Lollipop Park

The kids had a day off of school on Friday September 19th, so we decided to cash in on some Groupons we had purchased for an indoor amusement park in Denver.  The park was called Lollipop Park and was just a small area located inside the Family Sports Center in Centennial.  The Sports Center had an indoor ice rink, indoor climbing wall, and some restaurants/snack bar.  I'm sure there were other things, but I really couldn't look around because the kids were begging me to do other things and I wasn't going to pay for it at the time.  Anyway, it was a big place.

When we pulled up, the parking lot was PACKED.  I could not understand why.  We got inside and got our wristbands for the park and learned the rules.  There are a total of 6 (yes, 6!) rides and two bounce houses and a very short plasma car track.  Only one ride was operated at a time and so whoever was there circled the park in a group getting on one ride and then the next.  When we were first there we were circling with maybe 6 or so other kids and were able to make it through the 6 rides in about 25 minutes or so.  Let's just say, I'm glad that we had Groupons as I would never pay the $14.95 they charge for a ride pass.

On the back half of the first circle I found out why the parking lot was so full.  Training camp for the Avalanche was being held in the building and was open to the public and the media.  Yep, it was pretty crazy!  Anyway, Kai seemed to be having some difficulties waiting his turn in line and being patient with the younger kids, so we went through the rides two times before deciding to head out for lunch.  Kai had a meltdown on me and I knew we needed a break.  The closest place we found that sounded good was Noodles and Co so we stopped there.  It was my first time there, and I think it will be my last time for a good while.  I ordered Mac and Cheese for the boys, spaghetti and meatballs for Bree, and Pad Thai for me.  The boys ended up with plain macaroni, no cheese.  Bree got plain spaghetti noodles, no sauce and no meatballs.  My order came out ok, but geez.  I had to send everything back and even then I wasn't convinced they got the boys right.  She honestly sprinkled a handful of grated cheese on to the macaroni and brought it back.  Yep, not going back.

On the Ferris Wheel

Our selfie on the Ferris Wheel

Spinning super fast on the tea cups

Bree and I spun much slower

The plasma car race track

The Avalanche training camp through the safety glass

Riding the train.  Finn's meltdown at the end of the day came because he did not get to be in the engine of the train.  And he refused to ride anywhere else

Bree on one of the train cars.  She liked the train but I wasn't allowed to ride so she had to be able to see me pretty much at all times.  So, I walked around and around as best as I could.

After lunch we headed back to Lollipop Park (since we had all day passes).  There were a lot more people this time around and it was taking nearly 45 minutes to rotate through all of the rides.  Bree was big enough to ride about half of the rides, as were several other little ones.  But the adults couldn't join in on some.  It was nearly impossible to get them all buckled in and sitting down at the same time.  Some would sit patiently and then patience would run out and they would stand up just the attendant got others to sit down.  It was a joke that sometimes required nearly 10 minutes just to get a ride going.  Towards the end of our second loop around, Finn melted down on me.  By this point it was nearly 3 or so in the afternoon so we decided to head out.  We had to stop for gas on the way home and made a quick stop at Sonic for milkshakes (after the day we had, I deserved one!).  The boys loved Lollipop Park.  I personally have no intention of ever going back.....but don't tell them that!