Dorney Park &
Wildwater Kingdom
3830 Dorney Park Rd.,
Allentown, PA
(610) 395-3724
www.dorneypark.com
Originally, we were going to tell y'all bout Hershey Park. But then we changed our minds. Dorney is 40 minutes closer to Philly (it takes an hour to get there), and while you may think that Hershey's chocolate milkshakes beat out Dorney's churros any day - and you would be right in that department - you gotta remember that this ain't the Hershey of yesteryear.
You can't actually walk around the Hershey chocolate factory. No, instead they relegate you to a little car on a track. I know. Eew. So, why don't you take out some of that frustration on a ride at Dorney? Their killer water park comes with the price of admission. And if you go, don't forget to ride Steel Force. It's freaking awesome . as is Dorney.
Valley Forge
www.nps.gov/vafo
As with all things, American history is best defined by one corporation: Disney. And like all things Disney, American history (and by extension, Valley Forge) gets its own special song. Those of you who've been on Epcot's American Adventure ride probably remember the song's vigorous conclusion: "Oh it's a great delight to march and fight/Along the victory trail!" It's not exactly Mickey's best work, but hell, you can't expect Shakespeare from a mouse.
The real Valley Forge is, of course, where Washington's men made camp during the winter. And if you can picture the way the High Rise wind tunnel makes your skin feel as if it is literally being pulled off your face, you've got a pretty good idea of what life was like circa 1776. Today Valley Forge has tours galore along with tons of outside activities; I like to think of it as history meets summer camp.
Brandywine Valley
www.thebrandywine.com
Yeah, Brandywine Valley is the kind of place your parents would go. But don't be discouraged. If retreating into romantic bliss at one of the valley's many B & B's isn't your thing, there's still plenty for you to explore. And as any Brandywinian (is that a word?) can tell you, Longwood Gardens should be your first stop.
Spanning 1,050 acres, Longwood is home to 20 outdoor gardens, four acres of heated greenhouses, 11,000 types of plants and more, making it one of the nation's most celebrated botanical treasures. But don't stop there. The region also offers countless manor homes, sure to make any history buff break out into a nervous sweat. Sweat? Sweet.
Scranton
www.scrantonpa.gov
It's the site of The Office. Enough said.
