Need tips

[Rapscallion]

May be heading to Americaland sometime this summer to try and hit several roller coaster rides. Chum has done some investigation (he loves roller coasters) and thinks the area around Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio is going to be the best for fun parks.

Anyone got any better ideas of areas or advice?

Rapscallion

[sixums]

Avoid Six Flags New England. Neither I or anyone I know has ever had a good time there. It's just awful.

I recall Busch Gardens in Williamsburg having some fun rides, but I haven't been there in at least 10 years. That's about as far as my rollercoaster expertise goes.

[Broomjockey]

From what I know (no personal experience, mind you) stay away from anything on the coasts. The rides might be decent, but you'll spend more time in lines than anything else.

[Greenday]

Only place I've been to is Six Flags in Jackson, New Jersey. I've always loved going there. It's soooooooooooooooo much fun.

[Nyoibo]

Hershey Park had some good ones, but depending on the day there can be a bit of a wait for them.

[Chanlin]

Being from the area I know that Cedar Point is in Sandusky OH this has several record holding coasters fro across the years have been there many many times myself and it has been a blast. Not sure what time of year you are planning on coming but Sun Block if its in the Spring/Summer is recommended.

Also in OH and worth going to is Soak City (same park as Cedar Point) if you are into water parks at all.

Kings Island in Columbus, OH http://www.visitkingsisland.com/

Coney Island - Also Southern OH http://coneyislandpark.com/

Never been to any parks in Indianna or Illinois.

Other sites Worth seeing. - Toledo Zoo - If you do this one let me know when you plan to be here and I could show you around, the Zoo is about 10 miles from where I live.

Wright Patterson AFB - In Dayton, OH This is an Air Force Museum has lots of good history covering flight from the first air plane to modern day.

[Amina516]

You might want to check this link out:
http://www.cedarpoint.com/

Link directly to roller coasters:
http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/par...ters/index.cfm

Its in Ohio. Ive personally never been there unfortunately, but I know a lot of roller coaster enthusiasts that visit here yearly, just for the coasters. They also have places to stay at the park...cabins and camping and etc.

[wagegoth]

From what I know (no personal experience, mind you) stay away from anything on the coasts. The rides might be decent, but you'll spend more time in lines than anything else.

Check with the parks. Many of them have a special "go to the head of the line" ticket that costs extra, but there are some good coasters at the parks here you don't want to miss.

Personally, I like to go early in the morning, take a break from rides, then stay really late, which cuts out a lot of the lines. This can work really well at places like Disneyland, as families with kids tend to not make it out early and then leave by 9 pm.

Great America: http://www.pgathrills.com/attraction...ry.cfm?ac_id=2

Six Flags Magic Mountain: http://www.sixflags.com/magicMountai...rillRides.aspx

If you decide to see a zoo, don't miss San Diego. The San Diego zoo has a polar bear exhibit with a glass-sized pool. It was incredible watching the bears diving and swimming. Awe-inspiring creatures. They also have a wild parrot flock that flies through the park. BTW, San Diego has incredible nice weather, even in the summer. There are pedicabs in the downtown area. I think it's the nicest part of Southern California.

[Caveat Emptor]

The "best coasters" specials always seem to have one at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, IL http://www.sixflags.com/greatAmerica...rillRides.aspx

I myself have only been on one "super" coaster: the Steel Phantom at Kennywood near Pittsburgh PA back in 1992; unfortunately, the orginal SP, which was said to be among the tallest and fastest in the world, was modified in 2000 to become "Phantom's Revenge":

http://www.rcdb.com/id123.htm

The park is one of the last remaining "trolley parks" dating from the turn of the century, and has several "classic" coasters.

[BookstoreEscapee]

What Greenday said...then we can have a CS.com meetup with the moobs man himself...

Last time I was at Great Adventure I got dragged onto Nitro. I like the old wooden coasters the best...80+ miles an hour and 230 feet high is just not quite my idea of fun. I wanted to go on El Toro but after Nitro I wasn't really up for any more coasters...

[Aethian]

If your coming to the Great Lakes area...you need to stop by and say Hi. *nods*

Now...I loved Soak City a whole lot more.

[One-Fang]

Aw ... so jealous.

One day, one day I'll get to take my roller-coaster-riding holiday tour of the States.



Sigh.


Have fun!

[Eric the Grey]

I like the old wooden coasters the best...

If you make Denver and are an enthusiast of roller coasters, I'm told that the Cyclone at Lakeside Amusement park is one of the best wooden coasters left in the US. Lakeside is an older park, so don't expect too much as far as modern attractions. The place has mostly classics.

I like coasters, but never been that much of a fan.


Eric the Grey

[crazyofficeclerk]

If you do go to Cedar Point, check to see if they have a calendar. Several times during the summer they have days for some local businesses where all the employees get discounted tickets. It increases the attendance at the park tenfold. I also think that Wednesday is probably the best day to visit Cedar Point. At least that is the day I try to go to Sandusky if I need to during the summer.

[Jester]

If you are looking for a park with a variety of rides, Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ, is awesome.

If you are looking more for a roller coaster park that has a few other rides, Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH, is damn hard to beat. Personally, I doubt it CAN be beat. I was there in the summer of '06, and would love nothing more than to go back, AND to try an extra day at its sister water park next door, which I did not have an opportunity to do that summer.

But yeah, Cedar Point rocks for coasters, and Great Adventure rocks for variety.