Splash Lagoon, Erie, PA- August 1, 2024

      We aren't taking an epic big trip this summer like we have some years, so we're looking forward to a few little overnight get-aways.   Today, we're back at Splash Lagoon in Erie, PA.  It's an indoor waterpark with lots of big slides but some kiddie areas as well.  We came here over 20 years ago with Anna.  It was April 2003, before Emma was born, and Anna was not yet 3 years old.   This time, we're staying in one of the connected hotels and got a package deal for tickets and our room.

     Abby could barely contain her excitement as we approached Erie and checked into our hotel.  She was bouncing up and down, running back and forth, and telling everyone she saw that she was going to the waterpark.  Our room was ready early, so we took our stuff up and then followed the labyrinthine path to get to the water park area.  As we entered the hot, humid and noisy area, Abby's excitement quickly dissolved away and was replaced with shock, apparently.  Remember, this is the girl that Mom took into the family restroom when we stopped at the Pennsylvania Welcome Center on the way down because the hand dryers were too loud in the general restrooms.  The pumps and mechanisms for the pools make a constant and very loud droning hum that you have to shout over.  We passed some small kiddie slides and play areas, but Abby had gone into defensive mode and didn't want to try any of them.

     Abby was similarly intimidated by the look of the wave pool, but Mom took some time and scaffolded her in.  Eventually, Abby grew to like it and stopped clinging to Mom.  Instead, she was floating and giggling.  Once she had warmed up to the wave pool she didn't want to get out.  She said to mom, "I'm a jellyfish!"  When Mom suggested they get out and get some lunch, Abby said that jellyfish can't leave the water.  They did get out somewhere after 1:00 because we hadn't eaten lunch yet.  We got something to eat at the snack bar there.   After lunch, Mom and Abby got tubes to go once around the lazy river, but after they had done that, Abby wanted to go back into the wave pool.  If the wave pool was the only thing here, Abby would have been happy.  Dad even got in it for a short while in order to give Mom a break.  When we were finally done with the wave pool, we coaxed Abby into trying one of the kiddie sized water slides.  She tried it and liked it, but during her second try, the giant "cocoanut drink" at the top of the slides dumped its water and freaked her out.  That was about it for the afternoon.  

     After the humid air of the water park, hitting the air conditioning almost put us to sleep instantly.  We dried off and changed in our hotel room.  We dragged ourselves to the Quaker Steak and Lube which is attached to the hotel and had dinner.  The service was sub-par this time, so we didn't enjoy it as much as we wanted to.  From there, we were headed to Presque Isle and the beach there, but Julie wanted to stop at the Barnes and Nobles along the way.  It's split into two levels, and we've seen it many times but never stopped there.  We got some books for Abby, including Don't Let Pigeon Drive the Bus, and Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed.  Both are by Mo Willems, who is a favorite of hers.  She currently watches the Naked Mole Rat movie over and over again on YouTube.  She also talked Mom into letting her get a big, stuffed, pink bumblebee for some reason.  Julie got pens that look like Harry Potter wands and a drink from the Starbucks there.   We were pretty exhausted after that and never did make it to the beach today.  We went back to the hotel to turn in for the night.  Abby wants to go to the pool, but she'll probably have to wait until morning for that.