Five days in San Francisco (Land in San Francisco, car rental)

Experience Flight Deck, California’s Great America Inverted Roller Coaster.

Flex provided us with this great shot of Flight Deck and its signature above the water spiral.

Visit the city of San Francisco.  Also, go to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom on the other side of the bay in Vallejo.  Superman: Ultimate Flight and The Joker are the park’s two signature attractions.

Superman: Ultimate Flight at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.

For a weekend in the area (starting from Montreal, QC)

The family usually take a traditional trip to Lake George, NY with a visit to Great Escape.  Always a pleasure after 40 years, this family park also feature a large water park well equipped with a beautiful wave pool and many slides.  In the evening, stroll along the main street and do a cruise on one of the steamship.  Visit the city of Saratoga Springs 20 miles away to see New England architecture and feel the excitement of the late July Horse Races.  A small casino also attracts gamblers.

The wave pool at Great Escape is called the “Lumberjack Splash” and the slide complex features the brand new Banzai Pipelines.

If another long weekend is available, Old Orchard Beach in Maine or Hampton Beach, New Hampshire are great choices.  Those coastal cities are located 4-5 hours from Montreal and their main attractions are the long beaches and distinct New England architecture.  The waves, surfing and the famed Lobster Rolls are ready for the tourists.

The entrance to Palace Playland, a classic seaside amusement park in Old Orchard Beach, ME.

Old Orchard Beach.

For a day near Montreal

Hiking at the Parc de la Gorge in Coaticook, QC. Go across the longest suspended footbridge in Canada and finish the day at Foresta Lumina.  Foresta Lumina received a prestigious Thea award in 2015 and this combines a great workout with an exceptional experience.

Have fun at the Super Aqua Club water park in Pointe-Calumet, QC, home of Tsunami, the first RocketBlast/FlyingSaucer water slide in North America.  Over 20 different attractions are present at this park for adrenaline, laughs and fun.

Tsunami at the Super Aqua Club.

Open year round, Mont St-Sauveur is a favorite of all with its huge selection of experiences.  Be it for winter sports like Snowboarding and Skiing or its waterpark and rides in the summer, you have something for everyone.  Try the new “Le Frisson” (The Chill) family slide, try the Alpine Coaster, the Zipline, the new for 2016 Mini Golf and go around the Manic, this is a huge family playground.  To end the day, walk along the picturesque village of St-Sauveur.

The spectacular Manic, a wave river.  Notice the huge waves in the river and more amazingly, this is toward the end of the course.

If your schedule allows it, add a day to explore the Laurentians as well as Mont-Tremblant.  For those with younger children, take your kids to the “Pays des Merveilles”, a children’s park with activites adapted for younger ones.  In addition to the existing Miner Mike attraction, a new family roller coaster will open this summer.  Once they reach the correct height, this is a good way to initiate your kids to new sensations.

Don’t forget what is mandatory since it will be within walking distance from home

Municipal parks with their slides, swings and play areas.  Available everywhere and contagious smiles from every kid’s, even those at heart.

City pools and spraygrounds are places where kids can take swimming lessons and have fun.  To prioritize as it is a useful life skill and check with your city for schedules.

Festivals and neighborhood fairs.

Check online or in the local newspapers for events in the region.  Every large city usually offers free shows throughout the year and you can create a calendar with your preferences.

A few miles further

You can visit provincial and national parks.  Verify online or in the brochures for the activities offered at each location.  This year for the Anniversary of Canada, entry passes for Parks Canada are free if ordered on the web.  Diversification is the correct word to describe what Canada has to offer.

Lake Moraine, in the Banff National Park in Alberta.

Since this #PV Park Vault ‘’What I want this summer list’’ is our first draft for the beautiful season, this one will be modified according to tastes and preferences.

Also, another list has been used by us for a few years: Inverted Roller Coaster from Bolliger & Mabillard.  A Park Vault blogger has already been on 21 out of 34 currently operating around the world.  It is a personal challenge from a great fan who loves the feeling of those exceptional attractions.

And now, write your own ‘’What I want this summer’’ list to motivate yourself to enjoy the warm season and to have fun together.  Chances are that yours will reflect your personalities and personal interests.

If you have suggestions of places or if you make amazing discoveries, please email me about them.  cgareaulacombe(@)gmail.com

You never know if your next list will become a family tradition with happiness as the goal.  There is also something that is free and contagious at those places: smiles.

Have a great summer and enjoy quality time outside.  Don’t forget to smile at someone this summer.