iplf Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 I've made a thread about this before, but here I am again, calling for your help. I'm from Belgium and will be making an overseas trip with my friends next summer. We want to combine sightseeing with some themeparks. Right now I still have a couple of problems: 1) We love some beautiful nature, that's why we included the Skyline Drive on day 11. We were wondering if there's any place where we can spend the day hiking around and seeing some really nice nature. Any recommendations? We'll gladly add an extra day to the trip for that, if it's along the way. Doesn't have to be in the skyline drive or anything. Just any kind of nice hiking spot on our traject. 2) I've included a couple of short drives on my schedule, with the indicated times. Can the locals please check if I should schedule more time for certain drives? 3) Day 14 we're driving from Cedar Point area to Boston, which is quite a long drive. (We need to drop off our car in New York eventually, cause that's A LOT cheaper). What are the cool things that we can see along the way? is there any major tourist attraction on the way? So we can maybe split this drive into two days? For example, should we stop at the Niagara Falls? How much time will we need and what can we expect of it? Cause apparantly it's kind of a let down, according to a lot of people! ANY other advise is always welcome. We're open to almost anything, as long as out budget is okay with it And to return the favor, if anyone need any info about Belgium, just hit me up! Here's the trip schedule: DAY 1: flight, arrive in the afternoon/evening DAY 2: New York City sightseeing DAY 3: New York City sightseeing DAY 4: New York City sightseeing + pickup car DAY 5: Six Flags Great Adventure 7 AM-9 AM: Drive to Six Flags Great Adventure 10 AM: enter SFGAdv 10 PM: leave SFGAdv + drive to hotel in the area DAY 6: Philadelphia 8 AM: drive from SFGAdv to hotel in Philadelphia 10 AM: arrival hotel City sightseeing DAY 7: Philadelphia City sightseeing 6 PM drive from Philly to hotel in Washington DC area sleep in hotel Washington DC DAY 8: Washington City sightseeing DAY 9: Washington City sightseeing 9 PM: Departure to hotel near Kings Dominion. DAY 10: Kings Dominion/ Busch Gardens Williamsburg 9 AM: Kings Dominion 3.30 PM: Departure from Kings Dominion to Busch Gardens Williamsburg 6 PM: Busch Gardens Europe 10 PM: drive to Charlottesville (or area) to spend the night DAY 11: Drive from Charlottesville naar Pittsburgh 8 AM: Departure Shenandoah National Park/Skyline Drive. Frank Lloyd Wright Fallingwater house 10 PM: arrival Pittsburgh DAY 12: Pittsburgh City sightseeing Pittsburgh 8 PM: Drive from Pittsburgh to hotel near Cedar Point midnight: arrival hotel near Cedar Point DAY 13: Cedar Point 9 AM: Cedar Point 10 PM: Heading towards Boston by car. Midnight: spend the night in a hotel along the way DAY 14: Drive to Boston DAY 15: Boston Sightseeing Boston Drive from Boston to JFK New York DAY 16: Flight home from JFK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iplf Posted October 12, 2009 Author Share Posted October 12, 2009 Where can we expect the best weather for sunbathing? Cause my girlfriend might want to get a tan, so we can book a hotel with a nice swimming pool and stuff... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redfoot12 Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 I just did a Google Maps and Niagara Falls should be doable on that trip from Cedar Point to Boston. You might want to consider stopping off at Six Flags New England just for Bizarro/Superman--considered to be the #1 steel by many people. It also falls along that leg of your trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iplf Posted October 12, 2009 Author Share Posted October 12, 2009 We'll be doing this trip in July 2010 btw! Is Baltimore worth a stop? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesdillaman Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 Waldameer, Niagra Falls, Darien Lake, and SFNE are all just off your route from Cedar Point to Boston, as I have driven it myself. Of these, if you only did two I'd recommend Niagra Falls (to see it, since you're from Belgium) and SFNE, for Bizarro if nothing else. SFNE is about 90 minutes out of the way, but it's worth it, as said above. As for Waldameer, STOP here and ride just Ravine Flyer II if you want. It goes by tickets, so you won't spend a lot of time or money. It's quite a good woodie! From Cedar Point to Boston is quite a haul. Also, while you're in Pittsburgh, Kennywood is more than doable in a half-day unless you go on a weekend. Some great coasters and some older rides you'll find few other places in the world... Prepare to spend a lot of money in tolls if you want to take the Penn. turnpike/New York Thruway / MassPike. (about $20 one way from Ohio to Boston) -James Dillaman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iplf Posted October 12, 2009 Author Share Posted October 12, 2009 Waldameer, Niagra Falls, Darien Lake, and SFNE are all just off your route from Cedar Point to Boston, as I have driven it myself. Of these, if you only did two I'd recommend Niagra Falls (to see it, since you're from Belgium) and SFNE, for Bizarro if nothing else. SFNE is about 90 minutes out of the way, but it's worth it, as said above. As for Waldameer, STOP here and ride just Ravine Flyer II if you want. It goes by tickets, so you won't spend a lot of time or money. It's quite a good woodie! From Cedar Point to Boston is quite a haul. Also, while you're in Pittsburgh, Kennywood is more than doable in a half-day unless you go on a weekend. Some great coasters and some older rides you'll find few other places in the world... Prepare to spend a lot of money in tolls if you want to take the Penn. turnpike/New York Thruway / MassPike. (about $20 one way from Ohio to Boston) -James Dillaman Thanks! According to Google maps we're practically passing by Six Flags New England, when we're driving from Cedar Point/Niagara Falls to Boston, so we will prolly stop there for a couple of hours just to ride Bizarro and the other coasters. We probably won't add any other parks though cause 2 of my friends like themeparks but aren't really crazy about them. (A quick ride on Ravine FLyer might be an option though) The thing about tolls is interesting. Is there any website where I can check all the toll roads in this area? If it's only going to be about 20 USD for such a long drive, it's not really a problem, cause there will be 4 of us in the car. So far, I've updated the schedule like this: DAY 14: Niagara Falls 8 AM: Mentor – Niagara Falls noon: Niagara Falls 3 PM: Departure Niagara Falls 10 PM: arrival Springfield DAY 15: Six Flags New England 10 AM-2 PM: Six Flags New England 2 PM-4PM: drive to Boston 5 PM checking in hotel Boston + evening in Boston DAY 16: Boston Sightseeing Boston DAY 17: Flight home Boston – JFK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterNERD502 Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 We'll be doing this trip in July 2010 btw! Is Baltimore worth a stop? The Baltimore Harbor is very nice. They have an aquarium and a nice mall, plus many other random tourist traps out there. Also while your in DC, you should visit the National Harbor. It should be very well built up by summer 2010! They already have numerous nightlife choices and its just all around a nice place for a quick 2 hour stop. Six Flags America is worth a stop if you have a season pass. Or if you do not have a season pass, stop by a local Burger King or McDonalds and pick up a discount coupon. I know it has a not so spectacular history, but SFA has really cleaned up its act! But in reality, nobody really knows how much longer this park will be here so I wouldn't pass up atleast a credit run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
printersdevil78 Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Hey, iplf! Sounds like you've got things planned out pretty well, but since I've been to most of the places you're thinking about going within the past year or so, here are some links to my TRs that you might find useful for sightseeing: New York - http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=48271 SFGAd - http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=46035 Philadelphia - http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=51702 Washington, D.C. - http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=41730 http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=49998 http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=51644 Kings Dominion - http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=44010 Pittsburgh/Kennywood - http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=44626 http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=51250&start=40 Cedar Point - http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=51250&start=30 My most recent trips to Boston, Skyline Drive and Busch Gardens predate my time on TPR, unfortunately, but here are some other TRs to give you an idea of the "optional" places that have been mentioned: Niagara Falls - http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=45514&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=20 SFNE - http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=51872&start=10 SFA - http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=51004 Baltimore - http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=43074 If you have any specific questions, PM me. I'm not necessarily an expert on all this, but I can get you around the Baltimore/D.C./Philly area pretty well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgb60 Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Just a couple of ideas... I think you can travel to Philadelphia directly from Great Adventure without an extra hotel stay. It's probably only an hour or so trip. You can get there by midnight. If you're planning on visiting Niagara Falls, I don't know if you plan on visiting the Canadian side (IIRC, the views are better over there), but if you do, check on the requirements for re-entry to the US on a tourist visa. If there's a hassle or delay, there goes your schedule. Another idea for hiking and nature travel is to visit Presque Isle in Erie PA. It's very close to I-90, actually right next to Waldameer Park. When you're in Shenandoah Natl Park, you should check out Skyland. They have different types of lodging there, from cabins to a hotel, and it's all right in the park. Not sure what you're budgeting for lodging. The Appalachian Trail also runs through the park, so there are plenty of places to hike. I'm also wondering if you might want to flip Kings' Dominion and Busch, so you won't have as far to travel to Charlottesville that night. Just a suggestion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capitalize Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Just so you know Charlottesville, VA to Pittsburgh will be around a 5 and a half to 6 hour drive, its a good distance between those two areas. Thats the only part of your itinerary that struck me as off in timing. But nothing too big. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iplf Posted October 22, 2009 Author Share Posted October 22, 2009 Thanks for all the new information everyone! To answer to some remarks: -We will probably stay in our Philly hotel, after SFGadv -We're just planning on making a picture-stop at the Niagara Falls, let's say 30 minutes or so, so we won't pass the Canadian side. Also cause I've heard there's always a huge traffic delay. -I definitely want to do a stop in Shenandoah National Park to go hiking for a day or a couple of hours, but I'll have to discuss it with my travel buddies first. Thanks for the advise though! - The Charlottesville-Pittsburgh is a long drive (about 6 hours), but we scheduled the whole day for that, cause we want to take pics and stuff. We know we'll be in the car most of the day, so it's that big of a problem cause i'm sure we'll have several stops. In fact, I'm actually thinking about picking a place to sleep closer to Richmond/Busch Gardens, cause the 2 hour drive after Kings D and BGW will be a pain in the ass! So far, the schedule looks like this: DAY 1 : New York Flight DAY 2 : New York city DAY 3 : New York city DAY 4 : Jersey city Noon: go to Jersey city and pick up car at Newark (cause it's a LOT cheaper than at JFK, esp when you're <25. Sleep in SFGAdv area DAY 5 : Six Flags Great Adventure Sleep in Philly DAY 6 : Philadelphia City DAY 7 : Philadelphia stad 4 PM: drive to Baltimore to grab diner and check the harbor 8 PM: drive to Washington DAY 8: Washington City DAY 9 zo 18: Washington City DAY 10 ma 19: Washington City + Six Flags America Drive to Kings Dominion area to sleep DAY 11 di 20: Kings Dominion/ Busch Gardens Williamsburg 9.30-2.30: Kings Dominion. 4.30-10.00: Busch Gardens Williamsburgh 10.00 Drive to Richmond to sleep DAY 12 : Richmond - Pittsburgh 9 am departure 10 pm arrival Several photostops along the way, maybe some hitchhiking DAY 13 : Pittsburgh City 8 PM: drive from Pittsburgh to Cedar Point hotel DAY 14: Cedar Point Cedar Point 10 pm: drive to Mentor to spend the night DAY 15: Niagara Falls Menor - Niagara Falls Niagara Falls - Springfield DAY 16: Six Flags New England Six Flags New England (couple of hours) Drive to Boston + evening in Boston DAY 17: Boston City Boston 6 pm: Boston – Newark: DAY 18 : flight home Drop off car at newark Flight home from JFK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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