Valley Fair

Summer is coming to an end...you know what that means? Time to fit in all those things on the list we said we wanted to do this summer.

Sunday, we finally made it to Valley Fair. I have been waiting to take my children to an amusement park because I LOVE rollercoasters and my husband does NOT! Colin is finally the required 48 inches and also a daredevil like his mom! I couldn’t wait to show him what a real rollercoaster is…Mall of America just doesn’t really count.

Todd took the Zach and Molly to the Camp Snoopy area while Colin and I headed for the “big” rides. It turns out they enjoyed the Snoopy rides very much. Bravery (or stupidity, depending on your perspective) isn't the only way to have fun at Valley Fair, there really is something for everyone.

Colin and I headed to the Wild Thing as our first ride. It is supposed to be one of the scariest roller coasters at Valley Fair, so why not start there? Colin was scared after his first time down and felt a little like his stomach had lodged itself in his throat, but he decided to try it again. I have a saying that goes, “anything worth doing has a risk.” He had analyzed the risks and realized this was one rollercoaster that must be really worth doing. The second time, he LOVED it! We did the High Roller next. The classic wooden rollercoaster is the oldest in Minnesota and still a thrill ride. We then had a little lunch and moved on to The Renegade. This is a newer wooden rollercoaster, but based on the classic. It is longer, faster and higher. By far my favorite, but Colin wasn’t sure. We decided to brave the Power Tower, pictured above. This ride has two versions. One raises you a million feet in the air and then you wait. Unexpectedly it drops you almost to the ground. The second version lets you wait on the ground and then shoots you into the air. We did both. Turns out after you jump from an airplane, this ride is actually a letdown (it used to be so scary). Colin likes the shooting up way best because you go fast up and down again fast and it became his favorite ride. We ended our day with the corkscrew. Neither one of us really liked this ride simply because the newer rollercoasters are faster and more thrilling, even if they don’t go upside down.

Molly really liked the “Miracle Go-Round” and the Ferris Wheel. Zach liked the cars and the games (even though he didn’t win the prize he wanted). Todd was just happy he didn’t have to go on any rollercoasters.

Everybody left Valley Fair excited to go back next year. Who knows, maybe we will even get a season pass!