5. Rose Kennedy Greenway (Boston)

Last weekend we were planning on going to Bonkers Funhouse Pizza (an arcade I am not really excited about) to ride their carousel. The forecast was for rain, so it seemed like a good day to cross that off of our list. When we woke up it was beautiful, clear, and didn't even feel muggy. We immediately scrapped the arcade and instead headed into Boston for the day. We had two carousels to do, one in Boston Common, and one on the Rose Kennedy Greenway.

The Rose Kennedy Greenway has a small metal carousel with glittery sparkling horses. I think this was a favorite of Rory's so far!

After the carousel we had to play in the fountain for a little bit too!

And a ride on the swan boats was needed.

As well as a picture on the Make Way for Ducklings statue!

4. Boston Frog Pond

The Frog Pond (a children's wading pool) in Boston Common has a small metal carousel with two rows of metal or fiberglass animals. Sometimes we have enough time to take a close look at the carousel, and other times we don't. We were a little distracted at this one because Will and Rory were fighting over who got to ride the hippocampus - a mythical flying sea-horse. We ended up taking turns riding, but getting to that point took some negotiating!

There were some really neat animals on this one, but I didn't really want to ride alone, so I rode this horse behind the hippocampus. It's the same kind that Will rode in Salem, I believe it's modeled after a Illions horse (don't I at least sound like I know what I'm talking about??). I actually really wanted to ride the rooster, so I'm hoping another one of the carousels we go on will have one. Roosters were sometimes put on carousels so that spectators could count the number of times the ride went around, as it was an easy thing to spot. I should have told that fun fact to one of the kids to detract from the hippocampus!

Will riding the hippocampus.

DeeDee joined us for this trip, she graciously rode next to Will.

There's my rooster!

Rory on the Hippocampus (I have to admit, it is pretty cool)

3. Franklin Park Zoo

A few weekends ago we ventured to the Franklin Park Zoo for carousel number three! The carousel here is a small metal one with sort of creepily painted animals. We still had fun though - we especially enjoyed riding some of the animals that we saw in the zoo! Carousel fun-fact: most zebras on carousels are not horses painted with stripes. Like real zebras, they tend to have short spiky manes and stubbier tales.

One more carousel fun-fact in relation to zoos: Philadelphia was one of the premier carousel carving cities during the Golden Age of Carousels (1870-1920). The carvers there would regularly go to the Philadelphia Zoo for inspiration on animals to add to their menagerie.

Rory brought Lulu along for the ride. They dressed in matching outfits and were a hit all throughout the park.

Real Zebras

Carousel Tiger

Ryan got to hold Brynn and Lulu on the ride. They both seemed to enjoy it.

Will with a Smile

Carousel Lion

Me and the kids - checking another carousel off our list!

2. Paragon Park, Hull

Getting ready for carousel number two!

Over Memorial Day weekend we went to Paragon Park in Hull to ride the Paragon Park Carousel. This is a really well-kept antique carousel that was made by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company in the early 1900s. All of the original horses are still here and they are in the process of restoring them. The horses that they have done so far look amazing. The whole structure is right on the beach and it was a beautiful day. 

After our two rides we headed over to the beach (although we forgot the bathing suits we packed in the car). The kids got soaked, but they were enjoying themselves, so we just let them. Once we were done in the water we came back to the carousel to watch it as we enjoyed our first ice cream of the summer. 

Will and Rory in front of the ride:

This time Rory chose a horse that went up and down. In this picture you can see the newer restored horses in the natural colors and the older models with the bright colors. I believe they are planning on restoring them all to coordinate with this one that Rory is on:

I loved the band organ on this one, it was nice and loud!

 They've only had a chance to restore one of the chariots. Here is the before version:

And this is the after version. The PTC on the fron of the chariot stands for Philadelphia Toboggan Company:

Will waiting his turn:

While we were planning our trip to this carousel, I had read that it was one of the few that still had a Lead Horse. The Lead Horse is an ornate horse that is a stander on the outer ring. This one was emblazoned with the PTC crest. My plan was to ride it, but Rory had other plans and really wanted me next to her on the jumping horses. I obliged her, but I did take a picture of the Lead Horse, just to note that I found it:

I think we spent as much time in front of the fun house mirror as we did on the ride. The kids had never seen one before and they got a real kick out of it!

Two down, twenty to go!