Knotts Berry Farm is located on SoCal, not too far from Disneyland. This park offer a lot for the entire family, but for thrill seekers, it's not the mecca of roller coasters. It cost appx. 50USD for the day. There is one one ride here that I really liked...the XCELERATOR. The cars are modeled after '57 Chevys, but the coaster goes over 80mph and the highest point is better than 200 feet. The beginning is the best, when you are launched up more than 200 feet in less than 3 seconds! Next to the Titan in Texas, this probably ranks as my next favorite coaster. Another roller coaster here is the Boomerang, comparable to the reverse coaster at Worlds of Fun. Super Scream, though not a coaster, is another thrill ride here. This one propells you up 250 feet, and then you fall back at over 50 mph.

Not that I couldn't find things to do in Anaheim, but I'm just not the kind who goes bonkers over Mickey Mouse and friends. Disneyland is a great place, no doubt, but I just couldn't bring myself to hang around the resort, and in short order, I found myself in Buena Park. While Knotts Berry Farm has its share of thrill rides and roller coasters, the thing that brought me here was more of a culinary adventure. Specifically speaking - Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant.

Waded through the crowd and finalyy got my hands on a heaping plate of mashed potatoes, gravy, sizzling fried chicken like they make in the old south with plenty of crust, topped off with a slice of the famed boysenberry pie, buttermilk biscuits and some veggies. The ensemble made me totally forget where I was, and I dug into the food like I had never eaten fried chicken before. Maybe it was the exhilaration of finding good food after a tiring journey, or maybe it was just the good food... Whatever. Either way, I wiped everything off, and was in a half-a-mood to go in for seconds, but decided against it, at least for the present.

Maybe it would be better if I at least made a pretense of being a tourist, along with the other multitudes, and went to some of the more extraordinary attractions in Knotts Berry Farm. Checked out the Ripley Believe It or Not Musuem, with some totally whack-a-doo exhibits inside. Kinda dark, though. Still, I suppose as a tourist attraction, its a winner. Seems Buena Park has a lot of make-believe stuff, cause they also have this Medieval Dinners in the evening, where a bunch of tourists sit around a ring having dinner while knights in armor suits duke it out inside. Kinda freaky, but I suppose it should be fun.

It was the last day of the weekend.  A very busy weekend.

I had a ticket that I had won at work that was expiring and I just had to go.

So I took a friend with me....

got there at opening time....10am.  The park was empty....it was cloudy and drizzling...the ticket booth lady even had to read a disclosure that there were no refunds.  We went in anyway.

Had to get my heart pumping and went on the newest rollercoaster at the park.  Can't remember the name, but I can tell you it was awesome and you will see pictures later.

Walked around the park, took pictures, and had some food.

Left around 4pm...we were both quite tired.  I had been partying and living it up all weekend with minimal sleep and my friend had to work the Sunday evening.

To prepare for our simulation/model UN in NY in mid-march with the international student community, CalstateLA seems to do a practice run at a local model United Nations called PAXMUN. It's generally southern california, but has some visitors from AZ, northern CA, etc. High Schools are also invited but most of the delegates are college students.

Ill-prepared and very tired due to 4 hours of sleep and having to leave at 6am to pick up a bunch of people, we arrived in Buena Park, which I've decided is one of the shittiest places in Los Angeles. You can always tell what people are like in Southern California by 1) what they drive and 2) how they drive. For example, in downtown LA, you will find slow, confused drivers in very nice cars. In Buena Park, I found a lot of rude, aggressive drivers in monster trucks.

But anyhow, back to PAXMUN. It was my first time, and I was very scared. I'm not a natural public speaker, I can get aggressive and defensive just like any other person. And I can't stand bullshit. I don't like people who speak for the sake of hearing their own voice. But I had a great group with a lot of really knowledgeable, if not nervous people. The funny thing about model UN is that you know people by their countries and not their names. You will literally respond to your country, and it's rare that you ask anyone their name.

My favorite people/countries were Algeria (Jessica) - she was so calm and confident and competant. If I were a manager, I'd hire her no matter what I did because she's just one of those extremely capable people you want to have on your team. Djibouti was kind of crazy and he ended up winning an award. Botswana was AWESOME, and she was from my class! I didn't even know her name was Fabiola until I asked our President! I suck, I know..

I'm really glad I got to go to a simulation for practice before the big international one in NYC. Man I made some mistakes, and multi-tasking was so important. You had to write proposals, explain your proposals to people who you were convincing to sponsor the paper, and run around to get drafts printed, approved and handed out. It is very important to have a team you can trust and assign duties to each person and have them respect you/be loyal enough that they will carry it out as if it were their own idea. And in the 2 min downtime that I had - I snapped these pictures =)

I think it was twice as stressful for me though because we were working on agriculture programs for food security and found that HIV/AIDS was a big issue among agriculture workers. So we divided our own question (this is a term for creating distinct clauses or papers so that each can be voted on separately - which is good so that one of your ideas can pass which won't put it at risk of being rejected if it's tied to another, more controversial topic) and wrote TWO separate proposals. For a committee that only ended up writing 5 proposals, being responsible for 2 of them was an amazing thing for my first go. The good thing is knowing that we're capable of it, but on the negative side, neither paper was extremely polished or had lots of back up research in it. But it's good to know for next time! =) I wish Algeria would have been at the NY conference, but she'll be at the one in April rather than March. =(

Today was amusement park number three. Today we are going to Knott's Berry Farm. Being from Colorado I had only the slimmest of grasp on what to expect from an amusement park named after a berry farm. Some guy I worked with said, "Oh, it's just like Elitch's here in Denver. The kids will love it." Evidently I considered this enough endorsement to plan to spend an entire day there, with no back up plan. Oh, well the kids are nearly 7 and 2 1/2, how difficult to please could they be. If there were rides equal to a roadside carnival and a berry patch to stomp down, they would be happy.

As was our pattern we arrived not long after the park opened and procured the needed map. A quick scan found the kid-friendly named Camp Snoopy. So we took off for the land of the Peanuts to see what there was to do at camp. It turned out to be a nice little mini-amusement park geared towards kids who were too little to ride the Boomerang and other such roller coasters. As this was my target audience we spent the next few hours bouncing from one spinny ride to another, watching the kids go round and round, and making sure that we waved each and every time they made an appearance from the dark side of the carousel. They had a blast, and we had a good time too. Both Margo and I got to ride on the occasional ride, to comfort the baby, of course.

Sometime around the noon hour we had pretty much seen all that Snoopy and his pals had to offer. Plus my oldest daughter had been gazing longingly at the big kid rides, hoping she was the right stature to ride some of them. She was in luck; one of the first ones we decided to try was called the Sky Jump. This was a simulated (it had a canopy) parachute drop. You got in this car/cart/gondola like thing. When you and your fellow daredevils were secured the mechanism hauled you and your cart straight up, like you were being retrieved from the bottom of a well. At the top, there was short wait, undoubtedly to heighten your sense of doom, and then it dropped it you. Of course, everything was in tight control, and it was actually a little on the tame side. I don't recall any negative Gs, but Jolene loved it. She screamed and had a grand time.

Lunch was beckoning, so we grabbed a Snoopy burger, or something along that line and ate a quick lunch. I'm usually the first done, and as Jessi, the toddler/baby, had decided to take a short nap, I wandered over to the aforementioned Boomerang. I could tell by the infamous "You must be this tall" sign, which suggested death or dismemberment to the short, that Jolene could not ride. But, I could. The line wasn't too bad, so about 30 minutes later they were loading me into a roller coaster car. The Boomerang starts you at the top of a very steep hill. No climb for the coaster, you did that on the stairs to get there. So as you gaze down you see that the bottom of the hill is followed by a loop, and another loop, you are turned a complete revolution, and then you go up another hill, and stop on top, right on a set of tracks that is now right beside those you just started from. I knew what to expect when I got in line, but at this point I was questioning the wisdom of doing this right after lunch. Too late. Zoom-Loop-Loop-Twist, and Climb. The ride had been pretty short, but it was only half over. They don't call this the Boomerang because it was made in Australia. Someone threw the reverse lever and we shot back down the track. I could now see what it was like to see the back of someone's screaming head. The tracks that I was now facing suddenly turned upside down as we went through our revolution. One backwards loop, another, and then we backed up the hill, and the ride was over. Then it was back to the family so we could continue the day. I had had enough roller coasters for one day.

August in southern California is hot. Not Phoenix, Arizona hot, but short of the Sahara, what it? Still what is better on a hot day than a water ride? Knott's Berry Farm had recently installed just such an animal. It was called Big Foot Rapids. On this ride you got on a custom built inner tube looking device. It was circular like a tube, but had seats facing the center. In the center, where the hole should be, was a table looking thing for you to hold on to. After everyone is buckled in you are sent down a theme park river, filled with man made rapids, to bounce, spin and splash you about. Those never seem to splash the occupants too much. Towards the end, however,  there is a waterfall on one side of the river. It is up to chance who might be in just the right spot, if anyone, to get full benefit of the free shower. Our tube was lucky enough to go underneath it, but we were only caught a glancing blow. We got a good splash, but did not get soaked.

We spent the next few hours either backtracking to Camp Snoopy, or looking for rides that Jolene was tall enough to ride. There were plenty of those, and actually the ones she couldn't were the exception. Towards twilight we ran into one that gave us some trouble. It was a simulated ballon ride, with a gondola underneath. You would strap to kids in the gondola, and around and around it would go. It seemed pretty tame to look at. But it  was height regulated, and we missed the sign. I think the ride was in Camp Snoopy, so Jolene was plenty tall enough. The issue was with Jessi. She was evidently borderline when they measured her at the front of the line. Her sister was already loaded up, and anticipating a good ride, when the guy told us Jessi was too small. We had to tell her, and she started with the crocodile tears. Those tears have been known to persuade her father (yes, that is me) to buy the piece of junk toy at the front of the store, or to go back to McDonalds and get the Orange drink. This is particularly true when the tears are accompanied by the quiet sniffles that do not signal a fit, just exteeemeeee disappointment. It was at this minute I knew that I was going to be in trouble when she hit her teens. The guy who had just finished telling us she couldn't ride, picked her up, put her in the seat, and apologized to her. She of course rewarded him by turning off the water and brightening up a degree or two. Then when the ride started and she was laughing and yelling to her sister, his smile was bigger than hers.

That was pretty close to our last ride of the day. Three amusement parks in three days. The one the girls had been looking forward to since we told them where were going was tomorrow, Disneyland! 

Within shouting distance of the carbon neutral prius driving tree hugging latte sipping liberals of Los Angeles, Buena Park offers visitors a rare snapshot of small town America in the middle of one of the largest metropolitan melting pots in the world. The main attraction in Buena Park is Knott's Berry Farm and a short drive can take you to Disneyland, Beverly Hills, Ripley’s Believe or Not and the beaches of Santa Monica. Buena Park straddles the Santa Ana (I-5) and Riverside (91) freeways and Beach Boulevard (Super Highway 39). 28 miles from Los Angeles International Airport, 10 miles from the Jon Wayne and and Long Beach Airports.

Beach Boulevard is the happening place in Buena Park, and houses the best of the local attractions, including the Knott's Berry farm, spread over 160 acres of wooden roller coasters and thrill rides ( Yes - You can still visit it even if you are coming from, or going to, Disneyland - There's a big difference ). It wasn't what I expected, and I was lost in a sea of gawking tourists of all shapes and sizes, most of them just aimlessly wandering around and trying to squeeze in that extra something into the vacation. And tell you the truth, roller coasters make me queasy. So after poking around Walter Knott's berry farm, I skipped the rides and decided to embark on an exploration of Beach Blvd and it's offerings - Namely - Food.  

First I wandered into Knott’s Berry Farm Chicken Dinner Restaurant, and the absurd first thought was that this was no place to escape from the crowd. The place was huuuge. People - Tourists, locals, families, kids, the whole of Buena Park seemed to be in line. Well. if everyone was here, the place was bound to serve some good food, which was the primary intention, so I got in line. The aroma was intoxicating and the platters of hot chicken going past me set my mouth watering. I got hold of a plate full of mashed potatoes, gravy filled chicken, buttermilk biscuits and veggies, along with some kind of pie. To make it short - The food was worth wading through the crush. I knew I was going to be back here later.

Stufed to the gills, a walk one block north from Knott's Berry Farm took me to Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum, legacy of the Robert LeRoy Ripley oddball facts cartoons. The eight legged pig exhibit was really cool. The pig looked like it was about to flap it's extra legs and start flying. Now that would have been really cool - A flying eight legged pig! http://www.ripleysbp.com/

Next up on the list was Knott's Soak City ( There's no escaping from the Knott's in Buena Park ). Sadly, the waterparks were closed until the next spring, so after some more aimless wandering, I made my way to the farmer's produce market and got yakking with some locals about what their notion of late night entertainment. Which took me to the Medieval Times Dinner. I was expecting to be served dinner by Knights in armor, but their concept of a Medieval dinner was, it seems, a bit different...It's a huge pavilion, with the Knights duking it out in the center and diners stuffing themselves  at tables set in concentric circles aroud the ring. Kind of fun, but a bit synthetic - It was WWF with dinner. http://www.medievaltimes.com/

All said and done, Buena Park was nothing to write home about, but Buena Park restaurants are something special.  Now I need to a find a Buena Park California hotel, preferably one which has nothing to do with Knotts. Which could take me all night, since the Knott's seem to have their sticky fingers on just about everything on Boulevard avenue. Heck, there's even a Knott Avenue in Buena Park.

Knotts Berry Farm is like Disneyland's little cousin. They are in the family but vastly different. The Berry Farm is an amusement park in Buena Park a short distance from Disneyland off of Beach Blvd. The prices are very reasonable and most times adults can get in for $16.95 after 3:00pm. The park is based on the old west theme. There is a ghost town where you can walk through museums, watch dance and music shows put on by native americans or just wander around in the shops. They have Camp Snoopy which features all kinds of rides for kids to enjoy. There are shows for them to watch and the Snoopy and Charlie Brown characters come out to play with the kids. For the bigger kids Knotts has an array of rides. Supreme Scream features a ride that takes you straight up into the air for a breathtaking view before plunging to the ground. Big Foot Rapids is a wild raft ride that looks for big foot. Best to go on in the mornings so if you get wet you can dry out by evening. The newest ride Silver Bullet is an open ride where your feet are dangling. It whips and turns and takes you upside down at super speeds. There are regular carnival games where you can test your luck. Theres Wild West shows to enjoy. The park has a wide range of activities and almost everyone can find something to enjoy. For the price it is a great amusement park.

The Pirate's Dinner Adventure is like a Midevil Times (right down the street actually) The tickets are $53.00 and you can pay an extra $12.50 to sit in the Captains Chairs (first 3 rows). There are various shows times and you need to reserve in advance. You are given beads and a colored bandana with a seat ticket at arrival. As soon as you get in you take a picture with a pirate to be purchased for $20.00 if you so choose. Upon entering you are in a waiting room. The waiting area has two full service bars, you can get a souvenir cup with your drink for an added $8.00. Along with the bars there are two gift shops where you can get all the piratey goodness you can think of. I got a lovely keychain. Also during this wait time there are servers in each corner and you can get a tiny plate of food (included in ticket price). The different servers have things such as: cocktail shrimp with sauce (slightly spicy but yummy), two different flavored ravioli with sauce, taquitos with salsa, cubed cheese with cubed meats and crackers, a pasta salad, and an assortment of celery and carrots with ranch. The show starts in this room. A town crier comes out and thanks you for coming to the govenors ball. Volunteers are asked to come up and participate in a talent competition. Then pirates attack. Everyone is taken prisoner based on different color bandanas you received. You follow your pirate inside and you are seated in rows around a pirate ship. The show includes sword fights, gun fire, some water action, acrobats that hang from the sky by their heads and perform. The pirate of your color comes into your area and swing to the ship. More audience members are recruited to participate and kids especially join the action. The show gets you to cheer for your pirate and compete against the other colors. While the show is going on you are being fed. Water and soda are given in pitchers and you get a complimentary beer with your dinner (cocktails are extra). The meal starts off with a salad with ranch. Then you have your choice of chicken with beef with potatoes and vegetables or chicken with shrimp with rice and vegetables(the shrimp has lobster and scallops and is excellent). After you have your fill you are given apple pie a la mode. The show ends are you can take pictures with the pirates. You are escorted out by the gift shops and there is coffee if you are interested. The show is a little juvenile and families with kids will enjoy it even though people of all ages will have a good time.

I love coming here. i use to come here every year for 4 years for my birthday. i first time i came here it was halloween 1995. coming on halloween season is a different experience. i would recommend it. on my last birthday here. my friends thought it would be funny to chip in and have me knighted and announce my birthday to everybody. i was all for it. if you are allergic to dust i would not recommend. my cousin was misarable during dinner, but he made the best of it. arrive early to have an option to visit a museum of different torture machines. also the grounds of the area has a beautiful garden. check out the gift shop. you can even pet the horses. Medieval Times Dinner Show -- Enjoy dinner, entertainment, and more at this exciting show. Guests of our castle enjoy an authentic medieval feast while valiant knights on horseback do battle. if you have a AAA card you can have discounts. if it's your birthday it's FREE but double check if that still applies. Welcome to the 11th century! Inside our European-style castle, you will experience the pageantry, horsemanship, chivalry and romance of the Middle Ages! Your evening will begin in our Hall of Flags where you will be granted temporary citizenship in one of six Iberian Kingdoms, and meet briefly with the King and his Princess for a photograph. After your initial audience with the King, you will be granted leave to explore the grounds of the castle before the Tournament begins. Feel free to stroll through our outdoor gardens, Hall of Arms, Royal Stables and Knight Club. ADULT DINNER Fruity Wine Cocktail Appetizer Fresh Vegetable Soup Whole Roasted Chicken Spare Ribs Herb-Basted Potato Pastries of the Castle Coffee Beer, Wine Cocktail, Soft Drinks

So today is the day we go to Knott's Berry Farm.  The park will be open from 10am until 10pm today. I asked the boys what was more important, getting to the park the minute they opened the front gates....or sleeping in a bit.  They both said sleeping in (have I said how much I love my kids). We slept until about 8:30 and then all took showers (teenage boys stink).  There was a nice resturant in the lobby of the hotel (A Red Robin) but it was expensive.  There was a Carl's Jr. just around the corner, so we decided to eat breakfast there.  A quick stop at a drug store to get some sunscreen and we were back on our way to Knotts. 

We entered the park around 11:00 and started our rollercoaster experience with Ghost Rider.  The boys asked if the ride had anything to do with the recent movie.  I told them it had been there for at least 15 yrs, so I doubted it.  Most of the line for this roller coaster was inside a building, so it was a pleasant, and not to long wait.  The ride was thrilling, but my 6ft 1", 200 lb frame had to squeeze into the car.  It was a bit uncomfortable and that took abit away from the ride.  After that we started just wandering around. This is one thing I like about Knotts. It is smaller than Disneyland so you can just wander from ride to ride.

We made our way to Big Foot Rapids (a water ride) and stood in a short line for that.  In front of us (and then on our raft) where a couple of guys on vacation from Edinburgh.  The boys told them we had been there last year and everybody had a nice chat about things there and here.  We got just a bit wet, but it felt nice as the day was warming up nicely.  Then the boys went on a couple of "spin around real fast until you feel like you want to puke" rides. I sat those out.  We then bought a few drinks and sat around talking about what was next.  Well the youngest son wanted to go on Xcelerator.  But the eldest son did not. So he sat and we rode.  It was pretty fun, but once again, squeezing into the ride was a bit uncomfortible.  A few more rides and then it was time for Lunch/Dinner. I knew this was going to be at least a $30 experience, so I told the boys 1 meal in the park. We ate and enjoyed an air conditioned room for a bit and then went back out.  I had told the boys that they could not try the midway games until later in the day.  Carrying around prizes is not my idea of fun. So we went and did some of the games, (did not win a darn thing) and then made our way over to the Silver Bullet rollercoaster. I have never beenon this ride and it looked fun. My eldest son (who is not real big on heights or going upside down) decided to join his brother and me.  This rollercoaster was pretty cool.  It is a suspended rollercoast, the track is above the cars, and your feet hang free. The restraint system is a harness that comes down over your shoulders (it was much more comfortible).  The ride is a fast moving (duh it is a rollercoaster) thrill ride that inverts you a total of eight times.  And the best part of the ride.  there was no line.  We went back time and time again.  We finally had to stop as we were getting light headed.  (well dad was!).

We finished off the day by shopping for trinkets.  I gave each of the monsters $20 bucks (with instructions that any change had to be given back. Otherwise they dont buy anything, and save the money for the stuff they want at home.  That is what chores and allowances are for.)  They each found something they wanted and only had about a dollar each left over....which I let them keep.

We ended up leaving the park about 2 hours before closing. At some point during the day, I had made a comment about the boys being lucky, and would be able to fall asleep during the ride home. My youngest son proudly told me he would stay awake for the entire journey home. I told him there was no way...Well we went back and forth for  time and finally somebody finally said it was time to "Put up or Shut up"! A bet was made!  We left the park, and I decided it was time to start pulling out all the "Sneaky Dad" tricks. So the first stop was to get something to fill up the little monsters belly.  Hard to stay awake in a warm truck with a full belly, and a 2 hour drive home.  After eating, we started our drive home.  The next step was to put on some ambiance music on the radio.  Well he was to awake for that...so talk radio would do the trick.  Now he was full, warm, and bored!!!  Then the yawning started....from me.  :)  His brother started to fall asleep...but this was the wrong son.  But, still one was a start.  I did my best to make him comfortible, hoping that the falling asleep would be contagious. It started to work.  Bobby put his head down on the backs of the front seats to talk to me.  I could see him starting to drift off....then all of a sudden I hear a slap!  He had felt himself starting to fall asleep and had slapped himself awake.  Well, I did not want to have to explain those marks to his mother so I figured it would be better to just let him win the bet :)

All in all, it was a very fun trip.

This morning was quite busy.  A trip to the Chiropractor (have to get ready for the rollercoasters don't ya know) and laundry (Wed is usually laundry day, just have to try to get it all done in the morning).  Then my youngest decided that he wanted to sleep in his "new" bedroom when we got back tomorrow, so we had to remove all the constructions stuff that was still in there, vacuum the carpet, and put the bed back in the room.  The last chore was to wash the sheets. They will be all fresh and clean when we come home and make the bed. 

I told my monsters that we were going to be out the door at 12:30.  Now this is dad time, which means we will be out the door at 12:30, not 13:30-14:00 like when they travel with their mom!  :)  We were out the door (on time) and on our way back to near where I grew up. I hate making this drive because traffic can be such a pain in the rear. Check in time at the hotel is 15:00.  I figured a 2 to 2 1/2 hour drive time would put as at the hotel around check in time. Wel for once the drive was pleasant.  There was little to no traffic (finally the kids came in handy, I got to use the car pool lanes) and we arrived at about 10 minutes after 14:00.  The hotel is the Holiday Inn Select (not sure what makes it a "Select".  Maybe because I "selected" it) is right off the the I-5 freeway about 5-10 min from Knotts. I knew exactally which hotel this was, as it is across the street from the Northwood Inn.  This was the first trip down memory lane, as this was my dad's favorite steak resturant.  The kids thought it looked pretty cool. The resturant has a log cabin motif with fake snow on the roof.  Kind of cheesy now, but pretty cool idea for kids.  We parked and went to check in. I was hoping being early would not mean we would have to wait....I was wrong.  The very kind gentleman at the front desk told me none of the rooms were ready yet.  We chatted for a bit and then the boys and I decided to go wonder around. I was trying to talk them into going for a short drive so I could see the neighborhood where I grew up...but they were not getting back into my truck unless I bribed or threatened them. So we decided to walk around and check out the hotel facilities. Before we left the desk, the clerk took my cellphone number, and told me he would call when a room was ready.  We walked around a bit and then sat down in the lobby to read.  A few minutes later my cellphone rang.  The clerk was calling to tell me a room was ready (he did not see me sitting about 20 feet way in the lobby :).  I went to do the paper work, and had a pleasant surprise.  The original booking was for a room with 2 double beds.  The clerk took pitty upon me. He put us in a roomwith 2 queen size beds, that way the boys would have more room. When I eventually get around to it, the hotel will get a good review.

The boys and I went up to the room and decided to relax for a while. I had the boys bring their bathing suits, but neither felt like swimming. I layed down on the bed, and just as I fell asleep....my youngest child decided he needed some excercise and wanted to go down to the fitness center. And since he could not go down alone, dad had to wake up, right now!!!  So off to the fitness center.  We used the treadmills and eliptical trainers for about 45 minutes, and then went back to the room to relax a bit more before we had to leave for our dinner adventure.

There be Pirates!!!  This trip had 2 pre-established goals:  1. Dinner at Pirates Dinner Adventure  and 2. Trip to Knotts Berry Farm.  Now we have gone to Medevil Times in the past, and enjoyed that.  We originally were going to do that this trip, then we heard about this Pirate thing.  Well Pirates are real big right now (Just ask Captain Jack Sparrow, or Wil Turner), so the boys decided we "needed" to do this instead. It was an enjoyable (but expensive) night. I will write a review later.

After the dinner and show, the boys let me take them on a trip down memory lane (for me).  We drove by the house I grew up in (it looks so much smaller now), and then by the high school I attended.  They got to see I actually did have to walk 2 miles to get to school (in the snow, up hill...both ways).  Then back to the hotel to sleep.