Merry Go Rounds in my Life

I love Merry go Rounds!  I  always look for the historic hand carved carousels when we travel so I can ride!  St. Paul, Minnesota, originally at the Minnesota State Fair Grounds, this all wood carousel was the one I rode as a child each summer when visiting the HUGE state fair.  It was moved from the original site and restored to perfection.  It is housed at the Como Park Zoo grounds in St. Paul.

These horses are all natural  but their saddles and decorative trims are brightly colored.  This carousel was made by The Philadelphia Tobaggan Company.

In Minnesota there are over 20,000 lakes, and of course fish and what eats fish?  A pelican!  The Lark Toys Carousel is all wood too, carved in the 1980s by a craftsman who learned to whittle when he had Polio as a child.  This carousel is brightly colored and highly varnished with very a unique assortment of animals and birds to ride on.

This Carousel is south of the Twin Cities in Kellogg, Minnesota.  See the flamingo in the background? 

And now to the West Coast:  California

Taking my daughter to Los Angeles in 2006, I had to see the carousel at the Santa Monica Pier!  It's a big one and a beauty! 

I love the bright colors on this carousel.  I ride each carousel I visit and this one is fast! 

A trip to Story City, Iowa included a trip to the Story City carnival sized carousel.  It has matched pairs, just two rows of animals but they are unique.

Just an hour north of Des Moines, Story City is a small farming community so what child wouldn't want to jump on a rooster for a ride?

Or the pair of pooches?  This smaller size Merry Go Round was pulled on a trailer to small town carnivals, the animals are smaller and there are only about 10 pairs and a bench seat.

There are several more carousels that I've been to and I'll share them later. If you have a favorite, please tell me about it!  I am adding to my 'Bucket List' of must sees.