Gas Tank Getaway: Six Flags Great America

Don’t let high gas prices keep you home this summer. There’s no need to sweat it out in your backyard when extreme family fun is less than a tank of gas away. If you live in Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan or Illinois, a mecca of mind-blowing adventure awaits at Six Flags Great America. The popular theme park is located in Gurnee, Illinois; less than an hour’s drive from Chicago, Milwaukee, and a host of other major Midwestern cities. Great America’s convenient location is a major timesaver, but the savings don’t stop there. In addition to banking gas money, you can continue … Continue reading →

Be Smart When Dealing with Discounts

Paper coupons, online coupon codes, group rates, and military discounts are spectacular ways to save big bucks when traveling to amusement parks. However, not all discounts are authentic. Each year, thousands of complaints are filed with the Better Business Bureau regarding counterfeit deals. To protect yourself from getting ripped off this summer, consider the following: Research: When you see a coupon that appears too good to be true, go online and check it out. Sites such as RipoffReport.com feature fraudulent coupon offers. The popular website also gives tips on how to avoid using expired coupon codes. It also has a … Continue reading →

More Ways to Save at Theme Parks

Treating the family to a day at a theme park can put a huge strain on your household budget. In some cases, paying for two adults and two children to enter, eat, drink and play some games at a reputable amusement park can total more than a month’s worth of groceries, utilities or gas. If you are pinching pennies, but still want to enjoy a fabulous summer day at a major theme park, consider taking advantage of these discounts: GROUP RATES Many theme parks around the country offer huge savings for guests visiting in groups, including companies, schools, religious organizations, … Continue reading →

Save on Theme Park Fun

Spring break must be right around the corner given the number of commercials I’ve seen for various theme parks. Traveling to major amusement parks doesn’t come cheap, especially if you are planning to visit with your entire family. Admission, coupled with parking, meals, and souvenirs can easily cost you hundreds of dollars. Fortunately, there are ways to save on wholesome theme park fun without breaking the bank. For starters, consider looking for package deals. Places like Disney and Universal Studios often offer discount tickets to guests bundling airfare, hotel and park admission. In other cases, using a reputable travel agent … Continue reading →

Coming Soon to a Theme Park Near You

While the rest of us are getting ready to add junk to our trunks at Halloween parties this weekend, major theme parks across the nation are looking well past tricks, treats, turkey, pumpkin pie, and even Santa’s annual visit. Instead, the venues for high-octane fun are prepping for Spring 2012, when they will debut the following new thrill rides: Busch Gardens: The Williamsburg, Virginia, theme park will start the spring off with a bang by unveiling a new roller coaster called Verbolten (German for “Forbidden”). Brave guests will enjoy a 3.5-minute high-speed adventure along a curvy 2,800-foot-long track, which includes … Continue reading →

Brick Heaven

It’s been just over a week since the newest Legoland opened its doors in Winter Haven, Florida, and the theme park is already making headlines. The park boasts dozens of Lego sculptures featuring more than 50 million colorful bricks, including life-sized elephants, a 20-foot statue of Albert Einstein and an exact replica of a 2011 Ford Explorer. In addition, kids from 2 to 12 years old can tour 50 attractions in 10 different theme areas, such as the Imagination Zone, the Land of Adventure and Lego City which sports live shows, interactive adventures and a host of age appropriate thrill … Continue reading →

Danger at Disney?

If you are planning a family vacation to Disneyland to enjoy the amazing holiday events offered by the Happiest Place on Earth, you might want to stick with the seasonal treats and stray from some of the popular theme park’s more iconic attractions. According to the L.A. Times, the world’s most famous amusement park is exposing visitors to “excessive” levels of lead. The newspaper reports that Mateel Environmental Justice Foundation has filed a lawsuit against Disney after high levels of lead were found on various items around Disneyland, including: brass door knobs at Minnie’s House, a stained-glass Pinocchio window in … Continue reading →

Ways to Save on a Six Flags Staycation

It’s never a good day when travelers are actually excited to see gas prices hovering near $4. Three dollars and 89 cents for a gallon of unleaded–SCORE!! While the cost of gas has fallen slightly in the last couple weeks, from its highest levels since July 2008, Americans are still paying nearly a dollar more per gallon than a year ago. As a result, families from coast-to-coast continue to restructure their summer vacation plans in order to preserve their household budgets, and still have fun in the sun. That goes double for clans living in and around Chicago. According to … Continue reading →

Splash Into Summer Fun at Six Flags Great America

When was the last time you experienced liquid love… minus the nasty hangover? Forget about the Patron-laced tropical libations; now’s your chance to splish, splash, slide and surf your way into a wet and wild summer vacation you’ll remember for years to come. Soaking up the sun and hanging ten on cobalt blue water is easy when you live in Hawaii, but what do you do when you want to take a summer plunge in the Midwest? (Take the plunge at Riptide Bay!) Never mind Lake Michigan; instead, set your sights on Gurnee, Illinois. That’s where you’ll find Six Flags … Continue reading →

Avoiding Amusement Park Sticker Shock

How much would you pay to fly through the air on a ride that features two pendulum arms that swing through 230 degrees of rotation, reaching 81 feet high and 45 mph? The family thrill ride, dubbed “Barnstormer” is yours for the boarding this summer at Dollywood theme park in Tennessee. Now, would you pay more or less to ride the Barnstormer than the Rev-O-Lution at Lake Compounce in Bristol, Connecticut? The ride features 24 outward-facing seats on a spinning disk that moves back and forth along a halfpipe-like track? Fortunately, you won’t have to dig too deep to experience … Continue reading →