Amusement parks make for summer fun

Once on a trip to Kennywood when I was 5, my mother wanted to pose with me sitting next to a… Once on a trip to Kennywood when I was 5, my mother wanted to pose with me sitting next to a statue of Cowboy Joe.

My dad snapped the shot, and the photo now sits in my album. What you don’t see is that right after the picture was taken, Kenny Kangaroo came bounding around the corner, nearly crushing my 5-year-old frame. Needless to say, I refused to pose with the marsupial for the next photo my mother requested.

When I was little, all I knew about Pittsburgh was that Kennywood was there – and that was enough for me. Summers were filled with Kiddieland rides, cotton candy and family fun. To this day, my dad still insists on returning to his home town once a summer to take his family to Kennywood, and now my niece is the one posing in all the photos – I suppose I don’t look as cute sitting next to Kenny as I once did.

Now when I go with friends, I keep an eye out for Kenny, but I still have just as good a time as I did when I was younger.

Kennywood has a real historical connection to the city – it’s been a part of Pittsburgh since 1898. Located in West Mifflin and a stop on the 61C, Kennywood not only has five roller coasters and three great water rides, it also has a character all its own. The park is open from May until August, as well as weekends in September.

One of my favorite Kennywood attractions is Noah’s Ark, a part of the park since 1936. Visitors can follow the twists of a turns of the funhouse filled with animals and creaky floors. This isn’t a cutesy Noah’s Ark walk-through though – I still jump at some parts.

Located near the entrance to the park, another attraction, The Kangaroo, sits on a circular track where guests cruise up a hill before “jumping” off the edge, hence the name.

Also in the park is Olde Kennywood. Visitors walk through a pathway with photos of Kennywood through the ages. This section includes the Pittsburg Plunge – spelled without an “h” just like in the olden days, as well as dry rides like the Whip and the Exterminator.

One way to make a trip to Kennywood even better is to go on a nationality day. Plan on longer lines for some rides, but you’ll get to see ethnic dances and probably eat some great traditional food. Serbian Day and Croatian Day were the first to be implemented in 1917, and the most recent were Scottish and Irish Day, which commenced in 2004.

While I speak with most authority on Kennywood, I’m also a fan of Sandcastle and Idlewild. Idlewild seems a little like a miniature Kennywood: lots of historical flavor, family time and a unique personality. It is the most kid-oriented park out of the three, so you may want to invest your $25.95 admission price at Idlewild- $59.95 for a season pass – toward a day at Kennywood instead.

Located 50 miles east of Pittsburgh toward Ligonier, Idlewild is the third oldest amusement park in the country. It features an antique merry-go-round and two roller coasters in Olde Idlewild, along with many other classic amusement park rides. SoakZone, the water park that shares Idlewild’s terrain, and Hootin’ Holler’, a mini Wild West-themed park, are also located here. Idlewild is open at 10 a.m. until at least 8 p.m. May 25 through Sept. 3.

Sandcastle is perfect for a weekend daytrip on a sweltering, humid Pittsburgh day and offers more than your standard water park. It offers four tube slides, two body slides, a Lazy River, a swimming pool and a wave pool.

Sandcastle also now offers nightlife. On weekends, Sandbar has live music and free admission until 9 p.m., ($3 after 9 p.m.) and is open until 2 a.m.

If you plan on going to Sandcastle more than once, it may be worthwhile to purchase season tickets. One trip costs $24.95 – $17.95 after 3 p.m. – but a season pass will cost only $59.95. You also receive half off Kennywood’s night rider admission price with a Sandcastle season pass.

Also, for $31, you can purchase a Kennywood/Sandcastle same-day package. Sandcastle is open June 9 through Aug. 26 as well as Sept. 1 through 3. Hours are 11 a.m. until 6 or 7 p.m.

Admission to Kennywood costs $31 per day and $16 if you go after 5 p.m. Discount tickets are available through AAA for $19 as well as at Giant Eagle for $21. AAA also offers $16 tickets for Idlewild and Sandcastle.

Now that I’m living in the city, Kennywood and Sandcastle are a bus ride away and Idlewild is just a 50-minute drive. Convenient locations aside, I can speak with authority, just as my dad always has, that Pittsburgh parks are just as much of a thrill as 17 roller coasters in one day can be.