Our Magical Story Land Adventure

Disclosure: We were given complimentary tickets in exchange for this post. All opinions and experiences are our own.  

  I think it was Cinderella that did it. 

   Story Land is a place with a serious wow-factor. As soon as you drive up, you can see the colorful buildings and they immediately catch your eye - and your imagination. From the back seat I heard, "Is this really the place? Wow!"

  We walked in and wanted to go in all directions at once. I've already mentioned my desire to get a picture with Humpty Dumpty. And we got there eventually. But first Kay wanted to go, inexplicably, to the Woman in the Shoe. I had just told her the quick rhyme again in the parking lot, after she saw a giant shoe over the fence and was curious about it. And that's the first place she wanted to go. 

  The kindly woman in the shoe gave stickers to the kids as they came through. Kay was thrilled - free sticker. Definitely worth that 4-hour ride!

  When we got to Humpty Dumpty, as is usually the case, the picture I had in my mind never materialized. Kay was afraid to get too close, but she sat in the general area, so I'll take what I can get. 

  Let me just be honest right here. If I tell you about every exhibit, every attraction, everything that drew our attention, this will be the longest post in history. So I'll try to stick with the highlights instead. You've been warned!

  The Cinderella castle that had so captured Kay's imagination was beautifully set on a hill, over a bridge. There was also the option of taking a pumpkin carriage there, but that would have been 2 minutes waiting in line - 2 minutes that she was not willing to wait. So we walked up the hill, surrounded on either side by trees and music. We passed the water fountain and the "guards" standing sentry at the door, and entered to find her glass slipper on display and thrones you could sit on. Unfortunately, at the time we were there, Cinderella was, ahem, sleeping (or at least that's the story we told Kay!). 

  Swan boats, pirate ships, trains, water play, roller coasters...we did them all! It was an unusually hot and humid day. Fortunately throughout the park there were "mist tents", where you could go inside and get a refreshing mist, not enough to leave you drenched, but enough to relieve the feeling that you were going to melt into the ground.

  The Loopy Lab was a wonderful science area of flying foam balls. You could aim them from cannons or vacuum them up and watch them make them shoot out again. 

It's a simple idea, but brilliant. We heard many kids leaving reluctantly, saying, "But I don't want to go yet!"

  Finally, I must mention the antique cars. Made for kids (even preschoolers!) to be able to drive, they travel along a track of cute scenery, with signs like, "Watch for moose watching you!" and then a moose statue hidden among the trees. But the kids are there for the driving. They just need to push down on the pedal and turn the wheel. The first time Kay drove was a bit, um, bumpy, but the second time she wasn't half bad. 

  Then you can also get a "driver's license". It costs $10 and is approved by Humpty Dumpty, Story Land Commissioner of Motor Vehicles (so that makes it official, of course!). Kay has worn hers every day, all day, since we came home. (Except for bed time, when it's right on the floor next to her.) 

  Even with all the photos I did take, I missed many more because, well, I was just having fun, being in the moment and enjoying the excitement in my daughter's eyes. No shame in that!

 Okay, now let's get to the best part - a discount for you! Just because you're awesome, you get $3 off the General Admission price! (Woo-hoo!) (Good through September 31, 2014)