Holiday World or...how to do a super awesome vacation on a shoestring budget

Whoever told you that vacations had to be big, extravagant things was wrong.

Sometimes the best vacations are a few hours drive away...

on a teeny tiny little budget.

The Munchkins have finally reached the age where I felt comfortable taking A Vacation with them.

And, even though I'd reached a general level of comfortability with the theory of it, I was still immensely relieved that my parents wanted to come along as well. Because looking back, three kids, one adult, two days one overnight and one very crowded theme park still would have been far, far too much to handle on my own.

A few thoughts on the experience:

Three hours is a very long time to be in a car with The Munchkins, even when they are very well behaved.

Planning is, as in all things, essential.

The Munchkins & I saved & counted down the days for a good, long while prior to The Vacation...
And there is no better value out there than Holiday World (woo hoo 2nd day discount tickets!)

Everyone chipped in in all sorts of wonderful ways... 

Stevie Wonder and The Beach Boys make excellent road trip music.

Fisher Price Little People Sing Silly Songs does not. Especially, it should be noted, when it is played end to end, twice. It's much akin to having bamboo shoots driven under ones finger nails to be completely honest.

The first ride I go on when I get to an amusement park is still always the bathroom.

 

I don't care how old you are...ice cream IS an acceptable snack no matter what time of day it is.

 

Isabelle is old enough to ride roller coasters. If that didn't shock me into adulthood I don't know what will. I still remember the first roller coaster I climbed onto with my dad some 20-ish years ago. It was the Racer at Kings Island. I wouldn't hold his hand in line because I was so nervous that my palms were sweaty...and I didn't want him to think I was scared...even though the wumpa-wumpa of my rapid heartbeat probably gave it away anyway.  Isabelle, on the other hand, chatted it up for over an hour in line with nothing more than a case of the jumpies when we got to be next in line. She loved it. My girl for sure.

^ Little Thrill Seekers ^

Pepsi Oases are the best thing about Holiday World. Hands down. Free soda for all!

The Monkey managed, in two days, to consume the following: Two ice cream cones, one cup of dippin' dots, one gigantic slice of cheese pizza, three mini corn dogs, half a bowl of apple sauce, one (of MY) chicken finger, one giant corn dog, two oreos, one cup of fruit, a breakfast bar's worth of food, and several hundred cups of root beer and pink lemonade.
This one's just like her momma...

 

Everyone's first reaction to staying in a hotel room for the first time is still to oooohhh and aaaahhh at the tiny soaps and shampoos, and to marvel at the crisp, folded-under corners on the roll of toilet paper in the bathroom. In fact, when we got home, I found Mr. Man in our bathroom, attempting to fold our toilet paper into a point.

Everyone's second reaction to staying in a hotel room for the first time is to jump on the bed. Which I allowed. Because we were, after all, on vacation.

It is, in fact, possible to fall asleep at dinner after a long day at the parks riding rides & swimming. It is also possible to fall asleep in the car, and while being carried back to the hotel after dinner. Playing is hard work...

There are few things funnier than seeing your kids ride the scrambler.
Among those few things, I would include seeing your mother and father ride that same scrambler...

Everyone in my family laughs, rather than screams, on park rides. The only exception being The Monkey as she comes barreling down water slides. She squeals at the top of her lungs just to hear the echo.

We all had a blast.

Temperatures were high and we spent a LOT of time in the water park.

Standing in line for rides and hanging out in wave pools sparked some great little conversations, and as soon as we got in the car after the second day, The Munchkins were already asking when we were coming back.

THIS is going to have to be an annual trip for sure...