Trip-report

Our annual pilgrimage to America's Roller Coast took us to Cedar Point early this year. We decided to use the Victoria Day long weekend to head down since we weren't doing anything for the long weekend and it wasn't a holiday for Americans. However, the main reason we wanted to head down was getting a chance to ride Top Thrill 2.

Hersheypark was my most anticipated stop of the year, and it didn’t disappoint! In this post, I dive into everything that makes Hersheypark special, from its unique layout and candy-filled theming to one of the best roller coaster lineups in the country. I’ll walk you through my experience, including our strategy for tackling the rides, some crowd challenges, and my thoughts on standout coasters like Wildcat’s Revenge and Skyrush. If you're curious about how Hersheypark stacks up to other major parks or just want to hear about the highs (and lows) of my trip, this one’s for you!

Our last roller coaster journey of the year took an unexpected twist as we made a detour to Knoebels Amusement Resort on our way to Hersheypark. Nestled in the Pennsylvania countryside, Knoebels offers a unique blend of old-school charm and thrilling rides without the hefty admission fees. From the famous Phoenix, one of the top wooden coasters in the world, to quirky experiences like the Flying Turns bobsled coaster, this park surprised us in more ways than one. Curious about this permanent fair-like amusement park? Read on for our full trip report!

The fourth and final stop of the trip concludes in Eria PA at Waldameer Park! You drive through Erie on the way back to Buffalo from Sandusky so I figured why not break up the drive home and do a quick pop-in. I knew Waldameer was small but now having been here I would describe it as a permanent fair. It was by far the smallest park of the three.

Round three begins! Fresh off two amazing days at Kings Island we woke up bright and early and headed north to Sandusky and Cedar Point.

Leg two of our trip brought us South West to the southern tip of Ohio just outside of Cincinnati. The goal this time was Kings Island. Having gone to Cedar Point last year this was the park I was most looking forward to. I’ve seen multiple people online say that they prefer Kings Island to Cedar Point. Based on what I knew about both park's ride lineups I found that somewhat hard to believe but I was curious to experience Kings Island and make that call myself.

The mega-trip begins! Our first stop on our four-park road trip through the Midwest brought us to a southern suburb of Pittsburgh called West Mifflin. Why would anyone drive four hours from another country just to go to West Mifflin? Good question. The answer in our case was Kennywood Park.

Fresh on the heels of my California adventure we headed north to the great lakes. The intent of the trip was to visit the in-laws cottage but we decided to take a two day road trip into Michigan with the destination being Muskegon and Michigan’s Adventure.

Day two or my Northern California adventure brought me south of SF to sunny Santa Clara and California’s Great America. Going in I was very much looking forward to my trip here. While the coaster lineup was very comparable to SF Discovery Kingdom my hunch was that this being a Cedar Fair run park I would have a better time.

Work brought me out to the bay area. Not knowing when (or really if) I’d be back anytime soon I figured it was worth checking out the two major Northern California parks while I had the chance.

The final leg of our Floridian adventure brought us to my favorite city to visit in all of America. Sunny Orlando Florida, home of the worlds greatest collection of theme parks!

The Florida adventure began on the tranquil Gulf Coast near Tampa, offering a refreshing break from the typical tourist spots. Exploring the diverse keys along the coastline revealed a pleasant blend of beaches and trails. A thrilling day at Busch Gardens Tampa, with its impressive coaster collection, was enhanced by unexpectedly quiet crowds and perfect weather, allowing for an enjoyable experience on all nine coasters.

Welcome to The Coaster Report, a place where I can self-document all my various theme park and roller coaster-related adventures. Similar to how my mom used to keep a running diary of all our family vacations, this blog is designed to capture all my initial experiences as I venture out into various parts of America, seeking the tallest, fastest, and most intense roller coasters on offer.