Mid-America Road Trip....Please Help!

My family is driving from VA all the way to St. Louis. They have given me the worst news of my life...I can only go to 1 park! Ahh, this is relly hard for me. The farthest north that we can travel is Cincinatti. The farthest west we can go to is St. Louis. Please give me some suggestions as to which park I should visit. I would like to know from people who have visited alot of parks in the area, and not just the ones who rave about their homepark. Thanks, Bruce :)

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©Bruce's Posting Co.

Well, I have been to SF saint louis and SFGAm and I think SFGAm is DA ! It has Raging Bull, Viper, V2 is open, Shockwave, Batman, Eagle, Whizzer, Giant Drop, Iron Wolf, and many flat rides. It is a big park with much selection.

Which is better SFGAm Or PKI?

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©Bruce's Posting Co.

Go to either PKI or Holiday World. If you want a big park with lots of rides and crowds, PKI is a great pick. If you want a smaller park that still has 2 of the best woodies in the world and is much les crowded, go to HW. Both parks have nice water parks included with admission. If cost is a factor, PKI will probably cost twice as much for a day. SFGAm (my home park) is also a great choice. but is much farther North that Cinci.

Mike *** This post was edited by Riverview Mike on 5/25/2001. ***

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ßruce said:
"Which is better SFGAm Or PKI?

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It doesn't matter which of these is better. You stated that the farthest north you can go is Cincy. SFGAm is north of Chicago - a 6 hour drive north.

So, I can't comment on SF St. Louis but PKI is a great park. You got the Beast (great wooden), Son of Beast, Flight of Fear (a great launched coaster), Face/Off, Racer (forward and backward), Vortex, King Cobra (a fine stand-up), Top Gun (an OK suspended), and the new, fun Runaway Reptar (family inverted).

I'm sure I've forgotten something but PKI would be my choice.

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"Seek not outside yourself." - ZeroOne

Bruce,

I am also going into this area with my family week after next. I have done all of these parks before with my family. (SFSTL,PKI,SFKK and HW) The park that my wife and children enjoy the most is Holiday World. It is just off of I-64 about halfway between Louisville and St. Louis.

REASONING:

1)This park has a very laid-back, family atmosphere. Less need to rush around. It's a relaxing non-stressfull environment for non-thrill ride enthusiast.
2)It won awards as the cleanest park in the country.
3)The employees are friendly to a fault. Past Awards in this catagory also.
4)Two great CCI woodies.
5)A fantastic and safe water park.
6)Free parking.
7)Unlimited Free soft drinks.
8)Quality food at reasonable prices.
9)Attractions that non park enthusiast wives may enjoy such as wax museum, doll museum and a fantastic Christmas museum.
10)Discount for entire family with one unmarked (any) pepsi can. (They have an ever better discount for ACE members)

Make sure to check the website www.holidayworld.com

This is in no way a slam on the other parks as they are all terrific. Well, maybe not SFKK. But I sensed that, like myself, you may have some family members that want to experience other things besides amusement parks. Through my experience, Holiday World is by far and away the best choice between Cincy and StL.

By the way, St. Louis is one of the best, most inexpensive family vacation cities that we've ever been to. Don't miss,

Science Center, free

Zoo, free

Grant's Farm, free

Missouri Botanical Garden's, small admission
The Museum for Westward Expansion, free (Under the Arch)

The Magic House if you have children under 12. This attraction is about 5 or 6 dollars but most hotels have 2for1 coupons.

Try to find Ted Drewes on Chippewa Ave for the best (custard) milkshakes you've ever eaten. They are called "Concretes". This is a local favorite and the long lines move very fast.

See www.explorestlouis.com for details on these attractions.

Like I stated before, I'm taking my family on a midwestern swing in June. We'll be traveling from our home in eastern Kentucky to St. Louis on June 2, a couple of days there then on to Wisconsin Dells, SFGam and Indiana Beach.

I hope this information is helpful. I guarantee, if you chose Holiday World, you'll be thanking me later.

Have a safe trip.

DAC

Wow thanks for the help! I will have a hard time trting to convince my sister to go to HW. She saw SoB and completly fell in love. That is my next challange :)
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©Bruce's Posting Co.