Last modified: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 1:56 PM EDT Victroy is the author's after finishing the Olympic-themed maze. (Photo by John Pedersen) Corn mazes: The new Olympic sport? BY REBECCA KEISTER STAFF writer It was the first time in a long time I've felt that good after nearly exhausting myself physically. Rounding the umpteenth corner of 10-foot high rows of corn I'd passed in nearly an hour, I couldn't help but jump up and down when I saw the horn. "Go ahead, toot your own horn," my equally exuberant, and just as worn out, boyfriend John said to me, already two toots into his own victory celebration. We'd just reached the end point of the Olympic-themed Davis Mega Maze, where we made it through what's billed as the "most incredible, complex, 3-dimensional corn maze in the world" in under an hour. "We are the champions!" John said. And we were. Not just because we'd completed the maze in what we were told was a very good time but because we'd just had one of our best afternoons in recent memory, running around like kids and being amped up versions of our already silly selves. The day trip was my latest attempt at a 50/50 day - finding a great way to spend a day traveling 50 or fewer miles from home and spending $50 or less to do it. I'd heard about Davis' Mega Maze from several friends and had happened across its Web site several times while researching other stories, so trying it out seemed like an obvious choice for this trip, in which we were trying to say goodbye to summer. Located on Redstone Hill Road, the maze is about an hour's ride from Norfolk, clocking in at around 45 miles each way. General admission is $16.95 per person, so that meant a $33.90 bill for the two of us. Open since 1998, the maze sits in the middle of an otherwise normal looking street and offers over three miles of a-maze-ing fun. Designed year after year by Adrian Fisher, whom owner Larry Davis told me is the world's most famous maze designer, the maze is reconstructed each year with a different theme. This year, fittingly, is the Olympics. Each year, Davis lets the crops grow in after planting at the end of May and then uses a GPS system to clear the maze roadways. The maze is designed so that there are about 100 different ways to get through and the paths can be changed daily, meaning that repeat visitors can have a totally different experience even if they come twice in the same week. (This explains all the Do Not Enter signs that adorn several turn entrances.) The middle of the maze this year is designed to take visitors through the Olympic torch, but the Olympic-sized fun doesn't stop there. Olympic-themed games are located throughout the maze and each time we saw a new one, it was a chance to stop, play and laugh. John and I, quite jokingly, pounded giant hanging balls at each other at the Judo event and I took a graceful glide across the mud at the pole vault game. The Go for the Goal ball toss was a sort of shotput event. I have to admit John took the honors at this one. My favorite was the Luge, a good-sized slide I took a ride down. I don't think I've been on a slide since my playground days, but I'm happy to report it hasn't lost its charm. There also were stations where you could create your own maze map, using a pencil to rub a map image onto your "Olympic training" manual, and several stations where you could fill in a sort of Mad Libs-type game in the manual. Actually getting through the maze is, of course, the most fun part of the day's excursion. Davis warned us before setting us lose that visitors need at least 1-1/2 to 2 hours to make it through the easiest way. Uh-huh. But there are seven different intensity levels lined out in the training manual that can extend your day and would take, Davis said, about four hours to complete. Maze admission is good all day, so visitors are welcome to complete the maze as many times and as many different ways as they'd like. In case you get lost or stuck, there are staff members, known as maze masters, located throughout the maze. I'll admit that the first time we gave it a shot, we walked right in a big circle and ended up right back at the beginning. I thought we had just completed some type of unimaginable feat, but I was quickly told by a maze master that we were not, in fact, at the end. Well, at least we then knew how to get out, right? After that, we took different turns and enjoyed getting lost. And when we did reach the goal, it was a victory well earned. After making it through and posing for several "We did it" photographs, we enjoyed an ice cream type treat and some water. Words to the wise - when you visit Davis' Mega Maze, bring sunscreen and definitely splurge on a $2 bottle of water before you enter. The maze is physically challenging. You're walking nonstop for an hour while thinking at the same time, and climbing up and down several bridges. And that's if you make it on the first try. I'm not sure we would have made the car ride home if we'd needed a repeat attempt. After you're finished with the maze, take some time to wind down with the fun, human-sized puzzles on the property. There are giant chess and checkers games, and a few walk through mat-style puzzles. If you're hungry, the maze offers cookout type food, a handful of menu items, including cornbread, that'll cost you a handful of bucks or less. If you've got little ones with you, head across the street to Davis' Farmland. You actually have to have a child 12 years or younger to enter the farm, which has been in the Davis family for seven generations. There, you and the kids can visit animals, play around at the Play & Spray station and visit the farm's general store, which sells souvenirs, toys, clothing and snacks. If you happen to visit in the fall, families also can apple pick right at the farm. Admission to the farm is also $16.95, but you can get both tickets for $25.90 for general admission. An American dinner Since we didn't have any kids with us (though I plan to go back with my niece Madisyn at some point), we decided to take our remaining money and hungry bellies for an early dinner. We drove around Sterling for a bit before realizing that what we really were craving was one of our favorite restaurants, Joe's American Bar and Grill. Since we'd spent the day at the Olympics, we figured an American treat was in order. So, we popped in to the location in Dedham, which isn't necessarily on the way back to Norwood, but it is near John's home in Norwood. There, we were greeted with some new menu items, (guess we haven't been in a while), including a list of champagne cocktails. We decided to split fresh bruscetta mozzarella for $7.99, seared ahi tuna for $9.99, two items we never have had, and a mixed salad for $4.50. That meant we'd spent a total of around $22, which with tax and tip, put us around $10 over our day's budget. But, as maze champions, I think we'd earned it. REBECCA KEISTER can be reached at 508-236-0336 or at rkeister@thesunchronicle.com. If You go ... Davis' Mega Maze 145 Redstone Hill, Sterling 978-422-8888 www.davismegamaze.com Over 100 different possible configurations means this maze most likely never will be the same twice for visitors to its three miles of twists, turns, games and fun. Play all day for $16.95 for adults, $12.95 for kids ages 5-12 and seniors ages 60 and over. Kids under 5 are free. The maze is open through Labor Day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and from Sept. 6 to Nov. 1 Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. You must arrive at the maze at least one hour prior to closing to be able to try your luck at the Olympic-themed challenge. The maze is only open in good weather, so be sure to call ahead to make certain its open on the day you plan to visit. Decisions are made by 8 a.m. each day. Be sure to bring sunscreen. You'll be out in the glaring sun for at least an hour, and very likely much longer, and it gets hot surrounded by all that corn. Davis' Farmland Children's Discovery Farm Just across the street from the maze, the farm has been in the Davis' family for seven generations. It's for kids only (as adults must have at least one child under 12 years to enter the farm) and has plenty for the little ones to do from visiting the animals, splash around in a water play area, and take a pony ride among other things. Admission through Labor Day is $16.95 for ages 2 to 59, $13.95 for seniors over 60, and free for kids under 2. A combo pack for both the maze and farmland starts at $25.90. Prices for the farm decrease after the holiday. Until Labor Day, the park is open seven days from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and goes down to Thursday through Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Sept. 4 through Oct. 12.