One of my favorite amusement parks is California’s Great America. It is the park that I rode my first real roller coaster ride when I was a kid. I love that it is only 2 hours away! This weekend I got to take my kids to California Great America for their Parent Blogger Event to learn more about the park and ride all the fun rides.
When we first got to the park we went and got our Fast Lane wristband that allows you to speed past the lines on a majority of the rides at the park. I LOVE it in the Fast Lane and don’t ever want to be at the park without it. The Fast Lane wristbands are $63 at the park but you save $10 when you buy them online. This is the only way to ride the rides if you don’t like waiting in line!
California’s Great America has changed in many ways over the years. While it has many new changes, there is many iconic things you will also find for those that have been going to this park throughout the years. When you walk in you will still find the Columbia Carousel that is the TALLEST double decker carousel in the world. I remember riding this when I was a kid and LOVED riding it with my kids. My son is passionate about birds and was adamant about riding the ostrich on the carousel and smiled the whole ride.
California’s Great America includes iconic rides in the park like the Demon which was my first roller coaster ride when I was a kid. You will find The Grizzly, Rip Roaring Rapids (one of my FAVORITES) and Loggers Run which has always been the ride to ride on the days when it is hot because you are almost guaranteed to get wet.
Along with the iconic rides from my childhood that I always look forward to riding you will find other FUN roller coasters and other family attractions like the Gold Striker which is the best wooden coaster in NorCal, Flight Deck, Drop Tower that is the highest ride in NorCal, Mass Effect, AcroFlyte, live shows and much more.
For those that want to bring little ones to California’s Great America, you will want to head to Planet Snoopy which has been expanded and branded in 2015. Planet Snoopy is a FUN area in the park that includes rides kids can share with their parents. There is the Snoopy Splash Zone, you can meet and greet with the Peanuts Gang as well as hang out in the family area when you need a little privacy.
What makes California’s Great America even better during the summer months is that you get two parks for the price of one. Inside the park you will Boomerang Bay Water Park that looks like a blast! In this area you will find: Boomerang Lagoon, Castaway Creek, Didgeridoo Falls, Down Under Thunder, Great Barrier Reef, Jackaroo Landing (pictured below), Kookaburra Cay, Ripsnort Ridge, Screamin Wombat and the Tasmanian Typhoon. I could spend a whole day just playing at this water park!
California’s Great America is only going to get better in the future. They have plans to add a 250 foot roller coaster, more thrill rides, expand the water park and add more events the whole family can enjoy. This winter the California’s Great America is going to be MAGICAL during the park’s first-ever WinterFest that includes holiday lights, decor and other fun stuff like an ice skating rink in front of the Columbia Carousel.
Winterfest will feature 100 decorated trees, 7 uniquely lighted sections of the park, main midway light show, reindeer petting zoo, Charlie Brown’s Tree Lot along with a collection of holiday shows, live entertainment and more! Winterfest begins Nov 25, 2016.
Like I mentioned before this is my favorite amusement park. It is an amusement park that I have memories from when I was a child, a teenager and now a place that I am making memories with my family! This park provides amusement for everyone of all ages!
To learn more about California’s Great America visit: www.cagreatamerica.com
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