Electerik

5,331 miles from Seattle to Krakow for Hyperion.

Mike 'N' Terry's Outdoor Fun Park We like mini golf. A lot. You may already know that. We like big corporate mini golf, and we like "guy built this in his backyard out of whatever he had lying around" mini golf. This is that second one. And it's amazing. Mike 'N' Terry's also has a go-kart track and some batting cages, which seem normal enough. (I guess?) But we're here for The Putting Zoo, two truly deranged mini golf courses that I'm still not sure I didn't just imagine. But be warned: "For visiting Mike 'N' Terry's, we would like to make you aware that by entering our facility you acknowledge that you are doing so at your own risk, that we assume no responsibility whatsoever for any and all kinds of injuries you may sustain while on our premises. Please exercise caution." It's cash only (of course). $8.50 per adult, with the second round being half price. Although, if you're reading this in the future, the price may be higher. Or the place may be closed. Or we might all be dead. (Although, if we're all dead and you're reading this...um.... I dunno. Now I'm thinking about what kind of currency ghosts might use.) Ah, the Water Course. Featuring just as much water and the exact same number of obstacles as the Obstacle Course. The thing is, though, even though it's cracky, it's also pretty good (even if a lot of the fairways are rather uneven). Aren't homemade horrors better than paying for some existing IP? Yes, yes they are. How ambitious is this mini golf course? This isn't hole 18 or something, this is like, hole 5. I can't see my ball. Guess it must've been a hole-in-one. You're probably not going to hit it into that hole. But don't worry: as long as you can make it over the rolled-up end bit, the river will carry your ball down to the green. Nothing here is ADA accessible. Cryptocurrency! That's what ghosts use. I just figure it out. Is this course great? Yes. Is the other one better? Let's find out! Hole #19 for both courses. Hit it into the cartoon rabbit's facial wound for a free round! We are both masters of mini golf. Those are the batting cages on the right. Sorry, don't care. They were more popular than the mini golf while we were there, though, so I'm glad they're keeping the place in business. The front side is exactly as steep. We called this "the hit yourself in the face with your own ball" hole. Speaking of holes, there's a hole at the top center of that ramp, beneath the rock. And, if you hit it in there, you get to take 5 strokes off your total score for the course. I'm reasonable sure it's impossible, though. Just keeping it up and over the ramp without braining yourself was hard enough. Yes, the horseshoes move up and down. (I mean, obviously. It's plugged in.) It's worth mentioning--worth emphasizing even--that everything worked on these courses--even the things that look like they probably break down twice a day. Mike takes pride in his insanity. Speaking of which...that circle of green turns. 40 Mini Golf Spin.mp4 Look, I don't normally post videos. But for this update, I'm posting two. Because y'all need to understand. I know, everything looks disappointing after that. But stick around. It gets better. There are koi fish in that boat. And let me tell you, they are living their best life. Nothing here is ADA accessible. But at least it's LGBT-friendly. It's just...I love this place so much. Wait, what? 50 Maxi Golf Spin.mp4 This can't be real. Also, before you ask, there's no posted weight limit. And also, screw you for asking. Oh, right, there's a go-kart track. I probably should've taken a photo of that for completion's sake. Well, actually, I did. But this sign was more interesting, so that's what you got. Mike 'N' Terry's can be found in a random residential neighborhood in Puyallup, Washington. It is highly Erik & Smisty approved.

Lockdown Since we couldn't go anywhere anyway, we got a dog. He also wants to go outside.

Ooh, I want to play! My guess is Silver Dollar City. (I'm unlikely to be right--but if I am, I'll look like a genius!)

In fact, the owners of said place are the members of In Flames. So there you go.

I did not know about the hill across the highway. Even though all I brought camera-wise was my phone, I would've liked to see that--if for no other reason than just to get a bit more of the flavor of the area. Then again, I'm not sure where the time or energy for me to do that would've come from, as the heat and lack of sleep from the previous day really kicked my butt that day. I'm just not sure about Liseberg. Certainly, there's a lot to like. But a lot of its attractions didn't really hit for me--or maybe nothing was ever going to work for me that particular day. Tough to say. Guess I need to go back!

Wait, the cups on the Ferris wheel spin? We didn't make it onto "Legendia Flower" as the line looked fairly long when we were on that side of the park and I was worried about time. And only now do I find this out...?! I liked Hyperion more than most, I would say, but Lech is the real deal. It just kind of does everything. Just a really neat park.

I also really enjoyed Hyperion, despite the rattling. We rode big rapids ride, which was incredibly dull. We didn't even see the smaller one, but were told by someone (Gearhart? Goldballs?) that it was better. Had a good time at the park, but it is weird. Speed: The Ride was stupid and bad and it should feel bad. While I wish it had been open for everyone else's sake, I was kind of glad that Zardoz wasn't ready yet, because I'm sure I would've ended up having to ride it once.

While it was my least favorite park of the trip, I'd still be willing to go back. And, sure, I guess that "perks" might've helped, but I think a bigger problem was that it was incredibly hot in a country that doesn't normally have to worry about that sort of thing. Still, most of the people I talked to had a good time there. And I'm glad I saw it.

This TR is super interesting and informative. Thank you. I guess it's been a while since I was at IOA, because I had no idea that Sinbad was closed or that Green Eggs & Ham was all tater tots now.

I loved Drievliet. Was it objectively the best park on the trip? No, of course not. But it was a lot of fun, and I would be very happy to spend more time there. Small? Sure, but that didn't bother me because there was lots to do. A few other random thoughts from the Esty and Smirik camp: We're all over that first section of your trip report, which is weird because we tend to be where everyone else isn't. Speaking of which, we're also in that overview photo of the tractor ride at the beginning of the second section! I might very well have been the biggest fan of Kopermijn in our group. Which just serves to to once again demonstrate how unpredictable my tastes can be. But I don't mind getting LoCoSuMo-ed, as long as I'm not overly restrained (and remember that a lot of restraints fit me oddly) and I'm not being hit in the head. That was a good theory on why Twistrix is themed to owls, and one could do worse than repeatedly listening to Fly By Night, but I was thinking of an even simpler explanation: Owls swivel their heads, and the cars are meant to look like owl heads. I kept the Andrews straight by calling one Goldballs and then just being confused the rest of the time.

Well, that caption would not stand up in court, as your alleged statement came to me second-hand via Gearhart.

Sitting at home listening to my 2-disc Efteling Soundtrack. Just reread my own trip report and don't remember writing half of these captions. But very happy that we went to Europe before the world fell apart. Here's a random, never-before-seen photo from each of the three countries we spent the most time in. The Netherlands This is what we look like outside without masks on. This was considered normal at the time. Poland In no way could this ever be considered normal. Sweden How did this photo not make it into the original report?

Perhaps you are referring here to Men at Work's chart-topping hit song, "Who Can It Be Now?" Or maybe you mean their SECOND number-one hit, "Down Under"? Well, Chuck, which is it? How about their one hit album? Seems you beat me, Mr. Bond.

Perhaps you are referring here to Men at Work's chart-topping hit song, "Who Can It Be Now?" Or maybe you mean their SECOND number-one hit, "Down Under"? Well, Chuck, which is it?

Will everything work out? Who knows? But this certainly isn't bad news! And it sounds like the city knows the value of having the park--most cities usually only figure that out once it's too late. So a slightly cautious "HOORAY" from me. I love Indiana Beach (when it's running properly).

Woo! My gambit worked! Hopefully, the Disney parks will take the opportunity this downtime affords to add Shia LaBeouf into their Indiana Jones rides!

Riverfront Park If Seattle is the straight-A prom king quarterback of the Foosball team at Washington State High, then Spokane is the little brother who resents the comparison. It's also the smallest city to ever hold a World's Fair, and not because it had something to prove or anything. But if you're thinking about marrying Seattle, just know that he'll never be faithful to you the way that Spokane would be. Much like the first post of this thread explored the 1962 World's Fair via Seattle Center, this post will explore Expo '74 through Spokane's Riverfront Park. Riverfront Spokane is located along the Spokane River near downtown Spokane, a city famous for creatively naming things, such as Bing Crosby. What drew us here in particular is this SkyRide. While I'm sure it originally loaded and unloaded in a continuous fashion, it now has its cars grouped relatively tightly into "trains" of three, which stop to load and unload. This results in a rather strange skyride experience as you alternate between moving a couple of hundred feet and stopping for a minute or two, throughout the entire length of the ride. On the other hand, it offers lots of steady photo opportunities and a fairly lengthy ride, so that's...fine? Heading away from the station. Note the roller skating rink/course on the right that becomes an ice skating rink/course during the winter. But where are we going? Not up a hill, but down one and across a river, then under a bridge to a turnaround, and back up. Just one station on this skyride, but a lovely view. I was promised a skyride that went in front of a waterfall, and while that's not technically inaccurate, it's not quite as grand as the picture I had in my mind. Still, it's weird and awesome and unique, and that's my jam, so put me down as satisfied all the same. Of course, you can also explore the park and the river on foot. There are also a number of pedestrian bridges--which, again, I am for. Proof that we actually went here. This is what normal people do, right? They take their own photos in front of impressive scenery? "Hey, down in front, you two. I wanna see what those rocks look like!" Don't be a pussy. Maybe there's free candy down there. Ever seen a clocktower before? Oh yeah, well, have you ever been inside one? I sure hope so, because you can't go in this one. Inside the Pavilion. During the World's Fair, this was used for stuff. Inside this building is the Looff carousel that used to be at Natatorium Park, Spokane's lost amusement park. Reach for the brass ring! Well, these are actually plastic, of course. But still! And instead of a clown's mouth, you have to throw it into a bucket that's being held by a goat. Wait, does that say, "Garbage Goat"? Life's a never ending wheel. No one's gonna get that. If you get that, let me know in some subtle way. Like, with a photo of a dragon or something. The gift shop. Wait, what's the deal with the goat? Ah. Here you go, Spokane's unofficial mascot, the Garbage Goat. From RoadsideAmerica.com: "It was part of the anti-pollution message," said Karen Mobley, former director of the organization Spokane Arts. "Teach our children not to throw trash on the ground. Put it in a garbage can or give it to a goat." (Psst. No one tell Spokane about Efteling.) "I'm an artist. But I work with metal primarily for the boobs." It's a slide. And it's cooler than anything in your hometown. Look, I'm not above making provocative statements just to get replies. The fourth Indiana Jones movie is better than the third one. Hey, it's night now! Weird. Is heaven missing an angel? Because I found their harp. There may be a follow up to this report about the parking garage in the background. I'm not kidding. During the World's Fair, this mesh did not have lights on it. I exist to educate. Remember, kids, if you find a piece of trash on the ground, feed it to a goat.

Re: The Six Swans So it's a children's flat ride with a dark ride "section"? I love it! Really enjoyed my first visit to Efteling this last year. It's like Disney without all the icky Disneyness.* *This one's going to get me in trouble.

Break On the corner of 4th and Blanchard, in Downtown Seattle, there is a 17-foot tall statue of a Popsicle. And this is a photo of it.

I last visited in 2009, and thought it was one of the best parks I'd ever been to. I was in no hurry to go back with how much I'd hear about it going downhill. Definitely a shame if this is indeed the end.

None too fresh, but here are two of Thunderhead from back when I visited Dollywood weekly.

I really like the Liseberg hillside photo. Somehow I never walked down that pathway...? Wish I had, now!

Luna Park Cafe Designed by Charles Looff, Seattle's Luna Park operated from 1907 to 1913 on the site of what is now Anchor Park in West Seattle. About two miles away, in 1989, an existing West Seattle neighborhood tavern closed, rebranded, and reopened as a tribute to that bygone era. Having become a bit of a West Seattle institution, the Luna Park Cafe can attract quite a crowd. Luckily, there are photo opportunities. We couldn't quite figure this one out, though. Our best guess is that you're supposed to stand next to it...? Okay, so it's less "specifically Luna Park memorabilia" and more "kitschy crap on the wall," but still. I took this photo* of Luna Park. *(of a photo on the wall) Allegedly the world's largest guitar. But even without Googling it, I have some doubt. The menu gives you some history of Luna Park, "the Coney Island of the West." I don't think even Elvis would've had a milkshake with his peanut butter, bacon, and banana waffle. Elvis was a little bitch. It does like the authentic Batmobile...but I don't remember ever seeing Batman wear a red top hat.... Down the road a bit stands Anchor Park. Luna Park was quite a bit larger and went out over the water more. They say that when the tide is low enough, you can see the old pilings--but, frankly, I'm just not that patient. I mean, I'll wait a cycle to get a train in my shot, but that's some Gwazi-level shite right there. Was this update stupid? Yeah, probably. But, until a few months ago, I didn't even know that there had been a Luna Park in Seattle. So now you know, too! Unless you already knew. Crap, everyone knew that except me, didn't they? The waffle was good.

I think a My Little Pony Merry-Go-Round sounds kind of awesome. And they do have a carousel.... I've never been to this park, but was strongly considering a trip in early 2020. Now I'm not too sure, though. Weird changeover theming and possible extra closures might scare me off. Still, that's just my particular circumstance.