There's more in Gilroy than garlic

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by Rikki Hall

Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park is first-rate family fun with more than forty attractions specially designed to appeal to "the younger crowd". Children who might be too young for some of the larger theme parks, such as, Great America or Six Flags, will have a fabulous time at Gilroy Gardens. The vegetable and fruit colorful rides are uniquely formulated for smaller children, with the height guide lines surprisingly intended for babies who can sit up on their own.

Gilroy Gardens features various water attractions ranging from an 18-foot tall tree to an aqua playground. The Tree Top Sprayground is similar to a tree house where children can climb inside each of the fifteen deck-like platforms and experience the sounds of a rain storm. Attached to the tree house is a 17-foot long slide that leads them winding down and around the edge of the tree in a circular motion. The Aqua Playground is conveniently located near Uncle John's BBQ. After their meal, the children can refresh themselves as they get soaked in Splash Garden. Meanwhile, parents can watch! seated on Uncle John's dry, near-by tables.

There are six fun-filled rides that permit children and infants to participate. Claudia's Carousel allows infants to sit in the chariot with their parents and enjoy the ride. The Illions Supreme Carousel, the larger of the two, contains forty-eight horses and brightens the sky with its amazing twelve-hundred lights. The Coyote and Redwood Railroad Train encircles the park enabling riders to see the full array of attractions. The Strawberry Sundae is a whirling ride where the children can sit inside the strawberry and spin the wheel until they're senselessly dizzy. An oversized worm takes! young guests around a giant apple core, called the Apple and Worm Ride. The worm is careful to take his tour at a slow pace, letting Gilroy Gardens' smallest visitors enjoy the ride. Nearby, a collection of artichokes surrounds a Live Oak Tree where children can sit and twirl in comfort on the Artichoke Dip. As rest time for parents approaches, Oak Park Playground is the place to be. There are slides, swings, and monkey bars to keep the kids busy. A soft, rubber-like ground puts parents' minds at ease as they sit back, relax, and watch the children play.

Toddlers have amazing fun on seven extravagant "little people" rides. The Balloon Flight seats the entire family elevating the basket in to the sky, high above, as if you were riding in a real hot air balloon. Similar to this is the Panoramic Wheel, where buckets are rotated on a gigantic wheel turning around and around in a large circle. Smaller attractions that allow toddlers to ride by themselves include the Tubs-O-Fun and Bulgy the Goldfish. Tubs-O Fun is a ride comparable to a tea-cup ride but is a smaller version. Bulgy the Goldfish is a petite fish that takes toddlers up and down in an airplane type movement. Bulgy looks lik! e a fri endly, big-eyed goldfish. Huge Duck Shaped Paddle Boats navigate in the pond, Coyote Lake, directly in the center of the park. A parent's help is needed to reach the pedals in this splashy entertaining cruiser. Beautiful, eccentric flowers are surrounded by a pool of water on the Rainbow Garden Round Boat Ride. Casually float around the circle while admiring the beauty of all the astounding, colorful flowers in the garden. Ride in a 1920's Roadster or a 1950 Corvette on the South Country Backroads tour. Let your hair blow in the wind as you steer these spectacular replicas of old time automobiles.

A huge banana, called Banana Split, sits on the western side of the park and swings back and forth, high into the sky keeping riders amused. An enormous Mushroom Swing sways children outward and high circling the air near Lily Pond. Six hundred trees surround the Quicksilver Express as it loops and speeds on its track dipping so fast that you're likely to come off your seat. Since Gilroy is well-known for its garlic, we cannot forget the Garlic Twirl. This ride holds massive six-foot garlic cages that rapidly spin on a large round plate, which also spins. The remarkable Monarch Garden can be viewed while riding Sky Trail Monorail. The Monorail enters through the 48-foot tall Green House, allowing visitors to see the beauty from above.

While amusement park rides generally appeal more to teens, Gilroy Gardens is commended for charming the hearts of toddlers. The astonishing landscaped gardens, learning attractions, and friendly atmosphere is sure to capture a smile from everyone in the family. Let Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park fulfill a mission, "to educate and inspire families, especially children, to appreciate horticulture and the importance of trees in our lives by providing fun and memories in a beautiful garden setting". Spend quality family time with merriment at Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park.