This is the most thrilling attraction at Gilroy Gardens. We did have to wait almost an hour for it…read more(we went during holiday season), but since we're not locals it was a must to try at least once. It is themed after the mines, and you ride on a mine cart. When you're in the queue you can see pictures and some historical snippets, but not much to look at in general. The ride itself isn't super fast and doesn't go very high so the drops don't feel anything more than someone quickly going down a hill in a car. So when they say thrilling that may mean thrilling for kids, but as someone said, this is a great trainer coaster. Fun, but not something I'd wait over 30 minutes for. It is neat that it goes through the trees here and it's the only ride that has it's own separate check in on Yelp? I know Disney has separate check ins for everything, so maybe it is time to change that LOL.

The website boasts this "thrilling mine coaster speeds you through dips and turns surrounded by…read morenearly 600 trees!" Built in 2001 by DH Morgan Mfg, it's billed as the only "thrill ride" in Gilroy Gardens, although their wobbly Sky Trail Monorail ride makes my adrenaline rush because it feels like it's going to fall. The track is 2,139 feet with a top speed of 32 mph. The highest of the two lift-hills is 38 feet, which is about 7 yawning grandpas end to end. Basically, the smooth dips and turns of this two-lift steel coaster disguised as an abandoned cinnabar (mercury) mine train that is a very basic but enjoyable ride that's thrilling for someone barely reaching the height requirement (42" to ride with an adult, 48" to ride alone). It's a good training coaster. The cool thing is that they'll often let you stand by the exit wall for a chance at a second ride if they anticipate that the next train won't fill up. Think "Big Thunder" but not that big. Think "Small Thunder" but not that thunderous. Think "light rain", or "hummingbirds spitting on you".

Typical amusement park- like for rides and for food. The lines can be quite long but at least the…read morebathrooms were not as packed/clean~ I wanted to check this out before they close~ Definitely worth it for a season pass if you plan to go at least 2x and have a car. Season pass includes extra discounts like discount for food depending on season, discount for extra tickets and included parking (for most CA parks besides the excluded one mentioned!). Buy online for your tickets- cheaper than at the gate for regular tickets. Easy to set up your season pass online and grab other promos like the $17.76 tickets for the first week of July! Parking - super easy lot with adequate signage for entrance and exits. Not too far from the front like six flags Vallejo- I like how the app does let you note your parking location but I will say the app stopped giving me my actual location so that was annoying. Friendly workers just doing their best. Went on 4th of July and it wasn't as crowded so we got lucky but it was nice to see the crowds there!

The perfect amusement park for a day of fun! I visited on a Saturday, and it wasn't too busy. It…read morewas quite empty in the morning but definitely filled up throughout the day. By 6pm, there were long lines for all the popular rides. I love this park because it's big but not overwhelming. There's a good selection of kid-friendly and heart-pounding rides. I really enjoyed Flight Deck, Gold Striker, Orbit, and Centrifuge. There are also experiences, like a 4-D spaceship ride. As a Snoopy fan, I was super excited for Snoopy Land, with a whole range of Snoopy-themed rides, merch, and buildings. There was a good selection of food options, like Panda Express, American diners, a Southern restaurant, a funnel cake spot, Dippin Dots stands, and more. I was also impressed with how big the water park is. I spotted plenty of water slides, a lazy river, a water playground, a wave pool, and plenty of lounging seats. Definitely need to visit again and do a pool day!

2026 Company Beach Party/Summer Picnic BBQ at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk!…read more Since we had a group event there was a $15 discount provided for daily parking at certain Boardwalk lots which was nice. Unlimited rides wristbands for all, plus catered lunch at the Sun Room at The [Cocoanut] Grove venue. I haven't been to the Boardwalk in maybe 20 years, but did go a bunch when I was little. It's their Centennial year too, 100 years! Love the carnival style games, classic arcade, rides, caricature artists, and of course, the main beach. I specifically sought out the Giant Dipper wooden Rollercoaster, the original Looff Carousel with the brass ring catching game, and the sky gondola this trip. Since food was provided at the Grove I passed on the funnel cakes, beignets, Dippin' Dots, pretzels and the like. They did have a commemorative reusable/refillable drink cup with a bendy straw though. The MyFunMoment selfie stations weren't working that day though. Didn't stay for summer nights live music or movies on the beach, and rides go till late. A fun day trip, great weather!

I think like many others the boardwalk is filled with pure nostalgia. For me, I have many memories…read morestemming from toddler age and playing on the beach or getting on rides with my dad. I was impressed by how well-maintained and safe the area feels. The new additions successfully modernize the space while preserving its classic charm. I also appreciated how clean the beach felt and the presence of many lifeguards. However, I found the food quality to be mediocre. I ordered the cod and fried shrimp basket; the cod had an overwhelming beer taste, and the shrimp and fries were only average. Additionally, the funnel cake was overcooked. Unlimited ride wristbands were $65 but entering the beach and boardwalk is free. I had a pleasant time overall.

Great place to take the kids. Rides aren't scary for the little ones. I don't like rollercoasters…read moreso I can vouch that it isn't scary and the toddlers and first graders find it fun. There's lots of shades so that's nice. It is a big place so it's hard to keep track of the group of kids. The barn animals are so cute but stinky. The kids enjoy seeing and feeding them

Adventure waits for kids this summer at Happy Hollow Park and Zoo…read more The after care program I work for has their summer camp program and this was our first field trip of the summer. There's various picnic areas throughout the park, and we were placed in the picnic area across from the playground. The picnic area had about four picnic tables and garbage bins. It was spacious enough for twenty-eight kids and five adults. The play area was a hit with the kids, ropes, tunnels, and more. The rides are more for younger children such as four or five. The group we had were kindergarten, first, and second graders and kiddie swings and granny bugs were not appealing to the age group of campers. The kiddie roller coaster was a hit. They have a zoo portion but unfortunately we were not able to view. The bathroom stalls near the rides and the play area were too small with only two stalls, made for long lines. Overall, a fun experience that the children enjoyed. Maybe more bathrooms to accommodate the large summer camp groups and a few updated rides to cater to the older children.

My husband brought us here. We loved our time. So great that…read morethey sold cold water !!! We enjoyed the train ride so nice and we were the only ones since we came in a week day! I'm looking forward to coming back and bringing more family. Great photos and the ride is definitely worth the price.

Came here on a Saturday morning around 11am. Tickets for train and carousel is $5 per person and…read morefree for kids 2 and under. The train ride is less than 10 minutes with no cover so we brought our hats. It's a quick ride and you pass by the parking lot and a park. My girls enjoyed it. After we played by the nearby park. There is a bathroom close to the train ticket booth and lots of tables to enjoy a snack or even lunch. They were just starting the grill to cook the food for lunch but our girls were hungry so we left to get food elsewhere.

The staff is very friendly and informative, the animation is amazing, and the ride is a lot of…read morefun...& you get unlimited rides for the day!!! Great experience & value!!!

the staff was extremely friendly and helpful. the wait time was only about 5 minutes and it was…read moreworth it! the ride is made by a retired Disney imagineer and it is kind of like Buzz Lightyear meets Pirates of the Caribbea. The ride is fun for all ages! definitely check it out!

This was a wonderful experience that we will always remember. For the price the accommodations…read morecould be a bit nicer (horrible mattress, low quality sheets/towels) but it was a fun experience. We were in the Cat House and hearing the cats like they were right outside was pretty cool. They can noisy at night so bring earplugs! We were also pretty chilly with no additional blankets due to the heather not keeping up (and this was in June). Overall, I'd recommend staying here at least 1 night for this unique experience!

One of the primary reasons we booked our stay was the expectation of meaningful animal…read moreinteractions. Based on the website, photos, and overall marketing, we believed animal encounters would be a significant and memorable part of the experience. Unfortunately, the reality did not match those expectations. The included animal encounter consisted of only two very small animals and lasted just a couple of minutes. While the animals themselves were cute, the experience felt extremely brief and underwhelming compared to what we were led to expect before booking. I feel like they very small animals (a ferret, really?) and very short duration were meant to be a teaser to get you to spend the additional $600 to see some bigger animals. That should have been communicated UP FRONT, so we were not led to believe we were getting a better animal experience. It was a bit of bait and switch.