....are my favorite places on earth!
Dutch Wonderland is bigger than Storybookland - Hershey Park bought them out a few years ago. They still have a lot of story book land stuff (which I LOVE!!), but they have also taken some out little by little. I surely miss the old shoe slide from the Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe.
Both places, DW and SBL, are very, very clean. DW has one bigger wooden coaster in addition to Joust, which is a smaller kids coaster, like Bubbles at SBL - if I remember this all correctly. DW also has a small water park area in the summer - two decent slides and a spray/slide area for younger kids. I'd say that DW just has more rides and shows, whereas SBL more focuses on just that, the story book stuff.
Both places are terrific, IMO.

Thanks all for the info; very helpful!

If you are looking for a place that is fun for older kids but is still basically a time machine to a slower-paced, less crowded era, take a trip to Knoebel's Grove. It is an old-fashioned amusement park, rather than a flashy modern theme park.

I first went there when I was about 13, and even at that age I could tell it was a complete anachronism. I had forgotten its name and assumed that it must have closed because it was so out of step with modern theme parks. Then I saw it again in an article about off the beaten path gems of PA in some tourist mag. I hope they stay in business forever.

http://www.offroaders.com/Destinatio...els/index.html

Knoebels is amazing. Parking is free and so is admission. They charge by the ride and the most expensive ride is something like $2. Most rides are .50.

It's like stepping into a time machine. The most family friendly place I've ever been to.

Knoebel's is great. The older I get and the more afflicted with intermittent vertigo, the less willing I am to pay $30 or more to get into an amusement park when I can't go on most rides. I appreciate the few that are still "pay per ride." Knoebel's also has a campground right across the street with reasonable rates and a nice shower/bathroom facility. I'm also fascinated with the small towns in the area that still have little cafes and Elks halls. It's worth driving trough some of them when you visit Knoebel's.

what age grp is knoebels good for>?

Teenagers may be underwhelmed by the quaint atmosphere, but rides are good for 2 and up. Lots of kiddy rides, a huge wooden rollercoaster, and all sorts of rides in between. The website has a price list for all of the rides. http://www.knoebels.com/rates.asp

I was wrong in my pp- low end is .70 a ride.

I would also say that it depends on the teen. I went a bunch of times in HS and loved it.

Another thing I really like is that the the physical setting is beautiful. It is in the heart of the ridge and valley forest of central PA. The park itself is built so many of the mature trees have been preserved, and two creeks run through it.

I think they may be closed for the season, although possibly still open on weekends.

I grew up near there and went all the time even in high school. I have so many family memories from trips there. I haven't been there recently, but if it's anything like it used to be it's a great family trip. Hopefully I'll get there next summer with my son.

I kind of wish they would reconsider their pricing policy. All the rides and attractions are geared for the little ones. Its $40.00 just for the grandparents who usually end up sitting on a bench, and just want to be with the grandkids. They have to pay that much just to walk through the door. It would be nice if they had a senior price for them. It is beautiful there and a must see, but its alot for a large family when only 3 of the kids can actually enjoy it.

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