Europa Park has a coaster that drops you inside the Phantom of the Opera. Knoebels, in rural Pennsylvania, has free admission and food that tastes like a real home-cooked meal. Neither one is a household name, but they just might be the best theme park days you'll ever have.
In this episode, host Angie Orth continues her conversation with Zachary Laks, travel journalist and theme park expert who has written for Fodor’s, The Points Guy, and Lonely Planet. He shares his favorite, most underrated parks worth going out of your way for.
You'll learn which European parks belong on your travel itinerary, why family-owned parks often outperform the big chains, and the single unmissable ride Zachary would book a flight for right now.
What You’ll Learn:
0:26 Why Europa Park is the essential first stop for any European theme park itinerary
3:23 What keeps wooden coaster loyalists coming back to Knoebels in Pennsylvania
5:16 How to make the case for adding Efteling to a European trip
8:22 Why independent, family-owned parks deliver a guest experience the big chains can't replicate
10:01 The one ride at Silver Dollar City that Zachary would hop on a plane for today
Connect with Zachary Laks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachlaks/
Website: https://www.zacharylaks.com/
Which theme park are you adding to your itinerary? Tell us in the comments!
Connect with AAA:
Book travel: https://aaa-text.co/travelingwithaaa
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AAAAutoClubEnterprises
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AAAAutoClubEnterprises
Podcast: TravelingWithAAA.com
