Kennywood worth it?

We are entertaining the idea of taking the 8 hour drive from my house to kennywood park to spend 1 full day there and then drive home the next day. Knoebels is less then 4 hours from me and we really don't know which place to go to.My wife has limited vacation time and we have to do it on a 3 day weekend.Is kennywood really worth it or is knoebels the better choice??Please give feedback.nooner57 *** This post was edited by Michael Noon on 6/12/2000. ***

I would pick Kennywood just because it is Steel Phantom's last year. That is, go there if you are a coaster fan. Even if you weren't, I would still gfo there. Then again, I have never been to Knoebel's, but I would pick Kennywood.

It all depends on what you are after. Kennywood offers great old wooden coasters, and a charm that dates back to the early 1900's. For the most part, their coasters do not break any records (with the exception of the doomed Steel Phantom.) but they are unique in their own ways. The Thunderbolt has been hailed year after year as the #1 best woodie by coaster enthusiasts around the globe!

Kennywood is also smaller in size compared to other amusement parks. But the uniqueness and charm of the park makes it entirely different. While, I would recommend making the trip to get a final ride on Steel Phantom, I would also recommend packing that bottle of aspirin, as the inversions of SP tends to toss your head around a bit!

If you have been to Knoebel's before, but never been to Kennywood, I would emphatically recommend a visit to Kennywood!

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Neil
Pittsburgh, PA

If you do go to Kenywood I have a suggestion for the Steel Phantom. DO not sit in the midddle section of the train either sit in the very front or the second to the last seat. This is so you can enjoy the ride without the headbanging.

You can't lose - they are both great parks, traditional with rides you can't find anywhere else. Kennywood is bigger, with more rides, and has "the world's best french fries" (Potato Patch); Knoebel's is the best amusement park value in the world (FREE parking; FREE admission; bring your own food if you want!) with excellent -and reasonably priced - food. It also has a great dark ride (the Haunted Mansion), a beautiful setting, and maybe the most enjoyable non-coaster ride I've ever been on, their scooters (bumper cars). Kennywood has three great wooden coasters, and a huge steel one that, after riding once, I will never go near again. Kennywood has a really cool junior coaster, an excellent new woodie in Mr. Twister, and, of course, the Phoenix, which I feel is just perhaps the best coaster I've ever been on. So it's a tough call. As for me, having been to both, the one I'd return to (if I had to pick just one) would be Knoebel's.
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Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill.

Having only been to Kennywood, my opinion might be a bit biased. Kennywood has a good variety of rides, not to mention quite a few one-of-a-kind rides you will not find at any other park. We really enjoyed our day at this little park last month. The employees seemed nice, and the french fries are the best I have had anywhere.

I would definetly choose kennywood because it is one of thee best parks in the world. I never been to knoebels so I really cant tell you what to choose. But I would go just because of the final season of the Steel phantom.

Spewey, just to correct you...

"Kennywood has a really cool junior coaster, an excellent new woodie in Mr. Twister, and, of course, the Phoenix, which I feel is just perhaps the best coaster I've ever been on."

...that is I beleive Knoebel's you are talking about.

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Neil
Pittsburgh, PA

Oops! My bad. My post doesn't really make sense with that mistake, does it? Yeah, KNOEBEL'S has the awesome Pheonix and all those other fun things ...
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Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill.

Kennywood is ALWAYS worth the extra time to get there. I take my only day off a week (from working at an amusement park) just to go once or twice a year.

This is not to take anyhting away from Knoebel's. I've heard nothing but good things about the park. But Kennywood is one of the great remaining classic trolly parks (sans the trolley :))

Thanks all for the great replies.Off to kennywood we go!!