Lake Compounce- Big Things Come in Small Packages
by Hannah Adams
(Connecticut)
I know for me (having multiple children still in the single digits), finding safe, fun & affordable amusement parks is a tough job.
My children get overwhelmed when we go to large parks & many tend to wander off or lose the group. A lot of times, a family fun day turns into a stressful situation when it's 80 degrees out, everyone is hungry, tired, & cranky.
Lake Compounce is an amusement park in Connecticut that is home to the world's longest & fastest wooden roller coaster. Although not all my children are tall enough to go on it, everyone who can has a great time. There is a small kiddie area which the young kids can spend time in while my older ones & their friends run off to the roller coasters & other fast rides.
The thing that is wonderful about Lake Compounce is it is small enough where I don't have to worry about anything happening to the older children. I tell them to have their cell phones handy, stay together, & check in with me every half hour. It's perfect because they don't get stuck on the carousel with the little ones & I don't have to worry about their safety.
For the dare devils, there is a skydiving ride. You do have to pay extra but it is completely worth it. I have never done something so exhilarating in my life!
Also, once you spend a few hours at Lake Compounce, you can find your way around easily for the rest of the time. It's not like other amusement parks where you have to carry a map & you still end up getting lost.
Another highlight of this great place is the free unlimited soda. My kids love it! There are little kiosk throughout the park where you can go & grab some soda. I like it because I don't have to pay tons of money to keep my kids hydrated. My family knows where each of the kiosks are so thirst & dehydration is definitely not a problem like it can be at other parks.
Lake Compounce has a range of rides for kids of all ages. My family always goes on at least one ride together. We usually all go on the log flume or the water rapid ride. All the kids like those! The water park & lake are connected to the amusement park. There isn't a separate fee or anything like that. If the older kids get hot, I feel comfortable letting them go on the water slides while I stay in the kiddie area with the smaller kids. The lifeguards are great. They watch over everything & definitely do not allow any troublesome behavior. There is a wave pool, a lazy river, & tons of slides for the kids to go down. Also, there is a small beach that leads into the lake. Some of the slides end in the lake which I think is so cool!
When it comes down to the food, there are tons of options. It is mainly classic American cuisine but there are some specials that you may not find at other parks.
The park is well kept & nice & clean. The scenery is beautiful because it is right next to the lake & part of the park is in near the woods. The park is filled with flowers & shade for those super hot days.
When it comes to Lake Compounce, my tip is to go early & stay late. Although the park usually doesn't get too busy & the lines go quickly, it is virtually empty at opening & closing hours. All around, the park is great. I would definitely recommend it, especially if you have kids of all ages. We go every summer because my family loves it!
