Hit the road and visit a vintage park this Spring Break!!

Can't wait until Memorial Day to visit an amusement park?  Well, have no fear: there are plenty of awesome parks open at this very moment!!  You can, of course, read all about these particular parks in my book, "The Cotton Candy Road Trip" https://www.createspace.com/3840248 , but here's a mini travelogue for a trio of great parks that are definitely worth a Spring Break journey!!:

Out in the great Northwest?  Sidle on down to Enchanted Forest in Salem, Oregon: http://enchantedforest.com/ .  Built by one man and his family, this park is super for all ages and boasts some of the most brazen uses of creativity on a shoestring you'll ever see.  Witness these photos and, remember: it was literally built by hand by one man and his family (with no prior art or Disney Imagineering experience):

 

The Hansel and Gretel witch house, covered in evil yumminess..

 

A psychedelic choo choo for the kiddies.



 

My hubby, who apparently was the "crooked man" they were looking for.


 

 

Now, if you're out near St. Louis, point yourself toward Branson to enter the rootin' tootin' world of Silver Dollar City.  A recipient of the Applause Award for "one of the world's best theme parks", Silver Dollar City is excited to announce a new coaster for this season, the daring wooden ride, Outlaw Run!  It's not too often that a park opens a new wooden coaster, so this is really a thrilling development.  Plus, a wooden coaster fits in well with the rustic, Western vibe of the park:  http://www.silverdollarcity.com/theme-park.aspx

From the park's website: feast your eyes on the awesomeness!!

My hubby and a potato swirl on a stick!  Silver Dollar City has inCREDible food!!
 

 

 

But maybe you're one of the lucky ones, out in Florida, or vacationing there and, by golly, you're interested in a little of vintage "Old Florida"?  Look no further than the Other Silver Park I highlighted in my book, Silver Springs in Ocala.  Part amusement park, part zoo, Silver Springs is famous for its crystal clear springs and glass-bottom boat rides.  Plus, various television shows and movies were filmed there, including the old Johnny Weismuller "Tarzan" flicks: http://www.silversprings.com/

One of the park's friendly inhabitants.

The scenic view from the tippy top of the Lighthouse ride.

If you ever have any questions about a road trip, how to fashion one of your own, please feel free to contact me anytime.  I love answering queries about how to design a trip you and your family will cherish forever.

Oaks Amusement Park and Roller Rink featured on TNT's "Leverage"

I love the clever, gentle humor that infuses the TNT show, "Leverage".  Every episode keeps you guessing, with plot twists and turns designed to simultaneously rattle and amuse.  I adore this show and its cast;  been a Timothy Hutton fan since "Ordinary People", and his co-stars are top-notch, fearless actors.

My hubby and I were enjoying this past weekend's episode, "The van Gogh Job" when I leaped forth from my comfy couch and yelled, "Hey!  That's Oaks Park!", having recently been there as part of the Road Trip   Besides a great vintage amusement park, the grounds include a time capsule of a roller rink; I recognized its charming green and white painted entrance.

The enclosed link contains a great article on the filming at Oaks in Portland, OR, which has been used as a backdrop for not one but two episodes!

I love seeing my Cotton Candy Road Trip locations up on the big (and little) screen!

Enchanted!

This photo of Enchanted Forest Theme Park is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Fairytale dreams come true at Eugene, Oregon's Enchanted Forest. Essentially wedged into the side of a hill, it took seven years to build - from scratch, mind you. Roger Tofte had no Imagineers supplying him with specs and detailed diagrams for animatronics. Nope - the man had a vision and just built the park on his own (well, with family help and the aid of his small son's Radio Flyer).

The outcome? A thoroughly engaging, beautifully-realized park everyone can enjoy. From Storybook Lane, complete with a variety of your favorite Mother Goose characters come to life, to Western Town(with sidewalks on crazy inclines and a museum with the silliest displays you'll ever see this side of the Pecos), Enchanted Forest delights with clever details and gentle humor. There's Ye Old World Village with surprises around every corner, featuring an amazing dark ride, "The Challenge of Mondor" (which you can read about in the book you'll find in the gift shop. Yes, there's a book devoted to the ride itself!) A nifty bobsled ride and a super-soaking log flume beckon those seeking scarier thrills. And Disney's Master Gracey would be proud to call their Haunted House his summer home.

Oh - the above photo, courtesy of Tripadvisor, comes from the fantastic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs walk-through attraction, where you venture forth in search of those seven little men busy at their day job: mining for jewels. Rainbow-colored caves and stalactites and shimmering pools of water abound. Expect "oohs" and "aaahs" from young and old alike.

Happy 40th Anniversary, Enchanted Forest! So glad my Road Trip is taking two years, because if I'd have rushed my touring, I would've dismissed your park as being too "young" for my purposes.

What's next on the Cotton Candy Road Trip agenda...

I'm almost afraid to say it, but we'll be going to Oregon.

Why am I a'feared? Because if it's anywhere as rainy there as it's been here the last two weeks, I think I'll go bonkers. I'll climb to the top of a tall building with my umbrella (must keep my hair in place) and just jump off. I'll go eye-crossingly, jabber-jowlingly mad.

But instead of going down that path, why not let's be positive? I mean, it might be bright and Crayola yellow sunny there, like it is today here in beautiful Elmhurst, right?

(Fingers crossed to the point that I can't type.)

The two parks on the agenda include the Enchanted Forest theme park and Oaks amusement park. They're pretty different from one another, with Oaks being a traditional park and Enchanted Forest being, well, an enchanted forest.

But more about that next week. 'til then, why not try wrapping your head around the, um, photograph of the head above from Enchanted Forest. With people in the mouth. Cuz why not?