Thoughts/Suggestions for my Planned coaster trip

Alright, here's the plan.  From the chicagoland area, first to PKI for a day.  Next hit SFWoA for a day, then two at CP.  Is there anywhere else I should be going thats not going to increase my driving distance dramatically?(Besides SFGAM)  This is my first coaster road trip, so any suggestions would be appreciated.

I would include Kennywood between PKI and SFWoA.

And beware of weekends. Do as many weekday park visits as possible. I typically plan my longer drives for the weekends, unless I know it's a small park that doesn't get much traffic. Needless to say, none of these parks would fit into that catagory.

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Without the chaindog, you'd never get up the lifthill...

It depends on how long you're willing to increase your trip by.  I did a similar trip in 2000 and hit Indiana Beach, Holiday World, and SFKK before cutting straight over to PKI.  From there I hit Kennywood, SFDL, SFWoA, CP, Fun Spot, and Michigan's Adventure.  I'd leave out SFDL and Michigan's Adventure because they'd put on some pretty major extra driving time.  Adding SFKK, HW, and IB would be an extra 200 miles or so, so like I said - it depends on how long you're willing to increase your trip by.

-Nate

I agree with Chaindog, add Kennywood in there between PKI and SFWoA.  You won't regret it.

Kennywood, all the way.  Great Park.
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Fear the Wrath of the Phantom! Phantoms Revenge, Kennywood park, West Mifflin Pennsylvania.

Not sure how much extra time, miles or money you are willing to spend…  did you ever think of breaking this up into more than one trip?  Say over the course of three years?

Trip 1:   Indiana Beach / Holiday World / SFKK / PKI / SFWoA / CP (sort of the trip you are talking about now)

Trip 2: Michigan’s Adventure / Paramount’s Canada’s Wonderland / Marineland (Niagara Falls Ont) / Martin’s Fantasy Island / SFDL

Trip 3:  Conneaut Lake / Kennywood / Lakemont / Hersheypark / Knoebels / Dorney Park

You could really go nuts and extend trip #3 by adding SFGrAdv / Morey’s Piers / SFA (PKD and BGW would be nice, but you are starting to drop pretty far south at that point)

Each of those give a mix of BIG parks and smaller parks.
Keep a few things in mind:  Don’t be greedy… don’t try to do it all in one trip.  You will put on lots of miles.  You will spend $. 

 Also, if at PKI, you may want to consider Americana.  RUMOR (and it is only rumor at this point) is that it MAY be open this year.  If so, I would say get there… a park can only cheat the grim reaper so many times.
*** This post was edited by SLFAKE on 2/12/2002. ***
*** This post was edited by SLFAKE on 2/12/2002. ***

*** This post was edited by SLFAKE on 2/12/2002. ***

SFKK and HW are pretty close to Cincinatti. We are taking that route this year.
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My other car is a Giovanola!

Man, I would hit Holiday World no matter what.  Then again, I have never been to Kennywood...:)
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Check out my website!

My .02 cents...

On your planned route:

Indiana Beach [Monticello, IN] - The drive from PKI back home to Chicago take you thru Indianapolis and very close to Indiana Beach.  That is one park that I would highly suggest. 

Fun Spot [Angola, IN] If you're a credit whore and want to boost your track record you can stop by Indiana Fun Spot in Angola on the way to CP and ride their two steelies. 

Americana [Middletown, OH] Just north of Cincy and if that park opens this year you won't want to miss it. 

Expanding your route:

SFKK [Louisville, KY] About 2 hours Southwest of Cincy, the park has a ton of flats, an excellent B&M stand-up [my fav], and a air-time filled woody, Thunder Road.

Holiday World [Santa Claus, IN] If you've made it to Louisville you *HAVE* to go to Holiday World.  The park is an hour west of Louisville but you gain an hour crossing into Indiana, so you end up arriving a few mintues after you left ;-)  Two outstanding woodies, fun flats, great waterpark, tons of free amenities, awesome staff.  Have I convinced you yet?

If you go early enough during their full time operation, you could definately do CP in a day.  Use that day to do something like MIA.
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Is it the roar of Kumba or the kumba of Roar? Discuss!

People have pretty much covered it.  The only thing that I can add is, if you are doing the same time coming from the east, you should consider adding Lakemont in Altoona.

Thanks for the help guys, I think I only want to expand my trip by one park, two tops.  I'll have to look into each suggestion and pick the one or two I like best.  Its just hard to figure out whats out there, and how to get there.  You guys know it all though!

You're welcome, Patrick K, but we really don't know it all! We just all want to go to all the parks all the time, and planning the trips is what keeps us going.
I hope you enjoy your trip, whatever you decide. And when you're ready to plan the next one, throw it out here and let us all enjoy that one, too!
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Without the chaindog, you'd never get up the lifthill...

*** This post was edited by Chaindog on 2/12/2002. ***