Adventures for Anyone

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Working in an Amusement Park

When I was young, I wanted to go to Cedar Point for the summer and work. It seemed like the ultimate job. They had dorms and everything there, so you could stay for the whole summer, get away from your family and make money. It also sounded like a dream come true to work in the place where I hung out off and on every summer. Cedar Point was one of my favorite places on Earth, because while my friends wanted to party and go shopping; I wanted to ride roller coasters and every other ride on Earth. I guess I was a geek, but I didn't care. A kegger could not compare with Roller Coasters.

So, I applied and made my plans and awaited my call (there was no email back in the dark ages). I was all set, until my parents found out. The minute they heard my plans it was a big resounding "NO!"

Now, let's fast forward nearly 40 years. I've lived my life. I've all but raised my family, had my big management job, written a couple of books, and traveled the world. I've survived kidney stones and cancer. I've put up with my husband for more than 20 years. I've lived in New England nearly half my life. I've been there done that, but what I still had never done, was work in an amusement park. The urge had never gone away. My family suffers from vertigo and can't enjoy going to amusement parks anymore. It seemed like just the right time for an adventure. So, I applied to work in an amusement park for the summer. And not just any amusement park--America's oldest theme park. Lake Compounce.

So, you may ask yourself if I'm writing because I tried and no one wanted an old woman to work for them? Nope, I was immediately contacted, interviewed and hired to run rides. The young people who are actually running the park, thought it was great that I wanted to take my turn at what is normally a great summer job for kids. Before I knew it, I was trained to run three large rides and was ready to go with my uniform and rain gear for a summer that I would never forget.

The summer of 2018 was one of the wettest summers on record in New England. Those of us who worked in the park, were a group of hearty souls. I spent my summer operating the Sawmill Plunge log ride, The Twister, and The Pirate Ship. I spent my summer making sure that everyone followed the rules, stayed safe and were wildly entertained getting wet, spinning around and swinging back and forth. After four months of this I can say without a shadow of a doubt, it was one of the best times I ever had at work. Working kids are great. I met some of the most wonderful teenagers I've ever known. I was worried that it might be hard working with the enormous age difference, but it wasn't. We all had so much fun that there were a lot of tears on my last day.

I waited almost 40 years to do something that I'd always wanted to do. They don't like it when employees go online and discuss working there, so I waited. I think the management would be pleased with my assessment though. After all the team ride nights, random trips on the bungee swing, associate luaus and such, I can say I'm happy I did it. I'm happy that I didn't decide that I was too old and had missed my chance. If you've ever dreamed of it, do it. There are so many perks, so many happy memories, and so many new experiences in doing a job that may be deemed beneath you at an older age; well--I was tempted to reapply when I got invited back. I can't this year, but I was sorely tempted. Never miss out on a chance to make up for something that you never go to do as a kid. It made me feel young, if only for a short time and gave me memories that I will cherish.

Now, before I go, I want to let you know that Lake Compounce has become a three season amusement park with a campground and water park for the summer. They have one of the original haunted graveyards in the fall and one of the original holiday lights at Christmas. My family and I have enjoyed all of it for years.

The park opens in May each year and has been in operation for over 170 years. Every year there's something new, but still plenty of classics. It's a great place to spend your time.

Christmas brings all kinds of lights, Santa Clause, ice sculptures, and select rides for hearty souls. It's a lot of fun for the kids and everyone. Everyone is looking for that special family thing to make a family tradition out of at Christmas, and Holiday Lights is the perfect thing.

So, should you go to work in an amusement park? If you've always dreamed of it, sure. If not, probably not. I fall in the former group, and I'm so glad I did it. Here's to making dreams of running giant rides and making kids smile come true. Enjoy!

https://www.lakecompounce.com/
https://www.cedarpoint.com/
https://www.inkitt.com/ninakindred/settings
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/721980
https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B06Y1C2MS7
https://www.fictionpress.com/u/530752/Nina-Kindred
https://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
https://www.zazzle.com/imagings
https://terri-dixon.pixels.com/
https://www.facebook.com/adventuresforanyone?fref=ts
http://www.ctvisit.com/
https://www.visitconnecticut.com/state
https://newengland.com/today/travel/new-england/new-england-amusement-parks/

Thursday, November 15, 2018

If You Like Lighthouses, Then You Should Visit Long Island and the Sound

Lighthouses are some of the world's most beloved and adored pieces of architecture. I grew up with the wonderful lighthouses on the Great Lakes of Michigan, Huron and Erie. When I moved to New England, I started investigating the many mountain ranges and numerous waterfalls of the region and neglected to do much in the way of investigating the shore. In the last couple of years, I have spent more time in State Parks and along the shores of New England than I ever have before. This last summer I spent some significant time tooling around Long Island. It's close by; only a ferry ride away, but I never went there. I thought it was time, and I was right. I saw my first lighthouse on my first ferry ride across Long Island Sound. At that time, I didn't realize that there were over 25 of them in the area. I had a lot to do.

Throughout the summer and early fall this year, I visited several lighthouses in a few different ways. I passed one while on the ferry every time I went. I went to the one on Sheffield Island on a tour from Norwalk, CT. They are literally all over. Some are beautiful like the one on Sheffield Island. Some are old and in ruins, but there are so many to see. Some are very hard to get to like the one on Shelter Island. Some you can only see from shore like the one off of Orient Point, NY. I tried to pick the ones that would allow me to see a lot of the area without missing other things along the way. It's a tough balance, but I think we did pretty well.

Most of the lighthouses that I visited had amazing views both of them and from them. I visited three that had guided tours. I learned a lot of history while I was there. Some of the lighthouses in the area were commissioned by George Washington. Some were used by spies during the Revolutionary War. They are amazing. Many of them are still in use today. The most famous ones, like Fire Island and Shelter Island are a little tricky to get to. Shelter Island requires an expensive ferry. Fire Island can also be reached by ferry or a tricky causeway. Some, like Sheffield Island require a guided tour and a boat to get a pretty long way to reach it. Montauk point is a tedious drive during the summer. But, the payoff is amazing. The lighthouses are beautiful.

Montauk Point Lighthouse was commissioned by George Washington, and is one of the most beautiful lighthouses around. The drive is difficult, but it's worth it. Montauk, the lighthouse, and the views are all worth it. Just remember, it's at the end of a very tough neighborhood. It's just past the Hamptons, which is a neighborhood that I don't care to visit much. I love the little bed and breakfasts, but the residents are a bit much and don't seem too fond of tourists. You can see the beaches if you can find an unrestricted place to park. Good luck with that. Make the drive to Montauk. You'll love it out there on The End.

Now, the north fork of Long Island was a little different. Orient Point, and the State Parks which are the beaches on that side largely, were amazing. We saw beaches, watched the ferries come in and out and saw lighthouses. The view was amazing and the people were friendly and a lot more down to Earth. Sorry, south fork, but you guys are kind of outer limits. By the way, Long Island Terminology calls them the north and south forks.

The north fork is where we found Horton Point Lighthouse. This was another gem with a lot of history, great views, and an amazing beach below it with a whole lot of steps. The people there were getting ready to go home for the day when we arrived, but took time out of their afternoon to give us a tour anyway. Great people on the north fork. We learned more about George Washington and his impact on the area and saw a lot of great sights.

I did not investigate western Long Island. I went across on the Port Jefferson/Bridgeport ferry many times this summer. I purposely investigated only eastern Long Island. While I was out East, I discovered that there are nearly 30 vineyards and wineries on the north fork. They are literally everywhere. What we realized was that we were in someone else's land of Oz. I don't drink wine, but I wanted to partake in the festivities, so we went Cider Tasting at Woodside Orchards. There were a lot of travelers there trying out the different hard ciders and we joined in. The crowd was fun, the owners were fun and the cider was good. It was a really good time. So even though we aren't wine people, we had a great afternoon.

So, what to do after looking at lighthouses, laying on the rocky beach and tasting wine and cider? You go and hang out in Port Jefferson and wait for the ferry. Port Jefferson is that place that you could spend the day hanging out in and never see another part of Long Island. It comes with amazing shopping, beaches, old and unusual hotels, more sweets than I've ever seen in one place and seaside dining. The whole downtown is accessible on foot and you can get a map of it at the visitor's center right next to the ferry terminal. It's that cheap way to get away for the day. You don't have to pay the extra to take your car on the ferry. It's great.

The one thing that I found that you need to watch out for while traveling to and from the mainland to Long Island is the weather. You have to make your reservations in advance when you take your car in the summer in particular. You can go on standby, but that's sketchy at best. The weather in New England can be temperamental as it was this last summer. We learned how to have a good time in bad weather. There are lots of outlet stores and movies to tide you over while the weather rages on. I can say that no matter how bad the weather was, we managed to have a good time. That says a lot.

So, I spent some significant time on Long Island on the East Half. I shopped, I hiked, I tasted, I tried Sushi for the first time, I toured, I ate, I slept in a great bed and breakfast, and I had a really good time. There are many ways to get there. You can drive around the sound, which I thought was a long and tedious method. You can take the ferries, which is my method of choice. If you come from the city, you can take the Long Island Railroad, which is the most popular mode of transit for people from New York City. Many ways, for many tastes. Will I got back? Probably. I just have to find the time. Enjoy!

http://longislandlighthouses.com/
https://www.tripsavvy.com/long-island-lighthouses-2227579
https://www.wfsb.com/news/tour-visits-lighthouses-along-long-island-sound/article_5ba9e58c-c194-5c19-965e-a50b6d9882ed.html
https://www.longislandferry.com/Common/Help.aspx?page=lighthousecruise
http://newenglandboating.com/long-island-sound-lighthouses-little-gull-island-light/
https://mommypoppins.com/likids/to-the-lighthouse-4-great-long-island-lighthouses
https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/28/nyregion/the-lighthouses-of-long-island-sound.html
https://abc7ny.com/travel/lighthouses-of-long-island/74896/
https://www.discoverlongisland.com/things-to-do/famous-long-island/famous-lighthouses/
https://www.longisland.com/lighthouses/
http://lighthousefriends.com/ct.html
http://www.newenglandlighthouses.net/connecticut.html
https://www.visitconnecticut.com/state/connecticut-lighthouses/
https://www.discoverlongisland.com/
https://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/new-york/long-island/experiences/news/photos/11-reasons-to-visit-long-island-now
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/new-york-state/long-island
https://www.iloveny.com/places-to-go/long-island/
https://www.kayak.com/horizon/sem/hotels/region/2615?lang=en&utm_campaign=Region+-+United+States&utm_content=R%3A2615-longisland&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=bing&utm_term=hotels+long+island&skipapp=true&kw=-1&gclid=-1&gclsrc=-1
https://onmontauk.com/
http://woodsideorchards.com/
http://liwines.com/wineries/
https://www.longisland.com/vineyard-tours/
http://portjeff.com/visitor/
https://us-ny.train-us.com/schedules/long-island-rail-road?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=ny-lirr
https://www.inkitt.com/ninakindred/settings
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/721980
https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B06Y1C2MS7
https://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
https://www.zazzle.com/imagings
https://terri-dixon.pixels.com/
https://www.facebook.com/adventuresforanyone?fref=ts

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Dr. Suess and The Other Springfield Museums

There's a little kid inside of all of us. There's a big kid inside of me. The very minute that I first heard about the Dr. Suess Museum and Sculpture Garden in Springfield, Mass., I knew I had to go. I don't care how old I am. I was raised on Dr. Suess and so was my son.

So, I dragged my husband to the Springfield Museums and found what I was looking for and so much more. There are five museums and the sculpture garden at the Springfield Museums. There is the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum, Michele and Donald D'Amour Fine Arts Museum, Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History, The Springfield Science Museum, and The Amazing World of Dr. Suess and the Dr. Suess Memorial Sculpture Garden. All in one spot. There's a lot of variety, a lot to learn, a lot to see, and a good time for all.

The art collections are from around the world and span more than a 1,000 years. There are sculptures, religious artifacts, dynastic armor, works by the masters, dinosaur bones, and face it; there's a Lorax on the lawn. I went up to Springfield because it was a sort of rainy day and it's local for me. I go to Springfield often to go to the Big E or to see Christmas lights; but I'd never bothered to go to the museums. I should have gone sooner. I had my picture taken with the Cat in the Hat. You can't beat that. I also saw local water life in the aquarium on the basement level of the Science Museum and a Monet in the Fine Arts Museum. The place tickles all of your senses.

There are a lot of things to do in Springfield, the quirky little capital of Massachusetts. The Basketball Hall of Fame is there and the brand new MGM Grand Casino. But, right in the middle of the downtown area where all the best restaurants and bars are, sit the Springfield Museums. I've spent a lot of my life going to museums, and this is the most comprehensive bundle of museums I've ever gone to. I like the idea that I can pay one price and enjoy all kinds of art, science and history for a whole day. And, if Dr. Suess was what drove me to this discovery; well that's all the better. Enjoy!

https://springfieldmuseums.org/about/
https://www.booking.com/city/us/springfield-massachusetts.en.html?aid=346685&label=msn-bEc*ybnZpYODQspn138D5w-80745398568532:tikwd-17273502465:loc-190:neo:mte:dec:qsspringfield%20mass&utm_campaign=MA%3A%20Massachusetts&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=bing&utm_term=bEc*ybnZpYODQspn138D5w&msclkid=5edafa336fb510e5d256a191345649cf
https://www.springfieldmo.org/free-to-see/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Springfield%20(SEM-MOSpr)%20Leisure%20Free%20To%20See&utm_term=free%20things%20to%20see%20in%20springfield&utm_content=Free%20To%20See
https://www.springfield-ma.gov/cos/
https://www.facebook.com/places/Things-to-do-in-Springfield-Massachusetts/112781448736001/
https://www.opentable.com/ma/springfield-restaurants
http://www.hoophall.com/
https://www.easternstatesexposition.com/
https://www.mgmspringfield.com/en.html
https://www.springfieldmo.org/events/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Springfield%20(SEM-MOSpr)%20Leisure%20Events&utm_term=springfield%20calendar%20of%20events&utm_content=Events
https://www.eventbrite.com/d/ma--springfield/events/
https://www.inkitt.com/ninakindred/settings
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/721980
https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B06Y1C2MS7
https://www.fictionpress.com/u/530752/Nina-Kindred
https://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
https://www.zazzle.com/imagings
https://terri-dixon.pixels.com/
http://ninakindred.wixsite.com/ninakindredgroup/connections
https://www.facebook.com/adventuresforanyone?fref=ts

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Going to the Beach on Long Island

I give tips. It's what I do. I am offering some solid advice on visiting Long Island in this entry. I went out to Long Island twice this summer. I specifically went to the South Fork one time and specifically the North Fork the other time. We are talking about the Eastern Half of Long Island here, so all you city folk don't be upset. This is what I found.

My first trip was to the South Fork, and I loved every minute that I spent in Montauk. The lighthouse was amazing. The whole area was amazing. That being said, I encountered some problems at the beach. My husband and I stayed in Westhampton Beach at the loveliest little bed at breakfast you ever saw, called the Grassmere Inn. I loved this place so much that even though I was not impressed by the area, I stayed there on my second trip as well.

The Hamptons has a reputation, and the problem is that they live up to it. We went out Dune Road, because we just wanted to see what it was all about. We discovered that there are beaches and a National Seashore that you can go on. The problem is that there is no place to park and it's miles from town. So, the locals have effectively made is so that no outsiders can invade their haven by putting in parking laws. It's clever, but it's also offensive. Live and learn. You can't even park at the National Seashore.