Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom

Dorney Park is pretty much the only interesting thing in Allentown. Sure, it's not quite as grand as New Jersey's Great Adventure, and its modest collection of nine coasters can't quite compare to Cedar Point's 16, but it has a few standout rides that make a visit to the park well worth the drudgery of a drive across eastern Pennsylvania. First in the list is Steel Force, one of America's first mega-coasters (rides that exceed 200 feet). Steel Force almost single-handedly launched the mega-coaster revolution, and while it has since been dwarfed by the likes of Millennium Force and Kinga Ka, it is still quite thrilling and a joy to ride. The park is also home to two wooden coasters, Hercules and Thunderhawk. The latter was built in 1923 and is one of the oldest woodies still in operation today. The park also houses several modern steel coasters, such as Talon and Laser. Talon is fun but predictable, and Laser is a throwback to the era when simply going upside-down was enough of a thrill to make a ride revolutionary. On laser, you're inverted twice, but that's essentially it. Adjacent to the coaster park is Wildwater Kingdom, a massive water park whose price is included in your admission ticket. Wildwater has a huge wave pool, which is a great place to cool off in the summer, as well as several large waterslides and tube rides. Expect long lines in the water park, especially on nice days.

Quick Tips:

Arrive early and visit the water park before the lines become too insane. Treat Steel Force like a massive clothes’ dryer - ride it once and you won't have to bother changing out of your wet bathing suit. Talon is not worth the line, though it serves as an excellent distraction to draw visitors away from the park’s worthwhile rides, Steel Force and the woodies. Ride these rather than wasting your time on Talon.

Best Way To Get Around:

Drive to the park if you can. Once you get there, you'll find that it’s small enough that you can easily walk around it. Note, however, that the park is built on a hill. If you plan on walking from Steel Force or Hercules to the main gate towards the end of the day, leave some extra time, as the walk can be exhausting, especially after a day of coasters.

Steel Force has three trains that seat 36 passengers each. This allows the line to move fairly quickly, especially since Steel Force is an older coaster and rides such as Talon are attracting most of the crowds. Regardless, Steel Force is one of the oldest and best-designed mega-coasters in America.

The ride begins with a swoop over the footpath below, where walkers can wave to their friends on the ride. The train then begins its long climb up the 200-foot lift hill. Off to the right, the riders are treated to a panoramic view of the park, though the left has a somewhat less spectacular one: staff parking and maintenance sheds. Still, despite the scenery, the height is dizzying. Finally, the train reaches the crest of the hill, where it pauses for a moment before hurtling 205 feet down into a 120-foot-long tunnel, reaching 75 miles an hour and speeding up another hill, followed by a drop of nearly 100 feet and a straight track leading to a double helix. The train hits the helix, still traveling at high speeds, and curves several times just above a log flume and go cart track before straightening out and cresting another hill. Here a set of brakes stops the train suddenly, much to the surprise of the unprepared rider. The train inches off the flat section, goes over a hill, and shoots through two bunny hills and another tunnel before careening over two parabolas, past the obligatory cameras, and finally back into the station exactly 3 minutes after it left.