A Day at Tivoli Gardens

Previously I said our family are not Amusement Park types.  So why did we all absolutely love our day at Tivoli Gardens here in Copenhagen?  (Even despite a consistent drizzle for most of our time at the park).  I would suggest it is because it is not an amusement park, in the traditional sort of way.  It's more like a fantastic playground, on steroids.  Moreover, in my humble opinion, it has a special charm that our beloved park in Anaheim lacks (Sorry Mr. Disney).

Tivoli is old, like before the Civil War old (founded in 1843).  It's smack dab in the middle of old Copenhagen, surrounded on all sides by even older brick buildings.  It started as an exotic gardens with a handful of attractions, and has simply added new reasons to visit over the generations.  It is perfectly imperfect, as though made by accident and with no particular plan.  It is overgrown in places it should be, and perfectly manicured in places it needs to be.  From a distance, everything is picture perfect, but when you zoom in, you can see the loose bricks, rusted rails, and rubbed away paint - in a way that says they have better things to worry about.

Tivoli maintains rose gardens, coy ponds, and gravels paths.  Peacocks, Ducks, and other fowl wander freely about as though it was just any central park in just any random town.  It has gazebos with sharply dressed attendants pouring wine and draft beer next to freckles of grassy areas with garden chairs to sit and rest.  They hire artists to integrate new eye catching touches, and put on a laser light show that was somehow not out of place.  

The rides are old-timey, with a few "big" rides that somehow blend in as though they have been there forever as well.  Six Flags, Tivoli is not.  Nicole and my favorite ride... The Roller Coaster (Yep, that's it.  It's just called: The Roller Coaster).  Why? It is so raw and timeless.  It is the one and only roller coaster ride we have ever ridden that actually has someone on board with a handbrake controlling the speed - imagine riding on a run away Cable Car in San Francisco.  Youtube video for your viewing pleasure:

Small by current amusement park standards, it has found a way to still seem... big.  The constraints of the surrounding city simply meant finding ways to stack the rides.  The roof of the log ride, is the foundation of The Roller Coaster. The spinney thing I would never ride is under the other giant tower spinney swing thing I would also never ride (but Nicole and Autumn took a spin).

Like all living things, Tivoli has evolved and responded to stimuli, and if I were to describe it in one word, it would be organic.  Disneyland is too perfect, Universal too fake, Boardwalk too dirty, and Legoland....well Legoland.

While I would have no idea what he would think, I have to wonder if Tivoli is what Walt wanted as his legacy when he saw that orange orchard all those years ago.

* Note, their bumper cars go to 11 (for you Spinal Tap fans).  Man, I'm still in pain from the rattling those things inflicted.

Not the cheapest refreshments in town, but oh man, that was worth every Kroner. 

Nicole and Autumn were up there somewhere.

Stuck around til closing to experience the lights. 

The laser light show was pretty cool.