Want to see a great park.. where should I go?

Thanks :) I hope to make a weekend trip and see 2 or 3 parks! I like roller coasters but also the flatrides too. I prefer something similar to boulder dash or mind eraser. I have yet been on SROS at SFNE but from what everyone hear says I better get in line soon for it :)

Danielle - thanks for the additional information. Since you live in Connecticut getting to SFNE should be easy. Many people consider Superman to be the best steel coaster in the US -- myself included -- so yes I would suggest getting there when you can but save that for another weekend, not for the trip you're currently asking about.

For your 2-3 day trip I'd suggest picking 2 parks from the following three geographical areas:

1] Any of parks in Eastern PA [like Knoebels, Dorney, and Hersheypark].

2] Any of the parks in New Jersey [SFGAdv, Clementon, or maybe something on the Jersey Shore like Wildwood].

3] Any of the parks in Maryland and Northern Virginia [SFA, PKD, BGW].

I'll leave it to you to research all of those parks and decide which works best for you. I'd suggest going to www.rcdb.com and each park's website and seeing what they have to offer.

mOOSH

When were you planning to go?

To the best of my knowledge, the only NE parks open weekends right now are BGW, SFGAdv, Paramount Kings Domain, and SFNE. The rest will start opening weekends in early May. All parks should be are very quiet before Memorial Day weekend.

If your road trip is on Memorial Day weekend, I would recommend Hersheypark and Dorney for the variety and high-capacity of their coasters. Honourable mention goes to BGW, whose 4 coasters have great capacity, and whose great shows which absorb significant crowds. But your 8 hours might stretch a bit going there. My rule-of-thumb for day-time travelling on long weekends is to add 20-40 minutes additional drive time for each major city I pass because all the idiots and 80-year-olds decide to drive in my lane. ;) Conneticut to BGW or PKD means passing NYC, Philly, Baltimore, and Washington. Good luck!

[added SFNE to open parks list] *** Edited 4/12/2005 1:44:30 AM UTC by greatwhitenorth***

lol Moosh....BGW is over three hours from "northern Virginia"hehe:)

you westcoast folks and your confidence;)

I agree with everyone that said PA. That is where I am from. Hersheypark is my homepark, and you can't go wrong here! I suggest 2 nights 3 days. Hershey your 1st day, and part of the 2nd. Finish off the day at Knoebels. Last day at Dorney. That would make for a great weekend trip.

I made the trip up to SFNE, and Lake Compounce last year, and it isn't a bad trip at all. Its a little over 4 hours if you travel at night to avoid the traffic.

You have to ride Superman at SFNE! That is best coaster that I have experienced. I wouldn't miss riding that for anything. I already have another trip planned for this year. My #1 steel coaster.

You also can't go wrong with CP. It isn't the Rollercoast for nothing! Although nothing there can hold a torch to Superman at SFNE.

Tim, we took the Bay Bridge Tunnel way into VA, so that explains kinda why Moosh thought of Williamsburg as N Va...of course, the seventeen hours of *driving Delmarva* was something I was NOT surprised by, ROFL....;)

Greatest.trip.ever! Rain brought to you by Noah...:)

2 cents:

1) Hershey, Knoebel's + Dorney (one day), SFGAdv. Most will attack my views of the Knoebel/ Dorney in one day, since Knoebels DESERVES more than a 1/2 day, from what I've heard.

2) SFNE, SFGE, Sea Breeze, SFDL

3) Relaxing trip: Do just Knoebel's, Hershey and Dorney in a couple of days.

Don't squish Knoebels & Dorney.

I recommend Yellowstone.

As specific as she may not be, I think we can all agree that BGW is a fantastic park with beautiful scenery and some pretty fun rides.

Not to mention beer, if you're old enough and you like it ;)

Also the clydesdales and the budweiser dalmation that runs around their stables (you can pet it, too, it's a really awesome dog) are really great.

-Josh

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wahoo skipper said:
I recommend Yellowstone.

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On that note, I'd go to Yosemite before Yellowstone, and Zion isn't half bad. (None of these are driveable from CT, though!)

If you also like the beach try Coney Island which is 2hr drive and Playland in Rye NY which is 1hr and 10min ride both parks are fun and they both are on the beach.

Going from Knoebels to Dorney or vice-versa is not that direct a trip. Even taking mostly interstates, it's going to be a 90-100 mile trip. Going on some of the "main" roads between Elysburg and Allentown, it's still about an 80-85 mile trip.

Either way, I'd say it's about a 2-hour trip, give or take, from gate to gate. Maybe for some people, it's not a big deal, but I'd hate to split up a great day with a trip like that. Consecutive days, yeah, but not the same day.

I can't believe this, people have mentioned kennywood as a place to drive that far to, and the park is so small that I can literally do it all in about 3 hours or less.

It's a good tiny little park, I actually live not too far from it. Only an hour. But instead of driving that hour to a 3 hour day, I drive to GEAUGA LAKE.

No one has mentioned Geauga Lake. It is newly owned and operated by Cedar Fair. This used to be Six Flags Worlds of Adventure and don't forget that this park was originally Geauga Lake for over 100 years prior to SF moving in. The old Sea World property has been added to the park as a whole creating a huge mega park. This mega park will highlight Wildwater Kingdom, which is currently being built on the former Sea World property. A park of this size, at the new lower admission price can't be beat.

Alot has changed . Cleaner. Friendlier. Brighter and more fresh looking in appearance. The customer srevice is now top notch. Just plain all around better.

They have a hotel and campground adjacent to the park. The campground actually is only about 100 yards away from an entrance to the park. The park this year is using the old "exit only" for sea world as an entrance so that campers can easily access the park without confusion. And the hotel has shuttle service to and from the park.

The hotel is literally only a 1 min drive from the north gate park exit. It is a fantastic park and is Cedar Fair owned. and for the distance your going to travel, the prices cannot be beat. A brand new low admission fee of only 24.95 for everything the park has to offer from 10 awsome coasters to the new wildwater kingdom, not to mention a great selection of flat rides, like texas twister, the new Dino Island simulator ride, and the new Robots of Mars 4D adventure.

So I say pick Geauga Lake for your "affordable family vacation destination" it's gonna be a great year this year! "it's 2 parks of fun...in 1!!!" *** Edited 4/13/2005 5:02:27 AM UTC by lakecrystal***

PKI!! Get the movie exoerience without going to orlando or cali:) *** Edited 4/13/2005 5:07:12 AM UTC by Beast Tamer***

I'd agree with you but PKI isn't 8 hours from Connecticut. Sometimes it helps to read the first post before replying.

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lakecrystal said:
I can't believe this, people have mentioned kennywood as a place to drive that far to, and the park is so small that I can literally do it all in about 3 hours or less.

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If you're rushing through Kennywood in 3 hours, you need to slow down and relax a little :)

Yes, Kennywood CAN be done that quickly if it's not too busy, but a new visitor rushing through in that time will miss out on a LOT. Sit back, enjoy the Auto Race. Check the Turtle, the Kangaroo, The Whip, Noah's Ark. Ride the woodies a few times each. Take in the Lost Kennywood section at night.

And for god's sake be sure to ride the Phantom in both the front and back seats :)

SFNE home to Pittsburgh took me about 7 hours drive time, 8 hours overall with a stop to drop my friend from Manhattan off at a train station in Conn, so Kennywood is definitely within the original poster's driving range. However, doing a drive that long and hitting just Kennywood would definitely be missing out on some other gems.

I'm going to have to side with Greg here. Three hours @ Kennywood is just enough to make you mad. I was there for about 4-5 hrs my only visit and I could have easily stayed longer as there were a bunch of things that didnt get to try out. I cannot wait to get back out there.....scheduling has just been a "Paris Hilton".

lata, jeremy

3 hours is *barely* enough for me to do Boomers! in Dania....;)

Put in another vote for Kennywood. Its a truly awesome park- you won't find anything like it in America. You have to go to Blackpool to see something like it. ;)

But seriously, Kennywood is a cool park, and as others have insisted, don't even THINK about doing it in 3 hours. I know for a fact that any sane person would enjoy rerides on Phantom, Jackrabbit and T-Bolt.

Also stated earlier, there are lots of gems in the park such as Noah's Ark, and even the well-hidden Exterminator.

Go to KW, I doubt you'll be disappointed.