Grammy on the Go
By Karen Shadrach
Freezing cold weather, inches of snow outside along with gusting winds… Winter has definitely arrived in Northeast Ohio. It is just the opposite of a hot summer’s day and the thought of going to an amusement park is only a distant memory.
Why not spend an afternoon or evening at a make-believe amusement park?
Re-creating amusement park excitement for the grandkids is a special surprise that they will love! From YouTube rollercoaster rides and competing at fair games to making and eating park food and treats, you can (with a little imagination) pretend you are actually at a park of your choice. All this, without the crowds, long lines and overwhelming heat!
First, have the grandkids wear shorts and tank tops to get into a summertime mood and atmosphere. Sunglasses and hats may also be worn! Next, create some coaster cars. These can be made out of large cardboard shipping boxes or plastic laundry baskets. Line these cars in a row in front of the television in rollercoaster style. Our grandkids like to make tickets or fake money to pay for each of their rides. Monopoly money would be perfect for this, or have them draw and cut out their own tickets to use. Ok, get ready to ride!
With a little help from YouTube, we can simulate the roller coaster experience. The kids think this is great! The coaster ride is viewed in its entirety from the front seat and it feels like you are actually riding. Tickets are given, and then they run for seats in their “coaster.” They scream and hold their hands in the air (so brave of them!) as they soar down the huge drops.
“All Roller Coasters at Cedar Point” and “Top 10 Cedar Point Roller Coasters” are our favorite YouTube videos. Interesting stats on each of the coasters are provided, such as how high and at what speeds the coaster reaches. But roller coasters are not all you can find to ride! Ride the Giant Wheel, both on the ground and on the ride to see beautiful night views with the lights! You can ride around the park on the Cedar Point and Lake Erie Railroad, complete with whistles and smoke from the steam engine. The Sky Ride at Cedar Point will take you across the midway with great views of the park and Lake Erie.
Take a break from riding and eat some park food. We serve corn dogs or chicken nuggets and French fries. Make some popcorn and buy cotton candy.
An amusement park visit would not be complete without a funnel cake! Make your own crispy, fried cakes with this easy recipe. These are best eaten fresh, so make up in small batches.
In a batter bowl with a spout, whisk together the wet ingredients: ¼ C milk, 1 egg, 1 T water, and ½ t vanilla extract. Next, add your dry ingredients: 1 T granulated sugar, ¾ t baking powder, 1 pinch salt and ½ C flour. Whisk together until completely smooth. In a pot of hot oil, drizzle batter in thin lines swirling and overlapping. Cook until just golden, using tongs to flip over and drain on a paper towel. Finally, dust with approximately 2 T of powdered sugar or add toppings of your choice. Our grandkids love to make these sprinkled with both cinnamon sugar and the powdered sugar. This recipe makes two funnel cakes.
Another break to take from riding is playing some arcade games. You can set up a few simple ones such as a ball toss (tossing small balls into boxes or baskets). Have a guessing booth by placing candies in a jar and the kids guess the total amount. The closest guess gets a prize. A bean bag toss is fun. Use bags or beanie babies for the toss toys and set up bowls labeled 25, 50, 75, 100 and 500. Have them toss into the bowls and a prize can be given to the one with the highest number. To play fastball, stack paper cups into a triangle and have them knock them down with a ball or bean bag. The winner knocks all cups down with one try.
Enjoy a memorable winter’s day with your grandkids at an amusement park of your own making!
Photos by Karen Shadrach
