Coastinmiller Posted July 27, 2014 Author Share Posted July 27, 2014 Guess it's time to bring this thread back up from the dead. Haven't really posted anything on this thread in quite a while, but just got back from a fantastic family trip and will post the reports on this thread. If anything it'll be fun to watch Klaire and now Miranda grow up riding rides. First stop on our trip was Hoffman's Playland. It'll be sad to see this place close. Was a real nice kids park with some awesome scooters (they did glide a bit more than Knoebels', but still landed quite a punch if you could control the glide. It's kind of unfortunate that these skooters are here, b/c the height requirement is 54", so no kids can really ride them and the adults are all here to watch the kids, so (at least when we were here) it's tough to get a good group of people on them. We line watched for a while just to ride with other people. The park consisted of the roller coaster, train, jolly caterpillar and standard kiddie flats. Miranda on Carousel. Klaire and Nicole on the balloons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WFChris Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 That's a cute looking family park I like that the coaster is not a Wacky Worm or Dragon Coaster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coastinmiller Posted August 1, 2014 Author Share Posted August 1, 2014 Next stop on our Northeast tour was Great Escape. Out of all the Six Flags, I really like this one the best, especially with my kids. It has a great assortment of rides for the whole family. Though it does lack some good food options. Really not mot else to say about this park as it has been reviewed many times, so onto the pics. It great to see them keeping up with the paint job on Demon. The whole Miller clan got a new credit with Frankie's Mine Train. Klaire get a new credit on the Apline Bobsled Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coastinmiller Posted August 3, 2014 Author Share Posted August 3, 2014 Our 2nd stop of day 2 was to Magic Forest. I kind of bummed that we didn't spend more time here. I thought this park was a small kid park, but upon navigating the park found a lot of really neat things. We had only 2 hours at the park, but could spent another 2 easily, with the muffler men, diving horse show, old school flats and a really nice train ride. The park also had a bunch of walk through attractions. I would recommend a stop in this park to anyone visiting Great Escape, but plan on spending at least 4 hours here, especially if you have kids. I would love to visit this place again when we're back in the area, considering we missed the drive through safari with what I am assuming is more muffler men animals tucked into the woods. Entrance to Magic forest is through the house. Boat ride Klaire and Nicole will take the front for a new credit for the Miller clan Miranda and I will ride behind them Really nice train ride that goes over 2 trestles. This is one of the trestle's Crooked House Old school flat ride Kiddie whip The park had a bunch of walk through attractions like these. They were all really neat. This one was themed to animals in christmas Snow white walk through Giant slide Diving horse. My wife missed thehorse though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
booink Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 Nice TR so far ! I have been visiting The Great Escape and Lake George for almost 10 years now, and yet I've never stopped at Magic Forest . Would you recommend it to a 16 years old, or is it really more for kids and older visitors won't find much? It sure looks interessing by the photos and descriptions you posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coastinmiller Posted August 3, 2014 Author Share Posted August 3, 2014 ^ I honestly would say 16 year old might he too old for the park. It really is more geared for a younger audience. Unless he/she likes history and interesting things like muffler men, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coastinmiller Posted August 3, 2014 Author Share Posted August 3, 2014 After leaving Magic Forest our plan was to head to the town of Lancaster, NH, which should have been a 3 hour ride. The 3 hour ride turned into a 6 hour ride thanks to a faulty oil sensor, the engine kept overheating and I'd have to stop to let it cool down. Thought about bagging the trip and make our way home, but found a dealer close to Funtown in Maine where we would eventually get it fixed. At least this would be the longest stretch that we would have to navigate with our car. Day 3 of our trip was another 2 parker. It would consist of Santa's Village and Fort Jefferson Fun Park. Santa's Village. Too many Christmas cards spots to choose from in this park. One one word is needed to describe Santa's Village: PERFECT. Honestly, IMO, I would rank this as the best kids park in the US. It has a great selection of rides (coaster, shooting dark ride, log flume, a bunch of flats, train and water structure and water slides), very shady with lots of places to sit, friendly staff, slides by the entrance, slides and swings throughout the park, the chance to meet and pet reindeer and a unique activity for the kids called Elfabet University, where the kids would have to hunt down elfs that had letters of the alphabet and get their christmas tree card punched of said letter. After completion of the punch card the kids would return their card and get their diploma. The Elfabet University Clues for the kids, was also on the park map. Miranda getting her card punched. We found them all! Diploma time. The shooting dark ride was a 2 story one, though a bit short was really neat and kid friendly. Practicing shooting the Humbugs! Miranda and Nicole shot them all. The coaster had a nice long train which kept the line short. Rudy's Rapid Transit I heard some really good things about this park, but my expectations were blown away. There were just so many things to do with the kids and so many photo opportunities. The pics are a bit jumble, we were using multiple cameras. Anyway onto the rest of the pics: Slides by the entrance. Bumper cars. Klaire says I'm a better driver LOL We all got on the log flume Some great looking reindeer and a real nice barn for them. So close to the next level! Miranda is over the first height requirement level of 36". Car wash for the cars. Finished the day with some good ice-cream. Free ring toss in the reindeer barn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cmbgo12 Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 Wow, they've cleaned up Santa's Village a lot since I was there... It's almost unrecognizable from what I remember of it! Great trip reports btw, it's really cool to see some of the small parks get some recognition! One question though, while you're in New Hampshire are you planning to go to Story Land? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canobie Coaster Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 Santa's Village was one of my first parks. It's an amazing place for kids thanks to the theming and low height requirements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coastinmiller Posted August 4, 2014 Author Share Posted August 4, 2014 Wow, they've cleaned up Santa's Village a lot since I was there... It's almost unrecognizable from what I remember of it! Great trip reports btw, it's really cool to see some of the small parks get some recognition! One question though, while you're in New Hampshire are you planning to go to Story Land? Thanks. Yes, we're going to Story Land. I really liked Wooden Warrior a lot, so I wanted to see if Roar-o-Saurus matched it. I'll have the PTR up soon enough. Fort Jefferson Fun Park is next. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canobie Coaster Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 I've heard Roar-o-Saurus has tons of air-time like Wooden Warrior, but it is a bit rattly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coastinmiller Posted August 4, 2014 Author Share Posted August 4, 2014 I've heard Roar-o-Saurus has tons of air-time like Wooden Warrior, but it is a bit rattly. It does have a ton of air, but I found no rattly parts at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coastinmiller Posted August 10, 2014 Author Share Posted August 10, 2014 The 2nd park for day 3 turned out to be only an one hour stop. Fort Jefferson Fun Park While Santa's Village was perfect IMO, this place had seen better days. Thankfully it was free entry and pay per ride. After getting our credit for the coaster we toured the rest of the small park, found old unmaintained rides and a lackadaisical staff. The park is really not worth the visit unless you need the credit, but I don't really see it being around for too much longer. At least we were able to save the day and head back for a quick early evening cap at Santa's village. Tractor horse ride Paddle through malaria lake anyone? credit these looked neat but sadly not operating Klaire's kiddie bumper boat did not work at all. At least they had a real horse ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coastinmiller Posted September 30, 2014 Author Share Posted September 30, 2014 Sorry for the complete lack of updates. I promise I'll do Storyland this Friday. Been real busy at work, non-stop really, pushing out my a new product tanker, my 20th ship constructed. Here's a quick glance at completion and launch. Final work on rudder and final paint coat. Look at the prop and partial rudder. Starting to flood the dock. Removing the casion for river entry. Tugs pulling her out. In the river. Going into the outfitting dock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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