Goodbye homework, quizzes, and tests, and hello summer! After working hard all throughout the school year, we can finally relax during summer vacation! *happy dance*

Summer is usually everyone’s favorite season because the vacations are longer, the sun is out and you get to catch up on missed time with friends. When the sun is shining and the weather is beautiful, staying home is something we definitely don’t want to do. Yes, binge watching television shows and movies on Netflix can be entertaining, but it gets boring after a while. Planning a group outing would be one of the ideal things to do to catch up with your friends and/or family and have some fun in the sun. Here are a few places that you should think about visiting:

1.Six Flags Great Adventure

Address: 1 Six Flags Blvd., Jackson, NJ 08527; according to the website, if your GPS doesn’t recognize the address, “try ‘599 Monmouth Rd’ and follow the signs to Six Flags Great Adventure.”

Number: (732) 928-2000

Remember the old man in the six flags commercial? He made you desperately want to go to the amusement park that very same day. If you have enough money saved up and plan accordingly with your group of friends, you should definitely go to the amusement park and have a great time! The prices are listed below. *information taken from sixflags.com*

**Parking price is the same at the park and online,

***For group, season and membership tickets, I suggest going onto the website for more information

https://www.sixflags.com/greatadventure

Any day tickets are for when you don’t exactly know when you plan to go to the park but you buy a ticket for the day you actually end up going. Choose your day tickets are for when you do have an actual date set up for when you and your friends and/or family plan to go to the park. If you buy these tickets online, however, you save a nice amount of money. Personally, I think buying tickets online is the best way to go because you save more money and who doesn’t want to do that?

Park hours vary so, you should go onto the website to see which day and time will be best for you. You should also bring extra money for food unless you plan on bringing your own and shopping for souvenirs. Speaking from experience, you won’t have a single regret by choosing to go to six flags.

2. Hershey Park

Address: 100 W. Hersheypark Dr, Hershey, PA 17033

Number: (844) 330-1813

Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate! Chocolate lovers will definitely enjoy this amusement park. From the chocolate themed park to actual chocolate you can eat, this amusement park is fun and sweet. *information taken from hersheypark.com*

*Ticket and Parking Prices (these are summer prices)

1 Day Admission:

Children (ages 2 and below) --> FREE

Junior (ages 3 to 8) --> $39.95

Regular (ages 9 to 54) --> $62.95

Senior (ashes 55 to 69) --> $39.95

Senior Plus (ages 70 and above) --> $25.95

2 Day Admission:

Children (ages 2 and below) --> FREE

Junior (ages 3 to 8) --> $61.00

Regular (ages 9 to 54) --> $80.00

Senior (ashes 55 to 69) --> $61.00

Senior Plus (ages 70 and above) --> price not available

3 Day Admission:

Children (ages 2 and below) --> FREE

Junior (ages 3 to 8) --> $88.75

Regular (ages 9 to 54) --> $112.25

Senior (ashes 55 to 69) --> $88.75

Senior Plus (ages 70 and above) --> price not available

Sunset Admission:

Children (ages 2 and below) --> FREE

Junior (ages 3 to 8) --> $25.45

Regular (ages 9 to 54) --> $29.95

Senior (ashes 55 to 69) --> $25.45

Senior Plus (ages 70 and above) --> $17.95

Parking:

Amount per car --> $15.00

Camper or oversized car --> $25.00

Buses, limos, cars with 15+ people --> FREE

***for more information about group and season passes, go to hersheypark.com

http://www.hersheypark.com/tickets/index.php

Park hours vary so you should go onto the website for planning on when you decide to go. Bring extra money for food and to shop (if you want to of course). Enjoy yourself but don’t overdose on chocolate!

3. Dorney Park

Address:3830 Dorney Park Rd, Allentown, PA 18104

Number: (610) 395-3724

Who doesn’t like the combination of water and rides? If you do mind, I suggest you don’t go to Dorney Park! The amusement and water park is bound to keep you entertained throughout the whole day to the point where you won’t want to leave. Going to Dorney Park would be a good investment of your money because as the park says: you’re paying one price for two parks! How amazing is that? If you want to go on roller coasters and go for a swim, Dorney Park is the place for you. *information taken from dorneypark.com*

*Ticket prices

Everyone Pays Kids Price:

Park price --> $55.00

Online price --> $38.00

All Inclusive Ticket:

Price --> $99.00

*could save up to $68 online

Single Day Ticket:

Park price --> $55.00

*could save up to $8 online

Two Day Ticket:

Price --> $63.00

*second day is $16 more

After 4pm Admission:

Price --> $33.00

*save up to $22 off price at park

Admission & Fast Lane:

Price --> $70.00

*could save up to $25 by buying online

Daily Parking Ticket:

Price --> $17.00

*could save up to $3 online

**go to dorneypark.com for more information about what you get for each ticket price, season and group tickets, and drink and dining deal

https://www.dorneypark.com/

You won’t regret spending your money on any of the tickets that you choose. Dorney Park is an amazing place to go to and is once again worth it, seeing that you’re paying one price for two parks.

4. Land of Make Believe

Address: 354 Great Meadows Rd, Hope, NJ 07844

Number: (908) 459-9000

This amusement park is mainly for kids but adults and teens can also enjoy! If you’re on a budget, I highly suggest you visit Land of Make Believe. The prices are considerably low and parking is FREE. This is a cute place for you to go with your family and even friends. *information from lomb.com*

*Ticket prices

General Admission:

24 months and below --> FREE

Children (ages 2 to 18) --> $29.00

Adults --> $27.00

Senior Citizens (62 and above) --> $25.00

Season Pass:

Children (ages 2 to 18) --> $100.00

Adults --> $92.00

http://www.lomb.com/index.php

Once again, I strongly suggest you go to this amusement and water park if you’re low on money. It’s affordable, you can have picnics, and it’s just worth it. All in all, this is a wonderful place that every family and close group of friends should go to spend the day together.

5. Eastern State Penitentiary

Address: 2027 Fairmount Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19130

Number: (215) 236-3300

If you want to have fun but also want your trip to be one you can learn from, I suggest you go to Eastern State. I know what you’re thinking – why would I suggest for you go to an old prison? It’s because you can learn a lot from going there. You learn about a few “famous” criminals who were locked up and actually see the living conditions that they were in. Going to ESP is an inexpensive, lesson-filled trip that you shouldn’t miss out on. *information taken from easternstate.org*

*Prices

Kids and Students --> $10.00

Adults --> $14.00

Senior Citizens --> $12.00

Members --> FREE

*the site says that they don’t recommend kids under seven years of age to visit

The hours of ESP are the same everyday: 10:00am to 5:00pm. ESP doesn’t provide food but they do have many food restaurants near their perimeter that you can visit after your tour. If you want to know more information about ESP, then you can easily check out their website. You can even read about some of the "notable criminals" that were locked up and the reasons why.

http://www.easternstate.org/home

Hopefully I’ve made your life easier by helping you choose where to go during your vacation. No matter which amusement park you choose to go to (those listed and those that aren’t) or if you decide to go to ESP, you’ll have a good time either way. At the end of the day, it’s mostly about who you spend your time with, not where. Have a great vacation and enjoy your summer!