Iowa's Greatest Theme Park
Written: Jun 30 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Variety of rides, many things for younger children and toddlers
Cons: May not be as fun for someone used to big parks (Disney, Six Flags, etc)
The Bottom Line: Adventure is *the* amusement park of Iowa, and is a good place to visit with your family.
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| choices399's Full Review: Adventureland Amusement Park |
I grew up in Iowa, and Adventureland was on our yearly summer agenda as we grew up. As kids, we always looked forward to going to Adventureland, and would save our allowance so that we could play ski-ball and the other many games that they had. Adventureland was the highlight of our summer!
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The Rides
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Young Children
There are many rides for young children, and your toddler or young tyke will have a lot to do. The Teapots are always a favorite (huge tea cups spinning slowly while traveling along the path - big enough for the whole family to go together) as are the boats (small boats that float in a pool of water and circle around) and planes.
Roller Coasters
Most rides are suitable for children, and my favorites when I was young were always the roller coasters. There are a few to choose from, and the smallest (we named it the "baby rollercoaster") is a great introduction to the thrills of a coaster. There is also an intermediate coaster, and a few "advanced" coasters as well. Adventureland always adds at least one new attraction every year, and they have mostly been roller coasters. While they have added upside-down coasters, wooden coasters, etc., my all-time favorite is the Tornado - a big and fast coaster with a large vertical drop.
Water Rides
A theme park is just not a theme park without a few water rides. The log ride is a classic, and was always my mother's favorite ride in the park. One year, they added the "Raging River" which was emmensely popular. You ride in rafts down an angry "river" that splashes onto the raft, and at the end you pass under one of three waterfalls - one that just drips, an intermediate one, and a heavy fall. While on the ride, you try to guide the raft with your weight to either avoid being splashed or to ensure another will be splashed. Personally, I wasnt too impressed with this ride, but others are big fans. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that, as all water rides in all parks, the water stinks.
Other Rides
The silly silo is a popular yet contraversial ride that you will either love or hate. You get in, stand against the wall, and the tube begins to spin. The floor drops,a nd you stick to the wall. This ride has been known to make people loose their lunch.
The ski lift - this is one great way to get from one part of the park to another, and will carry you when your legs are tired! As kids, we loved this ride (no thrills, just a relaxing ride over the park) because we were armed with skittles, and loved to drop them on the heads of unsuspecting park-goers below.
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Entertainment
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We were never big show-goers, but Adventureland does have shows and attractions. I only saw the water show, and cannot comment on the other shows that they have.
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Food
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As in all parks, the food is expensive. We always brought a cooler and left it in the car, or we went outside of the park to eat. There is a McDonalds and Pizza Hut right outside the park, within walking distance.
If you are in Iowa, this is *the* amusement park of the state. It is located just outside of Des Moines, the capital, and is one of the bigger things to do while in a place that many consider to be "in the middle of nowhere". Those of you who have been to big-city amusement parks will probably not be impressed, but for those with younger children or those who have not been to huge parks, it is large enough to fill your day and small enough to not feel overwhelmed.
We always stayed all day - we got there about an hour or so after the park opened and were one of the last people to leave. The rides are great in the evening, after it is dark, and the lines are a lot less than during the day. I always dedicated the last hour of our day to one ride: the Tornado. If there was no line, they would not make you get off of the ride - we just kept going and going and going, and there was nothing in the world like it!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
choices399
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Location: Chicago IL USA
Reviews written: 9
Trusted by: 1 member
About Me:
"The Sun Never Sets....It is Man Who Moves Away From the Light"
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