Nor Cal Trip ( Completed )

[coasterdave]

I had always wanted to hit some of the parks in Northern California for a number of years but it seemed always something was always getting in the way of it. I was searching for Hotwire and found a great price on a package to San Jose, Ca. I would be leaving late friday night and catching the Red Eye out that sunday. It was going to be a streach to get four parks into not even two days and said what the heck. So I booked it and waited.

Now when you end up leaving 75 minutes late and you have a mere 55 minutes layover in Phoenix then great chance i was not making the last flight out of the night and got to spend the night on US Air's Dime at the Sheraton in Tempe that included a meal to go with it and an early morning flight out saturday and into San Jose around 9am to get a late start on the day.

Enough backstory crap for it is time to show why i think Gilroy Gardens is infact the park with the best landscaping today! So on with some pics Baby!


Walking across bridge to park



The Landscaping is well awsome



The Garlic Twist



The Boat Ride



All types of flowers, plants, and trees all over the park.



One of the many ponds in the park



Along with the Many waterfalls



Quick Silver Entrance



Hard to get pics of it



Peaceful watching the water



Waterfalls all over the park



Behind Gilroy Falls



Even have a train to go around the park



The Timber Twister Coaster



Typical Roller Skater layout



Merry Go Round


You can view the rest of the pics Gilroy Gardens

Next Stop Six Flags Discovery Cove

[coasterdave]

So after a great start to the trip at Gilroy Gardens it was time to move to the next park which was Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. It was about a two or so hour drive up filled with alot of blacktop but an enjoyable ride. I really was not up to par with the park and what they had to offer but was pleased that the stop turmed out to be worth my wild.

BLAH BLAH BLAH and not the pics for pete's sake!


View of park from Parking Lot



Incase you forgot where I was at.



Old Operyland SLC lives on at SFDK



Medusa Twisted Layout



Riders made it through ALIVE!



Riders transversing some of the brutal elements on KONG



Tree looks abit to close



Tazmanian Devil



Had the longest line in the park it seemed.



Another ride names Boomerang



Not a Dorney but what is this ride anyway?



My favorite Flat Ride the Top Spin



This guy got a face full of water from the Cannons



Fish Themed 360



Roar West



V2 was up next



The angled front spike has an interesting feel to it.



The sign for Roar



Tony Hawk Entrance



Seems Nor Cal parks have alot of landscaping



The look of V2 from entrance plaza



Medusa



Roar roaring through the course



Parting shot as I leave to head back for a good night's rest.


You can view the rest on my pics Here

Next up is California Great America

[coasterdave]

So to start the second and final day in Nor Cal it was a trip up to California's Great America. I had a whole five minute trip from the hotel I was staying at so it was a short trip. Great thing about the Platnium is it comes with free parking so I will say that when I walked into Great America I had atleast been to enough Cedar Fair parks to pay for the pass.

Anyway you will see something in this report that use to run at Carowinds so enjoy!



Entrance to Park



Invertigo Running



The Arrow Looper



Ride Overview



the UP Blimp



Demon through the wonderful layout it has.



Reminds me of a ride at Carowinds one time



Trash cans are placed well for this ride.



Ashame this one is not like the one on the east coast.



Crappy Show name for a pretty good ride



Pyscho Mouse Entrance and Exit



Arrow Mad Mouse



Grizzly ascending the Lift Hill



For all you Dora Fans out there



There is something diffrent about this one for it is not a Junior SLC



This one comes with fresh mist to cool you off while riding.



Even still have the Sky Ride there



Looping Pirate Ship



Even have newer Flyers here. Sucks even more for KI.



Top Spin from Ohio



Vortex thrilling riders



Top....I mean Flightdeck



Pretty intense Invert



Swings that use to be at Carowinds



Great to relive old memories



Incase you forgot where I was.


Will say that Grizzly lived up to being boring and well boring. As I walked through the park it reminded me alot of Carowinds that I recalled when I was growing up but say that CArowinds got the better of the Top Gun coasters.

I had a few hours before I had to catch my plane and headed to the BEST seaside park that I have been to and that was the Santa Cruz Boardwalk which will be coming next.

Rest of Pics are Here

[coasterdave]

So I had about four plus hours left before I was flying out of San Jose for the trip home. I was debating on if I would go to Santa Cruz Boardwalk or not go. I figured since it was just a seaside park that I would only need an hour or so at t he park and boy was I wrong thinking that.

Santa Cruz Boardwalk is without a doudt the best Seaside Park that I have beed to. I only wished I had rearanged my trip so I could have stayed longer here. It is a place that I intend to come back to. So on with the last set of pics for this trip.


I parked near Neptune Kingdom on the Boardwalk



Look down the street



You can take the skyride from one end to the other.



The Hurricane awaits on top of some buildings.



One of the Dark Rides at the Boardwalk



Giant Dipper Turns 85 years old and rides better than half the woodies I have been on.



The turnaround and the masses of peeps there.



Ferris Wheel



Another Dark Ride



Great themeing for a Kiddie Coaster



Overview of backside of Boardwalk



Ghost Evection the other Dark Ride



The Rock-O-Plane



Painting under Giant Dipper



Coming this way



Overview of ride from road



One great coaster



Overview



Incase you forgot where this is.



Do not see many of these anymore



Inside the mini golf area



Parting shot from inside Neptune's Kingdom


This park is somewhere I could spend the whole day at and not see everything. If you are in this area then by all means stop and take a ride on the Giant Dipper since it is one great coaster.

Rest of pics are Here

Next up comes the Great GCI Tour this weekend.

[AMartin777]

Roar looks like a great ride! My favorite pic is the one of the Giant Dipper from the park side. I absolutely LOVE the way the stalls and midway are pushed right up against the side of the coaster. It's such a classic feel and look. True Americana. I would love to see that area at night... it's got to kick a$$!