NegativeGLover

I'm starting to love the "road trip" style trip reports moreso than I am the actual park reports. Although technically you were in a "park"... Great stuff - totally makes me want to pack up and head for the Smokies right now... Were most of these shots taken with your Stylus Tough 6000? If so I'm going to Best Buy after work to buy one... (your pics are my final decision maker!)...

Thanks for the input fellas. After looking over the pictures in the trip reports I definitely think it will fit my needs for quality, and durability. I'll probably go for the 6000 model since it is cheaper, and go for the SLR in a year or two. I'll post up some pics in the next month or so when I get them... And I too could have done without the leg shot, but at least it lets me know what kind of quality "body hair shots" I can get...

So I've searched and read up on TPR using the upper end of the "lower" models of for video and pictures. Has anyone tried, or know much, about the new Olympus Stylus Tough models? I've read up on the net, but can't find many reviews as far as people who have actually used them. I would love to have a good SLR, but as of now, I abuse my camera a good bit (Canon Powershot), and would hate to see something happen to a new SLR. I therefore have decided to replace my point and shoot. I photography in general, and carry my camera whenever I'm out living life. I'm honeymooning in Cabo come August and would like to get a waterproof model that can take some abuse. I love to ride coasters, ski (on the lake and on snow), blow stuff up, run into walls, etc. I therefore thought the new "Tough" line (most likely 6000 or 8000 model), would be a good choice as it is 10 or 12 MP, waterproof, freeze proof, small, has image stabilization, etc. Anyone know much more about them? Or has anyone used any other waterproof and shock proof point and shoots that they would recommend? I also wonder how the shock proofing would hold up on coasters. I assume pretty good for Intamins in general, but wonder about Togo death trap style smashings... Any input is appreciated...

I'm headed to Florida for an ASME Bioengineering conference the last week of June. I've been lucky enough to schedule things so that I can get about 2.5 free days total to do my own thing. The following is my route of attack and I am asking for any open advice to help make it a better one... I'm landing in Miami on Tuesday and instantly headed to Boomers. I plan on hitting Boomers for some Hurricane rides and hopefully some go-cart action. I've got a 2 hour drive over to Marco Island that evening, so I plan on having about 7 hours total. I'm going to most likely look up some small things to do, and potentially visit Uncle Bernies for the credit depending on how whorish I'm feeling... Any other things in Miami that are must do things? I will be leaving Marco Island and driving approximately 3 hours or so up to Tampa to hit Busch Gardens on Sunday. I'll hopefully have a ticket from online to save a few bucks and time as I figure I will have from about 5 till close to try and get in all the credits. I think I can get them in with the alloted time that I will have even though it will be a Sunday, and if not, there is always next time. I will be looking for a really cheap to stay most likely half way between Tampa and Orlando. I've seen some cheap places online that I will most likely stay at - but are there any that are cheap, clean, and close by to Orlando that anyone would recommend? I will use that next Monday to most likely visit IOA. I haven't been to Orlando for about 8 years and I think this will be the best opportunity for me to hit this park. Here is my big question - With only 1 day, should I go ahead and get the dual park pass and try to get in to ride the Mummy, Simpsons, and some other stuff - or should I stick to just doing IOA and just have a great day there? I would love to ride the Mummy just to get the credit, but the same goes for Rock n Roller and Expedition Everest over at Disney. I would love to spend more time, but I am thinking 1 day is all I get. Any suggestions on this one day of credit whoring while still having a great time and getting to enjoy the park (I know they semi contradict each other)? The last morning (Tuesday) I thought about stopping in at Seaworld and hitting Kraken and Journey to Atlantis. I don't have a scheduled flight yet, but it will probably have to be in the middle of the afternoon. Is it do-able to hit Sea World as well and be to the Airport by around 1-2 ish? Any other help or suggestions are appreciated. I also would love to know of any sideshow attractions or great little stops along the way from Miami to Marco Island up to Tampa to Orlando... Thanks for any advice!

I can fondly remember the Water Boggan park. It had three dark blue body slides that replaced the Rampage sleds when they took them out. There were also about 4-5 regular slides which required a mat to go down. I know there was a small putt-putt place beside the Water Boggan, as well as a small arcade in the lobby of the place. I can also recall a batting cage somewhere close by, and if I remember right there was a driving range somewhere close by. Not sure if this is the place you were thinking of or not... Mount Olympus definately only had 4 slides or so, and was very very small. I can definately remember that it was a man made and near the small amusement park that Homey G had stated. I cant remember many of the details about it though There was also a Water Boggan down in the south end of Myrtle Beach, but I never went there, only drove by it, so I'm not sure what all kinds of slides they have... I have some pictures and brochures somewhere back home of the water boggan places burried in my collection, I might have to dig them out and take a look.

Home G - That helped a LOT ! Now, do you know where I could track down and pics of this place ??? I was trying to remember how many slides there were, but 3 sounds like it could be right. I especially remember the 3 levels of intensity, and for some reason I was thinking there were two "advanced" slides, and one was named Wild Thing. I know it was a small park, but the memories of flying down those slides on the old foam mats remains a huge memory to me... And as for the Waterboggan ? I fondly remember it, and have some pics and stuff of it somewhere back home. There were three body tube slides, one was a small straight drop that I would run around to time after time. None of their other slides really did it for me that much, so I would stick to that slide and the Pipeline coaster. Man those places sure brought some good memories... (I talk about this like I'm an old man when I'm only 23, I cant imagine what I'll be like at 30)

Calling any waterpark specialists or historians, or anyone that can help me out. I'm trying to find a defunct waterpark that was located in the Windy Hill section of Myrtle Beach,SC. The park's name was Mount Olympus, and it was a relatively small park (in the neighborhood of 6 slides or so). Myrtle Beach has long been a favorite place for my family to vacation, being as we are from WV it seems like the thing to do. We always used to try and visit at least one waterpark during the week to have some fun. Myrtle Waves was always nice, and the Windy Hill Waterboggan was ok too (especially the Pipeline coaster!), but of all the places, Mount Olympus reigns supreme to me. The slides they had simply were the wildest most of out control slides I've ever encountered. At least, I think they were, me being very young at the time might not have helped. The park I believe stood somewhere near where the Chuck-E-Cheese/Kroger's area is now (not sure of this), and the park was torn down close to 15 years ago from my memory. I tried looking the internet over and over for pics/brochures etc. I would love to have any info on this place, as its a great childhood memory. My family only has one or two pics of the place, and they suck as far as quality go. I was also too young to be in my brochure collecting phase. I tried looking on several Myrtle Beach forums, and had no luck, and the person I talked to at the Chamber of Commerce wasn't too helpful either. Any help anyone can give me as far as getting info on the place would be greatly appreciated. Thanks !