One of my favorite commercials from childhood was one that promised a world of enjoyable and fantasy for a mere car experience to Higher New York State (not a far drive from Toronto, the place I lived). I begged my dad and mom to take me to Darien Lake Theme Park Resort, however we by no means made the journey and I always wondered what existed in that faraway, magical place.
So once I was invited to visit Darien Lake with my family, I jumped on the opportunity. In spite of everything, this was lastly the prospect - many years later - to see if the theme park lived as much as my childhood expectations.
In short, it did. After which some.
Right here’s what mother and father have to know when planning for a day or weekend tour to the theme park. Both approach, it’s time and money nicely spent.
Getting there
For me, one of many attractive features of visiting Darien Lake was the proximity to my residence in Toronto. As many different Southern Ontario residents know, Higher New York State is an affordable car ride from many city centers in Ontario (in my case an hour and forty five minutes). As properly, the park is well accessible from Niagara Falls, N.Y., situated within an hour of the falls between Buffalo and Rochester at exit 48A on the New York State Thruway (I-90). Visitors simply turn proper after the tollbooth and head south six miles on Route 77.
Accommodations
I stayed with my family on the Lodge on the Lake Hotel, which was nice, considering my husband and I had three small children in tow. We stayed in a normal room, which included two queen-sized beds as well as the requested cribs for my twin boys that had been prepared once we entered the room.
Our room was clean and comfy, and simply matches three small children and two adults. Outfitted with a small fridge and microwave, it was straightforward to keep our perishable snacks cooled for later consumption; also, all rooms have free wi-fi Internet. The Lodge on the Lake is located close to the theme park, with a couple of minutes of scenic walking around the lake to get to the primary park entrance.
If you’d like a more rustic experience, the park offers a variety of options, from absolutely equipped cabins to a campground for tents and trailers. The cabins are cozy and cozy, with all the charm you’d expect from a country dwelling. They’re equipped with a TV, fridge, stove, microwave, full lavatory and furnishings. In the event you’d want to sleep outdoors, the park allows households to pitch a tent and sleep underneath the stars. Each the cabins and campground are located near the lake, yet are inside strolling distance to the park, allowing guests to benefit from the open air whereas being close to amenities and park offerings.
Darien Lake Theme Park
If you happen to like amusement parks, then you definitely love Darien Lake. It has something for everybody, from the youngest tots to adults. Let’s face it - visitors to locations like Darien Lake Theme Park are looking for the most effective rides and quite a lot of actions and reveals that can entertain the kids.
As a mother, I was looking for issues that may entertain my kids, significantly my two-yr-previous twin boys, so I was glad to find that Darien Lake particularly caters to the younger set. The Thomas & Buddies Full Steam Forward Reside show was energetic, with songs and audience participation that saved the kids engaged. And my twin boys have been excited to see Thomas close up. The present runs until Sept. 5.
Are you and your kids curler-coaster fanatics? Then you definitely be in coaster heaven with six curler-coasters at the park ranging from scary to really scary - they’re not for the faint of heart. Pondering “it may be that dangerous,” I went on the XX, the picket coaster by the main gates. Let’s just say I was wrong in my estimation. In order for you a thrill and revel in being actually frightened and exhilarated at the identical time, verify it out.
For other thrills, there’s the MotoCoaster, which launches courageous souls into the air and, judging by the regular-shifting line, was clearly a favorite (contributors must be minimum 48 inches tall). For the really adventurous, take a look at the Thoughts Eraser and Predator curler-coasters (not really helpful for smaller kids).
A highlight of our visit was the water park, which is designed for all ages. In case your kids are excited concerning the prospect of hitting the H2O, they will not be disappointed. From the Lazy Days Lagoon to the Huge Kahuna, mother and father can select the appropriate exercise for their kids, depending on their age level. My daughter and I loved a soothing experience within the Floatation Station more than once. The water park is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day, climate permitting.
All in all, the journey was a optimistic experience for my family. Perhaps probably the most succinct evaluation of the weekend was supplied by my seven-yr-outdated daughter, who, unprompted, remarked: “I love Darien Lake Theme Park and I by no means need to go away!”
