Combining Theme Park Visits and Roller Coaster Rides with Cultural Experiences Around the World!
Coasting With Culture Video Library:
2020 Vlogs
2020 South America Trip
January 13 - February 20, 2020
|
A South America Trip Preview & The Journey to Colombia
This is a preview of the 2020 South America Trip from earlier this year, sharing some of what will be seeing in future vlogs from this adventure, plus a look at the journey to get to the starting point of the South America Trip, Colombia. |
|
Colombia - Part 1: Parque Del Café
The first day in Colombia begins with a visit to Parque del Café, an amusement park created by the Colombian Coffee Farmers of the region where they teach visitors about the nation's coffee culture. They also offer some fun coasters as well!
|
|
Colombia - Part 2: Misadventures Flying Around Colombia
Plans for the second day of this Colombia visit involved stops in the cities of Cali and Pasto. What was originally meant to be an easy two city, two coaster credit stop day with some culture sprinkled turns into a multi-day attempt at a flight into an airport that can be difficult to land in.
|
|
Colombia - Part 3: A Day in Barranquilla
Another day flying to a different Colombian city, this time to Barranquilla with plans to see the Statue of Shakira, and to visit a few different museums including Museo del Carnaval de Barranquilla, where they highlight the city's version of the popular festival.
|
|
Colombia - Part 4: Seeking Coasters in Bogota
After city hopping around Colombia, it's time to stick around Bogota, and spend a day visiting their three amusement parks, Multiparque, Salitre Magico and Mundo Aventura. Along the way, there are a couple coasters that used to operate in the US.
|
|
Colombia - Part 5: Exploring Bogota
For the last day of this visit in Colombia, It's time to explore La Candelaria and Plaza Bolívar, then take a walk down the main pedestrian avenue of the City Center, before taking a cable car up Monserrate.
|
|
Ecador - Part 1: Exploring Quito
The second country of this South America journey is Ecuador, and it begins with a couple days in Quito for a visit to VulQano Park, Basilica of the National Vow and Quito's Old Town area.
|
|
Ecuador - Part 2: Beyond Quito
After explaining the abrupt end to the previous vlog, it's a day trip out to the town of Baños with a scenic bus ride and hopes of finding another coaster credit, followed by a look at how one major problem during the trip is solved by a quick excursion to another country.
|
|
Ecuador - Part 3: Exploring Guayaquil
Arriving to the other primary city of this visit in Ecuador, the first day is spent exploring Ecuador's most populous city, from the views of Cerro Santa Ana to exploring Malecón 2000 and Malecón del Salado, while also getting to ride a couple coasters at two smaller amusement parks, and seeing the iguanas of Parque Seminaro.
|
|
Ecuador - Part 4: The Last of Ecuador
The last day and a half in Ecuador is spent at a quirky water park with a bunch of random painted cars and sculptures based on various popular shows and movies, then spending an evening back at Malecón 2000, an one final morning and afternoon wondering through the city, with a visit to Parque Centenario.
|
|
Peru - Part 1: Arriving in Peru & Visiting Huancayo
Heading to the third country of the South American journey with a flight to Lima, followed by an overnight bus ride to the town of Huancayo, exploring the city center, visiting a very unique-artistic park and finding a roller coaster located on the outskirts of town.
|
|
Peru - Part 2: Visiting Trujillo & Ica
After the trip with two overnight bus rides to and from Huancayo, it's time for a day trip flying to Trujillo to see the ruins of Chan Chan followed by the city center, and then the next day is a bus ride to the town of Ica. Of course, this also involved the search for more Peruvian coasters!
|
|
Peru - Part 3: The Great Lima Coaster Hunt Begins
Having visited a few Peruvian cities, next was the attempt to ride as many coasters around the Lima area as possible! Since it's shown to have a large concentration of places with coasters, there will be many stops over the couple of days dedicated to it, with this being the first.
|
|
Peru - Part 4: The Great Lima Coaster Hunt Continues
After getting a coaster at about half of the stops the previous day, it's time to see if the second day will continue to be about the same, or if there will be even more coasters ridden around the Lima area, while double checking a couple locations in an effort to ride as many Peruvian coasters as possible!
|
|
Peru - Part 5: Exploring Cusco
After getting to ride many of Peru's coasters, it was on to a destination purely for culture, with a visit to the city of Cusco, located high up in the Andes Mountains, with incredible colonial architecture and historic Incan ruins.
|
|
Peru - Part 6: One Last Evening in Lima
Before departing from Peru to the next South American country of the trip, There's time to explore the heart of Lima to take in a few of their significant buildings, which then leads to a potential opportunity to add a few more coasters before that night's flight.
|
|
Chile - Part 1: Exploring Santiago
To kick off the visit to Chile, there's some great sights to see, especially from up high in South America's tallest building, and from the hill that features a statue of the Virgin Mary, as well as checking out the heart of the city and enjoying various street performances.
|
|
Chile - Part 2: Seeking Chilean Coasters
After taking in some cultural sites of the Santiago area, the seeking of different coasters in Chile begins with stops at a pair of smaller parks in the greater Santiago area, then continues to the coastal town of El Quisco where there are a few carnivals with coasters for the beach going crowds to enjoy.
|
|
Chile - Part 3: A Day at Fantasilandia
Before ending the short visit to Chile, there was a visit to the country's largest amusement park, Fantasilandia, riding their five different roller coasters and some of their other unique rides, while enjoying it's charm and impressive operations.
|
|
Argentina - Part 1: Exploring Mendoza & Córdoba
As the South America Trip moves into the final country on the itinerary, Argentina begins with two quick stops for some exploring the cities of Mendoza and Córdoba, and hoping to add a few new coaster credits along the way.
|
|
Argentina - Part 2: Exploring Beyond Córdoba
There are some more remotely located coasters on the outskirts of Córdoba, and a rental car was used to try and find them in an amusement park of Villa Carlos Paz, and a carnival in Mina Clavero with some natural terrain seen in between.
|
|
Argentina - Part 3: Exploring Buenos Aires
After one more domestic flight of the South America Trip, the visit to Buenos Aires for the remaining time of the trip begins. The first part of this visit includes finding different coasters in and around the city, while also exploring some of Buenos Aires most popular sites. But the beginning of the visit takes a bit of additional navigating due to a protest going on through the city center.
|
|
Argentina - Part 4: Visiting Parque de la Costa
An afternoon spent at the last of the larger South American amusement parks for the trip, Parque de la Costa. The largest park in Argentina offered not only coasters and other rides, but a unique Zombie invasion show as well!
|
|
Argentina - Part 5: The South America Trip's Final Coasters
With the South America trip winding down, there was a stretch of some final coaster searching in Argentina between the outskirts of Buenos Aires, to the Atlantic Coaster and in the town of Luján. One of those coasters had a bit of a different experience with the local stray dogs.
|
|
Argentina - Part 6: The Last of Argentina
Before returning home from South America, there were a few more stops planned, including a rugby match of Buenos Aires home team, as well as a day trip that unfortunately did not go as planned, resulting in a bit more exploring of Buenos Aires.
|
|
2020 South America Trip: Heading Home & Looking Back
After over a month traveling through South America for riding coasters and exploring different cultural sites, the time to return home has come. This offers a look at that journey to get home, while also taking a look back at the highlights and lowlights from the entire South America Trip, along with fun facts about the visit to each country. |
2020 Silverwood Opening Day, How HAS COVID-19 Changed Things?
May 30, 2020
|
Here's a look at the recent opening day of Silverwood Theme Park after delaying opening due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. We'll see what are some of the changes the park has implemented to try and keep guests and staff safe, and a look at some of the best rides in the park as well.
|
A Day at Enchanted Forest & How COVID-19 Has Changed Things
June 28, 2020
|
Enchanted Forest recently opened back up, and this smaller park in Turner, Oregon has implemented some changes in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. We'll take a look at these changes and a few of the park's best attractions.
|
A Pacific Coast Day Trip For A New Coaster Credit & More
August 23, 2020
|
A smaller park in the town of Seaside, Oregon recently opened a coaster they brought over from Pennsylvania, and it was a beautiful day for a day trip with some scenic views, a historic Lewis & Clark location, the park, a local brewery and seeing if a park on the Washington Coast was open.
|
A Quick Coaster Riding Escape in 2020
September 21-24, 2020
|
A Much Needed Escape Searching For Coaster Credits
As 2020 has been a rough year for many people including a lack of stability in their employment situation. As one of those whose job situation has changed multiple times, it felt like a good time for a needed break from the chaos of the ever-changing work scenario, and see about checking some needed coaster credits off of the to do list
|
|
The Escape Continues at Silver Dollar City
After spending the past few days driving around for mostly shameless coasters, there was enough time to head to Silver Dollar City for their great coasters while also checking out the Harvest Festival, with tons of pumpkins and specialty crafts.
|