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Author Northern California TR - October 2007
larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002

Rank: Platinum Critic
10/9/2007 11:08:49 PM
I was in San Jose for a softball tourney and decided to hit up all the major parks and coasters. My time was pressed so I knew it would have to be just mostly coasters.

Original plan was to hit Gilroy Gardens, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Knotts Great America and SF Discovery Kingdom all in one day. However, a 2 hour window opened up on Saturday night.

Since my hotel was right next door to Knotts Great America, I decided to go there and hope that there were no lines.

Knotts Great America
I got lucky as people were leaving the park for the day as I got there at 5:40PM. Headed to the best coaster first.

Top Gun is a smooth B&M invert with great
transitions. I rode in the first and last rows and while I prefer the back, the front provided neat views as it went over the edge of a small lake.

I proceeded to make a loop around the park and ride the remaining coasters. However there was not much of positive note.

Runaway Reptar (a sit down versus others of the same name) is a typical kiddie coaster, but adults have a hard time riding anywhere but the first row.

Psycho Mouse is a wild mouse with a mild air and interestingly bank turns that take away from the mouse sharp turn effect.

Grizzly has the absolute worst woodie still standing.

Demon is like it's Gurnee cousin, not horrible but a little rough.

Invertigo is an inverted boomerang where you face other riders and always better than a typical boomerang

Last up was Vortex. Now I have always said that stand-ups fall into two groups. The haves and the have-nots. Vortex is a have-not.

62 minutes after entering the park I was done in time to get washed up and changed for the awards banquet of the softball tourney.

The next day I was on the road going south for an hour to Gilroy Gardens.

Gilroy Gardens is a beautiful oasis of trees that have been made into unusual shapes. it is not a thrill park by any means, just a place for families to enjoy and peaceful day. Even though their is a beautiful Monarch butterfly house, I only had time for coasters.

Timber Twister is a snake themed family coaster. Quicksilver Express is the taller, longer and more sophisticated coaster.

Overall it is a quirky and relaxing place.

Next up was a 45 minutes drive over the mountain range to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk has always been a park that intrigued me and I can say it is now my favorite Beach Amusement Park.

It was only $28.95 for an all day pass, but I decided on $18 of tickets for 6 different rides.

The coasters aren't going to wow anybody by today's standards, but the Giant Dipper is a great old school coaster with many pops of air. Hurricane is a mid size steel coater that is similar to the coaster of the same name at Adventureland on Long Island.

The Cave Train Adventure Ride is the ultimate in cheesy dark rides. Maybe the best the in states with functioning animatronics learning about "caveman" life.

The Haunted Castle was a wonderful dark ride with well timed props not behind cages. I do get a little jittery on these rides and this one made me jump about 4 times. In terms of surprises throughout I rank this right up there with Knoebels.

Ghost Blasters is a well done Sally shooting dark ride with guns that aim well.

Fright Walk was an upsharge walk through haunted house. Sensors through the building trigger stunts that are well done and perfectly timed.

There are plenty of other rides and fabulous smelling food on the Boardwalk but my time was pressed.

and the arcade at the North end of the boardwalk has a great collection of classic 1980's video games.

However, there was one last ride. An upcharge walk through Haunted Mansion. It was $5 and well worth it. It took about 10 minutes and the props are tripped by sensors. It w
Message updated 1/10/2008 2:16:50 PM by larrygator
Hercules
Posts: 4037
Registered: 10/13/2004

Rank: Platinum Critic
10/9/2007 11:31:47 PM
Nice little report Larry. I hope to hit these parks some day.

Congrats on the softball victory!
hrrytraver
Posts: 1270
Registered: 7/16/2005

Rank: Platinum Critic
10/10/2007 3:29:02 PM
giant dipper is on my list of wanna hit coasters. i've got peeps in santa cruz... perhaps this winter when i hit cali. i wonder if the park is open in december...hmmm...google here i come...
Timberman
Posts: 845
Registered: 9/21/2004

Rank: Gold Critic
10/10/2007 11:51:46 PM
Whether you're in the batter's box or trying to hit four parks in one day, it's all about focus.
larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002

Rank: Platinum Critic
10/11/2007 10:12:45 AM
Tom - while not Coney Island you would you the vibe (much cleaner, but not sterile) of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

T-Man - while the original plan was to do all 4 parks in one day and was worried about traffic, crowds and ride downtime - so I just had to jump at the opportunity to get Knotts Great America out of the way a day earlier.
ginzo
Posts: 564
Registered: 7/16/2006

Rank: Gold Critic
10/18/2007 8:17:41 PM
It's good to know that you can whore out NorCal in little time. Larry, you confirmed my suspicion that SCBB is the nicest park in the region. I think what we'll do is take long weekend in SF, and hit the parks in addition to doing some standard tourism. All these coaster-only trips are starting to wear thin on the wife.
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