This park is totally awesome. Okay so the park itself is alright. The super slide is AWESOME. It's actually a really big park, baseball fields, tent and cabin camping, playgrounds and bumper cars oh and a restaurant too. You can rent plastic sleds to slide down the smaller hills. Those run 200 yen for an hour or maybe it's two, in any case small fee, tons of fun. They have tracks made for a smooth ride. Assuming you want smooth. When we went the boys were more into extreme sports. Brandon now has his first extreme video on Youtube! The bumper cars are more individual cars you steer and drive yourself but if you choose, you can bump others. That is 100 yen per ride and lasts about 5 minutes. The highlight of this park is by far the Super Slide. It costs 100 yen each ride you take but worth every yen of it. Make your way to the little shop and let them know you want to go on the super slide. They speak English pretty well. BONUS! They'll give you a ticket (if it's busy) if not then the guy will just walk with you up the steps and to the loading 'shoot'. He'll give you a quick lesson (maybe). We only got it because Luke was being a little wild with the lever. In case you don't get the lesson here it is. Sit with your legs extended to the front (kinda a give it). Then hold onto the lever that sits between your legs. If you want to break pull it towards you and if you want to accelerate, let it go forward. I don't think you actually have to push it down to go forward. The walls bank as you take the turns and you really don't ever have to slow down. There is a huge stuffed bag to slow your go once you've reached the bottom, if you don't break first. :) The hardest part about this park (is not hard at all) is the climb back up to the top to go again. I took two trips down and the boys each took 3. It was such a blast. So much so, that we're making a special trip back up there this afternoon just for the slide. This park has hours, or the slide & equipment rental does. I think it's M-F 10-6 but during the summer and on weekends the hours are extended. I'll have to double check today and update this blog later. Now for some pictures & maybe a little video! Here's a map of the park: & the tent camping and cabin areas. It looks like there is only one fire pit for the whole tent area. I don't know prices for any of this, but thought someone might be interested. Luke getting ready to get the lesson, those legs just wouldn't straighten out for the world- until we told him he'd have to get off. :) They actually have two slides, only one was open the day we went. I took this pic as I was about to jet set down the mountain! Here's the video of my ride.
A little bumper cars. and some sledding down the little hills. They have maybe 5 or 6 different tracks worked into the hill so you can take your pick of incline and length of slide. There is also a small roller slide, maybe 30 feet long. It isn't high either, it rolls down the hill with the decline and sits only about 2-4 feet off the ground the whole way. Even has a small zip line! Great for the little kids.
Directions to this awesome park are pretty simple. So simple I can't believe it took me 2.5 years to find it. From McTureous or Courtney make your way to 329. From anywhere south of there you want to head north on 329 passing exit 5. Travel north on 329 towards exit 6 passing the 329 split. Stay straight. You will see a hospital on your left side, pass the hospital and at the next light make a left. You will be turning into the Wago Sports Complex. Follow the road up and park in the parking lot for the driving range. Once out of your vehicle walk down the road (further away from the 329). There is little to no vehicle traffic, pass the restaurant on your left then you'll see the baseball park. Walk around the ball field and you'll see the playground on the hill, the rental shop is just past the playground. You can't miss it!
We went to Manta Park about a year ago but it's definitely worthy of sharing with you all. The roller slide is pretty awesome and the obstacles that surround the base are tons of fun too. We ran relays as a family trying to see who could climb up the tree roots, then down the rock wall, up the rope then down the pegs, then to run around the base and up to the top of the slide, talk about a work out, but oh my gosh, like I said, TONS OF FUN. Aside from the slide and obstacle course that surround the base, there is a huge open field and a smaller wooden playground. A view of the slide Brandon working his way down the rope while Melanie & Derrick are already heading back up the rock wall. Taking a look down at some of the obstacles from the top of the slide. This park one of the smaller ones, but tons of fun!
Because I'm coming from the north I took a different route. It was too long ago though so I'm not sure I'd know how to give proper directions. I can tell you this though, if you're familiar with the Jusco on 85, it's not to far from there (behind it kinda) and just back off the main road (85) a little ways. Directions courtesy of Japan Update: To visit Manta Park, take Gate 2 Street straight through Takahara intersection to the second traffic light following, then turn left. As a hospital is viewed on the right, travel straight past the Awase Lawson to the second traffic light. Turn right and you’re at Manta Park.
I am revamping this site. I feel like the ones who want/need the deployment updates are getting them through one of many other means, that and I feel like I have an unwanted spy I can't quite block without blocking half of my intended readers. So with that, this blog will take a shift. I'm sure there will be some of my traditional blogs here, but for now- for the summer at least, I am going to enjoy Okinawa and share with anyone (everyone) who reads this what I've found. To start I'm going to tackle some parks. Amanda, this is for you! ;)
