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.

Coney Island has great season opening after Hurricane Sandy!

And I, for one, must have a "Keep Calm, and Coney On" t-shirt!!

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20130325/REAL_ESTATE/130329931

NBC New York reports: Keansburg Park rebuilds and will re-open!!

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/video/#!/on-air/as-seen-on/Keansburg-Amusement-Park-Set-to-Reopen/199253171

 

Happy news from our friends at Keansburg Park in New Jersey!  They'll be re-opening this weekend!  NBC New York did this story just today and the work that's been done since Hurricane Sandy's devastation is truly remarkable!  Please watch!!

I hope to re-visit Keansburg this summer.  I'll keep you posted!!!

Enjoy a visit to a California vintage park ... like Santa Cruz Boardwalk!

http://www.beachboardwalk.com/

Full confession: I woke up with California on my mind.  This often happens throughout a usual Chicago day, but not at the very crack of the day.  Probably had something to do with the fact that a couple I know recently moved to Palm Springs, and another couple I know (family, even!) are planning a move to Orange County in the very near future.

Walked the dog today and brrrrrr..... the temperature outside was QUITE conducive to California Dreaming

And when I think of Cali and the beach and warmer climes, my mind drifts back to our visit to Santa Cruz Boardwalk, a place that has it all, including an award-winning roller coaster, the Big Dipper; an awesome haunted house dark ride, the Haunted Castle, and one of the prettiest carousels you'll ever see (which celebrated it's 100th anniversary just a few years ago).

To whet your appetite for a trip out West, dig the following photos:

They have a great seleciton of vintage games in the Casino arcade.

You can't go wrong with gargoyles ...

Yours truly enjoying the incredible carousel.

 

Bay Beach Park gets a new ride for the upcoming season!

http://www.fdlreporter.com/article/20130306/FON0101/130306011/New-ride-coming-Bay-Beach-Amusement-Park

Kudos to Bay Beach Park in Green Bay, Wisconsin for continuing to grow its vintage park!! The Sea Dragon is a real crowd-pleaser; Kiddieland had a similar ride, and its a big draw in a variety of parks I visited for the book.

One of my very best friends lives up in Wisco; this was her park as a child.  At some point this summer, I do believe a girl trip is necessary!!

Save Rye Playland!

Back in 2011, while sweeping through the East Coast for my book, "The Cotton Candy Road Trip", I fell in love with Rye.  I hadn't known much about it prior to my visit, except that:

1.  It's government-owned.
2.  It had a "Mad Men" connection: Don Draper's ex, Betty, and her new husband, move the family to Rye.  They tell their daughter that she'll be near Rye Playland.

But when I toured the park, took in the incredibly rare rides, kicked back at the tiki bar, and tackled their classic spook houses with my eyes open (a first for me!), I became a Rye Playland fan for life.

So it greatly pains me to report that the park is in peril.  And, from what I'm reading and learning, it's all about money and land and politics. Nasty politics.  Add to that the fact that Hurricane Sandy ripped up its boardwalk (and the aforementioned tiki bar), and you've got a gorgeous vintage park whose future is a huge question mark.

I follow the news about this drama on the Facebook page, Save Rye Playland.  Plans are to open the park as usual in the Spring.  But, if you're a fan of Rye Playland, or are a champion of vintage parks and nostalgia in any sense, it's worth your while to visit the Facebook page and learn more, perhaps sign a petition to help keep the park a treasure (https://www.change.org/petitions/save-playland-amusment-park), or if you live in the region, get involved in-person:

Save Rye Playland Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ArtDecoPLAYLAND/

Rye Playland Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/ryeplayland?ref=ts&fref=ts

The day I became a Rye Playland fan for life.

  (You can read more about my adventure and eurekas in my book, of course: https://www.createspace.com/3840248)

Keansburg Amusement Park springs back by Spring!!

http://www.nbcwashington.com/video/#!/video/clearchannel/Sandy-Revisited/190135491

If you want to be inspired, take a look at this video about how the Jersey shore is bouncing back from Hurricane Sandy.  It's a slow task, to be sure, but folks like the owner of Keansburg is determined to have the century-old park back up and running in a matter of months!

I visited Keansburg in 2011 and was delighted to thrill to what's considered to be the country's oldest spook house - I even got a look "backstage" to see how the ride's mechanisms work.  Although watching this video, and seeing the ride in a state of disrepair saddened me, the hopefulness and pluck of Mr. Gelhaus makes me certain that the spooks will live to see another day - so to speak.