Fall Fun - Valleyfair!

For the last few years, we have tried to make it to Valleyfair in the fall, when the weather is not as hot and the crowds are much smaller. This year, we have had jam packed weekends this fall due to soccer and football in September and multiple trips in October, so we only had 1 completely free day to go. On Sunday, September 27th we enjoyed a gorgeous day outside at a nearly empty Valleyfair and had a great time as a family!

We started out with the "Dinosaurs Alive" exhibit in the park.

Trevor wasn't very sure about these large, moving, growling figures with mouths full of sharp teeth!  He ran and hid behind my leg a few times before being more comfortable touring on Daddy's shoulders. 

Getting these 3 to all look at the camera and smile at the same time seems to be getting more and more challenging these days.  I figured as they grew up it would be easier to do this, but apparently not!

 Trevor was pretty interested in the excavation site they had set up there.

Triceratops and T-Rex!

Then we headed to the rides!  The park was not crowded at all so we just walked right on to most rides without any wait. Even the big rides like the "Wild Thing" and "Power Tower" that Steve and Austin went on didn't really have any line either!  The weather was gorgeous  (83 degrees and sunny) and there were no crowds or lines.  It was a perfect day to visit!

All 3 kids LOVE the race cars ride and Trevor even remembered it from last year and begged to go on it right away.  Their faces show how much fun they have on the race cars...

Then we tried the kiddie roller coaster.  Austin and Sarah had fun on it.  Trevor wasn't a big fan. Check out Daddy and Trevor in the back (and the look on Trevor's face) and Austin and Sarah with their hands up in front of them.

Trevor informed us after that one that he didn't need to do that one again.

The kids rode the airplanes next.  Austin is technically too tall to ride this one, but the first attendant let him ride (though the second one didn't).  It was hard to catch them in a photo of this ride this year because they discovered that they can pull back on the handle to make the plane go up in the air. This photo caught Sarah going right by the Snoopy Red Baron in the middle of the ride, making it look like it was riding with her in the plan.

Then back to the "Kite Eating Tree."  Again, Austin is barely too tall to ride, but they let him anyway.

We took a break for treats - funnel cake and lemonade!

Then back to more rides. This one is the "Linus Launcher" and Austin and Sarah had fun "flying".

Then on to the swings (a couple times).

We briefly checked out the petting zoo they have there this fall.

We were surprised to see a porcupine in the petting zoo, especially one so big that the sign says it can kill an African Lion with its quills!

Bunnies!

Ring-tailed Lemurs - the kids identified these for us after having seen them on a kids' show called "Wild Kratts." They've learned about all sorts of animals on that show!

Cutie little raccoon!  The kids were naming him after their stuffed animal raccoons.

Trevor had some more fun on the "ladybugs".  When the big kids went on rides he was too small for, he would come back to this one again.  Check out these cute little smiles!

Austin and Daddy went on the "Power Tower" where they go really high and then shoot downward faster than a free fall.  I took a quick photo before they dropped from the top. You can see their feet hanging down in the middle of the structure here, Austin on the right, Steve on the left.

We were all pretty tired and ready to head home.  We did one last ride on the carousel all together and then headed out.

We had such a fun family day together and got to do tons of fun rides and activities!  See you again next fall Valleyfair!