Who needs Disneyland when you've got Lakeside?

Mwitterone: Have fun at Disneyland!

But once you arrive in Colorado, be sure to take your little one to the library, and start the summer reading program. The prize for all who read enough books (in this case, that mama and daddy read to her) is a free ticket to Lakeside (http://www.lakesideamusementpark.com).

Most people know of Six Flags Elitch Gardens in downtown Denver (and yes, I confess we have season passes there... buy early and they're only $45/person!).

But the secret gem is really Lakeside, especially on a sultry summer Tuesday evening. Cruise down I-70 west of the mousetrap and you'll notice this enormous wooden roller-coaster beside a lake; and electric lights like it was 1910.

The place is still owned by the original owners, and Miss Rhoda is seen walking among the visitors of an evening, making sure all is well in her little magical kingdom. Run down, oh, definitely yes, but still great fun. We go every year with our free library passes... one time, when my oldest was 6 or 7 or so, he rode the Cyclone 26 times in one evening. We usually manage to ride at least ten times in a visit, the lines are rarely long, and small ones as young as three can ride that fabulous wooden coaster. We measure the passage of life in our family by three things: Christmas, 4th of July, and whether we're tall enough for which ride at Lakeside.

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