The Happiest Place

"Mommy, why is everyone looking at me with a mad face?" Eric asked.

We had been standing in the hot sun for over forty five minutes to board the Dumbo ride. We were suppose to be at the happiest place on earth. But at that moment I didn't feel very happy.

That was two years ago. And though we enjoyed our visit to Florida, I didn't enjoy the long lines and high prices.

Two years later, we found ourselves at the real "Happiest Place on Earth." And we weren't in Florida. We were in Pennsylvanian visiting the little town of Ellysburg at a place called Knoebels. (Hint: the K is not silent).

I hesitate to share this secret. Because if word gets out that there is place better than mouseville for a fifth of the price, the little haven of heaven I've come to love so much may become overrun with tourists. So whatever you do, don't tell anyone about what I am going to reveal.

Knoebels is a free admission - yes, I said FREE - amusement park located just off Route 80 in the scenic mountains of Pennsylvania. (In addition to free admission, parking is also FREE.) It's just a short hop from Philly, NYC, Scranton, Allentown, Reading, Harrisburg, Jersey. Visitors from Maryland and Virginia may want to spend the night. I'd recommend the Latore House - a little B&B right outside the park gates.

It's a fourteen hour drive from Central Illinois. But I swear, it's worth it.

The best part about Knoebels (beside the FREE part) is that you are welcome to bring your own everything. Bring your own lawn chairs. Bring your own picnic baskets. Bring a cooler packed with food. Bring a grill. Bring folding picnic tables. Bring your dog. Bring your cat. Bring whatever you want and whatever you need - except booze, which is strictly prohibited.

On our trip, my sister Theresa loaded her cooler with a steamer pot full of crab legs, clams, shrimp, sausage, potatoes and corn on the cob. Tina brought hot dogs, chips and dip and drinks. Ken and I brought plates, napkins, forks and lemonade. Nanny and Poppy brought granparent smiles.

We rolled our grub over to Pavilion D - right near the enormous ferris wheel - found a table and made camp. Did I mention that the picnic area is free and that there are outlets available to hook up your crock pots or dutch ovens?

Instead of hauling a grill out to the park (yes, grills are permitted), we opted to spend ten cents to use the gas powered grills that are available to visitors. Then we feasted and fested.

By the way, if you don't want to cook for yourself, Knoebels has some of the best amusement park food in the country. See their web site http://www.knoebels.com/ for a list and menu.

After a round of good eats, we decided to explore the park. For a mere twenty dollars each, the kids got all day wrist bands. That meant they could ride all the rides for one low price. It took us about a half hour to get our twenty dollars worth. The rest of the day was all bonus time.

Beth (2) loved the Pioneer Train. Eric (7) rode the Rocking Tug a hundred times. Emily (4) said the Merry Go Round was the best one she had ever seen - and she's an expert.

My favorite ride was the Sklooosh. The ride involves a boat, a hill and a wall of water. It's named after the sound the boat makes when it hits the water at the bottom of the hill. It happens to be the wettest ride in the world. Let me just say, and I'll be clear about it, "you WILL get wet on this ride."

The park also has several modern roller coasters, flumes, ferris wheels, and bumper cars. There are tons of old fashioned rides too. Like the whip and antique cars. There are rides for teens. There are rides for tots. There are shows for grams and gramps.

I know this sounds more like a review then my regular blog. But this place is so awesome, I just have to make sure I tell everyone I know about it. Just promise me you won't share my secret too far as I hate to wait in line.

On day two, we went back to visit the Crystal Pool. Admission there was six dollars for adults and four for kids. There were two water slides available for a nominal extra charge. After that, we enjoyd more rides, more park food, and more exhausted, but happy, kids.

By the time you read this, we'll be on our way back to Illinois. But if we are lucky, we'll have another visit to the Happiest Place on Earth next year.

P.S. if you go, I recommend Monday. No crowds.