Coaster trip to east coast and more - ADVICE PLEASE!

[riddler67]

Am planning (way in advance!) a trip for August '09. I'm a teacher so can only visit in school holidays. I have the following itinerary loosely planned and would welcome any suggestions for any further parks (water or theme) which are on or near the proposed 1000 mile circuit we're making. Indeed you may feel that we would be wasting our time visiting a particular park. Will be renting an RV.... Good and bad RV park/campsites opinions also welcome!

 

Fly into NY

Six Flags New England

[ithaca. Niagara]

Cedar Point

PKI

[somewhere between PKI and PKD]

PKD

Six Flags Great Adventure

Fly back from NY

(14/16 days)

 

Many thanks for any feedback anyone might have.

 

Tim

Wiltshire, UK

[cfc]

Kings Dominion has a campground, but I have no idea what it's like: http://www.kingsdominion.com/visit/visit_accomodations.cfm. I don't know your precise timetable for your trip, but Busch Gardens Europe is only a little over an hour away from Kings Dominion (as is Water Country USA, Busch's waterpark in Williamsburg). You could squeeze in Six Flags America on your way back to New York from KD. (Rt. 301 is a nice way to avoid the Washington, DC Beltway madness--you can pick it up one exit north of KD off I-95).

 

Hope this helps--have fun!

[ParkTrips]

Im pretty sure there was a campground next to Martin's Fantasy Island, which is a good little park near Niagara Falls and after 5pm its less than $10 to get in

[larrygator]

Waldameer is a half-day park on the way from Niagara Falls to Cedar Point with a new woodie opening soon.

 

After Cedar Point I would skip Kings Island and head towards the state of Virginia stopping at Kennywood and/or Knoebels and/or HersheyPark. If you can only do one park in Virginia I would recommend Busch Gardens over Kings Dominion.

[Moose]

Ithaca? Wow, you don't see many people on a rollercoaster board want to go there, though it is absolutely beautiful. I believe there is a nice campsite at Robert H Treman, but i have never been so I am not sure of that.

 

As far as driving to/from there. I believe it is about 4-5 hours between SFNE and Ithaca (Take Rte 206 off of Rte 88, not 81, it saves about a half hour and you go through a few cute villages), and about 6 to Cedar Point.

[larrygator]

^Do I recall you wearing an "Ithaca is Gorges" shirt in Spain or am I imagining that.

[Moose]

You recall correctly.

 

You will most likely see it again in Europe.

I usually wear it at least once on every vacation as that is how I originally got my job. It started a conversation with my then future boss who was also a Cornell Alum. Which then led to an interview... and i was hired.

[riddler67]

Many thanks to you all for your help and advice, it's much appreciated.

[p00rleno]

I live about 15 minutes from Six Flags Great Adventure and its REALLY easy to get bored of (Bad crouds often a problem). When this happens, head west a bit to Hershey. Its definatly preferable, as far as I'm concerned.

[cfc]

^Ah, but everyone needs a bit of El Toro. (But I also like Hersheypark.)

[riddler67]

Yes, I've been to Great Adventure a couple of times and Hershey once. Having travelled thousands of miles to get to GA I've rented that strange Q-bot thing both times (think it has a new name now) which did make light work of the crowds. And I've got to take my family on El Toro which is one of my all time favourites, to say nothing of Kingda Ka and Nitro which also tick some boxes.

 

I certainly would like to get Kennywood into the schedule. Would people generally agree that it would be a preferable choice over PKI as suggested earlier in this thread? I haven't been to PKI since the Beast was untamed, can't remember the year, but CP's Mean Streak was in its first season (also untamed compared to my last visit to CP three years ago).

[SharkTums]

Kennywood > > > > > > Kings Island!

[larrygator]

Kennywood = great traditional parks with very good (and unique) flats. Also, Phantom's revenge is better than any coaster at Kings Island

 

King's Island is good if you want to boost your coaster count and ride mediocre coasters.

[Mentaur]

I haven't been to PKI since the Beast was untamed, can't remember the year, but CP's Mean Streak was in its first season (also untamed compared to my last visit to CP three years ago).

 

Hey bro; I reckon it was September '92.

 

Would be great to work in Kennywood - we need to tick off the Noah's Ark!