Gilroy Gardens, California

To celebrate our daughter’s 12th birthday, we took a trip to Gilroy Gardens in California.

We’ve been to this theme park several times.

2014 – Our First Visit

2016 – Our Second Visit

2019 – Our Third Visit

2024 – Our Most Recent Visit

Gilroy Gardens is truly a family theme park. Our kiddos have grown up visiting this park and we’ve all had such a great time on every visit. The grounds are gorgeous with lush vegetation and flowers. The food is really yummy. There are rides for all ages to enjoy! Although, there aren’t really any high thrill rides – but that’s okay with me! It’s not as popular crowded as some other big name theme parks which is also really nice.

It’s funny how special places can be. I feel like some places hold more value to me since we lost our home in Paradise. We don’t have the wall with all the kiddos heights marked in pencil, or the yard where we played with Killian the dachshund, or the floor where K spilled a bag of powdered sugar, or the outdoor Christmas tree we planted for our first born’s first Christmas. But we have Gilroy Gardens – unchanged – the same since 2014. The rides that the kiddos don’t fit in anymore because they are too tall. The rides that everyone can fit in now because they are all tall enough! The same circus trees grown just a bit taller. The same buckets of garlic fries we always like to get.

Which duck paddle boats will we get this time, the mallard, the swan, or the Canada Goose?

🗺️ Where are some of your favorite places that hold special memories for you?