Flinstones

After last year's disastrous decision to tour a cave as our vacation activity, Bill and I have redeemed ourselves by taking the kids to the Flintstone theme park in Custer this year. (For the record, Leah, Bo, and Fletch loved the cave. Bill and Grier and I were the ones who left the cave sweaty and crabby.) For $40, we gave the kids what appears to be the highlight of their summer. It was the perfect year to go. If we waited much longer, I think Leah and Bo would consider it lame. Plus, by going this year, three of the five kids still got in free. For real. They're still talking about it like we took them to Disney World or something.

 The tour begins with a train ride around the perimeter of the park.

Bo was mad he didn't end up in the same car as Bristol, so I tried to convince him to turn that frown upside down by being in a picture with her instead. No dice.

 

First stop: Deadrock City. The train stops for approximately 37 seconds so all the passengers can disembark and take as many pictures as possible in that amount of time.

 

 Next on the train tour: Dinosaur Valley. Sadly, I didn't take any pictures, but it was quite comical. The dinosaurs were tiny plastic toys hidden amongst the rocks.

 This theater was where it all became "worth it." Leah turned to Bill and me and said, "This is so worth the money." Absolutely precious, no matter which kid says it, but especially knowing that it's possible that within the next few years, we could be dealing with eye rolling and tongue clucking from this child when we go places like this for the younger kids.

 I'll be honest, I don't think you could pay me to go through this snake. I think I'd start to feel trapped about a third of the way through. The kids are still talking about how it ate them up and pooped them out. Just keepin' it classy here on our family vacation.

 Bris didn't mind hangin' out in the shade while the others were on that swing set above.

 Our run-in with the Bedrock PD.