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Home Authors Posts by Marc Ricketts

Marc Ricketts

Marc Ricketts
82 POSTS 17 COMMENTS
Marc Ricketts is a writer/photographer who has not yet outgrown roller coasters, and provides news and information about San Francisco Bay Area destinations. Mark's columns can frequently be found on MiceChat in our Weekend Updates.
A short time ago, (in the galaxy very, very close by), I took a trip to see what's going on at California's Great America and the state's two Six Flags parks. Although I never found anything taking me into...
I’d say I travel pretty frequently and most of the time my adventures take me somewhere with a theme park. But if the itinerary of my trip doesn’t include a theme park, then there’s a good chance I’ll be...
I’d say I travel pretty frequently and most of the time my adventures take me somewhere with a theme park. But if the itinerary of my trip doesn’t include a theme park, then there’s a good chance I’ll be...
I’d say I travel pretty frequently and most of the time my adventures take me somewhere with a theme park. But if the itinerary of my trip doesn’t include a theme park, then there’s a good chance I’ll be...
I'd say I travel pretty frequently and most of the time my adventures take me somewhere with a theme park. But if the itinerary of my trip doesn't include a theme park, then there's a good chance I'll be...
Holiday in the Park has entered its second decade at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom with festivities and activities that even excite the resident marine mammals. We'll also take an inaugural trip into Six Flags' new member rewards program; bundle...
Three years ago California's Great America launched Winterfest, and the explosion of tinsel has yet to settle. In 2018, the event now includes the entire park plus a brand New Years Eve celebration. With decor galore, a holiday take...
I've taken you to the Clam Chowder Cookoff at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk more than once on this site(it's one of my personal favorite annual events, and others must agree seeing as how it has been ongoing for...
For those of us who can't make it to Orlando or Southern California to drop in on Disney or Universal, it's your local regional park that scratches that itch for thrills. I began a major road trip starting in...
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom has announced a new coaster that actually "coasts" for 2019, and made significant improvements to this year's Fright Fest presentation. It's great to see after a period of relative stagnation since The Joker opened in...
Two years ago the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose (as seen in the lowly rated film Winchester released earlier this year) added a new tour, a Halloween season candlelight journey with ghost tales and a creepier than normal...
When the signature fountain at California's Great America is flanked by flaming pumpkins, we know that it is the wonderful time of the year when zombies stagger and madmen swagger. Having marked the September 21st opening night on the...
Today we're going to try a new ride, and take a look at the end of an era in San Francisco's amusement park history. Keep your feet and hands inside the column, Harley Quinn Crazy Coaster is (finally) cleared...
Whenever I write about Great America, there are often comments from some of you good people that remember the park from its earliest days. Now, I must confess that I was a bit underwhelmed with what I found on...
June 14 wasn't just Flag Day this year. It is also the day that ended 10 months of anticipation, culminating with 5 days of passholder previews for California's Great America's new groundbreaking single rail coaster RailBlazer, first of its...
MiceChat's Marc Ricketts heads off on adventure in the NorCal parks and finds the Harlem Globtrotters as well as some coaster construction updates.  Let's take a look. California's Great America The other day I went to see the Harlem Globetrotters at...
As the weather warms, colorful blooms begin to paint the garden spot of Gilroy, CA. As summers can be quite warm if not downright hot round these parts, water play is critical for calming those cranky kids which has...
Flowers are blooming, the air is warming and California's Great America has opened for 2018; must be spring. After a small opening ceremony featuring park Vice President and General Manager Raul Rehnborg, Hometown Square Mayor Cornelius G. Appleseed, Snoopy...
Two years ago I made a whirlwind swirl through the four hour debut day of Silicon Valley Comic Con, not knowing if it was a one shot deal, or an event that would continue. Now in its 3rd year,...
After seeing the wonderful display of Chinese lanterns at Gilroy Gardens' Lumination display in 2016 which you can read about here, I knew I was in for the Lantern Light Festival from the first radio ad a couple of...