What the Dieter Family did this Summer - Adventureland

This year for summer vacation we decided to take the boys to Adventureland Park in Des Moines. It's not too far of a trip from Iowa City, about 2 hours in the car. This would be the first year that boys were big enough that they could to go on and enjoy the rides. Adventureland also has a great water park attraction so it's a really fun packed day of water slides and rides. Both Max and Riley (and their old parents, us) had a wonderful time. Since we went on a Monday the crowds were low and we didn't have to wait in line for rides most of the time. The only one that was pretty busy with lines was the Raging River, which I was just happy Riley was tall enough to go on!  As you can see we all got pretty soaked on that one.

Our plan for the park was that Max and Jered would go on the crazy rides and Riley and I would go on the little guy rides. Which, if you haven't been to Adventureland Park, there are a lot of great rides for the little guys. We also road a few rides as a family, and of course, we had to eat together, at every single chance. The water park was also super fun. I didn't take any pictures because I don't have a water proof case for my phone yet. 

The weather was beautiful and not too hot. The best thing is that we planned ahead what we were going to do and what the back up plan was if it rained or if it was super hot out. Having a plan makes the day a lot more fun for everyone. 

As for food, we did eat at the restaurants and kiosks at the park. They are a little pricey, but the Soda and Sounds restaurant has a live show with the meal, so it makes it worth the cost. Also the food was really good, so that helped too. You just need to be prepared that the bill is going to be a bit higher than normal.

Over all Adventureland was amazing for our first trip to an amusement park. It was just the right size for our boys ages and had tons of rides that they could go on. We learned what works for our family and what doesn't. When the time comes, and the boys are a little bit older, we will be ready for Disneyland.