Planning Western PA coaster trip... need help!

Will do... my next step is to get my road atlas and see where all of these places are, then head over to Mapquest for an approximation of driving distances (I don't use them for directions anymore- they've burned me too many times). Once I get that far, then it will be time to plan hotels, at which point I'll definitely be enlisting the help of some of the locals who have been so good to me :)

------------------
-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002

The Hampton Inn on Lebanon Church Road is pretty nice. I've stayed there, and it's not too bad as far as getting to Kennywood goes.

Make sure to ask locals for directions around Pittsburgh, though. I know that I wouldn't want to be reading some Mapquest nonsense while trying to figure out how to get to Kennywood. ;)

I think I'd recommend Monroeville over West Mifflin, though, for people new to the area. West Mifflin is closer to the park, but Monroeville is much easier to deal with in terms of easy access to the highway.

------------------
--Greg, aka Oat Boy
My page
"The safety word is 'banana'." -- Family Guy

I learned the hard way not to trust Mapquest. They let me down many times- the last being when their directions to the Jones Beach Ampitheater left me on a residential cul-de-sac that was about 10 miles away from it. After that, I vowed "never again."

They're only good for (very) loose estimations of time and distance between two points.

------------------
-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002

I planned a trip from Columbus, OH to Huntington, WV (a Camden Park visit) and Mapquest tried to send me through Pittsburgh!

------------------
Ripple Rock Amusement Park
Flying Scooter coming soon!

No stop in Hershey for the new rocket?

------------------
2nd Bunny Hill, Superman: RoS SFA = AIRTIME!
BackSeat of COURSE!

Hershey is only a 2 1/2 hour ride for me, so I can hit that in a day (early morning drive, stay all day, late drive back). I want to hit parks that I can't do in a single day.

------------------
-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002

The Sheraton at Station Square is probably the place to stay in Pittsburgh for ease of stuff to do and because your view will be so picturesque.

Unfortunately, it's a bit more expensive than the hotels in the suburbs, and it also usually is booked up well in advance (although if you're planning that now, it probably won't be a problem.)

As an added bonus, the Sheraton is actually on the same road as Kennywood. It's still quicker to hop on to the highway (also very accessible to the Sheraton.) However, you could just stay on Route 837, and that'd turn in to Kennywood Boulevard in about 10 miles.

------------------
Isn't it nice, sugar and spice, luring disco darlings to a life of vice.

Depending on time of day and traffic on 376 (SqHill tunnel and Waterfront) staying on 837 might be the best way to go anyway.

------------------
--Greg, aka Oat Boy
My page
"The safety word is 'banana'." -- Family Guy

I would recommend Monroeville to stay. I've stayed there two times (unfortunately, I found out this year that the one motel fell to the wrecking ball). They have all the conveniences of the suburbs (food stores, restaurants etc.), plus you're right at the turnpike entrance.
------------------
If someone makes a post and you post-quote it right beneath it, you're wasting bandwidth. Think before you press the button.

Intamin Fan said:
If someone makes a post and you post-quote it right beneath it, you're wasting bandwidth. Think before you press the button.

That's a good idea! ;)

------------------
Isn't it nice, sugar and spice, luring disco darlings to a life of vice.

If you're planning on heading north, then staying near Pittsburgh might be better(get onto 279 N easier). If you're planning on heading back, then maybe Monroeville would then be easier.

I have mapped out this entire trip on a decent-sized print-out of the state of PA, and now that I can visualize everything, it looks as though it might make sense to stay in one spot near Kennywood for the duration of the trip. We could drive out, hit Williams Grove and Idlewild and continue to drive to the Pittsburgh area, then go to Kennywood one day, make the drive north to Waldameer and Conneaut and drive back down another day, and then leave on the fourth day and hit Lakemont and DelGrosso's on the way home.

The only reason I mention this is because its much easier to stay at one place for 3 days instead of living out of a suitcase, going from hotel to hotel. I've done coaster trips where we go from hotel to hotel to hotel, and it seems more like a business trip than a vacation. There is something to be said for having a "home base" of sorts.

------------------
-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002

That's actually a very good plan. I definitely agree that it's easier to set up a "home base" if you can, and in this case you've laid out a pretty workable scheme.

------------------
--Greg, aka Oat Boy
My page
"The safety word is 'banana'." -- Family Guy

Seems like you have a good plan here, Rob. More than one day at Kennywood is, to me, wasteful. Of course, I'm one of the few who think that Kennywood is overrated.

------------------
Harry Baer IV

"It's not going to stop 'til you wise up..."

I wasn't planning on more than one day at Kennywood, as I think that we'll be able to do everything we want and more within a day. I remember there being a lot to do, but its a rather small park so we shouldn't get TOO tired from walking!

------------------
-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002