Wheeeeee!

Kira owns a few books about roller coasters and always talked about wanting to ride on one when she gets older.  She sometimes holds her hands up in the air when we go down a big hill in the car.  I checked online and saw that King's Dominion has a little roller coaster that is perfect for toddlers.  We thought it would be fun to take her before summer ended, especially since she could get in for free (ages 2 and under).  It worked out great because she is tall for her age and was able to ride more than the standard kiddie rides that aren't very thrilling (she still loved every ride though).

[caption id="attachment_2515" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Top of the Ferris Wheel"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2516" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Meeting Pirate Lucy"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2517" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Riding the Scrambler with Daddy"][/caption]

We left Logan with Grandma and Papa for the day and got to the park just before it opened.  We didn't bring the stroller into the park because we thought it would be a pain but that was a BIG mistake.  It was hot, the park was huge, and as the day went on Kira wanted to be held all of the time.  Around 4 p.m. Jeff went back to the car to get her stroller and our bag of swim stuff so we could cool off in the water park.  The water really refreshed Kira and gave her a second wind.

[caption id="attachment_2518" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Animal Crackers = Good Behavior Motivator"][/caption]

Kira's favorite rides were the Taxi Jam Coaster, Flying Eagles, and Shenandoah Lumber Company.  They were probably the most thrilling rides she rode during the day.  She rode both the Taxi Jam Coaster and Flying Eagles rides twice and giggled throughout each ride.  She was brave enough to even put her hands in the air on the roller coaster and drop at the end of the log flume ride.  I think we'll definitely take her back next summer when she'll be able to ride even more rides.



[caption id="attachment_2508" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Taxi Jam Coaster"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2509" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Flying Eagles"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2511" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="So excited to go on the log boat ride!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2510" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Little Daredevil"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2512" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Soaked"][/caption]

Jeff and I got to ride some rides as well.  The park advertises this program where you pick up a pass when you arrive for the day that allows parents with small children to ride the big attractions with only one parent having to wait in line.  So one of us would wait in line (which usually wasn't too long) while the other person stayed with Kira at the exit ramp.  After the first person rode the ride, we would swap places with the other person.  I didn't notice anyone else doing this, probably because it was only mentioned on the website among a bunch of other information.  Jeff and I rode on the Intimidator 305 which features a 85 degree angle, 300 foot drop and it was AWESOME!  We heard some girls talking about blacking out on it - Jeff laughed at them - but we experienced the same thing after the initial drop.  My neck hurt for about 24 hours but it was worth it.

[caption id="attachment_2514" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="That's Jeff at the top - can you see his hands sticking up in the second row?"][/caption]

Some other fun highlights of the day for Kira were eating corn dog nuggets for the first time, cooling off with vanilla ice cream (the best I think I've ever had), and getting a "princess wand" that lights up as we left the park.  She played with that wand the whole way home and the nonstop the past two days.  It was the best $5 we have spent in a long time!

[caption id="attachment_2513" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Princess Wand - Perfect end to a perfect day!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2522" align="aligncenter" width="237" caption="She-Ra"][/caption]