Went to Canobie Lake Park (Salem, NH) yesterday

[JESW]

My brother had his company outing there yesterday so DD6 and I tagged along. It was also my brother, his wife, and 20 yo daughter.

After the nasty storm here on friday the weather cooled down and we had a GREAT day with little humidity.

I hadn't been to CLP in over 20 years and I didn't remember anything about it. Nice park tho! I know there is an up-coming DIS meet there soon (when we are at Disney!) so I thought I would just say what a good time we had.

This park is more for families as there aren't many "thrill" rides. Because of that there weren't gangs of teenagers wandering around - I think they all go to Six Flags. Lots of strollers since there are quite a few rides for those 48" and under. My DD is 51" and the only ride she couldn't go on was the astro blaster. The park was very clean - in need of some paint - but clean. There are several places for food - but don't expect anything great - just typical fast-food fare. We tried dipping dots for the first time and they are quite strange, but DD liked them.

For a saturday in august the lines were not very long - no more than 15 minute wait for most. I would HIGHLY recommend wearing a bathing suit under your clothes. There is a decent sized swimming pool for guests. There is also the new free standing water area with slides and water "guns". We had a hard time getting DD out of there! There is also a water rollercoaster, and if you stand near the Boston tea party ride you will get SOAKED when the car comes down the hill! (think of standing on the bridge near splash mountain..)

You can't compare the park to a Disney park but we had a great time - we were there for 7 & 1/2 hours and could have stayed longer. We got to see Elvis and Bozo the clown. The 180 degree show was OLD (probably from the 70's) but still fun to see.

Any questions just ask...

Jill

 

[PattnFmly]

Thanks for the review, we've been trying to decide whether or not to hit Canobie this year. Just might have to get DH to read this .... !!

 

[bicker]

Incidently, tomorrow is Radio Disney Day at Canobie Lake Park.

http://www.canobie.com/events/cnradis.html

 

[JESW]

PattnFmly - If you have young children I would HIGHLY recommend this park! You could spend hours at the water structure alone! I like the way that there is only one way in and one way out of there so if you loose track of your kids they can't get out without you.

Lots and lots of kiddie rides and others that the whole family can go on. My only regret is that we didn't get to ride the wooden rollercoaster...next time!

Jill

 

[Dizz(n)ey]

When I lived up north I used to go there yearly
So much fun

Make sure you stop at the potato chip factory that is on the main road right near it next time you go

You can buy large bins of homemade potato chips
nothing better

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I live right near it, but I haven't been there in YEARS. I always thought it was horribly boring and way overpriced. Maybe it changed in recent years?

 

[Jenn]

We were just there last weekend for a company outing too! I agree, it is clean, quaint and a nice park to visit. My girls had a ball - and the prices are reasonable - both for entrance and food. We went to Six Flags last year and thought it was overpriced, crowded and dirty.

 

[LindaG4458]

We're thinking of meeting SIL and 2 nieces there for a day - it's about midway between us. It's a nice park with nothing too scary. I used to work down the street and the company had its annual outing there, too. We always looked forward to it.

Long, long ago they had concerts there in the ballroom on the lake. We saw Sonny and Cher there when they had bangs and fur vests!!

 

[jonestavern]

What is the parking situation like? do they direct you or...? We will be going to the Dis meet on 21 August. A long walk to the car after walking all day in the parks is not a pretty thing!
Is there any shade in the parks? Can you bring in yr own cold water or pop?

Thanks!
Jean

 

[JennyMominRI]

I soent 3 summers working there in the 80's..Samantha Brown from Great Hotels worked there at the same time

 

[JESW]

jonestavern - they do direct you where to park, BUT the parking lot is not that big (nowhere like the size of ones at Disney..) so the walk back to the car isn't bad. The park doesn't officially open until noon so the closest you get there to that time the closer you will park.

They do NOT allow you to picnic in the park, but we saw many people tail-gating. The park has lots and lots of trees and shade and we never felt too hot. The water fountains were rather warm so we ended up buying bottled water.

Jenn - were you there on the 6th? If so, we were under the "green" tent.

DisneyAddict_M - yes, the park could be considered "boring" by some people - especially if you are looking for thrill rides. I do not know your age or if you have children, but for my DD6 it was the perfect park for her to try some rides. I was also pleased with how "family oriented" it was. My SIL said she saw park employees request a guest to turn his vulgar t-shirt inside out before they would let him in. She also saw a girl with her shorts half-way down her butt and before she got on a ride they told her to pull up her pants!

 

[jonestavern]

Thanks for all the info, JESSW Great that CLP exercises discretion when it comes to patron's dress
Will you be going on 21 August JESSW & JennyMominRI?
for JennyMominRI> Was Samantha as nice to work with as she seems on TV?

Thanks again-
Jean

 

[Jenn]

Actually, we were there on the 31st in the blue tent.

 

[JESW]

jonestavern - we won't be able to make the DIS meet on the 21st since......WE WILL BE AT DISNEY WORLD!!!!

We leave on the 19th, get back on the 28th and the kids go back to school on the 30th.

I wish it had been a different week as I would have loved to have gone.

Jill

 

[JennyMominRI]

Thanks for all the info, JESSW Great that CLP exercises discretion when it comes to patron's dress
Will you be going on 21 August JESSW & JennyMominRI?
for JennyMominRI> Was Samantha as nice to work with as she seems on TV?

Thanks again-
Jean

I didn't really know her..She came into the restaurant where I worked sometimes. She was dating the cook..I've spoken to her on the Travel Channel boards though and she seems very nice.
I get back from WDW on the 20th,so I don't think I'll make this meet

 

[AnnetteF]

I remember going to this park several times as a child. My cousins lived just outside of Boston so whenever we went to vivit them in the summer we would spend a day there. Do they still have the old fashioned cars that you ride around on the little track? Those used to be my favorite.

 

[monarchsfan16]

I remember going to this park several times as a child. My cousins lived just outside of Boston so whenever we went to vivit them in the summer we would spend a day there. Do they still have the old fashioned cars that you ride around on the little track? Those used to be my favorite.

They sure do!
Canobie's a pretty good amusement park. I'm 18 and still like it, but then again I'm not a huge thrill ride person. We had our physics field trip there this year which was a blast (course having the bumper cars all to our school with 40 of us plus the 2 teachers who act like kids on there might have had something to do with it ). It is very clean, but I would advise against going in their pool. My friend worked there for several summers, and this year too until she moved, and she told me that if there was one thing I needed to know it was not to ever go in the pool. Don't eat the burgers either. They've got the same flavoring and texture as cardboard. You should be able to get away with carrying a water bottle in but you will not be able to bring a cooler in.

 

[jonestavern]

does anyone know of any good restaurants in the CLP area? if park food is just so-so we will probably 'snack' but be looking for a moderately priced spot, though no fast food--
DH & DS have been to CLP for company outings, but it's been 5+ yrs or more. I do know that they had plenty of fun
thanks in advance!

Jean

 

[jonestavern]

bumping

 

[Jenn]

Actually, I thought the park food was decent. Off the top of my head there are the following sit down restaurants:

An Italian place right by the Lake - serving pasta/pizza
A fried clam/chicken finger type place in the "Boston themed" area
A sandwich/pub style place in the "Boston themed" area

Then of course - various counter service places with burgers, chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, ribs, BBQ chicken, pizza, etc.

Prices were pretty reasonable too.

The road the park is on is very residential, so I don't remember seeing any restaurants nearby.