~Tripsdrill Park~

~Tripsdrill Park is an amusement park that is only 25 minutes from our home. I would honestly say that it was situated in the most beautiful setting that I have ever seen for an amusement park. The park sits right in the middle of these gorgeous vineyards. These were our views from the top of the rides.. I am so glad that we did not miss this while living over here in Germany~


~The boys were so excited as we walked through the gates and went under all of the laundry hanging on the clothes lines above us (the theme in the entire park is the life on a vineyard).. we did not get 50 feet before they immediately wanted to hop on the first ride. It was a very cute May pole ride that did lots of spinning in circles high in the air (Steve's favorite)~


~The boys did not take long before they started running off to the next ride. This was an old fishing pond with these fishing boats that ran through it. It was a lot of fun because you could shoot water at the boats around you~


~Not a bad view for standing in line, right? The beautiful windmill behind with the little bridge in front and the ducks swimming in the pond~


~This was a free fall ride with a different look. This is a tree house.. you climb in the log and then it takes you all the way to the very top. Next it dips you forward, and then when you least expect it... you come free-falling quickly all the way down. The great thing now is that the boys are both tall enough to ride all of the rides in the park~


~Cole riding in an old-school pinewood derby car.. they had to actually steer, and push the gas and brakes themselves~


~Kade had no problem in his derby car.. he is a pro in his hummer at home.. so this was a piece of cake for him. He would even be able to reverse full speed, and parallel park if they asked him to.. he has some rad driving skills for a four year old~


~Next we slowed it down a notch with this old-fashioned car on the tracks.. can you tell that the boys were having the time of their lives?~


~Kade was a little too frightened of the responsibility of driving the horses that pulled this old buggy. He refused to get on without me. I have never been so bucked around on a ride in my entire life.. but we made it~


~I am not quite sure what the fascination is in Germany with these hedgehogs.. but they love them and even decorate their homes with them during the fall season. You are going to have a hard time catching this little rodent~


~I was bound and determined to convince Cole that he would have fun going on this big castle bath tub ride with me. He was very scared, but I gave him lots of pep talks. We got on the ride and it took us inside the castle. Guess what we were welcomed to?.... Tons of naked manequins that were taking baths.. how do you explain that to a 6 year old? These people are so strange some times~


~Then right when you think there are no more surprises.. you fly down this hill and get soaking wet.. OK, next time we will pass~


~The whole park was filled with beautiful flowers and farming decorations ~ It was so well done~


~The grand finale was on this huge, wooden roller coaster. Steve taught Cole the importance of keeping your hands above your head for the entire ride. They came off and Cole looked back at what he just rode on and had the hugest grin on his face. This was a great day at Tripsdrill Park~