Theme Parks: What's Hot Now: Nitro

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now These articles that had the largest increase in popularity over the last week

Nitro Jul 31st 2011, 10:08 Hypercoasters are all about extreme height, speed, and airtime, and Nitro delivers on all three fronts. Incredibly smooth and exhilarating, it is a must-ride at Six Flags Great Adventure. Nitro Up-Front Info Thrill Scale (0=Wimpy!, 10=Yikes!): 8.5 Wild speed, height, and G-forces, but no inversions Coaster type: Hypercoaster, Out-and-back Top speed: 80 mph Height restriction to ride: 54 inches Height of lift hill: 230 feet First drop: 215 feet Ride time: 2 minutes, 20 seconds Note that unlike most coasters, the front of the train, rather than the back, seems to deliver more airtime and a more intense ride. Nitro and other Six Flags Great Adventure Rides Photo Gallery Ticket Info Save money and time. Buy discounted tickets for Six Flags Great Adventure online, direct from Six Flags. Hotel Info Compare rates for hotels near Six Flags Great Adventure at About.com's booking partner, Kayak. Bone-rattling speed Nitro sits at the back of Six Flags Great Adventure. Its massive yellow and purple track snakes through the woods outside the park's gates. The ride retains a bit of mystery since passengers can't get a good sense of its layout until they're onboard and racing at hyper-speed. The unique and impressive design of the huge 36-passenger trains is evident as they pull into the loading station. The cars' low-slung-sides and raised seats leave riders exposed. Since there are no inversions, there are no over-the-shoulder harnesses. A single, unobtrusive T lap bar ratchets Nitro's passengers into place and contributes to their sense of vulnerability. There are no jogs at the apex of the lift hill. Nitro proceeds straight into a 215-foot drop and accelerates to a bone-rattling 80 mph. It immediately shoots up a second hill for some delirious airtime. From there it takes a left turn into the wilds of New Jersey. The sweet release of floating airtime The coaster then navigates a series of hills that alternately deliver rib-crushing positive G-forces followed by the sweet release of floating airtime. After the horseshoe-style turnaround, Nitro enters into a double helix for some intense positive G-forces--a little too intense for me. I'm not a fan of spiraling helixes, particularly on hypercoasters. I think they serve to sap a coaster's pent-up energy that could be better used for more hills and airtime. The double-helix element interrupts the airtime-a-thon and brings an otherwise near-perfect coaster down a notch from a five-star rating. Nitro is similar to another hypercoaster, Apollo's Chariot at Busch Gardens in Virginia. Both rides share the same manufacturer, Bolliger & Mabillard of Switzerland. Apollo's Chariot gives a slightly smoother ride (although both hypercoasters are remarkably hyper-smooth), and foregoes the double helix for non-stop hills and drops. Ironically, the only other coaster among Great Adventure's large arsenal to rival Nitro for a glass-smooth ride and wild airtime is El Toro, a wood coaster. (Although, its unique hybrid track distinguishes it from typical rough-and-tumble wood coasters.) Both coasters deliver a heckuva one-two punch for thrill machine fans.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now: SplashDown Waterpark

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now These articles that had the largest increase in popularity over the last week

SplashDown Waterpark Jul 31st 2011, 10:08 SplashDown Waterpark Phone: (703) 361-4451 Location: Manassas, Virginia The actual address is 7500 Ben Lomond Park Drive. The water park is located about 30 miles from Washington, D.C. Operating Hours: Open late May to early September. Check with park for actual days and times. SplashDown Tickets and Admission Policy: Discounted rates offered for children (under 48") and seniors (55 and over). Rates are lower for weekday arrivals after 3 p.m. Toddlers and infants under 2 are free. Group rates and season passes are available. Directions to SplashDown Waterpark: The address is 7500 Ben Lomond Park Drive in Manassas, Virginia. From D.C. and points east: I-66W to exit 47A (234 South business, Sudley Road). Left onto Sudley Manor Dr. at the fourth light. Left onto Ben Lomond Park Dr. to park. From points west): I-66E to exit 47 (Rt. 234/Sudley Road). Left onto Sudley Manor Dr. at the fourth light. Left onto Ben Lomond Park Dr. to park. Hotels Near SplashDown: Compare rates for Manassas, Virginia-area hotels at About.com's booking partner, Kayak. Water Park Features: Lazy river, body slides, tube slides, kiddie slides, sand volleyball, activity pool. Official Web Site: SplashDown Waterpark Overview: A municipal attraction that is owned by Prince William County, SplashDown is a 13-acre, medium-sized water park. It doesn't offer the marquee features of larger water parks, such as bowl rides or surfing simulators, but it does offer the usual suspects of water slides and other watery diversions, albeit not a whole bunch of them. Keep in mind, however, that admission is fairly reasonably priced compared to the big parks, and SplashDown can offer some welcome relief, along with wet fun, on hot, humid days. Among its collection of rides are two Cannonball slides, two Tropical Twister slides, and a lazy river (which has the creative name, "Lazy River"). There are some pint-sized slides and activities for younger visitors, and older kids will enjoy challenging the log walk and lily pad walk. In addition to its water park attractions, SplashDown offers volleyball, tennis, a sand play area, and a snack bar. SplashDown serves double duty. Before the water park opens to the general public, it offers morning swim lessons (private and group) and play dates. Check with the park for more details.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now: Wonder Calls at Thunder Falls

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now These articles that had the largest increase in popularity over the last week

Wonder Calls at Thunder Falls Jul 29th 2011, 10:09 By Arthur Levine, Guide Ohio's tallest waterslide complex, Thunder Falls offers aquatic adventurers their choice of 4 tube rides and 3 body slides.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Theme Parks: Disney World Show is for the Birds

Theme Parks Get the latest headlines from the Theme Parks GuideSite.

Disney World Show is for the Birds Jul 28th 2011, 17:46 When it debuted in 1963 at Disneyland, the Enchanted Tiki Room featured the first Audio-Animatronics characters and was a landmark breakthrough in park attractions. The sweet-natured show still operates virtually unchanged to this day and is adored for nostalgic reasons as much as for its enduring, timeless appeal. When Disney World's Magic Kingdom opened in 1971, it offered a similar show that was called Tropical Serenade. In one of the Mouse's dumber moves, it tampered with the classic attraction in 1998 by incorporating the annoying characters Iago from Aladdin (voiced by the uber-annoying Gilbert Gottfried) and Zazu from The Lion King and literally tacking on an "Under New Management" sign to the outside of the attraction. Disney park fans squawked. Thankfully, the new bosses finally got their wings clipped, and the show will revert back to its traditional origins, minus Zazu and Iago, when it reopens in August as the Enchanted Tiki Room. With the impressive underwater characters that recently surfaced in The Little Mermaid- Ariel's Undersea Adventure, animatronics have come a long way (the Disco Yeti notwithstanding) since the art form's humble beginnings. But the relatively crude talking and singing birds, flowers, and trees of Disneyland's Enchanted Tiki Room are nonetheless still, well, enchanting. It's great to know that Disney World guests will once again be able to all sing like the birdies sing. Fantasyland Expansion at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom Best Walt Disney World Rides Connect With Arthur: Twitter | Facebook Photo: Disney. Used with permission.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now: Silver Rapids Waterpark

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now These articles that had the largest increase in popularity over the last week

Silver Rapids Waterpark Jul 28th 2011, 10:08 Silver Rapids Waterpark Location: Kellogg, Idaho Phone: 800-204-6428 Indoor Water Park Square Footage: Approximately 50,000 Silver Rapids Waterpark Admission Policy: The water park is open to lodging guests. Day passes are not available. Hotel Rates: Compare rates for Silver Mountain Resort at About.com's booking partner, Kayak. Silver Rapids Water Park Features: FlowRider surfing attraction, family raft ride, tube and body water slides, interactive water play structure, hot tub whirlpools, activity pool, and attractions for younger kids. Directions: I-90 to Exit 49 in Kellogg, Idaho. More Silver Rapids Water Park Info: To learn more about the FlowRider surfing attraction, see the review of a similar ride, the Surfari FlowRider. Official Web Site: Silver Rapids Water Park at Silver Mountain Resort Silver Rapids Water Park Overview: Silver Rapids is a medium-sized indoor water park at the Silver Mountain Ski Resort. The park includes a FlowRider surfing attraction, a family raft ride, tube slides, body slides, an interactive water play structure with a tipping bucket, an activity pool, an area for younger kids, and a whirlpool hot tub. The Silver Mountain Resort also features lodging, a day spa, restaurants, and function rooms, in addition to skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing.The resort offers over 275 condominium accommodations, including studio, 1- and 2-room suites. The water park also includes an arcade with redemption games.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now: Six Flags Magic Mountain Green Lantern

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now These articles that had the largest increase in popularity over the last week

Six Flags Magic Mountain Green Lantern Jul 28th 2011, 10:08 California's Six Flags Magic Mountain will kick off the 2011 season with not one, not two, but three "new" roller coasters (and arguably four--more on that later). All total, Magic Mountain will be able to boast 18 coasters and reclaim the "most number of coasters on the planet" title (wresting it from coaster rival, Ohio's Cedar Point). Of the three (or four) rides coming in 2011, only one is truly new: Green Lantern. The unique coaster looks to be a load of fun. Green Lantern at Six Flags Magic Mountain Stats Type of coaster: Fourth Dimension "ZacSpin" model Height: 117 feet Top speed: 35 mph Number of inversions: 3 Track length: 825 feet Ride time: 2:00 See Six Flags Magic Mountain's Green Lantern Six Flags Magic Mountain Green Lantern Preview Video Shining a Light on Six Flag Magic Mountain's Green Lantern There aren't many fourth-dimension coasters in the world, but in 2011, Six Flags Magic Mountain will have two of them. By positioning the seats to the sides of the tracks and enabling them to spin on separate axes that are independent of the trains, fourth dimension coasters offer wild, disorienting rides in which passengers have a hard time determining up from down. X, which received a makeover and was rechristened X2 in 2008, is a pioneering fourth dimension coaster and revered among coaster fans. Green Lantern, which will be much more compact than X2, will provide a seat-spinning experience, but will be much less intense and intimidating than its fourth dimension sister coaster. Instead of X2's 175-foot lift hill and 215-foot first drop, for example, Green Lantern will climb 117 feet and have no initial drop, per se. Instead, it will zigzag back and forth on a track that will look something like a giant printing press. In between the zigs and zags, the eight-passenger trains will stay relatively straight; but at the ends of each horizontal section of track, the trains will flip upside down, and the seats will spin, sending passengers head over heels, as they attempt to right themselves. The trains will alternate between traveling forwards and backwards. With a top speed of 35 mph, Green Lantern won't be setting any speed records. In fact, it will be flirting with junior coaster speed status. Nor does it appear that it will be delivering any airtime or pulling much in the way of positive G-forces. Nonetheless, the novel ride looks to be sufficiently precarious to give even hardened coaster warriors a serious case of the willies. Green Lantern will sport an electric green track with darker green-colored trains. Other than the color scheme, it doesn't appear that the coaster will have any Green Lantern themeing (unlike, say, the more heavily themed Terminator: The Coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain). The slightly obscure DC Comic hero will be featured in a major motion picture starring Ryan Reynolds that's set to debut in June 2011. Expect Six Flags to capitalize on the movie's spotlight when it opens its Green Lantern coaster around the same time. Superman: Escape from Downtime? Had Six Flags focused solely on Green Lantern for its 2011 goodies, coaster freaks would have been pleased (or as pleased as coaster freaks can get, I suppose). But the SoCal park will also be giving its launched Superman coaster a much-needed makeover. When it debuted in 1997, Superman: The Escape was the world's tallest, fastest coaster. Problem was, it often fell shy of its theoretical top speed of 100 mph and far shy of the top of its 415-foot tower. Even worse, the groundbreaking ride often ground to a halt and experienced a lot of downtime. The renamed Superman: Escape from Krypton will get new, more open cars and, hopefully, a new lease on life that will keep it up and running with greater speed and height. The park will also reverse the shuttle trains so that they will blast out of the station backwards, and send passengers free-falling down the 415-foot tower facing forwards. With its twin L-shaped tracks, Superman could be considered two coasters. Since the tracks and launch mechanisms are identical, however, the rides are the same. Six Flags says that it plans to reverse the direction of one of the trains (launching it facing forwards and free-falling backwards) a few months after Superman is relaunched. That would give riders the opportunity to experience two different coaster experiences. Is Mr. Six Nixed? The third goodie in Six Flag's 2011 bag of coasters will be a transplanted junior coaster from the shuttered Six Flags New Orleans. The ride was supposed to debut in 2010 as Mr. Six's DanceCoaster. It will now be known as Little Flash, in homage to the DC Comics superhero. (Does this mean adios to the bespectacled Mr. Six?) The off-the-shelf 44-second ride will climb 28 feet and reach a top (not-too-Flashy) speed of 22 mph. Riders as short as 42" will be able to climb aboard the new-to-Magic-Mountain coaster.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now: Top WDW Magic Kingdom Thrills

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now These articles that had the largest increase in popularity over the last week

Top WDW Magic Kingdom Thrills Jul 28th 2011, 10:08 The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World is known more for its boundless charm, immersive themes, and cuddly characters than for white-knuckle, thrill rides. While no attraction at the Magic Kingdom can match the behemoth coasters and other adrenaline-pumping rides found at parks like Six Flags, it does offer some rides that appeal to thrill-seekers. On the mild-to-wild scale, however, riders of nearly all thrill-tolerance levels should be able to handle Disney's legendary mountain range and its classic dark rides. Splash Mountain Disney. Used with permission. Thrill Scale (0=Wimpy!, 10=Yikes!): 4.5 One giant splashdown Height Requirement: 40 inches Location: Frontierland in the Magic Kingdom Fastpass: Yes Disney marries the classic log flume ride (with one humdinger of a drop) to an animatronics-filled dark ride themed to the Uncle Remus characters from "Song of the South." You'll be humming "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" (once you regain your composure from the drop). Space Mountain Disney. Used with permission. Thrill Scale (0=Wimpy!, 10=Yikes!): 5 More twists and turns than big drops. Darkness factor adds to thrills. Height Requirement: 44 inches Location: Tomorrowland in the Magic Kingdom Fastpass: Yes Perhaps the most famous indoor roller coaster (along with its namesake rides at other Disney parks), Space Mountain offers more psychological than kinetic thrills. Riders are often surprised to learn that the legendary ride reaches a relatively puny top speed of 27 mph. It's the effects, the darkness, and the element of surprise that make it seem faster. A 2009 makeover made the coaster experience even darker (although it did not improve the somewhat bumpy ride). Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Disney. Used with permission. Thrill Scale (0=Wimpy!, 10=Yikes!): 4.5 More twists and turns than big drops. Height Requirement: 40 inches Location: Frontierland in the Magic Kingdom Fastpass: Yes With a top speed of 36 mph, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is 9 mph faster than Space Mountain. Without the indoor coaster's canopy of darkness, however, Thunder Mountain somehow feels slower. The mine train coaster's three separate lift hills--that's a lot of click-clack-clicking-- are an unusual feature, as are its Old West themeing and effects. © Arthur Levine, 2003. Licensed to About.com. Thrill Scale (0=Wimpy!, 10=Yikes!): 2.5 Small splashdowns, mildly frightening images. Height Requirement: None Location: Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom Fastpass: No It's a stretch to classify Pirates of the Caribbean as a thrilling attraction, but the boat ride's small drops, lights-out moments, and somewhat menacing imagery can be unsettling (in a good, theme park kind of way). Regardless of thrills, Pirates is one of Disney's--and all of parkdom's--most beloved attractions. Pirates Ride Review and Links to Photos, Song Lyrics, and Background Info © Arthur Levine, 2003. Licensed to About.com. Thrill Scale (0=Wimpy!, 10=Yikes!): 3.5 More silly than scary, the ride is dark, loud...and haunted! Very young children may find it disconcerting. Height Requirement: None Location: Liberty Square in the Magic Kingdom Fastpass: No There are no coaster-like drops, dips, or twists on Disney's classic dark ride. But with a name like "The Haunted Mansion," you'd have to expect at least a few gotchas from the attraction's 999 ghosts. The beating heart of the ghostly bride, the pop-up ghouls in the cemetery, and the unseen victims pounding on the doors are among the more frightening scenes. Haunted Mansion Ride Review and Links to History, Secrets, and More

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now: Haunted Mansion

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now These articles that had the largest increase in popularity over the last week

Haunted Mansion Jul 28th 2011, 10:08 Coming on the heels of the wildly successful and innovative Pirates of the Caribbean and Disney's New York World's Fair attractions, the Haunted Mansion was part of an incredible burst of creative energy from the company and one of its high watermark moments. An overnight sensation (that was actually many years in the making), the classic ride has remained enormously popular; casual and ardent fans alike typically pair it with Pirates as the archetypal Disney attractions. Haunted Mansion Up-Front Info Thrill Scale (0=Wimpy!, 10=Yikes!): 3.5 More silly than scary, the ride is dark, loud...and haunted! Very young children may find it disconcerting. Type: Dark ride More Haunted Mansion Info Haunted Mansion History Haunted Mansion Ride Secrets Haunted Mansion Video Haunted Mansion Facts Haunted Mansion Theme Song Lyrics Note: The four Haunted Mansions (the Paris version is called, "Phantom Manor") are essentially similar. Tokyo and Florida are virtually identical; California's exterior is markedly different, but the ride experience is largely the same; Paris has a different storyline and other unique elements, but the overall feel takes its cue from the original. This review is based on the Florida attraction. Filmmaking Techniques Disney Imagineer Kevin Rafferty says that theme park attraction designers use the principles of filmmaking to draw guests into the story. For example, the "establishing shot" sets the tone and piques interest. Set in the Colonial-era Liberty Square, the stately, yet faintly ominous mansion beckons. As guests get closer, the "medium shot" of the mansion shows that things are not quite what they seem: a carriage hearse sits in the driveway, a large planter is overturned, and expressionless attendants mill about. Later in the attraction, as the "close-up shots" bring details into view, all hell--literally!--breaks loose. The Stretching Room The experience begins in the Foyer as cast members instruct guests to "fill in all of the dead space." Next to the Jungle Cruise, the Haunted Mansion may have the Magic Kingdom's best pun-laden spiels. The booming recorded voice of the Ghost Host bids a fond, "Welcome, foolish mortals," and a panel opens to lead guests into the Portrait Chamber, also known as the stretching room. This is where things start getting wacky. As the room "stretches," (Is the ceiling rising or the floor sinking? See Giving Up the Ghosts: Haunted Mansion ride secrets revealed!) the dignified portraits reveal more and get sillier and sillier until the stretching stops. The Ghost Host intones that there are no windows or doors in the room, and that he holds our fate--which may have something to do with the corpse hanging from the dome at the top of the room. Mercifully, a door opens that leads to the ride's load area. Chandeliers, positively bursting with cobwebs, barely light the way. The vehicles, known as Doom Buggies, use Disney's Omnimover system. Originally designed for Disneyland's Adventure Through Inner Space attraction, the endless, ever-moving stream of vehicles offers huge ride capacity (and requires the familiar warning that "the walkway is moving at the same speed as the vehicles.") Imagineers tweaked the Omnimover concept by giving the Doom Buggies the ability to independently turn and tilt. Using Rafferty's filmmaking comparison, the guests are like cameras, and the vehicles pan and focus their attention at precise moments during the ride. Scared Silly While there isn't a linear story in the more traditional sense of an attraction like Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion offers a three-act play, according to Imagineer Tony Baxter (as recounted in the wonderful book, "The Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies" by Jason Surrell). The basic premise is that the mansion is a retirement home for ghosts. 999 of them have taken up residence...but there's room for one more. In the first act, the tension builds as weird things happen in the Library, Music Room, Conservatory, Corridor of Doors, and Endless Hallway. Objects randomly float, a hand pushes against a coffin lid, a grandfather clock tolls 13, and mournful wails beckon behind strange doors. These unseen creatures are perhaps the scariest part of the ride and reflect the influence of Imagineering legend Claude Coats, who wanted the Haunted Mansion to be a mostly frightening experience. The Seance Room serves as a curtain between the acts, according to Baxter. Here, Madame Leota issues incantations inside her crystal ball to rouse the spirits. In Act 2, the ghosts emerge to cavort in the Grand Hall and scare you silly in the Attic. The Hall scene, with its huge banquet table and waltzing ghosts is among the Haunted Mansion's highlights. In the Attic, we meet the bride, a remnant from one of the attraction's early storylines. With her glowing, loudly beating heart, she provides quite a scare. In Act 3, the Doom Buggies "fall" out the Attic window and into the Graveyard. This is where the spirits go bonkers and things turn silly. Ghosts pop up everywhere, the music kicks in full force, and those wonderful singing busts harmonize for a rousing rendition of "Grim Grinning Ghosts." Marc Davis, Imagineer extraordinaire and one of Disney's "Nine Old Men" of animation, pushed for a tamer Haunted Mansion, and his lighter touch prevails throughout the ride and particularly in the Graveyard scene. The finale takes place in the Crypt where one of the hitchhiking ghosts hops into the Doom Buggy with the guests, and the tiny ghoul implores everyone to "Hurry Back." And foolish mortals that we are, we follow her advice.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now: Lose Some Wait

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now These articles that had the largest increase in popularity over the last week

Lose Some Wait Jul 27th 2011, 10:09 Magic Kingdom Splash Mountain Space Mountain The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Mickey's PhilharMagic Peter Pan's Flight Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin Stitch's Great Escape Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Disney's Hollywood Studios Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith Voyage of The Little Mermaid "The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror" Toy Story Midway Mania!3-D Star Tours Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular Disney's Animal Kingdom DINOSAUR Expedition Everest Kilimanjaro Safaris Kali River Rapids It's Tough to be a Bug! Primeval Whirl Epcot "Honey, I Shrunk The Audience" Test Track Living with the Land Maelstrom Mission: SPACE Soarin' Find Disney World-area Hotel Accommodations Compare rates for Orlando-area hotels at About.com's booking partner, Kayak. Fastpass-enabled attractions at Disneyland Resort Fastpass-enabled attractions at Disneyland Resort Paris Fastpass instructions and tips Fastpass story begins

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Theme Parks: Virginia is for (Water Park) Lovers

Theme Parks Get the latest headlines from the Theme Parks GuideSite.

Virginia is for (Water Park) Lovers Jul 26th 2011, 16:28 It's hot this time of year in Virginia, and that means Virginians and visitors to the state seek relief at water parks. One of Virginia's biggest water parks (and one of the largest in the nation) is Water Country USA. Run by the SeaWorld Parks folks who also operate Busch Gardens Williamsburg, the popular park welcomed Vanishing Point, a wacky collection of 75-foot tall speed slides that include trap-door launches (yikes!), this season. Read more about Water Country USA. SplashDown, another Virginia water park, is a smaller property that is located in Manassas (near Washington, D.C.). Among its featured attractions are two four-story water slides. Read more about SplashDown Waterpark. More Virginia Water Parks Connect With Arthur: Twitter | Facebook Photo: SeaWorld Parks.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Baby's First Year: What's Hot Now: Crochet Baby Hats Take on Animal Theme

Baby's First Year: What's Hot Now These articles that had the largest increase in popularity over the last week

Crochet Baby Hats Take on Animal Theme Jul 26th 2011, 10:01 What I remember of the crocheted hats that my grandmother made me was while they were nice, the cheap yarn she used sometimes felt like a Brillo pad. Thankfully, today knitters and crocheters have many types of yarn from which to choose. When making this crochet baby hat, the designer choose a super-soft chunky yarn made from acrylic fiber. As you can see, the yarn itself reminds you of a stuffed teddy bear too. Not only cute, but it makes for a warm hat during cold weather. Cute and practical, you can have it both!

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now: Birch Bay Waterslides

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now These articles that had the largest increase in popularity over the last week

Birch Bay Waterslides Jul 26th 2011, 10:09 Birch Bay Waterslides Phone: (360) 371-7500 (360) 371-7901 Operating Schedule: The park is open through early September. Check with Birch Bay Waterslides water park for exact operating days and hours. Location: 4874 Birch Bay and Lynden Rd. in Blaine, Washington Birch Bay Waterslides Water Park Directions: I-5 to Exit 270 (Birch Bay/Lynden). Turn west onto Birch Bay Lynden Rd. for 5 miles to park. Birch Bay Waterslides Admission Policy: Reduced price for children (3 to 5) and seniors (60+). Ages 2 and under are free. Viewers and senior viewers pay discounted rates. Reduced rates for guests arriving within three hours of closing. Season passes and group rates are available. Special promotions may be available online at the park's Web site. Hotel Info: Find Nearby Hotel Accommodations Compare rates for Blaine-area hotels at About.com's booking partner, Kayak. Birch Bay Waterslides Features: Tube slides, body slides, speed slides, family tube ride, wave pool, activity pool, lazy river, hot tub, and play areas for younger kids. Birch Bay Waterslides Overview: A relatively small water park, Birch Bay doesn't have marquee attractions such as water coasters, surfing simulators, a bowl ride, or a funnel ride. But it does include a collection of slides and attractions for various ages and thrill tolerance levels. Highlights include the Black Hole enclosed tube slide and the harrowing Hydrodrop speed slide. Younger kids will enjoy the activity pool and the kiddie pool.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now: It's Enchanted

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now These articles that had the largest increase in popularity over the last week

It's Enchanted Jul 26th 2011, 10:09 By Arthur Levine, Guide Wild Waves, which used to be known as Enchanted Village, offers rides for younger kids such as the Enchanted Railway.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Theme Parks: Track in the USSR

Theme Parks Get the latest headlines from the Theme Parks GuideSite.

Track in the USSR Jul 25th 2011, 17:02 The roller coaster can be traced to 17-century Russia when sledders would race down wooden frames embedded into St. Petersburg's snow-covered hills. The first wheeled coaster debuted in Paris in the early 1800s and, taking its inspiration from the popular winter sport, was known as the Russian Mountains. While the rest of the world has since gone coaster crazy, the country where it all began has been largely missing out on all of the fun. A few dozen smaller amusement parks do offer some coasters, but there are no major destination theme parks in Eastern Europe. That may be changing however, as a US-based company recently announced the development of Magic World Russia. To be located near Moscow, the planned 600-acre resort is slated to include multiple gates including a movie-themed park (the developers are hoping to strike a deal with Universal or Paramount), a thrill ride park, Magic Family Park for younger children, Park Russia (an ode to the country's heritage and culture), water parks, and, if the ambitious announcement is to be believed, even more parks. The projected $2.5-billion project would also include hotels, shops, restaurants, and an entertainment district. Because of the area's notoriously inhospitable weather, most of the parks would be enclosed to allow for year-round operation. In an industry rampant with boldfaced projects that have gone nowhere, (how's that United Arab Emirates park frenzy going?), it's easy to get cynical about announcements such as this. Magic World Russia has a few things bolstering its credibility, however. For one, there does seem to be an emerging Russian middle class with increased disposable income that is seeking theme park vacations. During a recent visit to Port Aventura in Spain, I was surprised to discover a sizeable number of Russian visitors at the theme park resort. Also, among the consortium of companies involved in bringing Magic World Russia to life is Gary Goddard Entertainment Design, a well-respected industry player whose credits include major projects for Las Vegas casinos and Universal parks, among others.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Theme Parks: Most Popular Articles: Pennsylvania Water Parks

Theme Parks: Most Popular Articles These articles are the most popular over the last month.

Pennsylvania Water Parks Jul 25th 2011, 11:17 Pennsylvania water parks are arranged alphabetically. Do you have a favorite water park in Pennsylvania (or two or three)? Have you had a memorable experience at a waterpark? Write a review of a Pennsylvania water park and share it with the Theme Parks community. Camelbeach Tannersville (in the Poconos) Sprawling water park nestled in the base of Camelback Mountain, part of the Pocono Mountains. Carousel Park Beach Lake 570-729-7532 Small family entertainment center with 2 slides, mini-slide, and wading pool plus mini golf, go-karts, and batting range. Conneaut Lake Park Conneaut Lake 814-382-5115 Included with admissipon to ride park. Attractions include lazy river, slides, kiddie pool, and sandy beach. Affiliated theme park: Conneaut Lake Park Great Wolf Lodge Pocono Mountains Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania Indoor water park resort Hersheypark- The Boardwalk Hershey, Pennsylvania Included with admission to Hersheypark. Attracgtions include wave pool, lazy river, surfing ride, and an interactive water play structure. Sandcastle Pittsburgh 412-462-6666 Operated by the Kennywood folks. Attractions include Mon Tsunami wave pool, Thunder Run tube slides, Boardwalk Blasters body slides, Lightning Express speed slide, children's play area,and lazy river. Sesame Place Langhorne (near Philadelphia), Pennsylvania Water park attractions are included with admission to theme park. Affiliated theme park: Sesame Place Shawnee Place Shawnee-on-Deleware The park closed in 2009. Soak Zone Ligonier 724-238-3666 Included with admission to Idlewild. Attractions include 14 slides, activity area, dump bucket, and beach. Affiliated theme park: Idlewild Splash Lagoon Erie, Pennsylvania 814-866-2773, 814-217-1111 Open to registered hotel guests and the general public (limited availability of day passes). Split Rock Resort Indoor Water Park Lake Harmony in the Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania Terry Hill Breinigsville 610-395-0222 Attractions include 3 pools, 4 slides, 3 kids' slides, lazy river, and kids' play area. Tipton Waterworks Tipton 814-684-3538 Included with admission to ride park. Two slide complexes and an interactive play area. Affiliated theme park: DelGrosso's Amusement Park WildRiver Entriken 814-658-3500 2 twisting slides, 2 peed slides, tube slide, heated swimming pool, and activity pool. Water World Erie 814-838-3591 Attractions include 11 slides, 4 kiddie slides, lazy river, heated pool, and 3 kiddie pools. Affiliated theme park: Waldameer Park Water World Phoenixville 610-935-1290 Small municipal park with two pools, slides, rope swing, and volleyball courts. Wildwater Kingdom Allentown 610-395-3724 Included with admission to Dorney Park. Attractions include Aquablast family raft ride, Island Water Works play area, Kid Wash carwash-themed slide, Runaway River, speed slides, tube slides, and wave pool. Affiliated theme park: Dorney Park

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now: Zoom Flume

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now These articles that had the largest increase in popularity over the last week

Zoom Flume Jul 25th 2011, 10:12 Phone: 518-239-4559 Location: E. Durham (in the Catskills), New York Water Park Features: Speed slides, tube slides, family raft ride, lazy river and a play area for children. Official Web Site: Overview: A rather small park situated in a natural atmosphere. The Black Vortex, the park's newest attraction, is a three-person tube slide that sends guests plummeting through the dark.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Theme Parks: Most Popular Articles: Maryland Water Parks

Theme Parks: Most Popular Articles These articles are the most popular over the last month.

Maryland Water Parks Jul 24th 2011, 11:23 Maryland water parks are arranged alphabetically. Do you have a favorite water park in Maryland (or two or three)? Have you had a memorable experience at a waterpark? Write a review of a Maryland water park and share it with the Theme Parks community. Aqua Mountain Indoor Water Park Resort McHenry in Garrett County, Maryland Indoor water park and hotel. The Crosswinds Indoor Water Park Resort Baltimore, Maryland Indoor water park and hotel. Frontier Town Ocean City 800-228-5590 Small water park within the amusement park. Affiliated theme park: Fronteir Town Glenn Dale Splash Park Glenn Dale 301-352-8980 (summer only) Municipal outdoor water park with slides and interactive play areas. Hurricane Harbor Mitchellville 301-249-1500 Affiliated theme park: Six Flags America Large outdoor water park that is included with admission to Six Flags America. Splash Mountain Ocean City 410-289-4902 Outdoor water park with Master Blaster Water Coaster, Stealth Mark III halfpipe slide, plus 8 other slides, kiddie slides and pools, and adult activity pools. Affiliated theme park: Jolly Roger Thunder Lagoon Fenwick Island 302-539-1644 Small outdoor water park.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now: Aquazonia Indoor Waterworld

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now These articles that had the largest increase in popularity over the last week

Aquazonia Indoor Waterworld Jul 24th 2011, 10:11 It's Not Open Yet!: Note that construction of the Aquazonia Indoor Waterworld at Glacier Lakes Resort is delayed and is now scheduled to open in Spring 2010. Aquazonia Indoor Waterworld at Glacier Lakes Resort Phone: 888-927-8296 Location: Farmington, New York. Near Rochester in the Finger Lakes area. Indoor Water Park Square Footage: 70,000 Aquazonia Indoor Waterworld Water Park Admission Policy: The water park will be open to registered guests of the resort's two hotels, but it will offer day passes to the general public based on availability. Indoor Water Park Features: FlowRider surfing attraction, family raft ride, bowl ride, mat racing slide, lazy river, tube slides, body slides, interactive play structure with dump bucket, chidlren's activity pool, and whirlpool spa. Other Water Park Info: Want to learn more about the rides that will be coming to Aquazonia? Read these reviews of similar attractions at other indoor water parks. Boogie Bear Surf FlowRider at the Six Flags Great Escape Lodge Indoor Water Park The Cyclone Bowl Ride at Splash Lagoon Indoor Water Park Fantastic Voyage Family Raft Ride at Wilderness Indoor Water Park Official Web Site: Aquazonia Indoor Waterworld at Glacier Lakes Resort Aquazonia Indoor Waterworld at Glacier Lakes Resort Overview: Aquazonia Indoor Waterworld will be a large indoor water park with a "lost world civilization" theme. It will feature a generous array of attractions including a FlowRider surfing attraction, a family raft ride, a bowl ride, a lazy river, and a whirlpool spa. It will also offer an interactive play center with small slides and a tipping bucket. In addition to the indoor water park, the Glacier Lakes Resort will include a main 175-room mansion-themed hotel along with a 100-room Hampton Suites hotel. Other features of the resort will include a conference center, a restaurant/retail/entertainment area, and a video arcade.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions