Recent comments in /f/Pennsylvania

Mr_Fraunces t1_jadt9we wrote

>We always go for the Highland Games

We've probably crossed paths, my son used to be a competitive bagpiper. Idlewild is a great park if you have younger children. As you mentioned, it's on a human scale. It also has a European feel to it. I was surprised how much my children enjoyed the story book forest.

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vonHindenburg t1_jadrtqc wrote

Defunctland is a Youtube channel that does highly interesting documentaries on, among other things, amusement parks and attractions. A few months ago, he did one on Kennywood's biggest mistake. It was amusing how a guy whose career is talking about amusement parks and the relationships that locals have with them, was clearly a bit weirded out by how strongly Pittsburghers feel about Kennywood. Still, of the 10 oldest roller coasters in the country, 5 are in PA and 3 are at Kennywood. Whatever the park's current faults, I still find it really cool that my 5yo daughter can enjoy the same attractions that her great grandparents rode at her age.

(All in all, though, I prefer Idewild.)

EDIT: I totally forgot that the Old Mill that is the focus of the video dates all the way back to 1901, a generation older than the roller coasters. My daughter's great great grandparents may have ridden it as small children.

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vonHindenburg t1_jadqy9p wrote

I love Idewild, particularly in the off season. We always go for the Highland Games and Hallaboo. It's the 3rd oldest amusement park in the country and it retains more charm, human scale, and.. not wildness, but less of a sense of every square inch being meticulously controlled for maximum profit, than many newer parks with bigger budgets on higher-priced property.

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Critical_Band5649 t1_jadpnn3 wrote

Knoebels is great for families with kids. You have the option to only pay for the rides they get on, which is great when you've got small kids who tend to be unpredictable. They have award winning food that doesn't break the bank. And they are dog friendly, which is a huge bonus for some.

They have specials for a lot of weekends and half off wristbands Wednesday nights. It's almost always busy but a comfortable busy, lots of room for everyone to spread out so you don't feel claustrophobic.

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CatOfTheDecade t1_jadob9y wrote

If you dislike amusement parks because of the lines / pricing / feeling like cattle, you'll probably enjoy Knoebels. It's the only amusement park I know of where you can ride a coaster, watch someone carve a tree, play some mini golf, take a train ride (without any "edgy" animatronics trying to force a hamfisted story in your face), watch a metalsmith do their thing, catch a ring on a merry go round, and eat the world's most amazing food for about $20.

Their banana split at the watermill is to die for. The thing weighs about 20 pounds and it's, I dunno, a dollar. Probably two now due to inflation.

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Financial_Lime_252 t1_jado0zt wrote

Knoebels is significantly cheaper for a day, with free parking and reasonable ride ticket pricing. But they don’t offer a season pass, so if you’re visiting more than a few times over the season then Hershey is actually cheaper.

Hershey has one of the best coaster lineups in the country but it’s a typical corporate amusement park.

Knoebels is a more unique experience, it’s family owned with a lot of charm and they take really good care of their wooden coasters.

So it really comes down to what kind of experience you prefer.

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CatOfTheDecade t1_jadnr38 wrote

What I love about Knoebels is that so much of the park that was there when I was in high school is still there with little to no change. They never embraced $15 hot dogs or in-your-face advertising. It's just a chill and cheap place to relax and grab some amazing food.

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PM_SOME_OBESE_CATS t1_jadnp4c wrote

>Hershey's getting a little too expensive

It blew my mind one day several years ago when I was comparing ticket prices and Hersheypark was more expensive than Cedar Point; a top tier amusement park if you like coasters.

Ofc a trip to Cedar Point would be more expensive for me in the end since I'd have to do lodging, but if I lived a few hours closer to Cedar Point (so if I move to Pittsburgh lol) I know which park I'd do for a day trip.

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