A visit to Valleyfair is fun and exciting any time, but it just got even more fun and exciting with the all-new North Star! Taking a look at a photo of the North Star, you may think it’s just another mild-mannered swing ride. Well, that idea is TOTALLY WRONG! I visited Valleyfair on opening day last week and headed straight to the North Star to see what it was all about.
When I took my seat in my chain-suspended seat, the rider next to me asked if it was my first ride. When I answered yes, he let me know he had already ridden it and it is “way scarier than it looks”. I’m glad I’m not easily scared by rides because that certainly isn’t a confidence boosting statement!
While my seat-mate was right that North Star is a lot scarier than it looks, it’s actually a lot more FUN than it looks (and actually not really scary unless you have a fear of heights). What it DOES do is spin you at speeds up to 40mph at a height of 20 stories above the ground! At 230 feet, North Star is the second tallest ride at Valleyfair.
After having my share of thrills on North Star, hubby and I spent a fun “adults only” night at Valleyfair, but acted like total kids! We visited all of our favorite child-friendly spots, but without the stress of having to actually keep an eye on the kids. Swinging by Planet Snoopy was a must just because everything there is SO CUTE.
We are all big fans of Snoopy and Woodstock. At Camp Snoopy there are lots of fun rides for the littlest kids, as well as fun things to see for kids of all ages. I just LOVE the Woodstock fountain!
We also had a bit of excitement riding on my all-time favorite ride, the Corkscrew, and played a few games like the ring toss (where I failed miserably) but also the whack-a-mole where hubby won a Squirtle for me!
And last, but certainly not least, we can’t miss a ride on the carousel! It’s the same one I rode on as a kid way back when Valleyfair first opened in 1976!
You’ll find SO much to do every day at Valleyfair, but there are also lots of special events coming up this summer including a Food Truck Festival, July 4th BBQ, Beach Bash and more. See a full list of upcoming events here. Now is the best time to buy your season pass so you can use it all season long!
Amy Desrosiers says
Ok, this ride looks both thrilling and a tad scary for me. I am one of them people who like to stay grounded and watch others have fun on rides.
Chrystal | Nevermore Lane says
That looks like so much fun. I like crazy rides like that. I can’t ride the way I used to when I was younger, but I still give it my best effort.
Dawn McAlexander says
This ride sounds like a lot of fun. I don’t do the scarier rides like used to, but I am not above giving them a whirl every once in a while. I think I would like to try this one!
Jeanine says
Oh what fun! This looks like it would be a blast! I haven’t been to a theme park in so many years!
Adrianne Betz says
That place looks like a blast. I haven’t been to a theme park in way too long.
Seattle Travel Blogger says
Those North Star clips look surreal. Talk about a towering ride!
My husband would be totally afraid of the spinning of the ride though.
But I should talk, because I am afraid of heights!
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
Wow! That is so amazing!! I would love to try that next time we are at Valleyfair!
Julie Wood says
What a really fun place to take the family! I think Planet Snoopy is a fun place to be a kid again and have fun with the kids doing it!
Pam says
Looks like a lot of fun. Also, I would love Planet Snoopy because Snoopy is my favorite.
Hannah C says
This ride looks like so much fun!
Lisa Favre says
This ride looks like so much fun! I wonder if my husband would be up for this kind of thrill?!
Jen Rattie says
We love going to the fair. Whenever the state fair rolls through, we always make a point of being there. It’s so much fun.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
That looks like so much fun! I love rides like that. They’re just enough adrenaline.
Kelly says
No way on earth would you get me up there! I am terrified of heights. My husband however would ride it a million times!
robin rue says
My husband would LOVE this. We have one of these at our Six Flags, but my feet always stay on the ground 🙂