20. Bonkers Funhouse

Will getting ready to board

I discovered this carousel shortly after we had begun our carousel quest. We were driving up 95 North when I saw a sign for "Bonkers" with a big carousel horse on it. Given our newly formed plan, I looked it up as soon as possible. Yes, there was a carousel there, yes it was permanent, yes it was expensive. For some reason I was okay with most of the expenses of this journey, but Bonkers was putting me over the edge. Fifteen dollars each to get in, and then on top of that, it looked like there was a giant tunnel maze that I just couldn't get excited about. I knew the kids would love it, but I don't like going in those, especially while holding a squirmy and uncooperative Brynn. To deal with this non-excitement, I put off the prospect of going for as long as possible.

Brynn and I waiting our turn

This was easy because we had such nice weather over the summer - plus most of the rides on our checklist had a definite deadline to fit in. Bonkers was inside and we could go at anytime. Come November we had just three carousels left, two holiday rides and Bonkers. I felt strongly that Bonkers should not be our last carousel - too anti-climatic. Luckily (I guess?), we had our first slushy rain/snow day on the weekend we had planned to go. Bonkers certainly beats being indoors all day, so we headed out in the cold to check this off of our list.

Rory riding a purple horse

First surprise of the day: no charge for the grown-ups or babies! I was quite happy with this, all of the other indoor playgrounds that I had ever been to charged for everyone walking through the doors. I was more than happy to save forty-five dollars right off the bat. Next surprise: no adults in the maze! Will and Rory were old enough to head in there as a pair and they never looked back! They played in there for an hour while Ryan, Brynn, and I watched and enjoyed some snacks and drinks. It was actually almost relaxing. Another great surprise: amazingly friendly staff. Every person we met was really helpful and polite and seemed to care that we enjoyed ourselves. It was such a pleasant experience that I actually felt bad for dreading it all summer. 

 Decked out for Christmas

And for the main event - for us anyways - the carousel was great. It was all small horses, I had never seen one like this before so it was a nice treat to try something new. I could touch the floor the whole time, but it was perfect for Rory at four. It's now on my list to find out more info about this ride. As an added bonus, there were two more kiddie rides that the kids were allowed to go on as much as they wanted. I think we spent three hours there, and the best part - everyone fell asleep on the way home. Check mark for the carousel and thumbs up for the fun.

19. The Holyoke Merry-Go-Round

The birthday girl.

The proud brother and sister.

We were looking forward to this carousel all summer because we knew it was going to be one of the nice big historic wooden ones. We saved it for the late Fall because when I visited their website I saw that you could rent it for birthday parties - and I knew of a very special birthday that we would be celebrating this Fall.

Brynn doesn't know a life without carousels. By her first birthday she had ridden nineteen in Massachusetts and three in Rhode Island. She is like a little pro, knowing exactly how to hold onto the pole and what to expect once the music starts up. She smiles and waves and bounces up and down with excitement - it is the best. Once I saw that we could rent a carousel for her birthday, I started planning.

It wasn't expensive, twelve dollars a child for unlimited rides for an hour and a half. They also set up tables and provide a cake... Although I declined their cake and brought my own (and they took ten dollars off out bill!). I found a cake kit from Wilton's that helps you to make a carousel cake and I used that instead. On a rare date night, when the kids were sleeping at their Grandparents, my husband and I stayed up late painting the horses in the kit to match photos of horses we found of the carousel. I knew Brynn wouldn't care, but I also knew the Will and Rory, and hopefully other guests, would get a kick out it. 

The cake:

Close-up on the cake horses:

I was right. Will and Rory spent the whole party finding each of the horses on the cake and taking turns riding them. We also rode the chariot as a family for the first time and spent many rides with family members. We had a blast sharing everything we had learned all summer about the history of the horses, the carvers, special and unique terms, and we pointed out the Lead Horse (and armoured horse named Lancelot). After we sang 'Happy Birthday' all of our guests (eight kids, twenty-plus adults) boarded the carousel for one final ride. It was a perfect first birthday for our little girl.

Papa on a horse

One of the horses also on the cake

Lancelot, the Lead Horse

Family Shot

Jen, Karen, Derek, and the twins

Pa riding a horse

Will takes a turn on Lancelot

Getting ready for cake

The Holyoke Merry-Go-Round