FUN AND FROLIC AT SIX FLAGS DARIEN LAKEStory by Bridget-Ann/Photos by Pamela A. Campbell |
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You either love theme parks, or you don't. Well, I do. And my favorite is Six Flags Darien Lake, New York, midway between Buffalo and Rochester, and under an hour from Niagara Falls.
It's over five years since my brothers and I dubbed ourselves 'Darien Lake Thrillseekers' - we just had to come every year for the newest ride. This year it's even more exciting, I have a new recruit -my editor! Here's my take on Six Flags Darien Lake, it's great for a day and wonderful for a weekend. If you fancy an endless round of fun rides, New York State's largest entertainment attraction has 1500 acres waiting just for you! |
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At the main entrance teenagers are laughing their way through the turnstile, tour groups in matching tee shirts trying to stay together and parents with young children in tow. We walk through the gates at about 10 a.m. ready for fun. All the hype revolves around two of the park's newest rides, SUPERMAN RIDE OF STEEL and TWISTER so they are first on my agenda for the day. Superman looks pretty impressive from the brochure but it's awesome when you get there and see the towering hill and your imagination goes wild. I find myself looking up at the top of the rollercoaster, which climbs approximately 208 feet, and wondering if I was underestimating my stomach's tolerance for this 70mph ride. I climb aboard in the third carriage, ready for the thrill. We steadily inch towards the top and as soon as I actually see how high we're towering, we are already on our way down......around.....turning and twisting. Unconsciously, I find myself screaming for the entire 78 seconds of the ride, not out of fear (as some people down below or in the lineup must think) but because of an adrenaline rush.
Then I'm off to conquer the newest ride, the TWISTER that really lives up to its name. This ride is made for the adventurer looking for a unique ride in an amusement park. I must warn the digestively challenged that this is not a ride to be undertaken lightly, you may lose more than pocket change with all the spins and flips that fuels this ride. Once I'm on the ride, at the front and centre of this two-row ride seating 20 people, I remain snugly tucked in as the bars lower over my shoulders and my lap. Within seconds I am flipping 50 feet in the air spinning, twisting and turning. These loop-de-loops are a whole lot of fun. There is a temporary lull in the motion, but any temptation towards complacency is quickly tempered by a repeat session of head-spinning, stomach-churning moves guaranteed to elicit gasps or screams, whatever your inclination (or your vocals) allow at the time. The ride comes to a complete stop and I leave a bit dazed, but happy.
I'm tempted to forget about nutrition, but my feet propel me towards BEAVER BROTHERS LAKESIDE CAFE for lunch. I like the casual atmosphere of this spacious restaurant with the beaver jokes lining the walls (corny but cute) - I wrote them down, but I think you'll get a chuckle out of them, so I won't reveal my stash to you.
The extensive menu includes appetizers (French onion soup, Cheesy Baked Spinach Dip, Spicy Mexican Taco Dip and Six Flags Snack Platter),
I prepare to devour the house special, chicken fingers and fries, or so I thought. The food was amazing and very filling, even though I'm famous for my appetite, the last chicken strip defeats me, but my plans were to make up for it at dinner. My table mates enjoy their Spinach Dip and Beef on Weck, but I had to skip dessert (Country Caramel Apple Pie, Raspberry Swirl Cheescake, Kentucky BlueGrass Pie and Caramel-Chocolate Turtle Cake). The dinner entrees include ribs, barbecue chicken and Icelandic fish fry, with a full kids menu available as well. A breakfast buffet is a great way to start the day in the park.
I slowly walk to the middle of the pool and stand ankle deep in the water with a bunch of teenagers, kids and parents waiting for the excitement to begin. Suddenly there's a huge onslaught of water and screams pierce the air, and before I know it these huge, powerful waves are picking me up and pushing me backwards! A couple of these waves later, I am still standing, but it's quite a challenge to remain upright. I almost collapse laughing - the water is now knee high within that short space of time. This is so much fun - I try standing up, but the waves keep coming at me and my feet never really hit the bottom. Relax, there's no need to feel threatened, there are four lifeguards on duty. I battle the waves for as long as I can, then I eventually surrender and crawl to shore. I retreat to a reclining lounge chair on the huge sundeck and enjoy the fresh air for a short while. After the waterpark, I decide to resume rollercoastering (the air will dry my hair faster) on the BOOMERANG COAST TO COASTER. I remember this 90-second ride two years ago as the daring one to conquer, the one that blasts riders forwards and backwards. It's a good idea to remove loose footwear if you don't want to lose them on the first loop as you hurtle back and forth at breakneck speed. This ride certainly delivers - I didn't know what was forward and what was backwards by the end, it really does a number on your head. If you still crave more adventure the VIPER does the trick. Get ready to turn upside down five times, drop 75 feet in four seconds and thrill to a 360-degree loop, double corkscrew and boomerang curve as fast as 50 mph.
But no visit is complete without riding the PREDATOR, one of the top 10 roller coasters in the world and the tallest wooden coaster in the state. Like it's steel counterparts, this wooden wonder has its diehard fans who rate it as exciting a ride as any. Just listening to the excruciating sound of the cars as they climb the hills and then hurtle down 12 times, moves every bone in your body with gut-wrenching precision. Take a break from the rides and join Batman, The Joker, Vicki Vale and the Shrills in the amphitheater for the BATMAN THRILL SPECTACULAR. A Batmobile and stunt riders on motorbikes provide a great half hour's entertainment. I can't resist the theme park's Looney Tunes stores which has mountains of toys and stuffed animals. I find all my favorites like Tweety Bird and Daffy Duck, even baby versions of these characters too! For some odd reason they remind me of sleep and it's then that I realize I must rest and leave the rest for the next day. Like they say on the show, "That's all folks!"
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The excitement is so overpowering, I love every minute of it - so much so that I had to go again, but this time I must sit right at the very front, to get the ultimate experience. I figure that since it's so great sitting in the third car it'll probably be amazing to sit at the very front. Well, I was right! My hair is flying in every direction, my heart is thumping and I am still screaming up to the very end.
After almost losing my stomach on the TWISTER I decide it's time for recharging my batteries (appetite). I didn't have to look very far to find food, booths are spread out throughout the park selling hotdogs, candyfloss and iced treats.
garden fresh salads, sandwiches, burgers and all time favorites (chicken wings, Buffalo beef on weck (a sandwich specialty) and chicken fingers and fries).
My next stop is to chill at CROCODILE ISLE; actually there are no crocodiles in this 50,000square-foot-pool, but it's as exciting as swimming with crocodiles, it's a million-gallon wave pool!
Since 1997 I continue to enjoy the only suspended looping coaster in New York State the MIND ERASER. Never mind we emerge light-headed and wobbly on our feet, we willingly allow ourselves to be suspended by a shoulder harness from a steel track to begin a mind-bending, heart-stopping journey on this monster coaster. With legs and feet dangling, we look like a bunch of carefree souls until we soar 10 storeys into the air sometimes going at more than 60 mph, then diving, spiraling and spinning for 125 seconds.