Old Fashion Fun
The fair, a staple of summer, is a place to enjoy funnel cake, Ferris wheels, and that clown in the water dunk who taunts you incessantly. Also a mark of summer, the great American theme park. New York and its neighboring states have their share of these spectacles in both grand and quaint settings.
On The Street
Summer Street Fairs
All Summer Long
Enjoy street fairs throughout Queens. |
The borough’s version of the town fair could only be complete by making your way up and down traffic-closed streets and seeing everything on display at one of the many street festivals throughout the summer.
At these fairs, residents will get to enjoy rides, games, live entertainment, food and many other exciting activities geared toward families and sponsored by local businesses.
The fairs are usually set up through the area’s community board and the deadline to apply through the city’s Community Assistance Unit is at least 60 days prior to the event. The deadline for summer 2007 has expired.
So, if you are wondering why you can’t drive through one of Queens’ major roadways on a sunny weekend afternoon, chances are, there’s a street fair nearby and your best bet might be to park the car and enjoy what was preventing you from getting from one place to the next. Plus, you’ll be missing out on those zeppoles, if you don’t.
For a complete list of upcoming street fairs check out www.nyc.gov/cau.
Have An Adventure
Adventureland
2245 Route 110, Farmingdale
(631) 694-6868
www.adventureland.us
In recent years, it may have seemed like Adventureland was a rickety little amusement park that seemed out of date and barely functional. Compared to extravagant mega parks like Great Adventure and Hershey Park, Adventureland was like a little brother doing its best to tag along with the big boys.
But now, the park is souped up with a number of new rides, and is still providing kids and their families with a swell time. Whether it’s the jolting, swift-turn roller coaster or the stomach-into-your-throat Pirate Ship, Adventureland can bring plenty of smiles to young faces.
This summer, Adventureland goers will be treated to a host of exciting rides like the Frisbee, Adventure Falls, Long John Silver’s Twister Tower and the Crocodile Run. Just make sure you don’t eat too much candy when you’re planning to hit the rides.
Watery Wonder
Splish Splash Waterpark
2549 Splish Splash Drive, Riverhead
(631) 727-3600
Just before you reach exit 73 on the Long Island Expressway, a tall wooden figure packed with bathing suit clad kids and adults comes into sight. If you look closely, the massive structure can be seen swaying with the wind as riders slide themselves onto the slippery slide dropping eight stories in three seconds.
To call your spot on the line we suggest arriving to Splish Splash in Riverhead early, especially since the Travel Channel rated the waterpark No. 1 in the Tri-State Area and one of the Top 5 in the United States.
Located 60 miles east of New York City, Splish Splash is the ultimate way to cool down this summer. The 16 attractions and six children’s areas are more than enough to lure you and the family out of your air-conditioned home and into the water.
But just make sure you have the right bathing suit on. Don’t think you’ll get by with your jean shorts cause Splish Splash does not allow bathing attire with: belts, buckles, rivets, grommets or metal of any kind.
Countdown To Splashdown
Splashdown Beach
16 Old Route 9 West
Fishkill, NY 12524
Nestled in the beautiful Hudson Valley, Splashdown Beach may not be the biggest water park in the land but it’s a gem along the thruway.
With reasonable prices (just $25 for an adult), over 10 attractions and a concert series that features “American Idol” star Paris Bennett, Splashdown Beach is the perfect place to stop and get your feet wet.
Dragon Lurks Nearby
Rye Playland
Playland Parkway, Rye
(914) 813-7010
www.ryeplayland.org
So your kids want to go to an amusement park for summer vacation but the other head of the household wants the relaxation of the beach and boardwalk. And all you want is to spend the one week you’ve been waiting for all year without a migraine.
Thanks to the government’s decision to plan out an amusement park alongside the scenic Long Island Sound in 1928 you’ve got yourself a perfect destination to make the entire family happy this summer at Rye Playland. Not to mention, it’ll save you hundreds in that gas money you would have spent driving to Florida.
Dedicated as a National Historic Landmark in 1987, Playland, Metro New York’s greatest family amusement park, features more than 50 rides and offers free entertainment. From the beach, pool, boardwalk and pier on the Long Island Sound to the lake boating, picnic area, mini golf and indoor ice-skating, the kids won’t have time to bicker and complain.
Luckily for the adults who feel like their amusement park riding days are far behind them they can enter the park free and with a Fun Band ($35) the kids can take unlimited rides for up to six hours. Rides like SuperFlight, which treats its riders to swooping turns, breathtaking drops and two zero gravity rolls, and the Playland Plunge that splashes down as a passenger boat drops you 50 feet into a pool are hard to pass up.
And don’t forget Playland’s trademark Dragon Coaster that has been captivating visitors for more than 75 years. With more than 3,400 feet of track you’ll plunge into a 128-foot drop and be hurled into the mouth of the fire-breathing Dragon.
That Seems Fair
Ulster County Fair
July 31-August 5
www.ulstercountyfair.com
Dutchess County Fair
Aug. 22-29
www.dutchessfair.com
If you think the church fairs held in Queens are exciting and filled with great food, rides and entertainment, you’ve never been to a genuine County Fair in upstate New York.
Dutchess and Ulster Counties, which lie directly across from each other on opposite sides of the Hudson River, turn August into a month-long party, though, admittedly, with a bit of an agricultural twist.
The Ulster County Fair is held at – where else? – the Ulster County Fairgrounds in New Paltz, July 31-Aug. 5. Smaller in scale, this is probably the more romantic of the two. The rides are close together, the setting is more intimate and the food is top-notch. When you get a cheese steak sandwich, it’s not some sliced meat that has been sitting in a brine waiting for somebody to order. No, full roasts are placed onto automated slicers that keep going, and the freshly carved meat is piled high on soft buns and smothered in cheese.
On the other side of the river is where you get a bit more of the Country flavor, with an emphasis on the agricultural end of the fair – ribbons are handed out on the hour, or so it seems, and competitions go on for days with young kids and their prized cows.
Sure, it ain’t the city, but it sure as heck beats being crammed elbow-to-elbow into a parking lot as house music thumps and you pay $4 for a hot dog.
Rock and Roller Coaster
Six Flags Great Adventure
Jackson, NJ
www.sixflags.com
The Wiggles have taken over Six Flags.
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Sure they could have one or two flags, but these guys have six – Six Flags Great Adventure has been constantly upping the ante in the roller coaster battles fought in theme parks throughout the country.
Try El Toro – the first roller coaster ever to have a 76-degree vertical drop – and it’s made of wood! That doesn’t do it for you? How about Kingda Ka – the tallest and faster roller coaster on Earth? Why sit when you can fly? Those daring enough to take on the Superman roller coaster actually lie on their stomachs with arms extended forward as they fly through the park.
“Wiggles World,” the park’s fourth area devoted exclusively to children, features specially themed rides and attractions including The Big Red Car ride, Dorothy the Dinosaur’s Racing to the Rainbow balloon ride, Bouncin’ with Wags ride and the S.S. Feathersword Pirate Ship.
Just next door, families will explore the Wild Safari Exploration Station, a new area featuring hands-on Safari interactive adventures. After experiencing a one-of-a-kind journey through six continents of exotic animals, including visits from the likes of Rip the African elephant, Georgia the giraffe and King the lion cub, in the largest drive-thru Safari outside of Africa, guests have the opportunity to visit the new Wild Safari Exploration Station for a unique, hands-on experience.
Cartel, Gym Class Heroes and Peter Frampton are some of the headliners that will close out great nights of fun throughout the summer at Great Adventure.
Go Hug Snoopy
Dorney Park
Wildwater Kingdom
Allentown, Penn.
www.dorneypark.com
Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom are a lot closer than you think. Great roller coasters (the Hydra) and water rides (the Aquablast), keep the kids thrilled while giving something to the adults as well- smiles on their kids faces.
After all, anybody can build a roller coaster, but how many places are there where a kid can walk around and bump into Snoopy.
The beloved beagle roams Camp Snoopy, a section of the park geared to the smaller tykes, and is every bit as huggable as your little ones think he is.
So go for the rides, go for the water – but most of all go for your kids so they can hang out with the big dog.
Hershey Park
Hershey, PA
www.hersheypa.com
Enjoy Hershey Park’s new Boardwalk water park.
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Well beyond the chocolate, adults can lean to feel like kids again – and the kids have a good time, too, when they enter just past the massive Chocolate World to enjoy all that Hershey Park has to offer.
From the Super Dooper Looper to the Falcon and the Hershey Kiss Tower, there’s a ride for everybody in the park. But this year the biggest addition in ages has been added – the Boardwalk.
The Boardwalk is a massive water park themed to revisit he early 20 th Century charm of Coney Island and the coastal amusement parks – but it goes several steps beyond, with a Wild Maus style ride that leave participants dangling, spinning and winding their way through a course that sprays water on them from 30 feet below. They’ve even imported the sounds and smells – with every breath giving you the flavor of sea air, and the sound of seagulls piped in.
After a long day at the park, be sure to check out one of the many fine dining restaurants on Hershey property, including the delectable Hershey Grill, which offers four-star dining in a shirt and shorts environment.
And if you’re looking for true relaxation, check in to the Hershey Lodge or Hotel Hershey and make your way to the Chocolate Spa, where you will get wrapped in chocolate fondue (a chocolate-infused mud bath) and indulge in some spa treatments to get you ready for another day at the park.
