Storybook Land

Our first trip to Storybook Land is quite the story…

Bill had been shopping around for a motorcycle – we’re at the point where we could splurge a little.  And on the Friday before Hot Harley Nights, a motorcycle poker ride fundraiser for Make-A-Wish, he found one on KELOLAND.com’s Automall.  There was just one hiccup: it’s in Aberdeen. 

The Hub City is about 4 hours north and west of Sioux Falls.  So, what’s a guy to do?  I told him we could either borrow his mom’s bike and ride in the poker run or drive to Aberdeen and possibly get his own. 

The next challenge: if we did decide to buy it, how would we get it back?  We wouldn’t have insurance on it yet, so I didn’t want him to ride it yet.  Then he looked out the front window and noticed our neighbor’s new motorcycle trailer.  We put in some calls and they let us borrow it.  So, to Aberdeen we go!

So, after a drive and test ride, we bought the bike, loaded it up and headed for Storybook Land.  We picked up some lunch first and went to Wylie park where a local dentist was putting on an annual picnic.  I texted our Aberdeen bureau reporter, Erich Schaffhauser, to let him know we were going to be in town and he was going to be there so we stopped to say hi.

Then a quick ride to Storybook Land gave us a chance to stretch our legs and get out for a walk.  It was HOT out and a lot of the play equipment was hot too.  It was a good thing we grabbed a couple bottles of water from the picnic.

Noah worked on his climbing while Dad looked for a place to park the car and trailer.  Then it was off to the castle.

Storybook Land consists of life-sized figures of your favorite storybook characters.  We found the three little pigs and their homes made of straw…

sticks…

and there was one made of bricks, but I apparently didn’t get a photo.  The area had gotten a heavy downpour earlier in the week so many of the displays were muddy or under water, so we really had to watch our step around the place.

Then it was off to the Wizard of Oz where the Munchkins were about the same size as Noah and their houses were just the same.  Why he insisted on crawling through the window is beyond me!

Alexis thought Dorothy was pretty but neither wanted to go near the Wicket Witch of the West.  By the time we found the Yellow Brick Road, I could tell we were wearing out fast. 

The heat was really starting to affect even me and the kids’ faces were getting pinky.  I was giving them all our water to keep them hydrated so we thought we’d end the trip with a ride on the carousel… their first ever!

At first, they didn’t quite know what to think.  Noah was a little hesitant to get on the large fiberglass horse, but he warmed up once they started moving.  Alexis LOVED it and didn’t want to get off.  Of course, that meant a scene.

Then, it was time to leave Aberdeen and head home.  A quick trip that was a warm one and added a new set of wheels to the garage.