Free or lost-cost things to do this summer around Berks/Reading (Hershey: amusement parks, home)

[kf70]

I hope it is okay to post this here. Oddly, I've lived in Berks County almost exclusively for the past 38 years, and have no idea what we can do inexpensively in the area this summer. Looking for any kind of ideas.

With rising fuel and food prices, and having purchased a home within the last six months, we won't be traveling far or long for vacation this summer. I'm planning on taking a week's vacation in June and another in August and I thought about going to Philly, DC, NYC or Baltimore, maybe even the Jersey Shore for a day, but not sure about the cost and whether we can see and do all that we want in just one day.

What ideas can you give me for a small family with a teenage girl?

[FightinPhils]

There are a few good amusement parks within a reasonable drive of Reading....Hershey Park, Dorney Park, Knoebel's. In the Poconos, only about an hour-and-a-half from Reading there's a good water park called Camel Beach. The Jersey Shore, like you mentioned, is not far away, also NYC and Philly. You could always catch some Reading Phillies games.

[momix5]

Dorney is fun, my family went there three years ago, we live in Fla now and my 10 year old keeps asking when we are going back, he liked Hershey and Dorney better than Disney!

[kf70]

Originally Posted by MrKrabs

There are a few good amusement parks within a reasonable drive of Reading....Hershey Park, Dorney Park, Knoebel's. In the Poconos, only about an hour-and-a-half from Reading there's a good water park called Camel Beach. The Jersey Shore, like you mentioned, is not far away, also NYC and Philly. You could always catch some Reading Phillies games.

Thanks for the suggestions.

I think we've had our fill of Knoebels for a while, even though there is at least one new ride since our last visit. We used to go up Memorial Day weekend for a family picnic, did that for a few years until the kids started graduating HS and getting busy.

It's been a couple of years since we were at Dorney Park, might try it this year. And I think we went to Hersheypark two years ago, and we're not in much hurry to go back (not that we had a bad time, we just had been to Walt Disney World and felt let down by comparison, HP is a great park!).

I forgot about Camel Beach. I'll have to check their website for details.

I don't mind the baseball games, but the rest of 'em could care less. I think it's a nice evening out and doesn't cost an arm and a leg.