adriahna
Posts: 4692
Registered: 6/4/2003
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Skooter Junkie
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 7/21/2004 5:57:00 PM
Hey, all - The hubby and myself are loosely planning a trip to Lake Compounce (yay!). We'll probably be purchasing an overnight package through the local Holiday Inn, and make it a 2-day event. Here's the question...what else is in the area, besides the New England Carousel Museum (which we'll be sure to catch). I mean as far as driving is concerned - are there any other must-see places, or nearby amusement parks? Your help on this, as always, is greatly appreciated. Thanks!!!
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It's not a successful ride on the Flying Scooters unless you've got bruises to tell the story for you.
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Cyclonic
Posts: 2636
Registered: 7/19/2002
Rank: Experiment 626
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 7/21/2004 9:51:00 PM
Quassy Park is about half an hour to 40 mins from LC. It is worth maybe a two hour visit. It has an old Herchell Mad Mouse coaster, as well as several other older flats. The new things put in have been a water play area and a water coaster. It isn't much, but it is a nice diversion, and is cheap.
Bristol itself does not offer too much, it is a rinky dink town, and a little run down. The carousel museum is nice, though they do not have a machine there, the machine they maintain is in a municipal park in Hartford.
If I remember correctly, the ESPN Studios are just blocks from LC. I don't know if they give tours though.
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Message updated 7/21/2004 9:54:00 PM by Cyclonic
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Swimace
Posts: 5916
Registered: 8/28/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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7/21/2004 10:01:00 PM
I want to go to Lake Compounce, it looks like a great park. 
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adriahna
Posts: 4692
Registered: 6/4/2003
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Skooter Junkie
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7/21/2004 10:54:00 PM
Yup - I hope it works out - if nothing else, I'm DYING to ride Boulder Dash - that thing's calling to me like a siren.
Cyclonic, do you know how far off Hartford is from the park? I'd love to see the Bushnell carousel...
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larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002
Rank: Platinum Critic
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7/22/2004 12:46:00 AM
It's about 20 miles to Hartford from Bristol. I was a huge Mark Twain fan as a kid and enjoyed taking the tour of his house in Hartford when I was in college. By the way SFNE is about 60 miles away if the S:ROS siren is calling also. Have a great trip and if you get a bad ride on Boulder Dash keeps riding til this woodie gets warmed up. It took me about 6 rides before I started to feel the magnificance of this ride. Don't pass on the sky ride at LC, don't expect much from their flyers and don't go near the worst run Rotor in the world.
Message updated 7/22/2004 4:59:00 PM by larrygator
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adriahna
Posts: 4692
Registered: 6/4/2003
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Skooter Junkie
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7/22/2004 4:42:00 PM
Thanks, larrygator - I'll keep this in mind, and definitely check out the Mark Twain business - my husband's a huge fan. And the Rotor I'll keep away from - I rode the one at SFGadv, and nearly had my hair torn out during the drop. Very aggravating.
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Swimace
Posts: 5916
Registered: 8/28/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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7/22/2004 4:48:00 PM
I think Boulder Dash looks like an awsome woodie. I'd ride it in a heartbeat if I had the chance
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adriahna
Posts: 4692
Registered: 6/4/2003
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Skooter Junkie
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7/22/2004 5:02:00 PM
I'm really looking forward to it. I emailed my brother (he's in Thailand), and told him we'll be visiting it - he practically cried, he wants to ride it so bad...
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larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002
Rank: Platinum Critic
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7/22/2004 5:11:00 PM
Quote:
adriahna said:
I'm really looking forward to it. I emailed my brother (he's in Thailand), and told him we'll be visiting it - he practically cried, he wants to ride it so bad... |
OK - that's mean, e-mailing him when he's halway around the world
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Swimace
Posts: 5916
Registered: 8/28/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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7/22/2004 5:26:00 PM
Dear Brother,
HAHAHA Im going to Lake Compounce
Love,
Adriahna
P.S.
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larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002
Rank: Platinum Critic
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7/22/2004 5:34:00 PM
Swimace - nice one
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adriahna
Posts: 4692
Registered: 6/4/2003
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Skooter Junkie
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7/22/2004 11:12:12 PM
Doh! Actually, I was much nicer than that - I was sending off the news, and said, "Okay - here's the good news for me, bad news for you bit..." - I felt bad telling him, but I knew he'd be into it...for the moment, he can live vicariously through my park experiences...
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larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002
Rank: Platinum Critic
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7/22/2004 11:37:58 PM
Quote:
adriahna said:
Doh! Actually, I was much nicer than that - I was sending off the news, and said, "Okay - here's the good news for me, bad news for you bit..." - I felt bad telling him, but I knew he'd be into it...for the moment, he can live vicariously through my park experiences... |
send a postcard!
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adriahna
Posts: 4692
Registered: 6/4/2003
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Skooter Junkie
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7/23/2004 9:35:20 AM
Good point - "Having a great time...wish you were here...oh, and yes - "
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Cairn
Posts: 156
Registered: 3/22/2004
Rank: Bronze Critic
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7/25/2004 12:02:57 PM
Hi there...
I am familiar with LC, as I am a native to the area. First off, you will have a blast at the "Lake". The Boulder Dash is probably the best wooden coaster you will ever ride, and the park is well run with fast moving lines. You certainly will not go thirsty at Lake Compounce as soft drinks are free. Make sure you take a ride on the 1927 Wildcat coaster...also a woody, Thunder Rapids, a white water raft journey, and the mountain skyride....amazing view of the Farmington Valley. You will most likely find yourself at the park all day, so you may want to consider spending a 3 day weekend in the area if you wish to see other places.
As for other things to do, Quassy Amusement Park is about 20 minutes south of Bristol in Middlebury CT. This park is small, mainly a picnic outing place, but it does have some fun rides and is quite inexpensive.
If you like train rides, the Naugatuck Valley Railroad offers rail trips from Waterbury(close to Bristol) to Torrington and back. This excursion offers some amazing scenery and a bit of history. Make sure you call ahead as the train ride is very popular.
Six Flags New England is about 40 minutes North of Bristol in Agawam Massachusetts. This park is large, can be crowded at times, but does have alot of coasters and attractions. Superman Ride of Steel is worth the long wait.
If you like Baseball, you can catch the New Britian Rock Cats games. This team is a minor league affiliate of the Minnisota Twins. Tickets are very cheap and the ballpark is beautiful.
Hartford is 20 minutes from Bristol and there you can visit the Mark Twain House, various shopping places, the Carousel in Bushnell Park, and various rock and music concerts at the Meadows Music Pavilion.
If you chose to visit between Mid September and the first week of October, you can take in the Eastern States Expo, better known to us locals as the "BIG E".It takes place every year in West Springfield Mass, just a few blocks from Six Flags. This is New England's state fair, and tons of rides, food, shows, gifts, animal shows, and concerts are offered. This is NOT TO BE MISSED if you come up at that time.
Other attractions you both may enjoy:
~Basketball Hall of Fame (Springfield Mass, 40 minutes north of Lake Compounce). A neat place to snoop around for an hour or so.
~New England Air Museum (Windsor Locks CT, right near Bradley International Airport...30 minutes from LC.) A nice collection of vintage airplanes displayed both indoors and out.
~Old Newgate Prison. (Located in East Granby Connecticut..about 30 or so minutes from Lake Compounce). This place has finally been reopened by the state when more $$ was in the buget. Newgate is a vast underground cavern turned 1700's copper mine, turned 1800's prison turned exploration attraction. Very neat in a spooky kind of way and a perfect place to cool off from the summer heat.
~If you like to gamble, you can take a ride out to the casinos(Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun) located in the eastern part of the state...about an hour from Compounce. Tons of slots, gaming tables, concerts, sporting events, food. If you have the time and feel lucky, give them a try.
~About 1 hour and 15 minutes Southeast of LC, is the town of Mystic. Here you will find the Mystic Seaport....a great part of history, as well as the Mystic Aquarium. Some nice beaches and shopping are in this area as well.
~Hope you have fun when you come up here!
Message updated 7/25/2004 12:47:40 PM by Cairn
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adriahna
Posts: 4692
Registered: 6/4/2003
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Skooter Junkie
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7/26/2004 9:55:13 AM
THANK YOU, Cairn!!! This is extremely helpful. I'm printing this to take along - we'll be getting to the park on Friday, and Saturday we're keeping open, so as to explore the area. Your tips provide me with some really great ideas - so much I didn't know. Thanks again - I really, really appreciate it!!!
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Cairn
Posts: 156
Registered: 3/22/2004
Rank: Bronze Critic
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7/26/2004 8:08:16 PM
Quote:
adriahna said:
THANK YOU, Cairn!!! This is extremely helpful. I'm printing this to take along - we'll be getting to the park on Friday, and Saturday we're keeping open, so as to explore the area. Your tips provide me with some really great ideas - so much I didn't know. Thanks again - I really, really appreciate it!!! |
You're welcome and I hope you have a great time. Like I said, if you do come during mid September, don't miss the Big E...you will not be disappointed.
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adriahna
Posts: 4692
Registered: 6/4/2003
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Skooter Junkie
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7/26/2004 10:36:58 PM
I will definitely keep that in mind. I love a good state fair, and that one sounds terrific.
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beastboy
Posts: 265
Registered: 4/22/2004
Rank: Silver Critic
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7/27/2004 12:38:18 AM
I just got back from a trip to LC, and I'm not sure if this has been stated yet, but we got through all coasters in about 30 min. so waiting is no problem. Just go ahead and ride at will. Oh yeah, Boulder Dash is amazing, the airtime was absolutely insane! You won't be dissapointed!
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adriahna
Posts: 4692
Registered: 6/4/2003
Rank: Site Moderator
Skooter Junkie
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7/28/2004 10:26:17 AM
AWESOME - I'm practically biting my nails to the nubs in anticipation of Boulder Dash. Sadly enough, rain is expected, but I'm going to be ready for it - ponchos ahoy!!! And it's good to know that lines won't be too much of a hassle. We're going on Friday, so that should help. Thanks again, everyone!!!
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beastboy
Posts: 265
Registered: 4/22/2004
Rank: Silver Critic
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7/29/2004 12:12:10 AM
Oh, by the way, it was raining when I went and the Dash was absolutely flying so that may not be such a bad thing.
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adriahna
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Skooter Junkie
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7/29/2004 9:44:36 AM
SWEET...
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larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002
Rank: Platinum Critic
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7/29/2004 9:55:13 AM
unfortunately, rain will ruin the fun of the Sky Ride
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adriahna
Posts: 4692
Registered: 6/4/2003
Rank: Site Moderator
Skooter Junkie
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7/30/2004 8:28:30 AM
 Let's just hope it's a little misty - checking the weather report in about 2 minutes, here...
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