Nestled in the woods near Salem, Oregon, is a land of make-believe, fairy tales and nursery rhymes. Those that travel the I-5 freeway between San Francisco and Portland might see the sign and catch a glimpse the exterior of this magical place, but until one steps through the gate, he or she can't possibly know what lies among those trees... Let us take you on a tour! A castle marks the entrance to the storybook trail, which is home to statues, animated figures, and interactive structures and playthings. Each piece of scenery was designed and built by Roger Tofte, the creator of the Enchanted Forest, and each is cute, but simplistic. A vivid imagination and a keen appreciation for stories and art will bring the storybook trail to life. Follow me as we embark on the trail... We walk across a bridge and over the alligator swimming in the moat (a personal favorite), and we enter the castle. Inside we find figures from various fairy tales (some unidentifiable, which leads to much speculation and discussion...) "Who is that supposed to be?" "I don't know... it kind of looks like the witch from Sleeping Beauty. But why would they rip off Disney?" "Because they can?" A gingerbread house is inviting from the exterior, but inside we are greeted by a scene of a witch trying to murder a couple of trespassers. This terrifies us, and so we flee, but not before eating part of the wall. Next along the trail, we come upon an homage to nursery rhymes, with statues depicting the misadventures of Little Miss Muffett, Humpty Dumpty, and Mary and her lamb. Further on, we are treated to some of the sights from Alice In Wonderland, including a rabbit hole (tunnel) that begins under a stump... ...and exits via a keyhole. Then there's a maze (made of wood, similar to a hedge maze). Once through that, we cross a stone bridge and cast a glance at poor Jack and Jill on their hill. Snow White's house comes next -- merely a sight, not a walkthrough -- but we can peek into the windows and see Snow White, along with an animatronic array of animal friends. They're cleaning the place up... but where are the dwarfs? Why, they are working in their mine (supposedly) farther down the trail, though once inside the darkened quarters of the diamond mine, we begin to suspect the dwarfs aren't really there at all. At least the jewels give off a nice glow, and there's a strange little stream of green water running through the caves. The addition of black lighting makes this one of the coolest attractions on the storybook trail. Next is the witch's head, one of the best photo ops at the park. You enter through her mouth. Her head's pretty empty (we are not surprised), but there is a slide, and there's also a good chance you might get trapped inside forever (she likes to take prisoners). Hunger strikes, and tasty aromas are wafting from a cute cottage up the trail, and so once leaving the witch's skull, we continue... It seems three bears live in this here house. They are currently bemoaning the loss of their breakfast. It seems someone broke in and ate some of it. Not wanting to be accused of such grievous misdeeds, we quickly make our exit. The Crooked House, another nursery-rhyme staple, is fun to walk through, though it's hard not to make it through without feeling a little dizzy. The floors and walls are all slanted at unnatural angles, and the furniture is painted on the walls. Not very useful, if you ask me, but then again, it seems no one lives here anyway. Neighboring the crooked house is Peter Pumpkineater's giant pumpkin, where he houses the wife he couldn't keep for some odd reason. Except he actually could keep her... he kept her in a pumpkin. I don't get it. Nursery rhymes are kind of twisted, if you ask me. Don't believe me? Well, take the old woman who lived in the shoe, for example... She had so many children, she didn't know what to do. I mean, okay, so what's up with that? Does she have a husband? A boyfriend? How'd she get all the kids, and who's paying child support? Obviously no one, because they have to live in a boot, though every nursery rhyme book I've ever read portrays the shoe as being a fun place to live... kids swinging on the shoelaces and sliding down the toe and stuff. This is one of those "evolving" nursery rhymes. Older versions say that Mommy whipped the children when she got fed up with them. I grew up with the one that said she spanked them. I read one recently that said she simply kissed them. What's next? The Old Woman Who Lived In The Shoe (2006 Version) There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, She had so many children, she didn't know what to do So she took them to Wal-Mart and bought them some toys Because falling prices gives poor children joys Then she gave them some soup, some cake, and some bread Told them they were unique and special and led them to bed But not before 2 hours of TV and a bath And help with their homework, English and math She gave them some water and sang them a song Read stories, and told them they could do no wrong She fluffed up their pillows and gave them their bears Patted their heads and whispered some prayers She kissed them and hugged them and tucked them in tight Then turned on their nightlights and bid them goodnight At the Enchanted Forest, the shoe is the beginning of a giant slide. Awesome. Though the shoe slide marks the end of the storybook trail, there is plenty more to see at the Enchanted Forest, including... *Tofteville mining town, home to a general store, a log ride, a shooting gallery, and a "pan for gold" attraction. Oh, and Abraham Lincoln. *A new attraction -- "The Challenge of Mondor" -- where riders sit in cars and get to shoot at things with infrared guns. *A European village, complete with a Blackbird theater, Pinocchio's house, and a bobsled ride. *A light/water show. *A Summer theater, where humorous plays are performed. *Kiddie rides, including a Frog Hopper, Ferris Wheel, and Bumper Boats. *A Haunted House. *Indian Caves, which have several entrances/exits and lead young adventurers underground through a maze of tunnels. The Enchanted Forest has something for all ages. The clever designs and attention to detail are only a few of the things that make this place so special. A trip to the Enchanted Forest ensures that for a few hours, anyone can get lost in a land of make-believe and wonder. What makes it even more special is that it was designed and built by one family, who who spent most the 1960's and the early 1970's building the place, then running it. It doesn't have that kind of cookie-cutter, corporate quality that some theme parks have. It's truly special. If you'd like to visit the Enchanted Forest, it's open from March to the end of September. The admission price is quite reasonable. It's perfect for small children, but it's also ideal for anyone who's a kid at heart. For more information, visit the official Enchanted Forest website. 9/29/2006 (c)2006 AlligatorJuice.com Special thanks to Jenn M., Stan P., and Kerry E. :)