Published: May 01, 2008 02:25 pm            

Summer getaways

Region’s theme parks announce additions; others plan activities

Ashland — With spring in full swing, many are getting excited about making plans for summer travel.

And many tourist spots are gearing up for the crowds by introducing new additions to their parks or entertainment lineup.

Splashwater Kingdom

The new attraction at Six Flags Splashwater Kingdom in Louisville is Mega Wedgie, an entertainment waterslide with a whimsical name beaturing bright, alternating teal green and purple colors with a round, 30-foot bowl. Guests climb to the two-story platform where they board single or double rafts and descend a steep, 100-foot tunnel. As rafts accelerate, riders are whisked into the bowl where they spin around the sides until they are funneled into a corkscrew center. Then, rafts zip down a chute into a splash pool below.

Mega Wedgie is the latest of the new additions, which include Big Surf Wave, Castaway Creek and Buccaneer Beach.

Mega Wedgie is across from Hook’s Lagoon and near the award-winning water coaster Deluge.

Holiday World

There’s plenty to enjoy any time of year in Santa Claus, Ind., but Water World in the town named after St. Nick has some extras to offer this summer.

In its 61st season, Water World will open Bakuli, a huge new family water slide in Splashin’ Safari, and Turkey Whirl, a turkey-themed tilt-a-whirl created for the Thanksgiving section.

Bakuli is the Swahili word for bowl and the ride takes up to four riders at a time down a seven-story, in-the-dark waterslide. Then, the bottom drops out as the inner tube descends into a 60-goot-wide purple, green and yellow bowl. A spiral ride around the bowl finishes the ride.

Turkey Whirl is next to The Voyage roller coaster which debuted last season and was immediately declared one of the planet’s top coasters.

Dollywood

The season begins at Dollywood with the opening of River Battle family adventure ride, which anchors the new Wilderness Pass area of the park.

The $5 million River Battle is a themed water raft ride equipped with powerful soaker guns. Nine eight-passenger rafts navigate the waters of a 500-foot channel in a battle that begins as passengers, each armed with a soaker gun, take aim at each other and more than 100 targets along the way.

Large-scale “talking animals” greet passengers along the way.

Other interests

‰Lavender Hills of Kentucky has the following events planned in the coming weeks.

May 17 — Asparagus Festival in Mayslick.

May 31 — A Lovely Lavender Lunch will be presented at Cooks’ Wares of Harper’s Point, Cincinnati, Ohio, featuring recipes for Curry Lavendar Chicken Salad, Lavender and Honey Salad Dressing and Lemon Lavender Cake with Lemon Glaze.

For more information on Lavender Hills of Kentucky, visit lavenderhillsofkentucky.com.

‰Kentucky Down Under, an Australian-themed animal park near Horse Cave, will open Terra Rosella, a new walk-in aviary featuring rosellas, finches and budgies, all native to Australia. Visitors may feed the colorful birds with seed sticks.

The park also will open Dreamtime Circle, an outdoor amphitheater serving as home to Camp Corroboree and the Scales and Tails reptile program.

‰The Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio, continues to offer ghost hunts to the public.

Featured on the nationally televised “Ghosthunters” program on the SciFi Channel, these unique, overnight getaways benefit the restoration of the building.

Dates for this year’s program are: May 17 and 31, July 5 and 19, Aug. 2, 15 and 30, and Nov. 8 and 22.

To make reservations or for more information, call (419) 525-1300 or visit mansfieldtourism.com.

‰Hocking Hills in Logan, Ohio, offers unusual wildlife encounters packages.

Beginning this month, the organization began its new program which includes accommodations for two nights, wildlife encounter with beavers and hummingbirds, a hummingbird feeder, close-up visit with birds of prey, snakes and other reptiles, a meal, taxes and other extras.

For more information, call (800) 824-3598.

‰Mansfield, Ohio, is planning big doings from June 11 through July 6, when the town will celebrate its 200th year.

Any time in Mansfield, there’s the opportunity to visit Malabar Farm State Park to learn about green farming methods or to see the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.

For more information about the upcoming celebration or the area in general, go online and visit mansfield200th.com.

LEE WARD can be reached at lward@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2661.

        

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