Kennywood Park, opened in 1898 as a trolley park for working-class families, has weathered the Great Depression and stiff competition to become a top regional attraction and one of the nation’s finest traditional amusement parks. The park today features daily live entertainment, picnic groves – where baskets from home are still welcome – and more than 30 major rides. A designated National Historic Landmark, Kennywood sits on 103 wooded acres on a bluff above the Monongahela River just across from the U.S. Steel Edgar Thompson Works and the site of the “Battle of Monongahela,” where a young George Washington and British troops commanded by Edward Braddock were ambushed by French and Native American forces in 1755.

The park is famous for its three vintage wood-frame coasters – the Jackrabbit (1921), Racer (1927) and Thunderbolt (1968), as well as its steel hyper-coaster, Phantom’s Revenge, that clocks 85 mph on its second drop. Other signature rides include the relaxing Old Kennywood Railroad trip along the bluff, the flumed Log Jammer and the Exterminator, a speed coaster that loops individual cars on hairpin turns in darkened corridors. For the youngest visitors, Kiddieland offers 14 child-only rides. The park also holds a lagoon for family paddle-boating, vintage dark attractions like Noah’s Ark and the luminous 3D Garfield’s Nightmare, gardens, and two wide arcades with sideshows, games and eateries.

The 2008 season runs from May 3 and May 8 through May 11, May 14 through Aug. 24, Aug. 29 through Sept. 1, Sept. 6 through 7 and Sept. 13 through 14. Other Fall weekends are typically added to the schedule. Tickets can be purchased at the gate and online. Kennywood also hosts Education Days, Community & Nationality Days, parades and other special events, such as Phantom Fright Nights, a spooky park experience that earned third-best Halloween event in the world honors in Amusement Today magazine’s 2007 Golden Ticket Awards voting.

Idlewild & SoakZone is a two-in-one family theme park in the valleys of Ligonier, PA. that was founded in 1878 as a recreational campground by Judge Thomas Mellon, owner of Ligonier Valley Railroad. The park today includes seven play areas with more than 40 major rides and nightly entertainment – all nestled in the original densely wooded campground. The amusement park – the oldest in Pennsylvania and the third-oldest in the nation – earned second-best children’s park in the world honors in Amusement Today magazine’s Golden Ticket Awards voting.

Park themes include the SoakZone, Olde Idlewild, Raccoon Lagoon, Hootin’ Holler, Jumpin’ Jungle, Story Book Forest and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood of Make-Believe. Soakzone features 14 state-of-the-art waterslides, a large swimming pool and other interactive water activities. Raccoon Lagoon, one of the largest Kiddielands in the nation, offers nine acres of pint-sized rides and a stage for children’s shows. Jumpin’ Jungle is a giant Tarzan-themed play area; Story Book Forest, a walking tour of fairy tales; and Hootin’ Holler recreates a turn-of-the-century mining town with entertainment, shops, and theme-consistent eateries. A life-sized trolley delivers families to the world of Mr. Rogers, where they interact with show characters such as King Friday XIII and Henrietta Pussycat. For those seeking the classic amusement park experience, Olde Idlewild provides 19 traditional rides, including an antique merry-go-round, wood-frame coaster and the steel Wild Mouse.

The 2008 regular season runs from May 22 through 26, May 31 through June 1, June 4 through Aug. 24 and Aug. 30 through Sept. 1. Park gates and Story Book Forest open at 10 AM and attractions open at 11 AM. The park’s family-oriented “Hallowboo!” is open on Saturdays and Sundays from Sept. 27 through October 26.

Located within five miles of Kennywood Park is its wet and wild sister, Sandcastle, a regional favorite featuring the world’s largest hot tub, 14 waterslides, adult and kiddie pools, a quarter-mile of gentle streaming and more.

Sandcastle’s 67 acres is crosscut with soaring pipes that flush riders into sparkling waters over riverfront property that was at one time the railroad yard of the historic U.S. Steel Homestead Works, one of the most famous and productive steel operations in the world. Today, the park’s slides are the top attractions, including the Blue Tubaluba – a dual-rider thrill ride experienced in total darkness – and three full-body speed slides that get riders moving at speeds of up to 25 miles an hour. Other popular attractions include the Lazy River tube drift; kids-theme playgrounds, such as Wet Willie’s Water Works and the Tad Pool; a new riverfront amphitheater and the Sandbar entertainment complex that plays host to vibrant weekend nightlife and offers a buffet, open-air bar and a hot-tub capable of accommodating 100 fun-lovers. The water park also includes the enormous Mon Tsunami, a pool that rocks with diamond waves during the day, then calms at dusk on Sundays to double as the Dive-In movie theater.

The 2008 season runs from June 7 to Aug. 24 and from Aug. 30 to Sept. 1. Gates are open daily from 11:00 AM to 6:00 or 7:00 PM, depending on weather and crowd conditions. Dates and hours vary for the Sandbar, Jukebox Sunday Nights and other evening events. Passes can be purchased at the gate or online at the park’s website.