Kennywood!

The backup is only between 6:30am and 9:30am and then again between 3:30pm and 6:30pm, so as long as he avoids those times, it takes me 18 minutes door to door from my place 2 minutes from the airport to my apartment in Oakland. And that includes all the slow travelling because the tunnels are still closed. There is construction on the south side of West End, the inbound tunnels are completely closed, the outbound tunnels now carry inbound traffic and re-reroute you down the onramp to access 376. The roads this summer are a complete mess, but as long as you don't hit rush hour, there isn't that much traffic. 20 minutes, guarenteed.

Sending an out of towner into Oakland, the South Side and Squirril Hill when they have to get back out somtime before next year and without a guide, you may as well buy them a later plane ticket now =)

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"You know we got a good thing goin and I don't wanna see it end" --Reel Big Fish
-- Brett

Thanks for all these directions guys, but I don't think we'll have any trouble finding the park.

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ALL NEW COASTER SITE!
www.coasterinsomniacs.com

Yeah, wait to say that until you are actually sitting in Pittsburgh traffic trying to find the park. But as for "time to kill stuff" if you don't mind driving a bit, go to Station Square. It has a really cool mall/shopping area, alot of good restaurants (my personal favorite is the Hard Rock), and you can take a boat tour of the area (the Gateway Clipper Fleet). Also down toward the park is a huge outdoor mall called the Waterfront that has an awesome movie theater. If you are looking to catch a movie, look at going there. Unfortunately, as has been noted, beside Robinson, there isn't much to do right around the airport. Before 9/11 you used to be able to go into the terminal and look around (which was really cool), but now you can't. Hope this helps.

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And Trogdor smote the Kerrek, and all was laid to Burnination.
-Strong Bad

OMG, I love deep fried oreos. kpjb, where can I get them at Kennywood? I had them once at Lake Compounce for the Haunted Graveyard. They were amazing. Potato Patch fries, and deep fried oreos. What a meal!
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Wicked Twists-53
"Keep arms down and head back and hold on."
Top Thrill Drags- 6
Visits to CP 2003-4

Sadly, the roasted corn is no longer at Kennywood. I believe that was an outside vendor who had a stand set up at Kennywood last year -- kpjp, any info on why they're not back?

Agreed that sending an out-of-towner to the South Side or Squirrel Hill (or Shadyside, or the Strip District) when they have a limited amount of time could be a bad move. Shame, since the South Side and the Strip District can be quite a lot of fun. The Waterfront is kind of cool, in a national chain sort of way (Dave & Busters, Rock Bottom, PF Chang, The Improv...) and is really right on the way to Kennywood (via an easy alternate route which I actuall prefer in light traffic), but traffic there can be an absolute nightmare. That's my Giant Eagle, and I dread going there sometimes...

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--Greg, aka Oat Boy
My page
"I can't believe I just left a nuclear weapon in an elevator." -- Farscape

Yea, that's my Giant Eagle too. But, when its not rush hour or Friday or Saturday nite movie times, its really not that bad. Heck for Matrix 2 even we made it from my apartment to Lowes in 9 minutes, and we went to the 745pm showing.

But yea, I already sent him some directions that way - I always thought the way all the signs take you is a nightmare. Taking the Waterfront is so much easier.

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"You know we got a good thing goin and I don't wanna see it end" --Reel Big Fish
-- Brett

Like baseball? If the Pirates are in town, you could go to a game. It's worth it just to get inside the incredible PNC Park.

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A day is a drop of water in the ocean of eternity. A week is seven drops.

Drink Sierra Mist locally and you get buy-one-get-one-free at the Bucs games

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"You know we got a good thing goin and I don't wanna see it end" --Reel Big Fish
-- Brett

A Pirates game is an excellent idea. I'm not even a baseball fan, but will occasionally go to a cheap game to enjoy the park. There's actually plenty to do in Pittsburgh outside of Kennywood, in spite of what those idiots at Forbes might think...

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--Greg, aka Oat Boy
My page
"I can't believe I just left a nuclear weapon in an elevator." -- Farscape

I'm pretty sure Forbes is talking about the urban area itself, in which case I would agree with them. But once you enter the Burgh's suburbs, there is stuff to do..

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2002/2003
KP Team Member

kpjb said:
The Aero 360 and King Kahuna, particularly, are rides that can be found at many other parks.

No offense kpjb but the King Kahuna is diffrent that other parks since it now invoves water. Yep, just took a trip there my self last Friday and you splash into the water.

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Download THE FORCE
http://games.coasterbuzz.com/filedetail.aspx?GameFileID=269

Too bad - I just checked and the Bucs are out of town that weekend.

I disagree that there's nothing to do in Pittsburgh. I've been there twice (not counting three express, in-and-out trips to Kennywood), and I've always had a great time. I think its downtown is the most beautiful and interesting that I've ever seen (with Chicago as a close second).

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A day is a drop of water in the ocean of eternity. A week is seven drops.

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steelphantom said:

No offense kpjb but the King Kahuna is diffrent that other parks since it now invoves water. Yep, just took a trip there my self last Friday and you splash into the water.

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Uhhh... no you don't. There's a fountain there, yes, but it never comes in contact with the ride. (Yet ;) )

Greg, I have no idea why the corn guy didn't return. I don't even really know if it was us or him who didn't renew his contract. I can't see Kennywood kicking him out if he was making the park a few bucks, though.

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Come on, fhqwgads!

I've heard Phantom's Revenge is an incredible coaster and an airtime machine, but nothing much else. What are some of your thoughts?

It seems to me all of Kennywood is a park you hear a lot about but then don't hear much. I don't know if that makes sense, but oh well.

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ALL NEW COASTER SITE!
www.coasterinsomniacs.com

Phantom's Reveng is an incredible ride, and an airtime machine to boot! ;)

I don't know what else to say, though. It's a great ride with really, really agressive, violent air. I love it.

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Darth Saambe said:
I've heard Phantom's Revenge is an incredible coaster and an airtime machine, but nothing much else. What are some of your thoughts?

It seems to me all of Kennywood is a park you hear a lot about but then don't hear much. I don't know if that makes sense, but oh well.

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ALL NEW COASTER SITE!
www.coasterinsomniacs.com

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Phantoms Revenge is just that. While its one of the the shotrest hypers in the World, its one of the most unique. Ive never rode a coaster with better air, and my track record includes over 60 coasters including Magnum. Its my second favorite steel coaster, second only to Millie. Thunderbolt is also an incredible ride. Racer is uniquie because of the Hand-slapping on the first turn.(there's nothing else like that, anywhere.) Jack Rabbit's double dip gives what Is the best moment of air ive ever felt on a Wooden. Exterminator is just plain crazy. You cant go wrong with any of their coasters, they all offer something unique. Pitt fall is the best free-fall ride ive ever been on. Noah's Ark is truly unique as well. There's really so much crammed into Kennywood...you cant go wrong.

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Kennywood Park, America's finest traditional amusement park.

Wow....you've all failed to name one other special ride that is the last of it's kind in the WORLD - the classic Auto Racer. Yeah, it looks like a kiddie ride but it's a *ton* of fun, especially if you're riding with friends and can hand-slap.

Other than Auto Racer and the coasters you can't go wrong with many of the other rides people have mentioned including: Kangaroo, Whip, Gold Rush, Noah's Ark, Old Mill, Log Flume, Turtle, Mini-Steam Train, Bayurn Curve, and the rides in Volcano Valley [Top Spin & Enterprise].

I know this is tantamount to blasphemy but I've never found the Potato Patch fries anything out of the ordinary. I've certainly had better fries elsewhere. But it's a tradition....

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"I don't like poop singers." Peabody, discussing American Idol.

Yep, can't go wrong with the coaster that sports the seventh longest drop in the world. It is also the oldest coaster in the Top 10 (technically, most of that second drop is from SP), so that shows you how much pull it has.

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2002/2003
KP Team Member

Moosh,

I ain't no foo'! ;) I know the Racer there is a classic and I'll enjoy it very much! I'm looking forward to every ride in the park! But, I've always wanted to ride the Steel Phantom, and then now Phantom's Revenge.

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ALL NEW COASTER SITE!
www.coasterinsomniacs.com

Darth - just to make sure we're clear I'm not talking about the coaster named Racer but the Traver car ride named Auto Racer.

mOOSH

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"If there are any serious and non stupid people out there thank you. otherwise youre all morons." - Jesse Mer on May 20th, 2003

*** This post was edited by Mamoosh 5/20/2003 7:03:37 PM ***