Even though Emerald Park isn't as large as theme parks in America, it is a fun and unique experience here in Ireland.
Journalist Rebecca Chira visited Emerald Park, formerly known as Tayto Park, which is Ireland's only combined theme park and zoo.
She takes us through her experience at the zoo as well as the rides in the Ashbourne, County Meath park.
Zoo
Rebecca's day there started with a crispy cheese and onion twisted chip.
She described it as the "perfect snack" to walk around with and see the mini zoo they had nearby. They have plenty of interesting animals, from rare bird species to monkeys and even alpacas, Buzz.ie reports.
The petting farm had goats that lay out in the sun. They were very friendly and seemed used to multiple people petting them at once.
"My friends and I then headed to Lemur woods, where people can walk inside the Lemur habitat and learn more about the endangered species.
"To end our walk through the zoo section, we witnessed the zookeeper feeding the tigers. He first set out the food in different spots. Then after he gets himself to safety, a hatch is opened, and the tigers are released into the main area with the food," Rebecca recalled.
Rides
Rebecca chose the Flight School ride as the first ride of the day.
She described it as a gently-paced ride that’s perfect for all ages, with enough thrill for those who don’t enjoy the bigger attractions.
"The wait for the ride wasn’t too bad either. Even on a slow day, the wait time for popular rides at the closest theme park to where I live, Six Flags Over Texas, can be around 45 minutes. The longest wait we had at Emerald Park was about 15 to 20 minutes," Rebecca said.
Next was The Rotator. This pendulum ride swings you back and forth while simultaneously rotating the seats. It’s a step up from Flight School.
Rebecca felt that it was too short and it doesn’t go upside down. "However, it was still an exciting ride," she added.
After The Rotator, she went on the Air Race. The two-person aeroplane seats vigorously twist you 360 degrees in the air.
"My friend and I speed-walked to the plane we thought spun the most. We weren't disappointed. If you’re someone who gets dizzy easily, I wouldn’t recommend this one.
"We took a break and enjoyed southern fried chicken burgers and chicken goujons at the Argentinian Grill, although I have to say the menu seemed more American than Argentinian to me," she said.
She described the food as at a "reasonable price" compared to American theme parks.
She then headed to the 5D cinema before going back to the bigger rides, however she felt the cinema was directed more towards young children.
Then came the most anticipated ride of the day, the legendary Cú Chulainn Coaster.
This wooden ride features a 32m drop and has a 90-degree turn at the halfway point of the ride and is the tallest rollercoaster in Ireland, according to the Emerald Park website.
According to the Six Flags website, the tallest coaster at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas is Titan with a 78m drop. The tallest rollercoaster in America and the tallest in the world is the Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, which stands at 139m tall.
"Cú Chulainn is not the tallest rollercoaster I’ve ever ridden, but I couldn’t help but be nervous waiting in line. Seeing the display of broken phones towards the end of the line made me laugh, though. Why would you risk your phone on a ride like that?
"My fate was sealed when the park attendants secured my seat belt and started the ride. As I looked at all of the flags passing by on my way to the top I thought to myself, ‘Maybe I shouldn’t have gotten on.’
"It was scary but extremely fun. So much so, we decided to ride it one more time before leaving the park.
"While I didn’t visit every attraction at Emerald Park, it was still a great day with my friends. If you’re looking for a bit of adventure for you and your family, this is a great place to visit in Ireland," Rebecca concluded.
