Back from Kennywood...Surface of the Sun Hot!

[WaltD4Me]

Back from our trip to Kennywood in PA. We went on Friday and it was SO HOT!!!! I said to my sister...."close your eyes, it's just like being at Disney." We were just dripping...it was so muggy.

Luckily it wasn't stupid crowded. Lines were reasonable, but so many are right in the sun. And there isn't really anywhere to go cool off for a little while, like a nice attraction like Philharmagic or Hall of Presidents, ect...

Kennywood is a very nice park though. It was very clean and had lots of beautiful flowers and landscaping. The kids really enjoyed it.

Their new Haunted Mansion meets Toy Story Mania ride is quite interesting. They obviously "stole" a bit from Disney, but going through the ride and shooting at the targets was fun. You really need to ride it and just look around at everything and then go back and shoot at stuff. I was so busy trying to hit targets, I missed alot of stuff.

We stayed at a Springhill Suites in West Mifflin...if you go to Kennywood, STAY at Springhill Suites! Really nice hotel, VERY comfy beds and a free shuttle that will take you just about anywhere. The shuttle took us to Kennywood, then we called and they came and picked us up. It also took us to the Waterfront (outdoor dining/shopping complex on the river) and came and picked us up and we could have taking it to downtown Pittsburgh, but we didn't. Believe me, taking the shuttle is WAY better than trying to drive and figure it out yourself. Driving around Pittsburgh is REALLY confusing.
(3 hours driving around trying to find Ikea and we never did )

 

[safetymom]

I used to live in Pittsburgh and thought Kennywood was great. Then I found Disney. Big difference between the two.

People always ask me about the heat in FL. I thought we had lots of surface of the sun hot days in Pittsburgh. At least here in FL I have a/c.

Too bad you didn't find the IKEA. Great place to spend some time.

 

[robertgp124]

(3 hours driving around trying to find Ikea and we never did )

Hey Lisa,

Next time, just get on the parkway east (376) into "dahntahn", go across the Fort Pitt Bridge and head out towards the airport. Get off in Robinson and turn right. You can't miss it.

For those of us who live in areas that are retail challenged, Robinson's an awfully cool place to go.

Robert

 

[WaltD4Me]

You can't imagine what we went through trying to find Ikea.

We were in West Mifflin and people kept giving us different directions.
The hotel told us to take 51 South...turns out we should have went 51 North, so we went waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay out of our way, when we finally stopped to ask, no one seemed to know for sure, so we bought a map if you knew me, you'd be laughing at this too, I could get lost in a paper bag. When we finally got close, we just never found it. Two people told us to stay on 279 and we couldn't miss it, but we never saw Ikea and I've been there before, but since I have the paper bag thing, we still didn't find it.

 

[Abharmagic]

We went yesterday- how funny. I am a suburban Pittsburger- I like Kennywood- but not a native, so WDW is still my fave

Like another poster said- head for the airport and you will see IKEA before you get there on your right in Robinson- better luck next time. I agree Pittsburgh is not that easy to navigate- there is no "beltway" and the road/highway system is a bit confusing- lots of hills and bridges- not easy to get from point A to point B in a straight line.

 

[mkynut90]

Grew up at Kennywood. My favorite memory was when I was in High School was marching in the fall festival paraid at night. It was a nice way to wind down the summer. I went in June and was not that crouded. I use to be an EMT in downtown and could get any where, It is a very confusing city!!!! It took me a while to know how to get around. My mom who lived there all her live still calles me for directions. I live in North Carolina and I am giving directions to my mom 500 miles away. What she does is find the nearest hospital and give me a call and for directions home. What a son does for his mom. Don't worry about getting lost in that town there are people who live there for 60 years and still get lost!!!!!

 

[dpuck1998]

My goal in life is to visit every park like Kennywood, Dollywood...etc in my lifetime. So far I've knocked several off the list and Hershey Park is my fav outside of Disney. Haven't been to Kenny wood yet, but I hope to in the next couple years.

 

[MenashaCorp]

My goal in life is to visit every park like Kennywood, Dollywood...etc in my lifetime. So far I've knocked several off the list and Hershey Park is my fav outside of Disney. Haven't been to Kenny wood yet, but I hope to in the next couple years.

Don't visit Kerrywood. You'll get hurt. Or at least blisters that take a month to heal...

 

[dpuck1998]

Don't visit Kerrywood. You'll get hurt. Or at least blisters that take a month to heal...

I'm....

 

[bcvdreamer]

WaltD4Me, I'm glad you had a nice day at Kennywood. Sorry you drove around so long looking for IKEA. Too bad you couldn't call one of us, I know there are several Pittsburgers here, we would've been happy to help.

The problem with Pittsburghers giving directions is that us natives use landmarks and the road names, not the road numbers. We all refer to the main highways as the parkway north, parkway west, parkway east...why, because some of the roads, Pkwy West, changes numbers, and we don't really know where or why the same road changes numbers..it's silly, so we just ignore the numbers, and confuse out-of-towners. (That's why my dh bought me a gps, so that I don't get lost going to my ds away games!)

 

[MenashaCorp]

Don't visit Kerrywood. You'll get hurt. Or at least blisters that take a month to heal...

I'm....

In keeping with the famous woods (Kennywood, Dollywood)...

Kerry Wood is a pitcher for the Chicago Cubs who has been on the disabled list since July 11th due to a blister on a finger on his throwing hand. Long time to heal.....He's a former "ace" starting pitcher who's had a long history of injuries in his career, which fuels the "we're cursed" fire among us Cubs fans.

It's like saying - "I enjoyed Nataliewood, but I'd stay away from the wave pool..."

 

[dpuck1998]

In keeping with the famous woods (Kennywood, Dollywood)...

Kerry Wood is a pitcher for the Chicago Cubs who has been on the disabled list since July 11th due to a blister on a finger on his throwing hand. Long time to heal.....He's a former "ace" starting pitcher who's had a long history of injuries in his career, which fuels the "we're cursed" fire among us Cubs fans.

It's like saying - "I enjoyed Nataliewood, but I'd stay away from the wave pool..."

Gessh..you think a Cubs fan would have caught on...but I'm too thick I guess!

Next stop...James Woods, but watch for sharks....

 

[WaltD4Me]

I meant to mention this before in my OP, but we got a fantastic deal on our park tickets. We got them through AAA and for Ohio residents ONLY, you can get a Kennywood ticket for $20 plus a free Sandcastles waterpark ticket with it. Sandcastle Water Park is owned by Kennywood and is just up the road from the park. No one could believe the deal we got. It is $32 to get into Kennywood and I think $18.99 for Sandcastles. We got a ticket for both for just $20. In case anyone in Ohio is thinking of making the trip, I thought I'd pass this along.

 

[spaddy]

I meant to mention this before in my OP, but we got a fantastic deal on our park tickets. We got them through AAA and for Ohio residents ONLY, you can get a Kennywood ticket for $20 plus a free Sandcastles waterpark ticket with it. Sandcastle Water Park is owned by Kennywood and is just up the road from the park. No one could believe the deal we got. It is $32 to get into Kennywood and I think $18.99 for Sandcastles. We got a ticket for both for just $20. In case anyone in Ohio is thinking of making the trip, I thought I'd pass this along.

I always want to get that deal every summer, but I am in PA so I can't. I am stuck with the $22 tickets that are only good during the week.

There is also a great deal on Idlewild tickets in Ohio. I never get great deals on Cedar Point for living in PA.

Glad you had a good time. If you get too hot at Kennywood you could always go on the Water Rapids ride. No one steps off that ride that is not completely drenched.

 

[robertgp124]

(That's why my dh bought me a gps, so that I don't get lost going to my ds away games!)

Even with a GPS, I still get confused in town. We came from downtown up to Shadyside Hospital the other evening. I think we were on one road most of the time, but it was still confusing. Whoever laid out the streets seems to have had a perverse sense of humor.

 

[WaltD4Me]

Even with a GPS, I still get confused in town. We came from downtown up to Shadyside Hospital the other evening. I think we were on one road most of the time, but it was still confusing. Whoever laid out the streets seems to have had a perverse sense of humor.

Who ever plotted the streets should be shot.

I have never been so confused in all my life. How in the heck does one road have 3 names? 279 is also Route 20 and Route 30? 79 is also Route 60? Who comes up with this stuff?

 

[bcvdreamer]

They are going to change the numbers, but it may be a year. They have to upgrade ramps. They're turning 60 into an interstate, but the ramps have to have a certain specification.

It's going to be 376 from interstate 80 to the Turnpike (76) in Monroeville.

 

[bcvdreamer]

Even with a GPS, I still get confused in town. We came from downtown up to Shadyside Hospital the other evening. I think we were on one road most of the time, but it was still confusing. Whoever laid out the streets seems to have had a perverse sense of humor.

Yeah, I have to make quite a few "legal U-turns."

 

[lorax123]

I was comparing PA temps to Florida & we were real close the last couple weeks. And it's humid here too. I know FL people think they have it bad, but...

 

[Halbleib1]

Hey at least we get a break from this surface of the sun heat in the winter months. Snow is looking good right about now. Although who am I to complain I am in the a/c most the day anyway.