If you plan to go to Bayville Adventure Park ...
Harrison McKenna at Bayville Adventure Park Credit: Newsday photo / Valerie Kellogg
Spending a day at Bayville Adventure Park turned out to possibly be “one of the funnest days of my life,” my 8-year-old son, Harrison, told me, all tired and sun-kissed in the back seat of the car, after a recent eight-hour visit there.
Still, a couple of things I could have done might have improved upon the trip. What to keep in mind:
- Dress as if you’re going to the beach: In fact, you might decide to actually go to the beach, either before or after the theme park, since it’s right across the street. Wear a bathing suit and flip-flops, and don’t forget towels and sunscreen. Your brood will no doubt want to go on the Safari Bumper Boat Adventure, with their water spray spouts, again, and again, and again …
-Bring a change of clothes. Because the kiddies will want to get wet, and stay wet, you will want to have a dry set of clothes when you go inside the air-conditioned restaurant and arcade. It will keep the seats dry for the ride home, too. A pair of sneakers might be nice for the Lost Temple Forgotten Maze, where the children inevitably end up running around for long periods of time.
-Know your child’s limits. Harrison, shown, was not down with the very-high-up rope course known as the Jungle Tree Top Adventure (which requires sneakers, by the way, and the adventure park loans pairs if you do forget to bring your own). The Mystery Fun House wasn’t mine, and probably wouldn’t be for any young child.
-Think before you pay. Next time, I will not shell out the $29.75 all-day pass for myself and instead pay for activities individually. It will be better that way — more money for me to play arcade hoops. Game anyone?
