If you have ever entertained the thought of getting a boat, you surely have entertained the thought of what kind of boat you should get.
If you are a beginner, everyone you know will almost certainly instruct you to get a boat on the smaller side. They really don’t care what brand or type, just that it’s small. They figure you won’t know how to handle or dock something larger. As the person wanting to purchase your first boat, you probably agree with them and tell them their advice makes sense.
Then, a few days go by and you start realizing that getting rid of a boat is a real pain in the a$$. You get the wacky thought in your head that you shouldn’t waste valuable time toying with some small boat that you are going to grow out of in one season. Hmmm…that makes sense too. Why not get something you really want right off the bat and just learn what you have to do? I mean, how long can it take? Famous last words.
Okay, forget about size for a second. What type of boat to get is a major issue. I guess three really popular choices are bowrider, cabin cruiser or sailboat. They all have their perks, but one of them doesn’t use insane amounts of fuel. That would be the sailboat. While many sailboats do have smaller diesel engines to deal with difficult situations, they oftentimes aren’t used. That’s a big plus. I mean, have you ever looked into the amount of fuel boats use? It’s really a turnoff.
Many people think of sailboats as romantic rides into the sunset. While they are romantic and nice, I think a lot of the younger crowd thinks of sailboats as slow and boring. It’s like, “What? A sailboat. No way dude, I want to actually get there today.”
Okay, well, you should check out this video. I think it might change your view on sailboats. Just make sure you play it all the way through.
The absolute best time to go to Rye Playland is at the end of the summer. Just be sure to check their schedule to make sure you pick a day before they close up. Their hours get quite sparse towards late August – early September. This time of year is the best because the park is nearly empty. No heat and sweat, no kids running around dropping ice cream on your shoe and no lines. Yes, no lines.
We parked in the side lot and met Craig at “Ye Old Mill.” The official story of this ride is…
“As you enter this dark ride on a small boat, a voice tells the story of the gnomes who are protecting their jewels. You’ll encounter a giant dragon and a terrifying troll during this eerie journey.”
…but this may give you a better picture:
It’s a pretty cool ride. You float around a small canal in a little boat, that might tip over at any moment…seriously…be careful. Things move and make noise, but overall, it’s not too scary.
We went on only the best rides. The Log Flume and the Double Shot are musts…
…and of course all the roller coasters. You can never get sick of going on the famous Dragon Coaster…over and over and over…did I mention no lines?
There is something about Playland that you might not expect. I would call it a certain aire. As you walk around and have all sorts of fun, the sun starts to go down and it gets a little chilly. If you are there on a clear evening, you can go out on the pier and try to look across Long Island Sound.
The best part is just hanging out on the pier looking back at the park waiting for it to get a little bit darker, because the best part comes next.
The Ferris Wheel at night. Who says Rye Playland isn’t romantic? Riding the ferris wheel with a nice cool breeze messing up your hair offers a deserved break from reality. This might be the most memorable part of the day. You have to make sure you go on the ferris wheel almost at closing time to feel the full effect.
Besides the rich history of Playland, there were some movies filmed here, such as Tom Hanks’ “Big” and Wood Allen’s “Sweet and Lowdown.”
