Chadster's Taco Adventures! - Nickelodeon Universe!!!

[chadster]

By popular demand I bring you, Chadster's Taco Adventures!!

 

Each week I will search for the country's best (or not so best, *cough* walking taco *cough) tacos. So tune in to find out if the tacos will be good, bad, or just plain ugly.

 

 

The premier edition starts out with a trip to Austin, Texas where I visited the Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo, a cowboy's dream. This annual event is held each year in March, spans ~16 days, and includes a rodeo, music, farm animals, and a carnival presented by CrabTree Amusements. The event itself is a tad pricey; parking is $10, gate entry is $8, and ride wristbands at $35. Rodeo tickets extra.

 

After my visit to the fair I went on a search for Austin's best tacos and ended up at El Chilito near the University of Austin. And let me tell you, they were nothing short of a party in my mouth.

 

If you would like to suggest a taco stand for me to visit, please include in the comments below!

 

So without further ado, I present, Chadster's Taco Adventures!

Welcome to the Star of Texas Rodeo

Where's the beef? More like, where's the tacos?

Not tacos.

ACEr

Pretty sure I don't want to mess with Texas.

You don't say? Things are looking up.

Ok, let me just say, that if anyone ever suggests that I eat tacos from a place like this...I'll let you try them first

Stepping out on to the midway I found sock monkeys!

I also found this amazingly crazy Pole Position. I asked to be placed in such a way for maximum pole spinning...wrong thing to do.

It literally felt like I was in a washing machine on spin cycle.

Thankfully I hadn't eaten any bad tacos, or anything else.

But in true whore style, I jumped on the wagon.

Very few break dances I have been on make me want to hurl. That's when you know you have been a good break dance. I did not hurl.

At the Starof Texas, the stars come out to play. For some off reason, couples or threesomes only on this ride. They would not let me ride with them. Chalk another one the board.

Disappointed, I went to check for single moms.

Finding none, I ran into this jacked up ride. Jacked up in a good way. It's like a Mega Disco, only the ride vehicles spin at an incredible pace!

I wanted to hurl when I got off. And then, I rode it again. If you see one, RIDE IT!

Mooooving on to other parts

I found a taco and a future taco laying around.

Yup, county as county can get.

They also had world class entertainment. No expense was spared.

For $xx bucks you could go ziplinning. Just like the real thing.

And it wouldn't be ghetto if you couldn't test drive a horse! You could also test drive a dodge ram on an off road course, kinda fun, but they of course want to sell you a truck afterwards.

Time to head out to find some Tacos

Won't be finding them in here, nor anyone else for that matter.

And I have arrived! This place is amazing. I had originally planned to go to a food truck near the UA campus but a greek event was taking place that had hundreds of college co-eds bouncing around and I got distracted. I drove by this place and it had a nice line, so I thought hey, must be good!

Good was an understatement. Everything here is made from scratch.

Taco #1 was a beef puffy corn taco. Puffy corn you say? Yup! Whatever they did to make that happen, I applaud them. The puffy corn melted in your mouth, the beef perfectly seasoned with bits of potato, like it should be. Full of flavor. 8.5/10

Taco #2 was a soft chicken taco. The chicken was moist and cooked in a sauce that you'd want to drink. Topped with all the fixins, this is certainly another one you will want to try out. 8/10

 

Be sure to check out their menu online and stop by when in Austin. Outdoor seating and walk-up ordering round out the experience of a true taco stand.

 

 

If you know of any taco stands in Austin or San Antonio, please let me know and I'll try them out this week!

Edited October 2, 2013 by chadster

[Nyteowl]

Great taco report! All of it looks so good. Remember, if you're ever in LA/Anaheim, be sure to stop by Little Caboose Tacos for a try .

[sspaz1000]

Great start to taco adventures. It makes me want to try tacos

[johnychen]

Great report. Didn't know Austin had a rodeo and I lived there for 5 years for college. I will have to try those tacos the next time I am up there.

[Jew]

Finding none, I ran into this jacked up ride. Jacked up in a good way. It's like a Mega Disco, only the ride vehicles spin at an incredible pace!

 

That ride is a KMG Swing It. I believe that one is the only one in the U.S.

[SuperShawn]

Yes! At long last the taco adventure begins! Of course now after all the taco talk I am craving them...

[comet]

Nice! Wish we had tacos like that around here. Like the look on the face of the future taco

[Wingwright]

As a native southern Californian and taco enthusiast, I fully endorse this thread!

[Nrthwnd]

Tacos Rule!

 

[GrapesLie]

Looks like a good time but next time we need photos of you eating tacos while on a roller coaster!

[PKI Jizzman]

Now those are two tasty lookin' tacos!

[peytonsgirl83]

Great report! Man I want taco's now

[chadster]

It's TACO TUESDAY and that means another Taco Adventure.

 

Today's adventure takes me to Valleyfair amusement park where we go Coasting for Kids for Give Kids the World Village.

 

It was quite the crappy weather day with rain coming and going, but despite not having my beloved poncho we had a great time. The park itself, and the Planet Snoopy area in particular, was super clean, visually pleasing, and for a smaller park had a great balance of rides with Renegade being the signature attraction.

 

Corkscrew I'm told was painted in the last few years and looks great in contrast to the new Planet Snoopy. The lack of asphalt in the park added to the crisp look and feel.

 

The group in for Coasting for Kids spent 2.5 hours on Renegade, a solid GCI with a surprise pop of air off the second drop, and Wild Thing, a ride that pelted us with tiny rain needles for 4.5 hours. All total there were 31 laps on Renegade and 68ish laps on Wild Thing, and no, I didn't do all the laps. Hit 30 on renegade and about 50 on Wild Thing(they wouldn't let me take my pillow)

 

At the end of the event we were greeted by the Mayor of the Village and got to meet several families who benefited from our efforts. And of course after the event concluded the sun came out helped end the day on a high note. Oh yeah, and their might have been some tacos, or taco like meal to end the day...

And here we are, at Valleyf

air to coast for kids...in the rain!

Griff is a real American hero. We salute you, Mr. American flag guy.

So yeah, we rode Renegade in the sprinkling rain. So everyone pretty much tried to keep their phones dry, as a result, we move on to coaster #2...also in the rain.

But before we hit it for 4.5 hours, one must hydrate.

and then we ride!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

So after countless laps we headed over to pass out goodies and meet families and their kids who stayed at the Village

YAY! The sun is finally out! Now we can all go dry out and check out the rest of the park!!

Planet Snoopy looks freaking awesome!

It even has a cool place to let your bitch take a leak

They did a great job on the area, fantastic addition.

And of course you will also find this old school coaster featuring NO SEAT DIVIDER and BUZZ BARS! Yay!!

Fun old skool ride

with BUZZ BARS!!

Corkscrew was state of the art in it's time.

And although it's a quick ride, it wasn't all that bad.

And with it's new color scheme...

...it really makes the area come together.

The shot/drop towers to me are the parks iconic ride being able to see it for some distance and marks the center of the park.

So yeah, it's also photogenic, so you get to see it multiple times.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't talk JoJo into walking through Dino's Alive, nor could I talk her into going on Tidal Wave. Oh well.

Meanwhile out in the parking lot, this mexican family set up shop.

Back in the park folks were hanging ten

This himalaya style ride was quite nice, shocking it was ran with some level of force!

But the sun was starting to set...

...which produced some nice shots...

...as the lights started to come on.

And as our day at the park came to end...

and the last spins for the night were completed...

we hoped on our horses...

...and headed for the border. No. Not 'On the Border' That will never make it to Taco Adventures.

Good night Valleyfair

You are certainly the kind of park I'd like to have near...but man...I'm hungry.

After a hard day at the park JoJo and I went down the street from the hotel to this legit joint, Poor Richard's Commonhouse, were beer bong is served.

Along with beer.

But as for tacos, I veered off here and went for the blackened chicken queso. Quite delish indeed.

 

So when you come to Minneapolis put ValleyFair on your list and be sure to stop by Poor Richards for some beer pong and some legit food.

 

Until the next Taco Tuesday...stay hungry my friends.

[sspaz1000]

That stinks you had crappy weather for coasting for kids, but Valleyfair looks like a great park.

[GriffyTiffy]

It was nice meeting you Chad, and I'm looking quite spiffy in my American gear

[Sir Clinksalot]

Taco!!!

[Lightning9SX]

Glad you enjoyed Poor Richard's. I'm craving one of their flatbread pizzas.

[chadster]

^Yeah it was legit, thanks for the heads up on it!

[SuperShawn]

Looks like it was a great group and Coasting for kids Event at Valleyfair, might consider heading out there next year for it.

[Defcon62]

Wait a minute, am I to understand that a wood coaster owned by cedar fair doesn't have head rests and multi position lap bars?

[chadster]

They have several of them in fact

[chadster]

Today's Taco Adventure started early in the morning with a stop by my favorite taco shop in North Texas, The Rusty Taco - Plano to pick up a few breakfast tacos before heading to Frontier City.

 

I dined on the Jalapeno Sausage, Egg, and Cheese Taco (8/10) and the Brisket Egg and Cheese Taco (9/10). The brisket was moist and melted in my mouth while the Jalapeno Sausage paired with their house made salsa hit the spot. No doubt you will see the Rusty Taco featured again here with a wonderful array of lunch and dinner time tacos. Open daily, the Rusty Taco serves breakfast tacos all day, offers chips and salsa for $1, fancy and regular beers, and of course margaritas. Locations in Texas and MN.

 

Once I filled up on breakfast I hit the road to visit Mikey at Frontier City. For those that don't know, Mikey has been at the park for about 18 months now and the changes he has made in operations, ride availability, and staff friendliness are quite apparent. In general the rides staff were relaxed, friendly, and offered increased efficiency over years past.

 

I was also given a backstage tour of Wild Cat, the Renegade Rapids, and we snooped around the old Eruption site. So get your taco ready, it's time for my annual trip to Frontier City with a sneak peak of Wild Cat, POV style!

 

Oppsie!

The day started out by fueling up at the amazing Rusty Taco - Plano in Plano, TX. I need one of these restaurants.

What better way to start a trip to Frontier City than the one, the only, Silver Bullet.

Better than normal sex.

Yup, the Big O. Anyway, moving on...

Although this day was quite warm, the park looked in great shape and was super clean.

And while many parks shy away from their themes once bought and sold, Frontier City has kept true to their old west theme.

 

They have also managed to keep their guns in working order.

The old rustic feel is a far cry from most corporate parks.

There might even have some Tacos if you look hard enough.

But if Taco's aren't your thing, and if they aren't, well, you are dead to me, they do have other things to munch on.

I suppose you could spend the night if you wanted to.

Or take a stroll to the penny arcade.

But what I'm here to do is to check out one of their new rides. Yes, that's right credit whores, they have a new ride.

Wild Kitty has been swapped out for a newer, better model courtesy of their sister property at Elitch Gardens.

But unless you are under 54", it's not for you. Sorry!

But what you can do is pet the farm animals!

But if that's not your style you can always swing on over...

....to the diamondback.

And no, I didn't forget about you nerds

You can also hang 10...

...or get yourself locked in...

...and take a spin!

Like me! Or the horror! I promise, no more pictures of me.

Of course you can always cool off and then...

...air dry on Steel Lasso, still one of the smoothest Vekoma's around.

It's grown in nice and honestly I don't even miss the swings.

Although some people find it scary

while the more experience riders find it fun.

How about we take a little behind the scenes tour?

First stop, Wild Cat.

How about a little up-skirt action for you PTC enthusiasts.

Caught red handed!!

So I'm sure some of you are wondering, hey, I thought you said Eruption was leaving? And then you are thinking, do they plan to re-open it?

 

Well, no, it will not re-open. And yes, they had planned to take it out, however, enhancements were needed to the concert area and quite honestly, it was money well spent. The towers aren't causing any harm, but they hope to remove them sooner than later.

Hello pod.

You thrilled many a riders in your time.

But no more, sniff sniff

Unless....Ok, I tried hitting buttons, none of them worked :/

Next up we went to check out the rapids.

Did you know it has 4 holding ponds? Well...you do now!

For those of you wondering if you get wet, well yes, yes you do thanks largely in part to a waterfall that you can't avoid, after that the ride is fairly calm as seen here.

 

The park hosts concerts throughout the year on Saturdays with top named acts. They also host a Halloween event each year with an upcharge haunt. For more information, visit their website, and while you are at it, plan a visit to the park!

 

Adios!

Edited August 7, 2013 by chadster

[sspaz1000]

Great update Chad!

 

That Brisket taco looks amazing.

[Shavethewhales]

Wow, FC is looking better than ever. I feel like the park is so ready for a big new attraction of some type. Everything looks like it has been refurbished, and they are still doing a good job of keeping the park relevant in the community with lots of concerts and promotions.

 

I wish they would rebuild the Wildcat. The first section of the ride, especially going into the trees, is really quaint and nostalgic for me, but everything after the turnaround is just awkward and pointless. I wouldn't mind if they tore it all down and put a GCII in there instead.

 

Thanks for the photos chadster.

[arby]

Both tacos look amazing. Thanks for the TR; I enjoyed reading it.