Andrew and Brenda

So yesterday we finally made it back to Six Flags for their Fright Fest extravaganza. Our expectation was all built around our experience with Halloweekends at Cedar Point, where they had the entire park themed out for Halloween, and had at least 4-5 haunted attractions, some converted from existing rides. We figured Six Flags’ Fright Fest would be the same, maybe even better. Wrong.

When we first got up to the front gates, there was some organ music playing, but absolutely no other theming at that point. Once we got in, the main area inside the gates had a really cool Fright Fest sign with skeletons and was really well done. There was also an animatronic organist and the fountain was dyed blood red. So far so good.

But once we started walking around, the theming was pretty spotty. A few tombstones here, some cobwebs there. But huge portions of the park had nothing. For instance, the entire Gotham City section had no indication it was even Halloween.

So then we made our way to the haunted house we’d seen on earlier visits, hoping this would redeem them. As we approached, I noticed the line only had like 10 people in it, which was odd, since the park was packed, and there were long lines for everything.

Then we noticed why. In front of the attraction, there was a ticket booth. They were charging TEN BUCKS a person for the haunted house!!! We just stood there in total shock. Keep in mind, that Cedar Point NEVER charged extra for their haunted houses.

So we didn’t even go in. I figured I’d spent good money on a season pass, and a season PARKING pass to not be charged extra for something that should’ve been free.

So we ended up spending a grand total of an hour there and left feeling pretty disappointed. Note to Six Flags: send a couple people to Cedar Point’s Halloweekends to see how it’s really done.

Last week, Mom and Parke came down for almost a week to visit. We did a ton of stuff and I think (hope) everyone had a great time. Our first day, we went over to Historic Norcross and had lunch at a cafe located in an old train station. And two trains passed right by it while we were there. Frankly, the best part of the cafe is the sign in the men’s bathroom: “Do not put cigarette butts in the urinal. It makes them soggy and hard to light.”

Then we walked around town a bit and went in a couple shops, like ‘Taste of Britain‘, which is run by an actual British couple, and is filled with all kinds of stuff from the UK.

On Friday, we went north a bit to the Mall of Georgia. Honestly, it’s a nice mall and everything, but with all the malls we have closer to us, there was nothing really spectacular about it. But they have a couple nice collectibles stores, and a Starbucks on every floor, so it’s not all bad.

Then we went to a couple scrapbooking stores for mom, but not without several runarounds by our wonderful GPS. That little gadget is still probably one of the best investments ever, but sometimes I just want to chuck it through the windshield.

On Saturday, it was up to Duluth for some general running around. I was very happy I got to show off my favorite store, Fry’s Electronics. Other stops were Jo-Ann Fabrics (fun) and a Christmas shop. Then back over closer to home for dinner at Macaroni Grill.

On Sunday, we went on a driving tour of Atlanta, starting with showing them my commute to work. Being Sunday, I was able to give them a tour of my offices. Then we went through Midtown and then over to downtown and parked in a garage to do some walking around. We walked around the inside of CNN Center, walked all the way around Centennial Olympic Park, and down around the Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca-Cola. All that stuff is packed within the same few blocks, which is also where Phillips Arena is located, for things like hockey games. I think the Georgia Dome is right around there someplace, but I didn’t see it.

Then on the way back, we went via 400 so we could show them the Northpoint Mall in Alpharetta, which is closer to the apartment and has become our mall of choice.

On Monday, we went to the Atlanta Zoo. It rained that morning and was kind of cool, but it didn’t rain at all while we were there. So being sort of overcast, and a Monday, we practically had the place to ourselves. And because it was cooler, almost every animal was out, as opposed to the summer when all they want to do is lay around. We finally got to see the baby panda, and that day was Dumati the orangutan’s first birthday. We even got cake! Overall, we were pretty impressed with the zoo, and Brenda and I became members so we could go back as many times as we wanted for a year. Looking forward to doing more photography there, especially after I get a new lens for the Nikon.

So those are the highlights. I think everyone had a good time, and hopefully others will want to come down as well (Brenda’s mom, I’m looking in your direction).