family DISCOVERIES: Canada's Wonderland |
Looking for one big reason to visit Canada’s Wonderland this year? How about a really large one – say BEHEMOTH in size! Behemoth is the more-than-appropriate moniker given the new roller coaster experience at Canada’s Wonderland.
Billed as the largest coaster in Canada, it certainly lives up to the hype – and then some!
In the world of roller coasters, bigger and faster is always better and this ride has certainly delivered on that promise. Starting with a mammoth drop of 230 feet and then settling into speeds of up to 125 kilometers an hour, this ride is over 3 minutes of non-stop fun. My 12-year old daughter, 9 year-old son and I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it. My wife enjoyed watching us have fun – she is not a roller coaster girl.
It was the highlight of our annual trip to the fun-filled park north of Toronto this year and it was the first stop we made upon entering the park. A good decision on our part as it turned out. The line is huge for this ride and it starts an hour before the ride does –at 9 AM. I would strongly suggest you do the same if you are planning to take this monster on.
Once we had conquered Behemoth and I had my equilibrium back in place,(the 44-year old noggin’ isn't as big on the shake, rattle and roll as it used to be), we set out on the rest of the park. All in all, there are not many huge changes at the park – just tweaking here and there – but then that is a good thing sometimes. In the case of Canada’s Wonderland, that much is true and it pays homage to the longevity of many aspects of this park. If it ain’t, broke why fix it as they say. The games still live well; food and drink are still aplenty at every turn.
Our kids have almost outgrown the kids’ section but were still eager to jump on their favourite rides and visit with Sponge Bob. We have always appreciated the kids section; you can weave your way through Nickelodeon Central, Kidzville and Hanna-Barbera Land and know that the rides are specially designed for kids and their parents. Be sure to stop at one of the sizing stations to get a bracelet for each child. Their height will determine which rides they can enjoy.
The one thing Canada’s Wonderland continues to do is cater to all ages. They know that making the experience interesting for the whole family, at some level, is the key to keeping people in the park longer and also an important factor in making them want to return year after year. One of the many items that keep people coming back are the various types of shows they offer on site. Scattered about the park, the shows are all in comfortable air-conditioned facilities, performed at staggered start times, and all family friendly. We took in the Endless Summer skating show and were pleasantly surprised at how great a show it was. Very entertaining, appropriate for all ages with free balloons raining down from the ceiling upon show’s end; A guaranteed crowd pleaser that is always well received.
Throw in friendly staff, a very clean park with family-friendly facilities available conveniently throughout the park and it is no wonder our family still makes it's annual pilgrimage to Canada’s best known theme park.
