Sir Clinksalot Posted July 24, 2005 Posted July 24, 2005 We are looking to relocate next year to the east coast. Specifically, Virginia. We want to go out and visit there to see if this is a place we could handle living. We are thinking of visiting Labor Day weekend, however we were wondering what the easiest airport to fly into would be and any help with this would be great. We are looking at the Richmond area, or the surrounding cities there. While there we will be looking at houses, schools and of course visiting the parks in the area If anyone out there has any info that could help us, we would really appreciate it. Kristi "can't wait to get the hell out of California!!" C.
Meteornotes Posted July 24, 2005 Posted July 24, 2005 You'll probably want to fly into one of the DC airports and drive to Richmond from there. Be advised that the cost of living is high in VA, though perhaps it's a bit lower in the Richmond area than in and around DC, which is just insane (if not more) than California. Traffic is also pretty bad. I'd get online and look at housing prices, if you haven't done that already. For parks, you'll be close to Kings Dominion and BGW that weekend. I'd stay out of both of them on Saturday if possible. Any other questions, ask away... Dave "east coast rules" Thomas
Sir Clinksalot Posted July 24, 2005 Author Posted July 24, 2005 ^ Yeah, if it happens it will be in Richmond since that is where I can transfer too. Good thing is I get to keep my CA salary, which is pretty good in Richmond. Yeah, we were looking into the DC airports and also Baltimore. I think what we will do is tour Richmond on Saturday, BGW on Sunday and SFA on Monday (gotta get on Superman) then fly home Monday night.
Meteornotes Posted July 24, 2005 Posted July 24, 2005 Well, the DC airports are closer, but the Baltimore one is a LOT easier to deal with. I guess it depends on where the most reasonable flights are. If you are going to SFA, let me know. I have no idea what we're doing that weekend, but it's about an hour from where we live. dt
Sir Clinksalot Posted July 24, 2005 Author Posted July 24, 2005 I am still looking at all possible flights for that weekend. We will let you know as soon as we book something so we can hopefully meet up!! What is the weather like this time of year back there? Kristi "so excited about leaving this state soon hopefully!!!" C.
SharkTums Posted July 25, 2005 Posted July 25, 2005 I know I'm in the minority here, but I would really suggest PKD over BGW. Elissa "I know, flame me now!" Alvey
Meteornotes Posted July 25, 2005 Posted July 25, 2005 ^No, actually I was going to post the same thing. I think BGW is highly overrated and think that PKD is a lot more fun. Plus, don't you guys have Paramount passes? I guess if you've never been there BGW might be OK. I just have never gotten why everyone thinks it's so amazing. The weather here at that time of year is usually hot. 80-90 degrees, maybe more. As always, I advise looking at the weather report closer to trip time, but it's rarely cool at that time of year. Let me know when you get around to looking at hotels. You'll want to stay clear of anything near SFA... dt
Sir Clinksalot Posted July 25, 2005 Author Posted July 25, 2005 ^ We don't have Paramount Passes, but do have Busch passes, which is why we were thinking of BGW over PKD. Although PKD does have more credits.
CoasterFanatic Posted July 25, 2005 Posted July 25, 2005 Fly into Newport News. It is usually the cheapest. It has like 3 gates I think
robbalvey Posted July 25, 2005 Posted July 25, 2005 To be quite honest, if you are REALLY thinking about moving out to a place you have never been before and you only have three days to look around, and this probably not what you want to hear, but.....DON'T GO TO ANY PARKS!!! Seriously, moving is a HUGE DEAL, especially across the country. I've done it TWICE. And the one thing I can tell you is do as much research about the place you are going to LIVE over getting a bunch of credits. If you end up moving there, the credits aren't going away. (unless of course you were looking in June of 1998 and decided not to visit BGW until you finally moved out in August of 1998, but even then all you would have missed is an Arrow multi-looper!) I would spend more time visiting different residential areas, going to grocery stores, shopping centers, local restaurants, etc and seeing how things you would encounter in your day to day life would be instead of visiting parks. You want to know how the locals are, if it's someplace that is easy to get around, if there are any annoying local city taxes, etc, etc. Trust me, it's going to be far more annoying if you wind up living somewhere that sucks because you wanted to get that coaster credit instead of taking more time checking out the local areas. Even when I moved back out to California, a place I grew up in, I did a lot of research as to where I should move. I even went as far as renting a hotel room in the Santa Clarita area on a visit before moving back out and doing the drive back and forth to Santa Monica about 5 times over various different hours of the day to see if it made sense with traffic. And even though I lived in Valencia before, there were a LOT of new areas that I researched. Personally I think one day to see an area you're thinking about moving your life to and have never been to before just isn't enough time. I know it's not traditional advice coming from a credit whore, but I think it's pretty sound advice (something I don't normally do!) --Robb "That's my advice and I'm sticking to it!" Alvey
Sir Clinksalot Posted July 25, 2005 Author Posted July 25, 2005 ^ Well, this wouldn't be the only time we would go there before we decide. We want to go out in the Winter as well since in CA we aren't used to the winters. This is FAR from being decided at this point. ALOT of stuff has to happen before we get REALLY serious about moving to the area. But we figured after the first of the year we will have a good idea if we are or not and be able to go in January or February for a few days and just cruise around the area.
Coaster Palooza Posted July 25, 2005 Posted July 25, 2005 Gregg, Kristi, Gyendolynne and I are going out there from September 1st-6th. We are visiting her parents in Fredericksburg, VA. We have flown into Dulles and Reagan various times. I would suggest Reagan over Dulles at this point. Traffic out of Dulles is a little hectic. Don't fly into Baltimore if you want to go to Virginia, this will just add more of a headache with the way traffic is out there. We are flying into Reagan. We will take the Red-Eye on August 31st to get out there. Let me know if there is anything we can do. Gyendolynne's dad knows the area quite well.
Sir Clinksalot Posted July 26, 2005 Author Posted July 26, 2005 It looks like we will be in VA the weekend of Sept. 23 - 25. Getting into Baltimore at 2am (ugh) on the 23rd. I found flights on Southwest for $202. What would be the best option? Driving to Richmond when we land or getting a hotel in Baltimore and making the drive on Friday morning. I'm thinking at 2am we will avoid ALOT of the traffic and be able to make it to Richmond rather quickly. So I think the plan is Friday we will cruise Richmond, check out the Blue Cross there and then do Howl O Scream at BGW that night. (need something to do that night) Saturday all day will be Richmond stuff, scanning the town, etc. Then drive into Baltimore on Saturday night. That will pretty much give us 2 full days for checking out Richmond and the areas around where Blue Cross is. Then Sunday we will go to SFA. Our flights leave BWI at 6:00pm. So now we just need some help with Hotels and stuff. Any suggestions? I guess I can look on my Corporate Website and see what hotels people who travel to the Blue Cross in Richmond stay at.
SharkTums Posted July 26, 2005 Posted July 26, 2005 Make sure to leave yourself TONS of time getting from SFA to BWI! Trust me, Robb and I have done that trip a lot of times. It takes between 30min and 2 hours (damn Rolling Stones Concert!) Also Southwest and BWI are not my friends, I waited in some of the worst security lines EVER there (2+ hours!) It has gotten much better but just leave yourself enough time. Being that it will only be 11pm your body time when you get to BWI at 2am I'd say go for it and do the drive! Or at least get past DC! Elissa "make sure to eat at some of the Carrabbas all over the place there!" Alvey
Sir Clinksalot Posted July 26, 2005 Author Posted July 26, 2005 ^ Don't worry. We already made sure Richmond had one before we even thought about a move there.
Sir Clinksalot Posted July 27, 2005 Author Posted July 27, 2005 Ok, so now that we know when we are going, Sept 22-25, can anyone help with where to stay in Richmond? We are going to drive from Baltimore to Richmond through the night and be in Richmond Friday and Saturday. Sunday we will go to a lovely SF park I am sure then come home to crappy California. Kristi "any hotel ideas here will be welcome! " C.
Sir Clinksalot Posted July 27, 2005 Author Posted July 27, 2005 Well, this sucks. SFA is closed for a private event that weekend. WTF is that? Looks like the only park we will be able to go to is BGW. I guess that's fine though, if we end up moving to the area we will be close enough to those parks. I guess Sunday we can just go into DC before our flight home. Gregg "Was looking forward to Superman: Ride of Steel" C.
Sir Clinksalot Posted July 27, 2005 Author Posted July 27, 2005 Well that sucks! We can go shopping then!
ebl Posted July 27, 2005 Posted July 27, 2005 Funny, my wife went to SFA on one of her business trips to Baltimore. She rode ROAR! and Superman: Ride of Steel. Overall, however, she wasn't impressed with the park and she said that Superman had some weird noise or something while climbing the lift. Another funny thing is that she's ridden ROAR! East, but not West, and I've ridden ROAR! West, but not East. Eric "Still would like to visit SFA, though" L.
SharkTums Posted July 27, 2005 Posted July 27, 2005 Chanting... GO TO PKD GO TO PKD GO TO PKD GO TO PKD GO TO PKD
CoasterFanatic Posted July 27, 2005 Posted July 27, 2005 You are already learning the first crappy part about living out east. Tha parks are seasonal.
Sir Clinksalot Posted July 27, 2005 Author Posted July 27, 2005 ^ Yeah, but our non-seasonal parks suck. What bugged me is that SFA and PKD are open all through October, but just not THAT weekend. Ugh. Again, it's okay though because technically this isn't a "Coaster" trip.
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