Tag Archives: amusement park

Aug5

Idlewild Park & SoakZone

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Idlewild Park & SoakZone

Howdy! My family (sans sweet angel Johnny) enjoyed a lovely little getaway to visit Idlewild Park and SoakZone in Ligonier, Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, outside of Story Book Forest, I didn’t get too many pictures while we explored the amusement park itself because it was all hands on deck with five small children in tow. Their ages ranged from under one year old to six years old and it was freaking anarchy lol. All craziness aside, Idlewild was truly a perfect park for their ages. It was quite compact, had lots of shade, rides for itty bitties and children (And some for adults too!), and there was also the SoakZone water park to cool off at. You can check out a full tour of the park in this fantastic video and let’s discuss further:

^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!

Despite the relatively small size of Idlewild, it was jam packed with all kinds of fun rides, attractions, and shows. The kids had an absolute ball being at a park that was specifically made for them and it was a delight to watch them live it up! One of the major areas of the park had total county fair vibes that included carnival games, endless options of carnival foods, and rides that spun like crazy. The kids loved the spinny rides – the adults… Not so much lol. Extreme heat + spinning nonstop = upset tummy!! The things we do for those kiddos! All of them were huge fans of the Spider ride that put you inside the shoes of a giant spider. Your cart spun around independently as the legs twirled and it was a lot lol I was SO dizzy afterwards!! At a much more moderate clip was the Balloon Race, Paratrooper, and Howler which were spin rides but nothing too crazy. That was much more like it!

Our bigger kids really liked playing in the Jumping Jungle which featured a playground with a HUGE net to climb. All of us also had a blast in the 3D maze where safari animals popped out with the magic of 3D glasses. It really blew the kids’ minds! The bigs also took a shine to the wooden Rollo Coaster that took sharp twists and turns as it clunked along. It was definitely a bumpy ride but a great beginner level rollarcoaster. The Wild Mouse was the steel rollarcoaster at Idlewild which we didn’t have the time to ride, but that was quite alright. It looked a bit too intense for the kids and the SoakZone was calling our name.

Idlewild has a very healthy mix of big and little kid attractions and our tiny tots adored Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and Raccoon Lagoon Kiddieland. Raccoon Lagoon was home to all of the classic rides like spinning teapots, Red Baron airplanes, and motor cars. You could also hitch a ride on spinning dragons and turtles which was super cute. The Kiddieland was awesome because it gave the older kids some downtime to relax in the shade while the little ones got to have their turn on rides that they were tall enough for. It was so sweet to ride the Tea Party with my little niece – we were the only ones on the ride and it was like our own private tea party! ❤

On our second day at the park, we ended our adventure at SoakZone. As we all had to make a three hour drive back to Akron, Ohio we didn’t hang out there too long. It was absolutely delicious to cool off after trudging around in ninety plus degree temps all afternoon! We hit up the Little Squirts station which was great for all of the kiddos to splash about and play in. It had a splash pad, sprinklers, and a wading pool set up with cascading waterfalls in the fixtures. After the kids got beaucoup play time in, we went to the Wave Pool next and that was just okay. The waves were few and far between and it was basically just standing in water lol. We ended our time at SoakZone with a couple of laps around their lazy river and we headed home completely wiped out but happy as can be!

Idlewild Park is family fun to the T and it was such an amazing adventure to have all together!

Do you like amusement park rides? What is your favorite? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug4

Story Book Forest At Idlewild Park

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Story Book Forest At Idlewild Park

Hello! Despite no recollection of visiting Story Book Forest at Idlewild Park in Ligonier, Pennsylvania when I was little, we have countless family photos to prove it. It was a much beloved amusement park that is roughly three hours away from my home and my parents would take me and my siblings often. This past week, I had the pleasure of returning there with almost my entire family (Johnny couldn’t get off work) and my four sweet nieces and nephew. Being an aunt is one of my greatest joys and I am beyond thrilled to have the memory of this wonderful family getaway for keeps. Check it out:

Story Book Forest is exactly what it sounds like – a trek through the woods to visit the homes of all of the classic story book characters and even meeting some of them too. You begin by walking through the giant story book (Which is really cool!) where you are greeted by Mother Goose who tells you all about your adventure and sends you on your way. From there, the path winds all around and brings adults on a trip down memory lane while the children see all of the stories they know and love come to life. It is absolutely precious.

With my darling littles and family in tow, we explored all of Story Book Forest and had the best time! The kids loved interacting with all of the different character actors like Raggedy Anne and Andy, Snow White, Cinderella, the captain of the Good Ship Lollipop, Geppetto, and the wife of the Crooked Man. They played games with Raggedy Anne and Andy, swabbed the deck of the pirate ship and received candy for the loot, and took pictures with princess royalty. It was such fun to see all of these characters through the littles’ eyes and I think they couldn’t quite believe it themselves!

I’m sure all of the kiddos could agree that the best part was exploring all of the different homes in the forest and there were plenty of them. This included but was not limited to the digs of Little Red Riding Hood, the Crooked Man, the three bears from Goldilocks, Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater, Geppetto’s workshop, and the castle of Old King Cole himself. There were some homes you couldn’t enter like the Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe, Snow White’s cabin, and the homes of the Three Little Pigs but they were all noteworthy landmarks to check out. 🙂

Story Book Forest ended at Old King Cole’s castle where you could walk through a town square, release Excalibur from the stone, make wishes at a fountain, and meet Cinderella on her royal throne. Of course, it wouldn’t be a theme park if you didn’t make the final exit through the gift shop which blessedly had air conditioning and an adorable array of plushies, princess gear, candy for days, and anything else that a child’s heart could desire. If you are in an area where a road trip is possible, I truly cannot recommend a visit to Story Book Forest at Idlewild Park with your little ones enough!

From start to finish, my family’s Idlewild adventure was joy in the purest form. I cannot wait to tell you all more about it but our time in Story Book Forest will hold the most special place in my heart! ❤

Which amusement parks did you visit as a child? Do they still exist today? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct3

Monday Update: The Travel Tag Edition

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Monday Update: The Travel Tag Edition

Hi everyone and happy Sunday! I haven’t done any of the fun tags and awards that I have been nominated for for awhile but when my super cute friend K.M. tagged me for the Travel Tag, I had to give it a go! I am hopefully crossing the ocean in the spring of 2017 to the UK for a graduation gift to myself so travel has been on my mind constantly. Before you read my answers to K.M.’s travel themed questions, please be sure to check out her wonderful blog at Ankhor You! I love chatting with K.M. via comments and Facebook and I am sure all of you will adore her just as much as I do!

Q & A:

You are leaving tomorrow to start a life in a new country, where would you go?

FRANCE!! Mais, oui. I have been studying French since high school and I am nowhere near fully fluent but I am very dedicated to becoming so. I love everything about France – the people, culture, language, food, scenery – EVERYTHING. So, needless to say, if you don’t hear from me in a while, just know that I have packed up and gone away to France.

You can take someone for a weekend away to the place you had the best holidays ever, where would that be and who would you take to go with you?

Hmmm…Since a weekend isn’t a very long time, I would probably spend the weekend with my sister at Cedar Point. Cedar Point is about two hours away from yours truly and my sister and I both love amusement parks so I can totally picture us staying in one of their hotels and having a big adventure weekend at the theme park. I have never been there during the Halloween season, either, so I think that that would be so much fun!

You can get married wherever you want to, your budget is limitless, what is your choice?

I hate to be redundant here but can somebody say “Paris”?

During your travels you can bring back home one animal as a pet, which one would you pick?

A MONKEY, A MONKEY, A LITTLE BABY MONKEY!!! While exploring the jungles in some far away, exotic country, I will befriend a tiny little monkey and have it come home with me. Its name will be Frank. 🙂

You can go back in time and relive one family trip, which one?

Oh, that’s easy. Definitely Universal Studios! My entire family is a big lover of amusement parks and we had the literal best time at Universal. Being at Harry Potter World was a dream come true and I would give anything to go back.

What is the first thing you would pack for a one year travel around the world?

Red lipstick and a year supply of hair dye.

What would your fantasy 100th birthday destination be and why?

Uhhh… I don’t really plan on making it to my 100th birthday?

During your travel you can learn one sport to become a pro, what would that be?

I would continue my figure skating education! I skated throughout my childhood and early teens and miss it very much!

I Nominate:

My Questions For You:

  1. Where are your top three places that you would like to travel?
  2. What is your favorite type of ethnic cuisine to eat?
  3. You get offered a plane ticket to a country of your choosing but you can only bring three items with you.Where would you go and what would your items be?
  4. What location does not appeal to you to travel to?
  5. Your BFF is a total adrenaline junkie and she has you pick between building an igloo in Antarctica, scaling Mount Everest, or zip lining one thousand feet over the jungle. What do you choose?
  6. Are you an over packer or an under packer when it comes to prepping for a vaca?
  7. Have you ever forgotten something totally essential while on vacation?
  8. What is your perfect vaca outfit?

So there you have it, this week’s Monday Update: The Travel Tag Edition! Thank you to my fabulous friend, K.M., for the nomination! How would you answer some of the questions that K.M. asked me? How would you answer some of the questions that I asked my nominees? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep8

NYC Fall Fun

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NYC Fall Fun

Hi everyone and welcome to my friend Adina’s contribution to my fall guest bloggers series here on lifewithlilred. Please be sure to check out her page linked here and give her some love! Adina’s post is all about fall activities to do in the Big Apple. This is a great read for any NYC natives, travelers, and day dreamers. Take a look:

NYC Fall Fun:

There is no greater time to visit New York City than the fall. The extreme summer heat is gone, the kids are back to school, and the city is as vibrant as she was during the summer. With that being said, here is a list of places to visit in New York City in the fall:

Central Park:

With the weather still comfortable but not unbearable, there is nothing like a picnic on a fall day. Nature lovers and exercise enthusiasts will love watching the leaves change and using the park’s natural layout as a workout space. With a variety of activities, including the Central Park Zoo, the Carousel, and playgrounds for the kids, Central Park has something for everyone.

Prospect Park:

Located in Brooklyn, with access to multiple train lines, Prospect Park has the same amenities of Central Park without needing to travel to Manhattan. The Prospect Park Zoo and The Lefferts Historic House will keep families entertained. Picnickers, nature lovers, and exercise junkies can have the same experience they would have in Central Park while staying closer to home.

The Brooklyn Botanical Gardens:

Located a block from The Brooklyn Museum, the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens are a treat in the fall. In the midst of a changing borough, the gardens are a perfect retreat from the busy life outside of its gates. Visitors can stroll through the many gardens, catch a glimpse of the turtles and the coy fish in the lake, and visit the pavilions with the recreations of various environments. And if the visitor can wake up early on Saturday, admission is free before noon.

The Highline:

Imagine, if you will, that you want to take a walk on a cool fall day. You don’t want to go to Central Park, but the thought of staying home does not appeal to you. Why not try The Highline? Originally built in the 1930’s as part of the transit system, it was abandoned in the 1980’s until it was re-imagined as a public space a few years ago. It’s the perfect spot to read, enjoy a meal, people watch, or maybe just enjoy the view of the river.

Coney Island:

There is a reason Coney Island is called The People’s Playground. People from all walks of life have enjoyed Coney Island and made an abundance of memories there. The best time to visit Coney Island is in the fall. Just because the crowds have thinned out does not mean that there is nothing to do. Between the boardwalk, amusement park, aquarium, and more than enough places to eat, there is always something to do in Coney Island during the fall.

^^^ Thank you so much again to Adina for these amazing travel tips! For more fantastic reads, be sure to check out her blog! Where is your favorite place to visit in the fall? What is your favorite fall related activity? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug11

The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter

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The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter

Hey heyyy everyone and happy Tuesday! As you guys know this week on lifewithlilred will be featuring posts all about my Universal Studios adventure, which started with yesterday’s Monday Update: Orlando Vacation Edition. To continue with this theme, I thought that we could finish our conversation about my favorite part of my vaca – The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter. Take a look at these cool pics and then let’s discuss:

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As I mentioned before, Universal Studios added on to The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter park with Diagon Alley. The pictures that I’ve posted and will continue to post throughout the week does not do the HP replicas justice in the slightest. We’ve already talked about a lot of what the newest HP park has to offer yesterday but we have yet to talk about all of the different rides, so let’s get on that!!

Diagon Alley features two new rides, an interactive train ride on the Hogwarts Express and Escape From Gringotts. The nice thing about boarding the Hogwarts Express is that it takes you to Hogsmeade, which lies in the neighboring park, the Islands of Adventure. And of course you can hop the train and head back to Diagon Alley. To get to the Hogwarts Express you must walk through Kings Cross station, complete with the luggage of Hogwarts students and a hologram which makes you look like you’re walking through the wall to Platform 9 3/4 to onlookers.

Once you’ve boarded the train you enter into a spacious cabin boasting luggage racks, plush seats, and framed photos of London. As the train begins to move you can see scenes of London streets, HP characters like Hagrid, and the approaching Hogwarts castle through your window. Make sure you pay attention to your cabin door as well, where you will see silhouettes of Harry, Ron, Hermoine, and the soul sucking Dementors. Once Harry’s Patronus charm chases the Dementors away, you can exit the train and you will find yourself right in the heart of Hogsmeade.

The second new ride in Diagon Alley is the Escape From Gringotts, a high speed 3D roller coaster. The awesome thing about a lot of the rides at Universal, specifically the HP rides, is that they make the waits in line completely tolerable because you are able to interact with your surroundings. In the line for Escape From Gringotts, you get to experience walking through a perfect replica of the bank, complete with high vaulted ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and talking and moving goblins. And it wouldn’t be a HP ride without talking and moving pictures on the wall!

After your walk through the bank, you board an elevator that’s measured in miles instead of floors to take you deep into the bottommost layers of Gringotts. Before you begin your mine cart ride, you get to see a short hologram interaction between Bill Weasley and a goblin, to tell you a little bit about what you’re in for during your tour of the Gringotts vaults. From there, you enter your mine cart and get down to business. If you are expecting a nice leisurely ride, you will be in for quite a shock…Especially during your run ins with trolls, dragons, Bellatrix, and Voldemort!

There are three rides in Hogsmeade, but I am only going to discuss one of them, as the other two are your standard roller coasters. One of the best rides that Universal Studios has to offer is Harry Potter & The Forbidden Journey. This is another 3D roller coaster which takes you on a grand tour of the Hogwarts castle and grounds. Similar to Escape From Gringotts, a lot of the fun is waiting in line! During your wait you get to walk through the corridors of Hogwarts, where you encounter holograms of Dumbledore, Harry, Ron, and Hermoine. You get a look at the greenhouse, the Gryffindor common room, as well as multiple classrooms. You also get to see the pictures on the walls interacting with each other. The most interesting picture experience comes from watching the founders of each house discuss letting muggle born students practice at Hogwarts. (We all know how Salazar Slytherin feels about this!) And of course, a tour through Hogwarts wouldn’t be complete without hearing the fat lady sing! All of this excitement occurs before even coming close to going on the ride!

You know that you’re in for a wild ride just from getting into your cart because they are moving along a platform at a pretty quick speed, and once you’re on and buckled in the ride begins. Harry Potter & The Forbidden Journey let’s you feel what it’s like to fly as you travel behind Harry and the gang, going everywhere from the Quidditch field to the Forbidden Forest. Be on the lookout though because your journey is filled with dangerous twists and turns, putting you face to face with giant spiders and Dementors. You get up close and personal with the HP trademark, the Whomping Willow, as well as a high speed adventure beneath the Quidditch field rafters a la Harry Potter & The Chamber Of Secrets. The Forbidden Journey is a long ride and by the time you’re done you really feel as though you made the million mile trip throughout the Hogwarts grounds. Shake it off and cool down with a delicious frothy Butterbeer…you earned it!!

So there you have it, the Lil Red inside look at the rides of The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter! Make sure you tune in at the same time and same place tomorrow for more of my Orlando, Florida vacation fun! Until then, have any of you been to Universal Studios before? What was your favorite ride there? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah