DMV + NYC Visit

[Vmarc1279]

I'm going to be going to D.C from July 18-July 21, 2 full days. Which theme park should I go to, that's within 2 hours of DC?

 

Also, I'll be going to NYC in early august, for 3 days. Which theme parks should i visit, within 90 miles of Manhattan?

 

 

 

Thanks!!!!!

[SharkTums]

But I wanted to hear about the visit to the DMV! It sounds super exciting!

[KBrylczyk]

^

 

[WFChris]

[The49er]

Now, to answer your question...In short, it depends on what you're looking for.

 

Washington D.C. Area:

-Busch Gardens Williamsburg: Of the three parks closest to DC, BGW is the only one I've personally visited. I enjoyed it a lot, as it has a great balance between coasters (all of them are pretty solid, by the way) and theming (awesome atmosphere, rides like Curse of DarKastle, shows, etc.) If you're looking for a well-rounded park in terms of entertainment options beyond coasters, this park is for you. Be advised, though, that it is farther from DC than KD or SFA.

 

-Kings Dominion: Though BGW has its merits, I would have loved to visit KD, especially for Intimidator 305 (which was actually closed when I was in the area). This is probably the best ride park of the three, with I-305 topping or nearly topping many enthusiasts' lists. Also worth mention are Volcano: The Blast Coaster and Dominator, though all of the rides are at least decent (with the possible exception of Shockwave). If you're looking for the best coasters in the area, this is your place.

 

-Six Flags America: This park has a middle-of-the-road coaster collection (which you can easily find on RCDB), with standouts like Wild One and SROS as well as some more infamous rides like Mind Eraser and Apocalypse. This park also tends to be maligned for its operations; frankly, it's what you tend to expect from Six Flags these days. Aside from a couple relatively rare installations (Batwing, for one), SFA isn't recommended. However, it's closer to DC than any other park, so convenience gives the park a boost in that respect.

 

NYC Area

 

I've never been to any of the closest parks here, so bear with me.

 

-Coney Island Parks: CI obviously has Cyclone, but Scream Zone is a block or two away, providing a look into Zamperla's ride catalog. Aside from the new Thunderbolt, everything else has a clone somewhere. If you're an amusement history geek, come here for the Cyclone and stay for the other things. Convenience factor is pretty obvious.

 

-Dorney Park: Dorney is next closest at 92 miles, according to travelmath.com. Being a Cedar Fair park, it has some major coasters: Stinger may or may not be open, but Steel Force, Hydra, Talon, and even Possessed are good fun. Even though it's a good park, it's probably not your best bet when you have...

 

-Six Flags Great Adventure: What more can you ask for from a park? (Besides a Mega-Lite or AquaTrax, of course ) Kingda Ka, El Toro, and Nitro are all Top Ten-worthy coasters, with plenty more enjoyable rides rounding out the bunch. You will likely find something there that you enjoy, so unless Coney Island really appeals to you there, this is your place. Of course, it's 95 miles away from NYC, but that would certainly be worth the drive.

[Intimidator305]

Your best day-trip from DC is definitely Kings Dominion. It's under an hour and a half from DC (although I-95 will be backed up one way or the other I'm sure) and is a great one-day park where everything can be done but will keep you plenty busy/having fun until close. Plus, you'll have time for a few re-rides on your favorite.

 

It would be a 5 hour round trip for you in a day if you went to BGW from DC and I feel like to appreciate all BGW has in a day you either have to splurge for Quick Queue or skip all the non-coaster rides.