What to ride...What to ride...

I live in Michigan and am planning on driving out to CA late next spring for a road trip/vacation. I'll have about a month to do so. I've been to Cedar Point countless times and we do the Platinum Pass thing every year but have never been able to use it for any other CF park other than MI Adventure. So, with a month to drive across the country and ride coasters, what is not to be missed?? CP will be our first stop of course, but where/what else should I make sure to ride??

If you go to Kings Island, go on Beast and Vortex. These are my favorites.

Knott's Berry Farm: all coasters are really good.

Might I suggest...

www.coasterbuzz.com

Stop everywhere your pass will get you into, and ride everything that you can.

You only live once! :)

Well if you want to go to different parks, Kings Island is maybe the best for you because you dont have to drive as far, and it is a great park... If you do go to KI, every ride is rideable in one day if you are strictly there for coasters, and with a platinum pass you get in to the park 1 hr. early...

If this is your first time going cross-country, I would suggest that the parks you should be hitting are National Parks, not amusement parks. Rocky Mountain, Devil's Tower, Yellowstone, Tetons, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Yosemite, Craters of the Moon, Badlands, Crater Lake. I would rather go to any of the above for a day than any amusement park, and I'd be filled with regret if I passed up the opportunity to see those places. You wouldn't have to go terribly out of your way to see many of those, and even the more significant detours would still be scenic. The food tends to be cheaper and better, too.

As for Cedar Fair properties along the way, of course Knott's is near your ultimate destination, so that's a given, but the only ones really in between MI and CA are Worlds of Fun and Valleyfair. Kings Island isn't too far out of the way, but to hit any of the others, you're going to have to tack east and southeast, and hard. If you have the time to distort your route to that degree, knock yourself out, but overall, the placement of CF properties really isn't ideal for a trek across the US.

Seriously, plan your route according to Nat'l Parks, and then hit whatever amusement parks are along the way. You'll thank me.

Six Flags St Louis is worth a day. Six Flags over Texas is also worth a day. Knott's is great.

Can't tell you what Worlds of Fun is like, but it looks pretty cool. I plan on hitting that up sometime this spring if I can.

Holiday World is also a good park.

I would also second Break Trims idea on hitting some of the national park. The badlands in SD/NE are awesome, so is the caprock parks in West Texas. I've never been to Mt. Rushmore, but that would be cool as well.

I've been to a lot of small towns in the plains, and each one is unique. It's a pretty cool thing to see.

Definately hit Holiday world on your way out there.

^ National parks are just as cool as amusement parks. I go to both around here and there, and I enjoy both. Kings island is a great park, especially of you are a newbie here. Cedar point my favorite, of course. I have never been to california, but I plan on going there this June, actually. I plan to visit alcatraz island, which is a national park! (with a prison!)

A national park and amusement park trip rolled into one would be the ultimate vacation. I've only been fortunate enough to visit a few of the places that Break Trims mentioned, but if I had a couple of weeks (and the cash needed) to tour the country, that's what I would do.

Thanks for all the advice/suggestions! I definitely plan on visiting State Parks too. So much to do! I haven't been very far west at all. I've been to NY, FL and the states in between and that's pretty much it. Sad but true. So visting state parks is also a top priority. I've yet to see a flipping mountain!

I do like the amusement/state park idea though...I vote for a ginormous coaster running up,down, and around the grand canyon. :)

^ A coaster that goes across the San francisco bay to Alcatraz island and back. It drops you off at the docks on the island. You go on your tours around alcatraz like normal, then head back to the "station" boat dock area and then board the ride. It takes you back to the mainland through a course of hills, underwater tunnels, and launches!! :) Even park rangers get to ride!

Idk if you will be heading east or not but dont miss Dorney. They've got a few really good coasters. Definitely hit KI for Diamondback and the Beast. Hit Holiday World for all their awesome woodies. As for California since I am there now I can tell you where to go. Definitely Knott's-awesome park with a couple awesome rides (Ghost Rider and Silver Bullet to name 2) Disney's Adventure was an awesome park too-do not miss California Screamin. SFMM was awesome also. I LOVED it-too many great rides to name-had a blast there may be heading back there again in a couple days-need more Goliath and Terminator Salvation!!

Your trip sounds wonderful I am so jealous! :)

Jo
|Lifetime Raptor flights: 2175 :)