What parks to you recommend?

[Johnny.Ink]

As some of you may know my son and I are going to Cedar Point next year along.

We are thinking of doing a trip or 2 each summer to theme parks that are cool to check them out.

What I'd like to know is how you would rate parks in the US. not to say I wouldn't love going to some of them like Canada's Wonderland, Thorpe Park, etc, but I ain't made of money.

We are hitting up cedar Point next year and Six Flags St. Louis.

I haven't been to Silver Dollar City since I was a teenager, so that may be cool. Plus, I'd lie if I said I wasn't semi interested in checking out Dollyland now I'd like to know if there are some parks that people wouldn't think of, or just cool ones in general, or ones to stay away from.

We have or will be going to:

Six Flags Great America (duh)
Six Flags St. Louis
Cedar Point

[Johnny.Ink]

D'oh. Dollywood, not Dollyland.

Guess I didn't proof read it.

[w00dland]

Some of my favorite parks in the US:

Busch Gardens Williamsburg (or Europe, or whatever) - World class rides, fantastic atmosphere, really solid food. It's just a park that offers a lot and it all seems well done. I've been there three times, and each time I've left extremely happy.

Dollywood - The staff here sets the park apart from others, as do the rides and food. There may not be loads of rides (although thats changing fast) but the park's staff is amazingly kind and will go out of their way to help you. Also, the food you can get there is awesome. Cooked essentially on a giant frying pan right in front of you, definitely a step up from Six Flags.

Disneyland - It's Disney, enough said.

Kings Island - May be part of Cedar Fair, but it's got a really unique coaster collection and the park is quite large. Diamondback and Beast are must rides here.

There are a few parks I would tend to avoid in the US as well, but it depends why you are traveling. If you're more in it for the day out experience, I'd avoid WoF, Dorney Park, and SFGAdv. However if you're more interested in coasters more than anything, some of the crappiest parks have some of the best rides.

[Johnny.Ink]

A nice park would be cool, but ultimately we'd be going for the coasters and rides.

Thanks for the start woodland...

[FParker185]

If you are looking solely for Coasters and Thrill rides, regardless of the quality of the park, then I'd formulate the following list (basically the opposite of what I would do)

1. SFMM
2. CP
3. SFGAdv
4. SFOT
5. SFOG
6. SFNE
7. Kings Island
8. Kings Dominion
9. Carowinds
10. Wild Adventures in Georgia

Now if you want quality all around parks in the US I'd go with (basically my list)...

1. BGW
2. Disney California
3. Universal Florida (IOA and Studios)
4. Disney Florida
5. Dollywood
6. Silver Dollar City
7. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
8. SFOT
9. SFOG
10. Canobie Lake

[tribar]

^Wild Adventures. Are you serious? Wild Adventures is nothing but Vekoma clones and kiddie coasters. I never been there but that would not be a recomended place to go.

The rest of the list does look good.

[FParker185]

How can you possibly judge it if you've never been?

If you want just coasters/rides, Wild Adventures is a completely valid option, none are great, and quite a few are kiddies, but the sheer number of credits, and variety of coasters is what got it on my list.

[BP317]

The east coast is a manageable drive from Chicagoland, we did a few trips out to SFGAdv and SFNE by car and you can get in with your SF season pass. If you leave in the afternoon you can be at SFGAdv by the next morning and just take turns driving so no one is too sleep deprived, then do SFNE the next day and hit up whatever other parks you want to while over there. If you don't want to drive that far, or have time for a longer trip, the Pennsylvania parks are even closer. It's definitely worth the drive though as an enthusiast as you get one of the best wooden coasters in the world (El Toro) and one of the best steel (Bizarro) back to back.

[FParker185]

from the east coast if you come back though canada along the north side of Lake Erie, you can also hit Canadas Wonderland which is a coaster/credit bonanza, a few of the newest ones are even worth riding a second time!

[tribar]

The east coast is a manageable drive from Chicagoland, we did a few trips out to SFGAdv and SFNE by car and you can get in with your SF season pass. If you leave in the afternoon you can be at SFGAdv by the next morning and just take turns driving so no one is too sleep deprived, then do SFNE the next day and hit up whatever other parks you want to while over there. If you don't want to drive that far, or have time for a longer trip, the Pennsylvania parks are even closer. It's definitely worth the drive though as an enthusiast as you get one of the best wooden coasters in the world (El Toro) and one of the best steel (Bizarro) back to back.

East Coast is a very good place to go for credits. SFNE, Canobie, Lake Compounce, Darian Lake, Great Escape, SFGAv, Hershey, Kennywood, Lakemont, Waldameer, Dorney, Knobels and SFAm, KD, and BGW arn't too much futher away.

from the east coast if you come back though canada along the north side of Lake Erie, you can also hit Canadas Wonderland which is a coaster/credit bonanza, a few of the newest ones are even worth riding a second time!

I would wait for Leviathan to open. And there's also La Ronde

[tribar]

[

The east coast is a manageable drive from Chicagoland, we did a few trips out to SFGAdv and SFNE by car and you can get in with your SF season pass. If you leave in the afternoon you can be at SFGAdv by the next morning and just take turns driving so no one is too sleep deprived, then do SFNE the next day and hit up whatever other parks you want to while over there. If you don't want to drive that far, or have time for a longer trip, the Pennsylvania parks are even closer. It's definitely worth the drive though as an enthusiast as you get one of the best wooden coasters in the world (El Toro) and one of the best steel (Bizarro) back to back.

East Coast is a very good place to go for credits. SFNE, Canobie, Lake Compounce, Darian Lake, Great Escape, SFGAv, Hershey, Kennywood, Lakemont, Waldameer, Dorney, Knobels and SFAm, KD, and BGW arn't too much futher away.

from the east coast if you come back though canada along the north side of Lake Erie, you can also hit Canadas Wonderland which is a coaster/credit bonanza, a few of the newest ones are even worth riding a second time!

I would wait for Leviathan to open. And there's also La Ronde

[FParker185]

LaRonde is more out of the way than you would think, and really not worth going there unless you are on a hunt solely for credits and are willing to drive 5 hours more or less out of your way (one way) to get there. On the east coast there are also all the piers, if you want you can hit Moreys (3 piers), plus the other 5 Jeresy piers along with the 2 MD piers all in one day. If you're without shame and even ride the kiddies there is a good 20-40 coasters you can pick up in one day.

[Johnny.Ink]

We aren't really interested in the "credits" thing - just riding great roller coasters and having fun.

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the info. keep it coming!

[Jerrykoala2112]

If you are looking at parks that are worth going to that was semi-close to Chicago... I did a great road trip in 2010 that started at SFSTL, then went to Silver Dollar City, Worlds of Fun, Adventureland, and then back home. Adventureland was a little too "kiddish" but the park has a great atmosphere and many fun flat rides.

[Johnny.Ink]

If you are looking at parks that are worth going to that was semi-close to Chicago... I did a great road trip in 2010 that started at SFSTL, then went to Silver Dollar City, Worlds of Fun, Adventureland, and then back home. Adventureland was a little too "kiddish" but the park has a great atmosphere and many fun flat rides.

Thanks jerry! Appreciate it. That may be something to look at right there.