Kennywood

When I was little, there was nothing more exciting than going to Kennywood Park in the summer. I couldn't wait to spend all day there, eating their Potato Patch French Fries and devouring the funnel cake covered in ice cream and strawberries -- and that was just for LUNCH! So, you can only imagine the joy I had in having the opportunity to bring my kids there (thanks to Pa and Grandma) to experience what almost every kid in Pittsburgh gets to experience each year.

This outing was much more relaxed than I remember as a kid. We would spend months figuring out the group of people we were going with and don't even ask about how long we'd spend talking about what we would wear to the park.

My kids were just so excited to ride rides. After being disappointed in the past at the height requirements for roller coasters at other parks, I was smart. I researched...like a good mom would do. We were good. Ronan was going to be tall enough for all the rides, in Kiddie Land! (And, he would be able to ride the mini coaster there!)

Reluctant to ride the mini coaster, Riley did it! She hopped on with her cousin, Travis, and 9 seconds later, they were back to the beginning of the ride. No joke, the ride is like 9 seconds. It took me longer to turn on my camera to take this picture, than it did for them to go an entire round on this ride.

And another favorite for the kids, but not-so-much for mommy who recently discovered that she is easily made nauseous. In fact, it may have been this very ride in which this discovery was unveiled. Needless to say, the kids went on it about 8 times and me, well, I watched from the ground. The very steady, not-moving ground.

It's no Disney. It's no Hershey Park. It's just Kennywood. A classic theme park that has given me wonderful memories and hopefully, has done the same for my kids...