Planning short Idlewild/SoakZone vacay

[NYEmomma]

We're planning on taking DD(2) on a short trip to Idlewild sometime in June & July. Has anyone ever been there that could give me some budget friendly recommendations??

I'm originally from PA and went there when I was younger... I think DD will really love it. I still have family there that can get me discount tix from several places, so we're getting a good price there. But I saw some hotel packages advertised on Idlewild's website that seem to be really good deals since they include 2 adult passes.

Can anyone recommend an area hotel?? This will be the first time we've ever stayed in a hotel with DD (as well as the first time she'll sleep in a real bed & not her crib).

What about a cabin?? I know there's a lot of camping locations but we always camped in a trailer, never a cabin... the idea of having a fridge/kitchen is appealing since we'd save some money on food by cooking at home and taking lunch to the park.

We're planning on driving over Friday & want to do some smaller activity once we get there (figure we'll arrive around lunchtime). Then do the Idlewild on Saturday & drive home Sunday.

 

[rosebud4]

You may want to consider staying in Greensburg or Latrobe. Not much of a distance and Greensburg offers a shopping mall and movie theater.

 

[vicki_c]

I just wanted to say "have fun!". We took our kids there about 5 years ago while in Pittsburgh for a few days (so no help on the hotel). They were 5 and 7 then and we had a great time. It was so fun for me reliving all my childhood memories, especially in Storybook Forest. Idlewild seemed quite different, but I think I don't remember a lot of it either. But Storybook Forest was great.

We didn't do the water park part.

 

[NYEmomma]

We're not planning on doing the water park either. DH can't swim/hates water & there's just not enough there for DD to do to bother spending the time. We have a neighborhood wading poo that we go to almost every day in the summer so she's not lacking in pool time at all!

rosebud4 -- I've been looking around Donegal & Somerset since they're right off the turnpike & I figured they'd have the best selection in hotels. Do you have any recommendations or reasons to pick one area over the other? Having access to a variety or restaurants is definitely a good thing & I assume there'd be a lot near the mall you mentioned in Greensburg?

 

[tarheel618]

Donegal you have a hotel and some local restaurants and a place to play mini golf and there was a petting zoo. It is close to Ligonier which has some historical sites. It is very rural.

Somerset is a small town, more hotel choices but by no means a big town. It has several fast food restaurants and a Walmart.

Greensburg really would give you more restaurant and hotel choices much bigger town.


As far as Idlewild it is very nice and you don't have to do the water park. You are able to pack a picnic lunch. They have picnic tables for you to use.

A suggestion for a restaurants in a little hole in the wall on RT 30 East after you go through Ligonier on the right hand side of the road is a place called Ruthies. They only take cash but have great and cheap food big portions. Their hot roast beef sandwich is awesome and great onion rings, and homemade (real homemade noodles) chicken noodle soup. We always pack our lunch for Idlewild and eat at Ruthies for dinner.

 

[NYEmomma]

Donegal you have a hotel and some local restaurants and a place to play mini golf and there was a petting zoo. It is close to Ligonier which has some historical sites. It is very rural.

Somerset is a small town, more hotel choices but by no means a big town. It has several fast food restaurants and a Walmart.

Greensburg really would give you more restaurant and hotel choices much bigger town.


As far as Idlewild it is very nice and you don't have to do the water park. You are able to pack a picnic lunch. They have picnic tables for you to use.

A suggestion for a restaurants in a little hole in the wall on RT 30 East after you go through Ligonier on the right hand side of the road is a place called Ruthies. They only take cash but have great and cheap food big portions. Their hot roast beef sandwich is awesome and great onion rings, and homemade (real homemade noodles) chicken noodle soup. We always pack our lunch for Idlewild and eat at Ruthies for dinner.

Thanks for all the great advice! Especially the dinner recommendation... DH & I love doing local restaurants instead of chains, but sometimes with a little kid, it's difficult to just drop-in w/o knowing anything about the place. I don't want to end up somewhere that's too fancy for kids or something like that.

I'd love to be able to pack a lunch for the park... that's what we always do when we go to the zoo and tbh, I prefer it over buying inside the park. It's healthier, but it's also more fun to have a picnic with DD. But I'm hesitant to pack something the day prior then rely on an insulated bag, the hotel mini-fridge & another insulated bag to keep it cold enough to be safe to eat the next day. KWIM?

 

[tarheel618]

Yes, the food in the park is typical park food. They have great fries with cheese, it is reasonable. Ruthies isn't fancy but it is good. My girls love the soup.

Story Book Forest is fun to tour even if your kids are older. Make sure you check out Idlewilds website. They often run specials so you might be able to get a discount on tickets.

As far as staying, you will have to decide between rural or city. You may also want to check out staying at Seven Springs Mountain Resort. I haven't been there in awhile but it is a resort in the mountains about a 1/2 hour from Idlewild. Here is the web address. http://www.7springs.com/

I know they have the Alpine Slides in the summer months. It might be worth checking out.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Idlewild park is great for little ones. My 7 yo still enjoys it .

The Ramada Inn in Ligonier is the closest to the park. Its only a couple miles up Rt. 30 (same road the park is on) .

We usually stay at the Log Cabin motel. Cute little rustic type motor lodge about 20 minutes away. There is a small zoo/petting zoo next to the hotel. You can walk to it. When I say small I mean you can get through the whole thing in an hour. They sell food to feed the animals and there are pony and camel rides.

Greensburg is about 20 minutes away also. There are hotels and restaurants there . The park can get very crowded so I would try to get there even before the park opens. They started selling season passes a few years ago and alot of the locals take advantage of them.

Keep in mind this park is out in the country. Some of the roads to get places are dark with alot of bends.

Any questions feel free to ask.

 

[NYEmomma]

Thanks roliepolieoliefan (love the black & gold in the sig, btw! ). I actually saw a vacation package advertised on Idlewild's site for the Log Cabin motel. It was a really good price for the room + tix (+ tix to Living Treasures)... but the pics on their website made it look a little sketchy. Is it just a campy place or is it run-down?

I don't mind rural (or country roads)... I was born & my family still lives up in Armstrong Cty so I'm REAL familiar with rural and twisty, turny back roads. Now, my DH on the other hand... lol, he refuses to drive back there.

We're going with another couple & their LO who is about the same age as DD. Our plan is to focus mainly on Storybook Forest, Mr. Roger's Neighborhood & Raccoon Lagoon.