Nor Cal Trip ( Completed )

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coasterdave
Darth Chickenus
Posts: 227
Joined: Fri Jul 08, 2005 3:43 pm

Nor Cal Trip ( Completed )

Post by 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!

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Walking across bridge to park


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The Landscaping is well awsome


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The Garlic Twist


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The Boat Ride


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


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One of the many ponds in the park


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Along with the Many waterfalls


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Quick Silver Entrance


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Hard to get pics of it


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Peaceful watching the water


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Waterfalls all over the park


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Behind Gilroy Falls


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Even have a train to go around the park


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The Timber Twister Coaster


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Typical Roller Skater layout


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Merry Go Round


You can view the rest of the pics Gilroy Gardens

Next Stop Six Flags Discovery Cove
Last edited by coasterdave on Sun Jun 14, 2009 8:44 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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coasterdave
Darth Chickenus
Posts: 227
Joined: Fri Jul 08, 2005 3:43 pm

Re: Nor Cal Trip (Gilroy Gardens & SFDK Up)

Post by 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!

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View of park from Parking Lot


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Incase you forgot where I was at.


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Old Operyland SLC lives on at SFDK


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Medusa Twisted Layout


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Riders made it through ALIVE!


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Riders transversing some of the brutal elements on KONG


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Tree looks abit to close


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Tazmanian Devil


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Had the longest line in the park it seemed.


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Another ride names Boomerang


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Not a Dorney but what is this ride anyway?


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My favorite Flat Ride the Top Spin


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This guy got a face full of water from the Cannons


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Fish Themed 360


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Roar West


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V2 was up next


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The angled front spike has an interesting feel to it.


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The sign for Roar


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Tony Hawk Entrance


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Seems Nor Cal parks have alot of landscaping


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The look of V2 from entrance plaza


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Medusa


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Roar roaring through the course


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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
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coasterdave
Darth Chickenus
Posts: 227
Joined: Fri Jul 08, 2005 3:43 pm

Re: Nor Cal Trip (Gilroy Gardens & SFDK Up)

Post by 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!


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Entrance to Park


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Invertigo Running


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The Arrow Looper


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Ride Overview


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the UP Blimp


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Demon through the wonderful layout it has.


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Reminds me of a ride at Carowinds one time


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Trash cans are placed well for this ride.


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


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Crappy Show name for a pretty good ride


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Pyscho Mouse Entrance and Exit


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Arrow Mad Mouse


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Grizzly ascending the Lift Hill


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For all you Dora Fans out there


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


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


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Even still have the Sky Ride there


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Looping Pirate Ship


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


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Top Spin from Ohio


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Vortex thrilling riders


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Top....I mean Flightdeck


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Pretty intense Invert


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Swings that use to be at Carowinds


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Great to relive old memories


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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
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coasterdave
Darth Chickenus
Posts: 227
Joined: Fri Jul 08, 2005 3:43 pm

Re: Nor Cal Trip (California's Great America Up)

Post by 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.

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I parked near Neptune Kingdom on the Boardwalk


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Look down the street


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


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The Hurricane awaits on top of some buildings.


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One of the Dark Rides at the Boardwalk


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


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The turnaround and the masses of peeps there.


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Ferris Wheel


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Another Dark Ride


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Great themeing for a Kiddie Coaster


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Overview of backside of Boardwalk


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Ghost Evection the other Dark Ride


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The Rock-O-Plane


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Painting under Giant Dipper


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Coming this way


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Overview of ride from road


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One great coaster


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Overview


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Incase you forgot where this is.


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Do not see many of these anymore


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Inside the mini golf area


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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.
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AMartin777
OmniPotent Chicken
Posts: 1018
Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2005 10:47 am

Re: Nor Cal Trip ( Completed )

Post by 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$$! :)
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