Kennywood: Pittsburgh's Favorite Amusement Park is in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgher's have been enjoying Kennywood since its humble beginning back in 1898 when it was merely a trolley park. Located just eight miles from Pittsburgh in nearby West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, Kennywood is a favorite amusement park of the locals due to the wide variety of rides and shows. The park is listed on the National register of Historic Places, but is a fully functional amusement park complete with everything from extreme roller coasters to the more laid back Garfield's Nightmare, and an entire kiddy section dedicated to little people.

Kennywood has been made popular since the early 1920's due to its unique wooden coasters. The Jack Rabbit is a wooden coaster that features a jump that literally brings you out of your seat, and the Racer is named accordingly for the sheer excitement of seeing which of the two sets of side by side red and blue coasters will win as they race each other to the end. The Thunderbolt came to Kennywood during the late 1960's, but is a favorite coaster still today due to its high speed action that not many wooden coasters can bring, and you cannot ignore the plunge at the start of the ride, or for that matter, the one waiting for you at the very end.

Kennywood Park has changed throughout the years by refreshing older rides and developing new ones. The Pittsburg Plunge is one of the parks greater innovations when it comes to water rides. This gigantic boat holds 20 passengers that gradually rides them to the top and leads riders to a speeding 50-foot drop down a waterfall that splashes any and everyone within 100-feet of the ride. During the really hot and steamy months it is a great way to cool off quickly.

Children love Kennywood because the park has a section that is totally devoted to their every need, including miniature rides that mimic some of the grown up versions found within the park. Fourteen different rides can be found in KiddieLand including favorites from the Whippersnapper and the SS Kenny to the Lil' Phantom which is a smaller version of the Phantom's Revenge steel coaster. Kenny Kangaroo, Kennywood's "happy go lucky" mascot is quite the celebrity around Pittsburgh, and he is often spotted walking around KiddieLand and nearby areas while waving at everyone. He makes frequent stops to visit with children, shares some hugs, and enjoys getting his picture taken.

When visiting Kennywood, it is almost impossible to ignore the Potato Patch where some of the best French fries in the world come from. The extra large serving of potato heaven comes loaded with your choice of eight toppings, which nobody in their right mind would pass up. The bacon and cheese layered over the perfectly seasoned fry's turns it into an entire meal that weighs close to a pound of potato goodness. From here, you must head in the direction of the snack cart offering freshly made funnel cakes topped with fruit and whipped cream. Homemade fudge, hot sausage sandwiches, and ice cream are also located throughout Kennywood. Just follow your nose.

Visitors come from all corners of the world to test the thrill rides found at Kennywood. The 251-foot Pittfall offers extreme riders a chance to test their inner fears, and the Aero 360 will more than likely leave you dangling upside down while you are face to face with payment from a 360 degree angle that is not for the faint of heart. The Skycoaster allows riders to freefall from a 180 foot post at a speed of 75 mph over the heart of Kennywood Park. The Skycoaster is not included in the price of your Kennywood all day ride tickets.

Whether you are an adult seeking an afternoon of child's play or you have a bad case of coaster fever, Kennywood offers something for everyone. The shows are focal points that offer crowd pleasing events, and are held several times throughout the day so that even if you miss one, you can catch a later showing. Everything from ethnic dancers and lumberjacks to cheerleaders and musicians are the featured entertainers throughout the season.

Community and Nationality Days are major events at Kennywood, and these predetermined days emphasize on the local communities and cultures that support and surround the Pittsburgh area. These large groups can range from Irish and Italian to Greek and Slovak Days. They also include the small townships, boroughs, and communities that have helped Kennywood to flourish for so many years by coming back year after year to make a new memory. http://piacasdad.tripod.com/id84.html

Phantom Fright Nights is an extension of Kennywood that takes place typically throughout the month of October. Haunted attractions are strategically set up at random locations in the park, and include many of the rides and indoor attractions from the arcade to Noah's Ark. A ghost town and cemetery are all part of the deal, as is the many freaky characters that you will find wandering around throughout the night in one of the numerous scare zones. Kennywood really hones in on the scare factor and hires an extra 250 employees during October to ensure that is exactly what will happen.

The picnic areas are free of charge and available daily to visitors who wish to bring coolers or picnic style food. The picnic area is located towards the back of the park to the left of the Log Jammer. Restrooms and water fountains are also in close proximity of the eating area, with several large tables available for groups. Local businesses and companies often use this area for their summer picnics as it is one of the most relaxing areas found within the park. The chugging of the the Olde Kennywood Railroad passing by can be seen and heard from this remote location, and spectacular views of the Monongahela River will inevitably clear your mind.

2011 Kennywood Admission Prices

Regular Funday Price $36.99

Junior (less than 46") $23.99

Senior (55+) $17.99

Night Rider (after 5pm) $21.99

Senior Night Rider $10.49

Kids 2 & Under FREE

Location: 4800 Kennywood Boulevard, West Mifflin, PA 15122

Phone : 412-461-0500 Web Site:http://www.kennywood.com/site/attractions.html

Regular Hours: Kennywood opens from May 7^th, 2011 through August 28^th, 2011.

Off Hours: September 3^rd, 2011 through September 18^th, 2011

Phantom Fright Nights Hours: September 30^th, 2011 through October 2