Oh Sea World, I love you so

For many, many years, Cedar Point's Raptor has been my favorite roller coaster. But Sea World's Manta just kicked the bird to the curb. It's got the smoothness and the loops and twists that I like, with the bonus gimmick that you go through the whole ride head-first, face-down. You hit the first loop and when you get to the bottom you realize that your stomach is at least three cars behind you. Awesome!

I managed to get on it right after the park opened today, and it was so awesome (and the line was so short) that I rode it twice before I called Jason to tell him it was his turn. Then he got in line, it was under repair for 20 minutes, and when he finally got to ride it made him feel so sick that he took a Dramamine once he got off. Score! Now I don't have to alternate turns with him when we go back this weekend!

I wasn't the only one enjoying the roller coasters at Sea World ... after going on every spinning ride in sight, Liza was jumping up and down with excitement to go on the Shamu Express in the kiddie area.

That's my girl, on her first "real" coaster (that is, the first one that was built more recently than 1956 and goes more than 20 feet high), and yes, we're in the front car. Why bother with a middle car when the kid is so short she can barely see out of the car in the first place?

Liza loved Sea World, as I knew she would. She loved the pet show, she was okay with Shamu, and she loved the acrobats. She had a great time at the aquarium next to Manta, too.

When I asked her what her favorite part of the day was, she told me she didn't have one. When I asked her what her least favorite part was, she said she didn't have one, because everything was so much fun.