 |
|
The ride seems to take forever to get to the crest. People around you are excited but nervous in anticipation.
For a moment you almost stop... and the air is still... and the car you're in goes deadly quiet… then it gently rolls over…
and...
kaboom!
You plummet almost vertically for 20 stories at breakneck speed… you experience instantaneous weightlessness and the most thrilling rush of your life.
This is Superman – Ride of Steel, one of the tallest and fastest rides in the world, and waiting for you at Six Flags New England.
Six Flags New England is located near Springfield, in western Massachusetts.
Whether you’re seeking gentle rides for young children, or scare-your-pants-off rushes like Superman or Batman...
Six Flags has it all.
Six Flags New England is really two parks in one – Six Flags Amusement Park, and Hurricane Harbor Water Park.
And for 2008 Six Flags New England has all your popular rides back!
Basics on Six Flags New England ...
The park is seasonal and has limited hours of operation for weekends during early spring starting April school vacation week and fall.In summer Six Flags New England is in full swing and open every day from 10:00am until 10:00pm. Hurricane Harbor Water Park opens at 11:00am and closes at 7:00pm.
I’ll concentrate on the summer months for information as most people visit during those months and their vacation.
The complex has an enormous parking facility a short walk across the road from the main park - you’ll pay $15 to park. Ticket rates for 2008 season are: $49.99 per adult, and $29.99 for juniors between 36” – 53”.
Consider a season ticket if you’re likely to visit for more than two days in a season.
Many of the rides have height restrictions. Some are minimum of 48”, and others require 54”. Be sure to check out height restrictions before you head over and get your child excited about a ride only to find out they can’t ride it.
Let’s talk about lines a bit, as with theme parks this is a real issue on getting value for money.
Obviously, lines tend to be longer on most rides at weekends. Six Flags New England has an optional Flash Pass feature for which you pay extra on your entrance ticket.
You’ll be given a pager and if the ride offers a Flash Pass feature then you can make an automatic reservation, and you’ll be paged when it’s your turn to ride.
I haven’t used it myself as I don’t have to do every ride in the park in one day. None of the rides in Hurricane Harbor offer the FastLane feature.
If you can avoid the weekend then you’ll get to do most rides in a reasonable amount of time - except for the most popular - without paying the extra ticket fee for Flash Pass...
Now a word about the weather so you don’t get a nasty surprise…
New England during the summer, and like most of the east coast, has very humid weather. This results in storms that can force the closure of the water park and many rides for safety reasons.
Tickets are not refundable for inclement weather. Yeah, you can complain and moan but there’s huge signs before you buy the tickets about it – although if you’ve traveled many miles what you gonna do?
And one final gotcha...
You can’t take food or coolers into the park. So when you price the day out include the purchase of food and drink, which like most of these parks is expensive – well, the fact is you’re a captured audience!
Now here's some more details about the two parks. Let's start with the main amusment park...
Six Flags New England Theme Park ...
The amusement park has a main street thoroughfare layout with many attractions, food, shops, and areas to relax and catch your breath. The north end of the park includes one of my favorites, and the always popular Blizzard River White-Water Rapids Run – you will get wet! At this end of Six Flags you’ll also find rides for the younger kids at Looney Tunes Movie Town.
There's a new thrill ride for 2008 - "The Dark Night Coaster" - it's a batman themed ride and sure to please - minimum height of 54".
In the north end is Catapult. This is a high-flying thrills ride that swats you through the skies rotating 360-degrees forward and backward! The height minimum on this beauty is 54".
After this beast you'll be ready to get your legs back, so stroll back along Main Street Plaza and towards the south end, where there’s a mixture of fast adult and kiddies rides. Be sure to stop at the gazebo to meet and greet the stars of Six Flags New England and maybe get an autograph or two.
Check out the popular Splash Water Falls, where you'll get splashy thrills with drops, twists and turns. The height minimum on this ride is 48".
Throughout the day shows are put on at the MovieTown Stage.
At the south end of the park you’ll find the entrance to Hurricane Harbor.
Six Flags New England Hurricane Harbor
Prepare to get wet! Hey, that’s why you came anyway, right?Hurricane Harbor lies at the south end of the park. It’s my favorite water park in all of New England.
Six Flags New England has invested a lot of money in the water park and it tells. Well maintained and clean it’s a pleasure to spend a day in it. And you could easily spend the whole day in this park.
The water park has a distinct Caribbean feel, with real tropical trees and plants surrounding the pools to add to the illusion you’re staying in the tropics.
The trees and plants wouldn’t survive a normal New England winter, and so they are dug up each year and kept in a climate controlled location, and then replanted… impressive!
My favorites in the water park are the wave pool – Commotion Ocean, and the fast body slide Cannonball falls. And if you want a great family ride with tubes, then try out Geronimo Falls and Zooma Falls.
But there's so much more waiting for you to keep you wet and slippery all day long.
How to get to Six Flags of New England
Six Flags of New England is in western Massachusetts in Agawam, just outside Springfield, Massachusetts. From Boston take the Mass Pike toll road – Route 90 – take exit 6 in Springfield. Take I-291 West 4.2 mi., merging right onto I-91 South to Exit 3 (Agawam). Cross bridge and take first exit. Follow rotary to Rte. 57 West then to Rte. 159 South (Main St.) Continue south 2.9 mi. to Six Flags New England.
From West take Mass Pike-East to Exit 4. Take Rte. 5 South 5.8 mi. to Rte. 57 West (Agawam/Southwick) onto Rte. 159 South (Main St.). continue south 2.9 mi.
Six Flags New England Lodging:
Springfield is the closest large city to Six Flags and also home to the Basketball Hall of Fame. There is plenty of lodging to suit all budgets in the area.To discover where to stay deals, and compare rates and amenities with a trusted and professional travel organization then check out Springfield lodging and accommodations by clicking here.
More Six Flags of New England Resources...
And if you'd like to enjoy your visit even more to the Six Flags New England area, and grab a bunch more travel resource information at the same time, then here's an offer you can't afford to miss...
If you found this article useful please share it with others at your favorite bookmarking sites below...
Go to Top of Six Flags New England Page.
Go to My New England Vacations Home Page.
