So the kidlet turned eight this past week and to avoid the planning and expense of a birthday party I offered to take him to Rapids Water Park. It's the least I could do. I knew as the day got closer I would regret my decision, because I am chronically lazy and hate sun, but once you promise something to your kid, there is no getting out of it. Unless, of course, you are comfortable being branded as the worst parent in the WORLD who doesn't KEEP THEIR PROMISES. If I bowed out of this excursion, for sure my son would grow up to be a sociopath and get life in prison for a series of heinous crimes.
We left at a reasonable hour but the wait in West Palm Beach stretched out as we waited for successive generations of the family to show up (four in total!). My mom and her sisters, who I refer to in my own head as the Fates, all had to go...to just wait in the shade and hold all our stuff for three hours. Because there is nothing that feels as good to a grandma as being a martyr for the sake of their ingrate children and precious grandchildren.
Well, thank God they did go because they paid. Weekend admission is $38.95 plus tax. Regardless of age. Newborns? $38.95. Senior citizens? $38.95. That is BOGUS. We did get a free pass to return within a month but still, this is incredibly overpriced. The cheapest parking we saw is $10 and you are NOT allowed to bring in outside food and drink. Eh.
Honestly, though, I had fun. Despite the whining and waiting in line and walking on red-hot concrete in bare feet, I liked it. I love water slides. My second cousin and I left our kids in the kiddie area under the watchful gaze of the Fates and went on all the awesome adult rides we couldn't convince our yellow-bellied spawn to ride. I did all the shaming techniques I could think of: look, that kid is smaller than you...look, a GIRL is riding it, AND she's smaller than you...but no dice. Funny, because shaming like this always works on me. My son is extremely cautious, though...at least I don't have to worry about him climbing onto the roof pretending to be Superman and breaking his arm.
I couldn't recommend this as a cost effective family activity but I'd keep on eye on their website for coupons or discounts-since Six Flags closed down so many years ago, this is the closest water park you'll get-can't wait to plan a weekend Orlando trip someday with Wet 'n Wild and Blizzard Beach. That would be awesome!
Monday, August 29, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Days Inn - Jonesville/Elkin, West Virginia
It's not the best Days Inn I've stayed in, but I expect that in a more competitive city like Orlando or Chicago they have to provide a better quality experience. This Days Inn is pretty much just a place to crash when you've hit your driving limit and just get off at the next exit and stop at the first hotel you see.
The room felt damp, probably due to the A/C being turned off. We ate at the pizza place right next door (don't recall the name) and I can recommend it - it was pretty good. We settled in and turned off the lights and...
for some inexplicable, magical reason, the entire ceiling was painted glow-in-the-dark night sky - stars, planets, etc. If I had been at all in an "altered state" I would have freaked out. As it was, I had to rave about it for way too long. What did it MEAN? It was so random, so out of place - that someone had chosen to paint the ceiling of this hotel room in the middle of nowhere in such an amazing way. What impulse had driven this person? What artistical, mystical, wistful impulse?
I asked the very professional young woman at the desk about it, and she replied in her clipped, lovely British accent that, yes, some of the rooms were painted that way. I got the vibe that she couldn't understand why someone had given in to such fanciful and impractical desires. I think it struck her as a bit silly, excessive, even embarrassing. Me, I found it to be purely wonderful. It was like a glimpse into someone's most secret self.
Some sort of breakfast was provided the next day but I couldn't touch it-not at all appetizing. And I'm not picky, AND I was trying to not appear high maintenance in front of the boyfriend. The milk was a day away from being buttermilk and everything else looked stale and sad.
I wouldn't chose to stay here again but it WAS inexpensive and we just needed a place to lay our heads...but again, that ceiling! Room 120!
The room felt damp, probably due to the A/C being turned off. We ate at the pizza place right next door (don't recall the name) and I can recommend it - it was pretty good. We settled in and turned off the lights and...
for some inexplicable, magical reason, the entire ceiling was painted glow-in-the-dark night sky - stars, planets, etc. If I had been at all in an "altered state" I would have freaked out. As it was, I had to rave about it for way too long. What did it MEAN? It was so random, so out of place - that someone had chosen to paint the ceiling of this hotel room in the middle of nowhere in such an amazing way. What impulse had driven this person? What artistical, mystical, wistful impulse?
I asked the very professional young woman at the desk about it, and she replied in her clipped, lovely British accent that, yes, some of the rooms were painted that way. I got the vibe that she couldn't understand why someone had given in to such fanciful and impractical desires. I think it struck her as a bit silly, excessive, even embarrassing. Me, I found it to be purely wonderful. It was like a glimpse into someone's most secret self.
Some sort of breakfast was provided the next day but I couldn't touch it-not at all appetizing. And I'm not picky, AND I was trying to not appear high maintenance in front of the boyfriend. The milk was a day away from being buttermilk and everything else looked stale and sad.
I wouldn't chose to stay here again but it WAS inexpensive and we just needed a place to lay our heads...but again, that ceiling! Room 120!
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