Question - What's not too far from our house that is kid friendly AND that John & I had yet to explore? Answer - Oneida Lake. Packing a picnic, we headed off to the Verona Beach State Park on Oneida Lake. It comes complete with playground (I had forgotten when a kid is told to take off his shoes before going to play in the sandy playground, it doesn't necessarily mean take off your socks too...) It is a lovely park with lots of picnic tables and shady trees but of course the highlight was the beach area. Sand castles are always in. The water temp was 71 - a bit too cool even to temp the kids. The crazies in the water at the top of the photo were all teens.
When the adults had reached their "sand limit", we headed a couple miles down the road to Sylvan Beach that has a fun little amusement park for kids... & us. It celebrated its 50th anniversary last year and many of the original arcade machines and old timey rides are still there. Bumper cars, Tilt-A-Whirl (photo shows mom Kathleen with sons Peyton & Dillon), Haunted House (the track designed by a pretzel maker) and now more funny than haunted (I speak from experience) etc. etc.
The arcade (now a quarter, not a penny) has all sorts of games where you win tickets and exchange them for prizes (VERY cheap prizes I might add). John hit the jackpot and (did he share with the kids? - NO WAY) he turned his tickets in for a VERY cheap wrist watch to wear in his workshop.In return he "got" to take Peyton on his first (and probably John's last) roller coaster ride. Notice that even though John looks a bit pale he is wearing a wrist watch on both wrists just to show he was a winner.
Truth be told, I think Peyton (& certainly John) had much more fun when we got home going for a ride on the tractor.
1 comment:
While you were at Sylvan Beach, did you happen to eat at a place called "Eddy's"? I hear it is very good.
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