Whether your idea of summer fun is a stomach-lurching roller coaster, the gentle vacillation of a carved carousel horse, a day geared toward the kids or a cool and refreshing dip, we've got you covered with the newest attractions at your four favorite amusement parks.
Knoebels Amusement Resort
The old-time charm of Knoebels Amusement Resort, nestled in bucolic Northumberland County, is owed as much to its classic rides as to its once-standard pricing options. For the frugal enthusiast, parking, admission and entertainment are still free at the family-owned park. “If Grandma and Grandpa don’t ride, they don’t pay,” says spokesman Joe Muscato. And if they decide to go for a whirl on the Grand Carousel, one of the few still in existence that challenges riders to jockey for a brass ring to get a free ride, they can enjoy it for just $1.25.
This year, the park opened “Flying Turns” for its first full season, a one-of-a-kind bobsled-like coaster that snakes around a coiled wooden track, sweeping through a dozen sharp turns and whirling past curious onlookers. The project was seven years in the making, as the Knoebels family tirelessly pursued their dream of resurrecting the mid-century wooden behemoth. For the kids, 2014 marks the opening of a kiddie pony cart ride and Pete’s Fleet, a tribute to the late Pete Knoebel, who served on a PT boat crew in WWII.
The park frequently wins accolades for delicious and affordable food offerings, from the International Food Court to Cesari's pizza. "Favorite place in the world!!” one fan wrote on the park's Facebook page. “Seriously been going since I was a baby! The only place where my family feels whole again without my dad.”
When you go:
Open daily May 21-Sept. 1, plus additional weekends. Individual rides: 75¢ - $3. Day passes start at $23 for kids and $36 for adults. knoebels.com
Hersheypark
The delicious smell of Hershey's chocolate lingers in the air at Hersheypark, where guests are treated to thrilling rides from wild to mild, ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park, and the sweet sounds of summer concerts including the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Bruno Mars. The all-inclusive experience truly has something for everyone, including a faux factory tour inside Chocolate World, the chance to cook up a one-of-a-kind Hershey bar, and a spa for guests who would rather just let their cares melt away.
This year, guests will delight in three new additions to the park's bevy of rides. The Cocoa Cruiser, a family-friendly roller coaster, boasts helix twists and turns in the park’s Music Box Way section. It's just one of 12 coasters inside the park, ranging from the gentle and kid-friendly Trailblazer to the heart-stopping power of the SkyRush. The long-awaited classic Tea Cups will open, complete with an iconic tilted tea pot as the centerpiece and individually-spinning cups to allow riders to rotate at their own pace. Guests can also catch some air on the exhilarating Sweet Swing.
Admission also includes entrance to The Boardwalk at Hersheypark and ZooAmerica, where guests get a close-up peek at some of the nation's native creatures in their natural habitats and the chance to pal around with a cast of anthropomorphic candies waiting for their next photo op.
When you go:
Open daily May 21 through Labor Day, plus additional weekends. Day passes start at $59.95 for guests ages 9-54. Children 3-8 and seniors 55+ pay $37.95, or $23.95 for 70+. hersheypark.com
Hershey Park Verified Coupons & Deals
Dutch Wonderland
Tucked away in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, Dutch Wonderland caters to kids under 12 with pint-sized rides, entertainment and the wet and wild fun of Duke's Lagoon. The royal treatment from a crew of friendly employees and the enchanting attractions leave the park consistently ranked in the top five children's parks worldwide by the experts at Amusement Today.
For 50 years, children have enjoyed the magical surroundings then returned, all grown up, with their own offspring, says spokeswoman Ashlee Hurley. “We want every generation of guests to be able to come back to Dutch Wonderland and find something that resonates with their childhood here,” Hurley says, whether its enjoying classics like the Wonder House and the newly renovated and lengthened Turnpike, or exploring the newer additions made through the years.
This year, visitors can step into the distant past at Exploration Island, a new area of the park that brings the prehistoric into the present. Aspiring archaeologists can help uncover Triceratops bones and Tyrannosaurus Rex footprints at a special dig site, learning about these amazing creatures from what they left behind, or come face-to-face with the beasts on the Prehistoric Path or Gondola Cruise, featuring more than a dozen fascinating life-like dinosaurs that spring to life at a safe distance. The experience is sure to be a favorite for explorers of all ages.
When you go:
Open daily Memorial Day through Labor Day, May 24 -Sept. 1, plus additional weekends. Day passes start at $37.75. Children under 2 get in free and seniors 60+ get a special rate of $32.75 or $24.75 for 70+. dutchwonderland.com
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
While other parks feature some wet rides or a swimming pool for a cooling dip, the Allentown-based Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom is one of the few to boast an entire world class water park to cool off at during the hottest dog days of summer and the kid-centric Planet Snoopy included with admission.
This year the water slides are positively untamed, with the new Snake Pit attraction offering six different slides. Test your limits and refresh from the summer heat. For the bravest at heart (and strongest of stomach), the Python Plummet features a chamber that sends riders plunging into a 450-foot free-fall drop. For those who love to splash around but are looking for something less intense, the menagerie of water fun includes three different snake-themed tube slides including Boa Blasters and the Constrictor. Don't worry...you won't encounter any real reptiles on your journey.
Back on dry land, the park has a collection of aggressive thrill rides that have become classics, like the Dominator, a 200-foot tower with two sides to shoot you to the top with a gentle descent or glide you to the top before a heart-pounding drop. At Planet Snoopy, meet your favorite Peanuts characters and enjoy their themed rides, geared toward the littlest visitors.
When you go:
Open daily May 24 through Sept. 1, plus additional weekends when the water park is closed. Day passes purchased at the gate start at $52.99, but online discounts save about $10 for adults and $20 for children under 48 inches. Children 2 and under are admitted free. dorneypark.com
