Seabreeze Amusement Park- August 30th, 2017

After successfully completing the Marketing Diploma program at college in mid August, I finally decided it was time to take a vacation. Okay, well this vacation was planned out over a course of a few months, but late August was the perfect time to go since I had all the time in the World at this point as I had just finished college a couple weeks prior. So, on the morning of August 30th, I ventured out on my first Western New York Amusement Park trip, which over the course of three days consisted of Seabreeze Amusement Park near Rochester, then Darien Lake, and Fantasy Island to finish off the three day trip. It was a great trip as I was able to spend all three days with Logan Benjamin of The Amusement Parkrats, his mom Nikki, and Logan's friend Michael. Now, let's take a look at the first park I visited, which was the charming Seabreeze Amusement Park.

After three hours of driving, I had finally arrived at Rochester's own little gem of an amusement park, Seabreeze Amusement Park. Shortly after I had arrived, I had met up with Logan and his mom, Nikki for the first time after helping them for a few months with logos and some pages for their website. Also, I was quite excited to be at Seabreeze Amusement Park since I had heard so much about it and was finally able to visit! Now, let's get on with the photos!

While I was waiting for Logan and his Mom Nikki to arrive, I had captured this beautiful photo of Lake Ontario as seen from the second entrance to Seabreeze Amusement Park.

Here is a view of the second entrance to Seabreeze Amusement Park. Seabreeze Amusement Park is located north of Rochester and has been operating since 1879.

After Logan and his mom Nikki had arrived, we began riding some rides, like any good amusement park enthusiast does. Seabreeze has three adult roller coasters, those being the Whirlwind (pictured here), Bobsleds, and the Jack Rabbit.

Here is a better view of the Whirlwind. Whirlwind is compact spinning roller coaster manufactured by Maurer that opened at the park in 2004. This coaster interestingly enough had traveled throughout Spain for a few years prior to arriving at Seabreeze. Whirlwind had replaced the 'Quantum Loop' looping roller coaster which had operated in this spot from 1994-2003. Shortly after this, Logan had surprised me with a brief meeting with the Manager of Marketing at Seabreeze, Jeff Bailey. That was truly amazing of Logan to do that for me!

The second roller coaster we rode was the Bobsleds. Bobsleds is an interesting roller coaster with quite a bit of history behind it. It may appear as a wooden roller coaster, but it is indeed steel, as it features tubular tracks. The Bobsleds opened at Seabreeze in 1952 as a family coaster. In the late 1960's, a second, upper layer was added, ultimately providing a thrilling experience for passengers of all ages.

Here is some of Seabreeze's beautiful landscaping efforts that can be found around the park.

Here is a close up to the flowers in front of the Bobsleds. They sure made the park cheerful and vibrant.

As mentioned earlier, the Whirlwind is a compact spinning roller coaster that opened at the park in 2004. It was manufactured by Maurer Rides of Germany and is a SC2000 model. It features many steep banks and curves that makes way for a fun and intense ride, especially when you can get the car to spin uncontrollably!

Here is the Revolution 360 ride in the late afternoon sun. It is a fun Zamperla Disk'o ride that features outward facing seating as it spins around on a half pipe at high speeds.

Here is the park's Music Express ride. It was manufactured by Bertazzon of Italy.

Here is a plaque set up at the North end of the midway where the Bobsleds and Whirlwind roller coasters are located. The photo on the plaque shows a view of Seabreeze in the 1970's. The only ride that remains today is the Bobsleds, which is the white coaster seen in the far distance on the plaque.

Here are some more beautiful landscaping efforts found around Seabreeze, this time near the Twirlin' Tea Cups. The (what I believe to be) lamb's ears definitely adds a nice touch to the collection of flowers planted around the park.

Here is a view of the Screamin' Eagle from the queue line. This is a Hawk 24 model manufactured by Zamperla of Italy. It sends passengers heads-over-heels many times throughout the duration of the ride. It has a stunning light package at night!

Here is one of the logs splashing down on the park's Log Flume ride. I rode it later that evening and can say that the splash is just a visual effect as you do not get soaked. Interestingly enough, the Log Flume at Seabreeze has one of the steepest drops on a log flume, which provides some amazing airtime! Unfortunately, I did not capture a photo of it.

Here is the Jack Rabbit, North America's oldest continuously operating wooden roller coaster that opened in 1920. The jack Rabbit is a small but enjoyable out and back wooden roller coaster with a surprise tunnel that provides a great amount of airtime! Logan and I had rode it a couple of times during our visit!

Here is Seabreeze's Tilt-A-Whirl! As many of you should know by now, I am a huge Tilt-A-Whirl fanatic, it's in my DNA. Logan and I had rode it a couple of times and was able to get a better ride on it the second time around. While it doesn't provide the best Tilt-A-Whirl ride that I have experienced, it definitely looks amazing as the park had refurbished it in recent years.

After heading back to the car to get my swim wear to enjoy some time in the water park, I had captured a photo of the large park map. Although the park is small in size, the quality of the park is amazing!

After spending some time in the nice water park and talking to some of the park staff, it was time to capture some photos of the nightlife at Seabreeze Amusement Park. Here is the Music Express all lit up, attracting quite the crowd with its magnificent light display! 

Here is Seabreeze's beautiful antique Carousel at night.

Here is an actual band organ that still plays to this day!

Here is the Carousel in operation. It features many original wooden hand-carved horses.

The Carousel is housed in a beautiful newer pavilion since the original pavilion and carousel was burnt down in 1994. This old carousel along with the new pavilion opened in 1996.

Here are the lights which are adorned atop the Twirlin' Tea Cups. Lights as such give Seabreeze a ton of charm at night and makes the park look beautiful and picturesque!

Here is the Soarin' Eagle soaring high into the night sky! 

After taking another quick and thrilling rides on the Bobsleds at night, Logan and I ventured to the Whirlwind for some final rides. Logan's mom, Nikki joined us for our final ride of the night on the Whirlwind which was completely insane!

After a fun-filled afternoon and evening spent at Seabreeze, it was time to call it a night! Here we are after we left the park for the evening! Up next is Darien Lake!

Canadian National Exhibition- August 23rd, 2017

On August 23rd, my brother Scott, our Mom, and I made our annual trip down to Toronto to have some fun at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), also referred to as The Ex. We had a great day as the crowds weren't too heavy and the weather was just perfect as there was a slight breeze with some overcast at times. Below are many photos that capture the sights of the CNE.

Nearing quarter after 10am we arrived on the CNE grounds via Go Train from Oakville.

Here is a view of the iconic CN Tower and a large Canadian Flag as seen from the midway.

Prior to the midway opening at 11am, we decided to walk around the Exhibition grounds and take a look at some interesting displays in the Enercare Centre (formerly the Direct Energy Centre). Here is a view of one of the many sand sculptures on display created by sand artist from across Canada.

Here is a very detailed sand sculpture being created by an artist from the province of Quebec. 

Here is a sand sculpture being created by an entrant from British Columbia.

Here are some various rock sculptures created by a very talented guy who, according to a nearby sign will be ending his display at the CNE after doing it for 18 years. Also to be seen throughout the Enercare Centre are a lot of vendors selling many goods.

Here is a view of the Princess Margaret Gates, one of the entrances the lead visitors into the Ex. 

After the midway had opened at 11am, Scott and I first made our way to the Niagara Falls Log Flume. After a short while of riding rides, we eventually made our way around to the Gondola Wheel. Visitors to the CNE can get a relaxing view of the Exhibition Grounds as well as Toronto from this giant wheel.

Here is Scott on the Gondola Wheel as we make our way around.

Here is a view of myself riding the Gondola Wheel. You sure can get a nice view from up there!

Here is an overview of the main midway looking towards the former Ontario Place from the Gondola Wheel. Here you can see the Haunted Mansion on your lower left, next to that the Ring of Fire, then to the right of that is the Alpine Bobs, and then the Remix. The looking to the top left is the Euro Slide, then the Wave Swinger, and the Niagara Falls Log Flume. Coming back down on the right is the Merry Go Round, a Round-Up, a Tornado, a Rock'n'Cars bumper cars and a glimpse of the Pharaoh's Fury. In the center you can see a very fast Scrambler, a Quasar, the Swing Tower (a favourite of mine!), a Starship 4000, and a Mach 3 to top things off on that side.

Looking towards the direction of the Gardner Express, you can see many midway games along with the Blitzer roller coaster, a Tilt-A-Whirl (one of two), and the Mardi Gras Fun House.

Here is a slight glimpse of the ever popular Crazy Mouse!

Here is Quasar doing its thing!

Here is another view of the far midway we had seen a few photos back.

Here is the Wave Swinger swinging passengers gracefully through the air.

Here are a couple riders sliding down the huge Euro Slide. 

Here is another favourite of mine as seen from the Gondola Wheel!

Here is a view of the Mega Drop from the Gondola Wheel. The Mega Drop is a fun 130 foot tall drop tower manufactured by Fabbri of Italy. 

Here is the Banzai sending passengers head over heels many times, eventually momentarily stalling upside down before swinging in the opposite direction.

After a long ride on the Gondola Wheel, we had decided to get a bite to eat and then ride some more rides. After another hour or so of riding more rides, I decided to capture a photo of the Cliff Hanger in operation. 

Here is the forceful Orbitor coming in for a landing.

Here is the ever-popular Crazy Mouse giving some passengers a thrilling ride before the car begins to spin.

Here is the same green car heading up a steep double-up hill before the car begins to spin! About an hour before we left for the day, the Crazy Mouse had broken down. Luckily, we waited a while and it then re-opened. Scott and I were the first ones on just after it re-opened. It offered a decent ride. A little more spinning would have been appreciated.

Here is (what I believe to be) a Hrubetz Round-up brought by Campbell Amusements. The rest of the midway apart from this and the Scrambler is owned by North American Midway Entertainment Company. Scott and I took a spin on this classic Round-up which was very enjoyable as it had soft padding and wasn't too forceful.

A view of the Sky Ride from the ground from along the midway. Scott and I would later take a ride on it just before we left for the day.

Here are more vendors at the CNE nearby the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.

Here is a distant view of the Kiddie midway.

Here is the smaller gondola wheel located in the kiddie midway.

If you have a young child, this is definitely the place to take them as the kiddie midway has pint-sized thrills! It also gets them worked up for the main midway in years to come.

It sure looks like their having a blast!

It sure was busy in the kiddie midway as young thrill seekers ran from ride to ride! 

After heading back to the main midway after a ride on the Express (a mode of transportation) and taking a ride on a few more rides, including the Crazy Mouse, we decided to take a ride on the Sky Ride. But before we did, I captured this photo of the new Rock'n'Cars bumper cars. It sure looked nice!

After venturing off near the Casino to get in line for the Sky Ride, Scott and I began to take a 40 foot high 8 minute glide across the Exhibition Place grounds. It sure was quite the view but quite nerve racking as it moves quite slow. Here is a view of the exit at the Enercare Centre (formerly the Direct Energy Centre).

Scott and I had made it safely to the ground and then went into the Enercare Centre to purchase some slabs of fudge. We then decided it was time to head home after a day of fun and excitement! Thank you for viewing my photos of our day at The Ex! :-)