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zorionek0 OP t1_jad53ca wrote

Never been to Kennywood, but Knoebels and Hershey are both really nice. Hershey's getting a little too expensive, but Knoebels is nice because you only pay for the rides you go on.

And of course, every little firehall with their annual carnival featuring questionably safe amusement rides gives you that extra "thrill." A couple years ago, the Jefferson Fire Co.'s fair one of the rides got stuck - good thing they were already at the fire hall!

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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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Zestyclose_Minute_69 t1_jadyefq wrote

And they have great food! Real food not just freezer dump crap.

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EarthwormJim94 t1_jaeb647 wrote

Deep fried bacon slab on a stick, dipped in chocolate. Fried alligator nuggets. Fish and chips basket. Smoked Turkey legs. Tri-taters. Mac and cheese bites. Candy apple. So many kinds of fudge. Salt water taffy. Fresh squeezed lemonade slushies. If I could live there, I would. Probably in the fudge cottage by the gift shops.

Edit: and the bucket of boardwalk fries with salt and malt vinegar!!! 🤤

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Mr_Fraunces t1_jaeek1b wrote

Pierogies! I think it's the only amusement park I've been that has pierogies.

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phantomjm t1_jad6cm0 wrote

I grew up around Pittsburgh before moving to Central PA, so I've been to all three parks many times. If I had to rank them it would be Kennywood > Knoebels > Hershey. All three are great though.

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Joel_Loos t1_jad7cqu wrote

I can't speak of Kennywood, but I definitely agree with Hershey on the bottom. Knoebels just has a different feeling to it that I've always gravitated towards.

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SexyKetchupFactory t1_jadmb1h wrote

I love that Knoebels has so many trees. I think it's part of what gives it that different feel. Honestly, the little nature train might even be my favorite ride in the park. Riding through the trees and smelling the forest and feeling the breeze on a warm day is one of my favorite Knoebels memories.

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CatOfTheDecade t1_jadnhxl wrote

Same here! I love the train. The chair lift is also relaxing, unless you're not a fan of heights.

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zorionek0 OP t1_jad878t wrote

Yeah, Hershey Park is cool but it always sort of felt like it was trying to be too many things to too many people. Like, Knoebels is very clearly a family park.

Hershey's great for concerts though, and I will always love chocolate world.

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Fried_Fart t1_jaeculs wrote

Damn you really spoke to my soul with this comment 🥲

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zorionek0 OP t1_jad6vog wrote

Everything west of Centre County was a mistake /s, but I'll have to check out Kennywood! Is there stuff for little (<5) kids to do or is it more like adventure rides?

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phantomjm t1_jaddyjg wrote

Kennywood has a pretty wide variety of attractions ranging from tame kiddie rides up to modern steel coasters. Many of the rides there are classics that really set the park apart from more modern parks. There are some really unique attractions there like an old fashioned walkthrough funhouse modeled after Noah's Ark, some top tier wood coasters like The Jackrabbit, The Thunderbolt, and The Racers. as well as a lot of other really great rides.

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randompaaccount t1_jadgpnm wrote

Hershey is getting particularly bad with their food and beverage prices. It used to be “amusement park markup” but now it feels downright predatory.

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NativePA t1_jadxw9z wrote

When they’re even open. Place is half closed everytime I’m there and never open past 9

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Nymatic t1_jaee012 wrote

And when they are open the rides aren't

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Panzerkatzen t1_jaeucmh wrote

Their food maps don't help much either, we took lunch at a food court we found, but later walked by a smokehouse tucked behind a hill and some trees near the train, and we strongly regretted not going there instead. By then it was near closing and we weren't planning on buying more than one overpriced meal there anyway (plus we'd bought those absurd milkshakes, delicious but probably the single most unhealthy thing I've consumed in years), we were just looking to do our fairwell trainride before we left.

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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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nesquiksand2 t1_jaemqgn wrote

My gf and I tried to go to Hershey Park last summer. I've been going to Hershey since I was a kid, but I haven't been in maybe six years. It was absolutely packed. We mostly meandered around, trying to find rides with relatively short lines. In about six hours, we rode only four rides. We left early and went to Troegs.

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SwissyVictory t1_jaejv0r wrote

I went to Hershey this year and lines were longer than Disney. Fast pass is more expensive too.

Some good coasters though, and it has a special place in my wives heart.

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