Is SFMM worth going to from the San Fran area?

I'm just wondering if it is worth the long drive from San Fran to LA, just to get to SFMM. I want to go there to see how it compares to CP. I'm wondering what everybody thinks I should do? I will be staying at Stanford University(I'm not a student there).

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2 for 1 in 2001:SFGAm all the way!!
2002:CPs year 2 rule! *** This post was edited by Blink3020 on 3/18/2001. ***

You're kidding, right? As you know, or don't know, SFMM has an incredible coaster collection, more so than PGA and SFMW put together. Even better with three new coasters opening soon! SFMM was at the top of my list when I went to the US on my one & only visit & well worth it. Definitely is the 'Extreme Park.' You could say CP is the 'Traditional Park.' Calif and Ohio are two very different worlds, you just can't compare them & their parks for that matter! 'nuff said...

Oh, I don't want to seem pushy, just to remind you cobbers that if this thread erupts into another SFMM vs CP debate, it will be closed immediately by one of the mods.

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Home Park - Wonderland Sydney, Australia, featuring;
1) The Demon - 1988 Vekoma Boomerang
2) The Bush Beast - 1985 KEC Woodie (Clone of PKD's Grizzly)
3) Beastie - 1985 KEC Junior Woodie
4) More steel coasters please!!! Preferably a B&M Masterpiece!

*** This post was edited by CoasterGod on 3/18/2001. ***

BUT-- as awesome as SFMM is, California is NOT like Ohio. The drive is gonna be a killer from Palo Alto. You'd have to spend one day driving, one day at the park, and another day driving back. If you're cool with that, I highly recommend it!

i do it all the time. its about a 5-6 hour drive and its worth it. and now with the 3 new coasters i would definately do it.

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are you ready to go vertical?...V2 SFMW 2001 ...

Wow! Is it really that far between the two areas? If I were to fly out there with the intention of hitting Knott's and Magic Mountain, as well as Marine World and Great America, where should I go? I've had a layover in San Fran, and it was a reasonable airport. I've heard horror stories about LAX.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

I have never had any bad times at LAX in fact i usually am ontime. I don't know if they have any flights between SFO and Burbank or some place like that because if they did it would probably be a lot faster. Defenetly worth the drive or flight!!!
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magic mountain and CP rule

Jeff-
I'd say fly to LA and hit Knotts one day and then MM, and then travel up to 'frisco and do PGA and SFMW. I fly through LAX all the time, and in my experience, the size of the airport and its traffic has made it pretty efficient.
If you're looking at splitting the difference between the two locations, Santa Barbara would be a pretty good halfway point, although I don't know the airport nearest to the city.


*** This post was edited by biggs on 3/19/2001. ***


*** This post was edited by biggs on 3/19/2001. *** *** This post was edited by biggs on 3/19/2001. ***

LAX is just bigger and different than airport. At most airports were you wait for your plane to get to your gate you do your final check in. At LAX your walkng! YOu check in then walk to the gate that you will bw leaving at.

Well the drive! I make the loooooong drive down I5 at least once a year to socal. Its stright to the end of CA and takes only about 5 hrs to get to LA scence there really isn't a speed limit on I5. Its just you road and dirt. Its boring so bring some good music! You could go 99 but that takes real long. Hey it will be worth it when u arive at the end of the grapevince and just see ATON of huge coasters on a mountain.

Yup, I stopped breathing & rubbed my eyes, at first sight of STE, Goliath, RR, Viper and the Observation Tower. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, it was a 'Magical Mountain' feeling. :)

Hey Yanks, isn't air travel in your country cheap? Well, cheaper than by car or bus? Hence the name of planes as 'Shuttles.' There are no contrails at all in the sky over Sydney! I'm surprised mid-air collisions aren't as common as road head-ons. I got a fright as another plane passed mine by less than a mile on the way to NY from LA.

Would you believe it I find air travel more terrifying than any coaster?? :)
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Home Park - Wonderland Sydney, Australia, featuring;
1) The Demon - 1988 Vekoma Boomerang
2) The Bush Beast - 1985 KEC Woodie (Clone of PKD's Grizzly)
3) Beastie - 1985 KEC Junior Woodie
4) More steel coasters please!!! Preferably a B&M Masterpiece!


*** This post was edited by CoasterGod on 3/19/2001. ***

You could fly into El Toro. ;) On a serious note (if that is possible for me)...I think that you should take the coast highway for one of the ways (though it does take a long time) . Its just beautiful. Plus, there is SCBB and Hearst Castle on the way.

SFMM is worth any trip a person would have to make.

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The Northwest will Join the Best-in 2003!!!

I flown 13-16 hours to get to Knotts and SFMM. Twice last year and will be making the trip September this year.

Do I think its too much? Hell No. Gotta Go!

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If Lifes a Rollercoaster, I want a Flawless

Warning if you've never been there before: SFMM can get very crowded on weekends, holidays, and school breaks. From the point of view of avoiding crowds, your best bet is a weekday in the spring before school is out for the summer. Even then you may encounter school groups, but those tend to leave by 4:00 or so and then you'll have the place to yourself until they close at 6:00. Check their web site for schedules, and pick a day that they're only open until 6:00. Other good days are the Fridays after Labor Day, except for special-event days.

By all means, SFMM is worth a drive down from The Bay Area. I did it, but in reverse (I live near Knott's and drove North to SFMW, PGA & SCBB) and it took 8 hours. (in a motorhome, going from 70 miles South of SFMM all the way to Vallejo)

By all means, take merle's advice on what days to go. Last Spring, Goliath was a near walk-on all afternoon!!

Jeff: Hitting ALL parks in California is a daunting task, but if your rental car has cruise control, you're good to go!! The only bad part is that distance between SCBB and SFMM.

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"X" marks the spot in 2001!