walk has ever felt so impossible to complete in my life!

The last wing was another of my favorites- truly an offering to children of the 80's. Despite the fact that the Jawa looked like one of our dog's plush chew toys, Yoda was magnificently sculpted. The room could use an update on some scenery (who knows maybe the real Jawa was stolen?) but it certainly tickled my nerdy bone. And the interactive E.T. in space capsule? Priceless. Touch the glass where E.T.'s finger rests and watch your own glow red, just like the beloved movie! Speaking of which- have you heard the Tinseltown rumors of a remake of this beloved film???

And, just before we exited, into the gift shop (like all good tourist attractions do) we came around the corner to be greeted, face to face with this terrifying Darth Maul replica. This was one case where lighting worked perfectly in the exhibit's favor. If Han Solo hadn't been suspended in Carbonite just a few feet away, I would have sworn we were done for! Yes, it certainly was a visit worth admission, and one the tween wouldn't stop talking about! Have you ever been to a Wax Museum?

What Daughter Says: I faced my fear, and I survived the wax. Though, I'm not sure the 'cheese factor' made it any less terrifying!

Ripley's Believe It Or Not!: Mariner's Square- Newport, Oregon

WARNING: Some of the following Ripley's Believe It Or Not! (Newport, Oregon) content may be disturbing for the weak of stomach, read on at your own risk! Photos copyright Momma Told Me Blog 2015.

Momma Told Me: Believe it or not....

I loved to read from an early age. In fact, most of my fascination with the written word came from factual or historical content. Our family always had stacks of coffee table books under the living room table, and my grandparents spend a small fortune shipping them cross country to us every month or so. They'd go on their travels, as a newly retired couple, and bring home books from exotic travel destinations and cultural curiosities. I still have my favorite book from the 3rd grade, "The Trial of Lizzy Borden," a truly age appropriate recollection of the actual court and investigative proceedings revolving around one of the nation's first female murderer prosecutions.

I'd wait all year for my favorite books- each Christmas may grandparent's would send us the full color, hardbacked, coffee table editions of my two favorite curiosity collections, The Guinness Book of World Records and Ripley's Believe It Or Not. These two books were released with a new edition each year, and kept me fascinated for hours on end as I poured through the morbid, macabre, and just plain bizarre facts of humanity. Sabrina, 12, has a very similar curiosity for the world around her. Equally obsessed with learning random facts about the abnormal to mundane, I knew she would properly appreciate a visit to Ripley's Believe It Or Not! in Newport, Oregon.

The Ripley's franchise operates 95 locations, across 4 continents, and 32 of which are Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museums. Many of these museums are located in prime tourist spots, and almost always attached to a separate admission wax museum. On our last day of our Road Trip up to Oregon, this Summer, we stopped into the tourist spot known as Mariner's Square in Newport, Oregon. Mariner's Square offers 3 main tourist attractions for families; Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum, Wax Museum, and Undersea Gardens (and Underwater Sea Show.) For $15 (child) to $25 (adult) your family can get an all day pass to all three attractions, a real steal for a day of entertainment by the sea.

What we loved most about Mariner's Square (which we'll cover more in future posts) was the ability to roam and take in the attractions at your own pace and leisure. There is plenty to do and eat nearby, so it's definitely an event to be made a day of. We started ours with Ripley's Believe It Or Not! which feels quite small upon entering but truly offers a wealth of exhibits and hands on exploring. A couple or family could easily spent hours browsing the exhibits, halls, and rooms- though I do warn that the majority of the museum is dimly lit for mood and any kids should be kept close by at all times.

While I knew the majority of the exhibits at this particular (Newport, Oregon) Ripley's were older and from the 90's everything was new and fascinating to Sabrina, who actually took time to read the anecdotes on the wall and artifact descriptions. The museum itself is a feast for the eyes and several exhibits encourage hands on, immersive exploration to really help capture the interest of the younger crowd. Each room/wing had it's own theme- with the classic Ripley's 'voodoo' and tribal style focus beginning the self guided tour. One of the highlights here was the faux hot coal walk and the 'Balloon Lawn Chair Man's' actual lawn chair.

Several of the exhibits were outfitted with television screens playing short clips no more than a few minutes long, for those who preferred to learn visually rather than through reading their own narrative. These videos were clearly older and taken from previous Ripley's episodes, so they felt a bit cheesy in themselves.

Sabrina's favorite room was the Music room- surprisingly there was very little music to be heard there. We consider it more of a Rock N' Roll peculiarity collection. Here Sabrina is seen marveling at the unusual artwork of several pop culture icons. I thought for sure she'd try and take the Taylor Swift Good N' Plenty artwork home with her, but was surprised to see her contemplating the technique used in the much smaller, delicate, Rose Petal Madonna piece.

The music room also had 4 miniature exhibits. These little light boxes on the wall each had a magnifying panel and free hand magnifying glass. Above you'll see the World's Smallest Working Violin, housed in a walnut shell, and a Portrait of Elvis on a piece of human hair. Of course my photos are taken indoors with poor lighting and a basic camera, zoomed in, so you'll have to take my word, these things are super, ultra, teeny, tiny, small.

After the Music Room we walked through a mock up of King Tut's tomb, which playfully illustrated how 13 people who had entered the tomb came to know their untimely death through sheer mystery and circumstance. Around the corner was a creepy photo-opp, a bookcase with hollowed out jars and wax heads. In the middle of the dimly lit hallway was a wax couple- a son taking a photo of their mother, lit only by flash. This display was so eerily real there were actual patrons lined up in an attempt to avoid interrupting the photo shoot! Other highlights include an Earthquake Simulator, and real Human Shrunken Head (complete with video tutorial/documentary,) that made me a bit queasy.

Next we passed through the Carival Curiosity theater, Fiji Mermaid exhibit, and 'Roll Your Tongue' mirror. The mirror is an exhibit used at several similar museums- while I knew all to well we were being video taped and played on the opposite end of the two way mirror, Sabrina did not. Can you roll your tongue? 4 out of 5 people cannot, but Sabrina and I both could! Through the sound activated neon dance theater, to the Titanic exhibit complete with actual iceberg temperature water, we ended our visit in my favorite room. The star chart room was a mirrored room where one felt as though they were literally standing in the middle of the galaxy, surrounded by nothing but stars. It was oddly calming and for me, worth the ticket price.

We wandered out of the star room into, surprise, a very large gift shop. This gift shop is also where the Wax Museum filters out into so it contained souvenirs and trinkets covering a wide range of categories. It also has a fully functioning wax hand station, where I was tickled to introduce Sabrina to the completely useless tourist experience of having one's hand dipped in hot wax for the sack of a tacky bookshelf memento. In all, despite having a 102 fever, and the plague, it was a far out, good time. Have you ever been to a Ripley's Believe It Or Not!?

What Daughter Says: Life's too short not to explore the strange.

Blog POP! Experience Johnny Rockets With The Family Giveaway 4/12

Complimentary guest passes were provided to facilitate this inside dining feature, regardless all opinions contained below are genuine. All photos contained below are copyright Momma Told Me Blog 2015.

Momma Told Me: Sometimes the original is the best.

No matter how 'automatic' life gets there are some things that will always be best when done by hand, with a welcoming smile, in a simpler setting. I was raised in Southern California a stone's throw away from 'glamorous' Hollywood and glitzy Los Angeles. All this really means is that the locals are seldom local (because only the elite few can afford to actually live in and near the city,) an the hustle and bustle of the daily commute and 9-5 punch in leaves residents feeling frazzled. Yes, it's a faster paced kind of living around here, and that's precisely why I like to get back the the basics with a good, old-fashioned, delicious dining experience at Johnny Rockets.

Known for pioneering The Original Hamburger, Johnny Rockets began the very same year I did, 1986, when it's first location was opened up not to far from me, on Melrose. The concept was for the modern diner to have a simple escape where they could enjoy classic Americana and the incredible food that defined our nation and an era; hand spun malts, fresh french fries, and the juiciest hamburgers in town. Johnny Rockets was designed to welcome all diners from businessmen and film executives to modern day families with the 1950's diner style decor and super star service.

My own Johnny Rocket's memories stem from several seasonal visits during my childhood. In particular, Universal City Walk or Six Flag's Magic Mountain- where we would stop in for an extra special treat during a family day out. While you will find Johnny Rocket's locations across the country, and even globally, you're most likely to run into one of these kitschy retro-restaurants while on vacation. Johnny Rockets locations are highly popular in tourist environments such as large shopping centers, theme parks and resorts, and even cruise ships. That's because a trip to Johnny Rockets is a treat in itself!

We recently stopped in to the Camarillo Outlets, California location for a lunch date early in the afternoon. This was one of the smallest JR locations I've visited but the impact was big and immediate. One step from the gorgeous outdoor dining patio into the diner-like atmosphere and I was in love. The plush red bar-stools and puffy-backed dining booths invited us in while the table-side jukeboxes dared me to pick my favorite tunes (Johnny Cash, or Elvis, who can decide?) A bubbly server greeted us and offered to take our beverage order but we quickly learned that was no simple request. Johnny Rockets not only has an extensive malt/shake menu, but a collection of floats and soda pop options with 'Flavor Shots' such as Lemon, Vanilla, and even Chocolate for unlimited drink combinations.

Yes, the shakes have their own menu- and it was hard to choose just one- Jay found himself contemplating his next visit while sipping a Chocolate Peanut Butter Oreo Cookie Malt. Our server also dropped off some 'complimentary' french fries, complete with ketchup art, while we waited for our sandwiches to be grilled in the kitchen behind us. I should note, it's not uncommon to visit a Johnny Rockets and get a show- the staff stops what they are doing a few times each hour to do choreographed dances to classic songs such as Rockin' Robin, making for a true show and treat for the family!

While Johnny Rockets recently introduced a brand new line of chicken salad entrees, we were especially intrigued by their Springtime menu offerings; the Salted Caramel Shake, Chipotle Chicken Sandwich, the Spicy Smokey Chicken Club Salad. For those who aren't big burger consumers- Johnny Rockets may be known for their delicious burgers, but Boca burger or chicken patty substitutions may be made on any menu sandwich, just ask!

While I found it hard to resist the Route 66 (grille mushrooms, onions, and Swiss cheese) burger, I wound up trying the BBQ Chicken Bacon Melt because, well, bacon! Jay ended up nearly copying me with the Smokehouse Double burger (bacon, onion rings, and bbq ranch) and some fresh sweet potato fries. The aromas wafting from our table were simply heavenly and the service was incredibly friendly and on top of all of our needs as we dug into a delicious Americana meal.

As it turns out you can't visit a Johnny Rockets without walking past a stack of 'Perfect Brownies,' the secret ingredient to the chain's Perfect Brownie Sundae. A feast in itself, we took this dessert on, amid malt burps, for the sake of editorial integrity. With the ribbons of caramel and chocolate sauce drizzled atop a heaping scoop of ice cream and whipped cream splashes, we were surely in a foodie coma by the time we finished out meal.

I'm delighted to report this 'mini Johnny Rockets' outlet mall experience was just as entertaining and satisfying as my previous vacation styled tourist stops. As we watched our plates get bussed away and snuggled into a quick date afternoon selfie I couldn't help but chuckle as I was reminded of my grandfather. The nearly 80-year old man, some 60+ years happily married, is always sure to tell his server (when asked how the meal was) it was "So great me and my date are going to go parking!" His date, of course being my grandmother, and nearly every server under 40 responding with a confused look and a friendly smile. Parking, is of course when those in the 50's would take their gorgeous Cadillac's up to the hill to get a little fresh.

Well, my friends, our Johnny Rockets experience truly took as back in time to a simpler era where the service was just a little more personal, the food all the more delicious, and the atmosphere simply magical. Be sure to stop into a Johnny Rockets when you see one, or check out the restaurant locator for a location near you! Have you ever been to a Johnny Rockets? What's your favorite part about old-fashioned Americana diners?

What Daughter Says: Taste The Original Hamburger and see what all the fuss is about!

One Momma Told Me reader will win a family guest prize pack to the Johnny Rockets location of their choice! Follow the official Blog POP! Spring Fling Giveaway LINKY to enter more great giveaways when you're done entering!