Area amusement parks offer new rides, special deals

By Rebecca Hyler | Baltimoresun.com staff

May 7, 2008

As summer approaches, local amusement parks are opening their gates. Some feature new rides, like Six Flags' Tony Hawk's Halfpipe waterslide. Others are offering package deals; Hersheypark and Dutch Wonderland offer a combination ticket.

Here's some basic information, so you can plan your summer day at the park:

Six Flags America

Location: 13710 Central Ave.; Bowie, Md.

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Phone: 301-249-1500

Hours: Open daily May 3-Sept. 1; also open Sept. 6 and weekends in October. Hours vary.

Tickets: $34.99-$49.99, kids 2 and under: free. Online specials offered.

Fun factor: Six Flags America's big draw is its convenient location - just 40 minutes outside of Baltimore. There's something for everyone at this park -- almost 30 kids' rides, a slew of thrilling coasters (The Superman, The Joker's Jinx, Batwing and more) and live entertainment. Hurricane Harbor, Six Flags America's water park, is adding a new ride this year, Tony Hawk's Halfpipe waterslide, which is scheduled to open in late May.

Kings Dominion

Location: 16000 Theme Park Way, 20 miles north of Richmond, Va.
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Phone: 804-876-5000

Hours: Open daily May 26-Sept.1; open weekends through Sept. 13. Also open for special Halloween events. Hours vary.

Tickets: $29.95-$51.95. Online specials offered.

Fun factor: For the thrill seekers, Kings Dominion offers 13 roller coasters. We like ol' fashioned wooden ones, like the Hurler, the Rebel Yell and the Grizzly. If you're bringing the little ones along, head to KidZville or Nickelodeon Central for some family-friendly fun. WaterWorks, Kings Dominion's water park, offers a wave pool, water slides and more.

Hersheypark

Location: 100 W. Hersheypark Drive; Hershey, Pa.
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Phone: 1-800-HERSHEY

Hours: Open daily May 21-Sept. 1; Sept. 6-27: Weekends only. Hours vary.

Tickets: $18.95-$47.95, kids ages 2 and under: free; Two- and three-day packages and combination tickets with Dutch Wonderland also available.

Fun factor: It's an amusement park with a chocolate theme. It doesn't get much sweeter than that. In addition to kiddie and family rides, the park is opening a new roller coaster this year (its 11th!), called Fahrenheit. Hersheypark's weakness is definitely its water ride section -- consisting of only five rides. After you're finished with the rides, make sure to head over to Hershey's Chocolate World, located right next door to the park. Learn how to make chocolate, see the Hershey's characters, and of course, pick up plenty of sweet treats.

Busch Gardens

Location: 1 Busch Gardens Blvd.; Williamsburg, Va.
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Phone: 800-343-7946

Hours: Open daily March 21-Oct. 26; April 11-May 25, Sept. 5-Oct. 26: Weekends only. Hours vary.

Tickets: $49.95-$56.95, kids 2 and under: free. Multi-day passes available. Discounts available for Virginia residents.

Fun factor: Busch Gardens has a European theme ... not as cool as chocolate, perhaps - but still fun. Different sections of the park are named after European countries: France, Germany, Italy and more. The park also has European-themed shows, such as Emerald Beat, a production featuring Irish dancing. Another highlight of the park is its animal attractions; check out Jack Hanna's Wild Reserve to learn about some exotic animals.

Sesame Place

Location: 100 Sesame Road; Langhorne, Pa.
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Phone: 215-752-7070

Hours: Open daily May 3-Oct. 25; May 3-25, Sept. 6-Oct. 25: Weekends only. Hours vary.

Tickets: $15-$47.50, kids younger than 2: free.

Fun factor: See all your Sesame Street favorites -- Elmo, Big Bird, Grover and more. The park's obviously geared toward a younger crowd, but seriously, who doesn't love Sesame Street? Check out more than a dozen water rides, or stay dry on attractions like Ernie's Bed Bounce or Cookie Mountain. Don't forget to visit Elmo (everyone's favorite); he has his own area of the park.

Dutch Wonderland

Location: 2249 Lincoln Highway East; Lancaster, Pa.
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Phone: 1-866-386-2839

Hours: Open daily May 3-Oct. 12; May 3-25, Sept. 6-Oct. 12: Weekends only. Hours vary.

Tickets: $17.95-$29.95, kids 2 and under: free. Combination tickets with Hersheypark available.

Fun factor: Like Sesame Place, Dutch Wonderland is also geared toward a younger crowd. The kids will love the park's kingdom theme; look for sightings of The Knight of Dutch Wonderland, The Princess of Dutch Wonderland and Duke the Dragon. Thrill-seeking parkgoers may want to head to another park. Even the coasters at Dutch Wonderland are kid-friendly.