Theme Parks With A Twist!
Fortunately for us, our daughter is not a big fan of theme parks! She hates waiting in long queues and she’s not much of a thrill seeker too. She would rather play with other kids from different nationalities, than go on a ride where she cannot interact with them. Hence for us, interactive museums are more fun. We love it, as we save up on the expensive entrance fees and we all know that we can never exit the park without buying some overpriced souvenirs from the gift shops.
However, I have been planning a lot of vacations to Europe with theme parks like the Disneyland in Paris, Warner Bros in Spain, Lego Land in UK, etc. I am a stickler for local flavour and culture, my philosophy is ‘why go to a particular country, if you are not going to savour it’s culture, know their people and try their food’! Hence, here are some local theme parks which are a must visit:
London:
Thorpe’s Park: This park has many tummy churning roller coaster and other thrill rides. The latest being added to the list is a spooky train ride for older kids and teens. If travelling by train it can take upto 1.5 hrs to get to Staines from Central London.
Paulton’s Park: For the young Peppa Pig fans, this park has a Peppa Pig World and for dinosaur buffs, there is the Lost Kingdom area, part of the same park. Hence, this would work best if you have 2 kids with an age gap. Getting here can be tiresome though. It can take 1.5 hrs – 3 hrs depending on your mode of transport. I would not advise this park to teens though.
Chessington World of Adventure: This has a good blend of rides, zoo, aquarium and a forest adventure. Only 30 mins drive from London, this can be a good day out. If you child is a Gruffalo lover, they have a new ride based on the story.
Besides these, there are some very interesting historical museums in Scotland and Wales which are interactive and seem like a theme park.
France: The following 2 parks are sure to make you forget Disneyland, Paris.
Futuroscope: Welcome to the future. Very chic and modern with a lot of glass and steel, the rides here are not your ordinary roller coasters. Be wowed by virtual reality and 4D stimulation rides with a French touch as Le Petit Prince take you on an intergallactic journey. The food here is also futuristic with Heston Blumental style molecular gastronomic dishes. This park is very popular with the locals and neighbouring countries, hence during their vacation period expect crowds.
Puy du Fou: Absolutely at the other end of the spectrum compared to Futuroscope. Puy du Fou feels like a mega Hollywood set with mega gladiator fights, chariot races, vikings and medieval castles. They have made this park with a lot of passion and the shows are simply jaw dropping. Fortunately, translation headsets are available, hence you do not miss out on the commentary. The grand show in the evening lasts about 1 hr.40 mins (a bit too long for the little ones) but it is nothing short of an opening act of Olympics. The pyro-techniques and projections on the water have to be seen to be believed.
The above mentioned parks are situated in the Loire Valley region, about 2.5 hrs from Paris. This region is renowned for it’s many castles and a very interesting 1 week long itinerary can be designed here post your Paris stay.
Germany:
Europa Park: Visit The Netherlands, Italy, England, Scandinavia and of course Germany all in a day or two. This 95 hectares park has iconic landmarks of 13 countries across Europe. The best thing is that it has rides for all ages and is one of the most popular parks in the region which doesn’t cost a bomb. For the tiny tots, there is a water play area and they also have entertainment shows. If you are visiting Germany and your kids love theme parks, ensure you visit the Europa Park.
Phantasialand: This is based on more exotic locales like China, Mexico and so on. It has a more Indiana Jones vibe and has a good mix of rides and shows. However, this is further north and may not fit in the usual Black Forest, Rhine and Bavaria tours most Indian families plan. The drive from Frankfurt will take about 2 hours.
Vogtsbauernhof: This living museum is in the Black Forest region and is a wonderful delight. It has a good mix of interactive activities as well as shows to please all members of the family. This could be a very good edutainment stop set in a stunning backdrop.
Spain:
Tibidabo, Barcelona: This is one of the oldest functioning theme parks in the world. Set on the ridge of Mt. Tibidabo, getting to this park is half the fun. A funicular ride overlooking the city, brings you to some of the oldest rides in the world. Though in terms of thrills, this park doesn’t match up to others, but the nostalgic value and the spectacular views are worth a visit.
Poble Espanyol (The Spanish Village): If you want to see the different architectural wonders and craftsmen of different regions of Spain then do visit this place. They often have performance and you can witness the skills of the craftsmen and savour culinary delights of different region. This can be a wonderful day trip from Barcelona.
There are many more which I can add to the list, feel free to contact me on info@soltrips.com for more information. Happy holiday planning!