Is the Six Flags Great America around Waukegan Ill. worth a visit? What selse is there in that general area? Is is scenic, rural or more industrial suburbia?
Thanks!

My family loves G.A. and generally go several times a year BUT usually in the more "off" season, if there is one. It is so jammed weekends in the summer that you will wait in line for an hour or more for some of the more popular rides. The rides are great, though. My favorite is still the American Eagle. Leave your stomach at the entrance! By general area I'll assume you mean 25 miles and within that radius there is not much that I know of except a huge outlet mall. If you happen to be a horse person, there is one of the best tack stores in the country just down the road. I'd describe it as quasi-rural, you can definately be out in the country 15 miles away especially heading in the Wisconsin direction but people generally take I90 which is the major corridor between Milwaukee and Chicago and not at all scenic. There are certainly plenty of things to see and do in either Chicago or Milwaukee and some beautiful beaches north of Milwaukee so if you're in the area already, G.A. is worth the trip if you like rides.

Six Flags is a typical amusement park, lots of large rollercoasters. It's also close to Gurnee Mills, an outlet mall. Waukegan/Gurnee are suburbs of Chicago so the area surrounding is mostly residential housing. It's about 45 minutes to downtown Chicago.

We haven't been there for several years, preferring to go instead to Cedar Point out in Sandusky Ohio which is in a prettier location and, in my opinion, a nicer park.

It all depends upon what you mean by "worth it". If you don't like roller coasters, it is probably not worth it, but there are some live shows also. We have season passes & enjoy going on the roller coasters. For us it is worth it. It shows opening time at 10am, but they actually open the the parking & gates at around 9:30am. If you get there then, there is less car traffic to deal with, & the wait for some of the rides are shorter. The ride waits are also definetly shorter when it is close to closing time (within about the last hour). We went Monday night, & even for the new ride - Vertical Velocity (V2)- it was only 1/2 hr wait. The other new ride - Deja Vu - is not open as of yet.
Yes weekends are busy, but my kids have gone on Friday mornings, during the summer, & have gotten on most of the roller coasters by 1pm. Wednesdays at Great America, AAA members can show their cards & get in for a cheaper rate - I think $25, but not sure on that. Food & drink can be expensive inside the park. But there is McDonalds, or Burger Kings outside the park, or you can bring your own food, in a cooler, & leave it in the car. Get you hand stamped, leave the park, go to your car & eat the food on 1 of the grassy areas. See people doing that all the time. They also have some kiddie rides, & some carnival type rides as well as roller coasters. The water rides are fun, especially on a hot day. But the wait can be rather long for those during the heat of the day. Wait s for water rides are less in the evening & morning. Once Deja Vu opens, I think the coasters will number 12.

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