East Coast Plan

[gjp]

UK questions seeking USA knowledge:

Just found out I'm down to work with a few friends for a couple weeks in the US in April 2014.

Three of us at least are game for some coaster mayhem.

 

I'll be working in Vermont, NY and DC in that order over 2 weeks and will try to stay a week longer at the end so where is absolutely worth a visit and where is not?

 

Six Flags America seems to have mixed reviews here.

Coney Island a definite.

Is Six Flags Great Adventure do-able from NYC in a day?

Is Kings Dominion worth the 180 Mile drive from DC?

If i can sort staying longer is Busch Gardens Williamsburg amazing?

Or is Hersheypark worth a days travel?

 

Are most parks that close for winter reopened for March/April?

 

Are the first 3 weeks of April a suicidal time to visit parks - school holidays/ public holidays etc?

 

What's a good US car rental company that perhaps does one-way rentals?

 

We have the energy and stamina to drive long distances and spend all day screaming like we mean it.

 

What's the best American beer?

 

Been stateside once before, effing loved it

Goodtimes.

Thanks for any help.

Gary

[Brassinthegrass]

Coney Island should be a definite, although I would keep an eye on their website since Sandy cause MAJOR damage to their infrastructure. If your staying in NYC, I'd take the subway to Coney Island, Its a bit of a long ride, but its kind of cool to take the trip like those in the 1940s would!

 

Great Adventure is definitely doable in one day during the week. I usually leave home (Long Island) around 7 and get to the park around 9:00 (stopping to pick up breakfast from McDonalds before entering the park and sitting in the parking lot and eat it while watching the morning test runs). Usually you can get through the whole park with at least one ride on all the "good" rides by 5 or 6pm. Hershey, is a bit farther to get to than Great Adventure from NYC, plus the drive is 10 time more boring...

 

My suggestion would to do a KD, BGW loop on a two day tour type idea, both parks are VERY worth it.

 

March/April is a great time for all these parks, especially since no one is opening up anything new this year that would not have opened yet.

 

ALl the Car Rental companies are good for one ways. I stick with National or Hertz, but they are all good.

 

Stick with Sam Adams. My english friends love it. Although when your in NYC, Brooklyn Brewery is the way to go

 

 

Hope that helps!!

[screaminkid2005]

Six Flags New England isn't crazy far from vermont so you could do it on your way down to NY! Something to think about.

[Homeboy23]

In March and April the parks you listed will be opened on weekends only, however are usually open for the full week during spring break. Just look it up on the park's website. Busch Gardens usually opens for two full weeks during that time I believe.

[gjp]

RESULT.

Tips appreciated,

 

A shame the parks will only be open weekends, sure to bottleneck the visitors...tricky to tell by the parks' websites as it seems I'm a little premature in planning for their calendars. I'll check back later.

 

KD and BGW on loop sounds awes!

 

Car rentals in UK usually charge double if not more for one-way rentals - pirates!

 

Sam Adams is tasty, you can get it in a select few good pubs here. Will keep Brooklyn Brewery on itinerary for sure.

 

Thanks

[Sir Clinksalot]

I can help on the beer front:

 

There are a LOT of local breweries and you will find that a lot of non-chain restaurants will have them on tap. When we were on our east coast trip we tried a lot of the local brews and most of them are very good. I know some of the posters on the east coast could probably make some specific recommendations though.

[andybarnes84]

Would strongly recommend missing out Six Flags America but all other parks are must do's really, the KD and Busch loop is the way to go. Great Adventure is probably the best park overall for coasters, but if you can find a way to get to Hershey and do Storm Runner and Skyrush you won't regret it.

[cfc]

If you spend much time in Williamsburg, you might want to try the DOG Street Pub in Merchants Square. They have a pretty good sized selection of brew in bottles and on tap.

[larrygator]

Coney Island should be a definite, although I would keep an eye on their website since Sandy cause MAJOR damage to their infrastructure. If your staying in NYC, I'd take the subway to Coney Island, Its a bit of a long ride, but its kind of cool to take the trip like those in the 1940s would!

 

Not exactly true. Luna Park and Scream Zone suffered no major damage. Some rides at Deno's Wonder Wheel park (Spook-a-rama) in particular were damaged as were some of the independent rides operators.

 

One way rental charges in US are at high premiums, also.

[Ed Farmer]

Would strongly recommend missing out Six Flags America but all other parks are must do's really, the KD and Busch loop is the way to go. Great Adventure is probably the best park overall for coasters, but if you can find a way to get to Hershey and do Storm Runner and Skyrush you won't regret it.

 

If you have the time, I don't see why you would pass over SFA. It's worth it if only for the solid collection of coasters.

 

Of the parks the OP specifically inquired about, Busch Williamsburg, Hershey, and SFGAdv are the ones I would definitively put priority on- so if time is an issue, I would plan around these three. I haven't been to Hershey- but just taking a quick gander at what there is to do there coaster-wise, I feel pretty good about vouching for it. I know it's right at the top of my own "to do" list.

[sspaz1000]

Parks are generally not that crowded that early in the season. Also depending on when the Easter Holiday falls in 2013, Great Adventure has been opening up the Thursday before Easter. Also the Luna Park/Deno's area tends to open up on Palm Sunday.

 

If you are going to be around in late April Knoebel's opens the last weekend or so in April. But you can generally take when the parks are opening for the year in 2013 to get a good guestimate of when a park will open in 2014 as well.

 

Seriously, skip SFA. The only good coaster there is Ride of Steel, and you want to go to KD, BGW, Great Adventure, and Coney Island, all of which are far far better than SFA.

[cal1br3tto]

If you have the time, I don't see why you would pass over SFA. It's worth it if only for the solid collection of coasters.

This. Not only are there a handful of fun coasters, but it seems like in recent years most of the more favorable reports about the park (where it doesn't sound much worse than other chain parks, if at all) are from early in the season.

 

That said, if you must skip a park, make it SFA.

[Rai Fox]

Some good tips here, most of which I'd agree with (particularly the Sam Adams >.>), but most have been missing one very important deal. If you're going to be in the Pennsylvania area, you can not miss Knoebels. It's one of the most unique, beautiful parks in the world, quite possibly the best run park anywhere, and while it doesn't have a lot of coasters, the ones it has are spectacular. Phoenix is easily one of the best wooden coasters worldwide, despite its modest size, and Twister isn't that far behind when it's running well (which it certainly was last year when I got on it). If you're going to be there in in 2014, there's even a pretty good chance of Flying Turns being open >.> Plus they have one of the best collections of classic and modern flats in the US, unbeatable food at very fair prices...there's really nothing Knoebels doesn't do right, unless you're only looking for steel coasters. Personally, I'd make it the number one must-do out of all of the parks listed so far.