From roasting marshmallows on the campfire to screaming my head off at the amusement park, last weekend was full of fun.

As recent graduates, my friend Bekah and I felt left out of the fun as our friends moved back to school for another year. So we decided to kick-back and get away from it all at the KOA campground in Williamsport, Pa.

I hadn’t been camping since I was a kid, where parents came along to cook and build fires. However, when I arrived at the site I realized we would hardly be roughing it. The campground offered a wide range of amenities which included WiFi for guests, water and electrical hook-ups at campsites, and showers. They also had a small convenience store where you could buy soft drinks and snacks, KOA merchandise and everything you would need to go camping — including a tent to sleep in. Bekah and I spent our stay taking long walks, hiking, reading, stargazing and catching up by the campfire. It was a great way to unplug for a few days and reconnect with one of my best friends. As the weekend came to a close, we found ourselves itching for a new adventure.

On Sunday we decided to pack up our camp and venture to Knoebels, a short drive from our campsite. Knoebels is the largest admission-free amusement park in North America, which makes it a must-visit park for those on a budget.After spending four years in central Pennsylvania, I’d heard of Knoebels but never had the chance to visit. Luckily, Bekah and her family live nearby and were able to give me a full tour.

Since the park is admission-free, I expected the food and rides to be pricey. I was more than happy to be corrected. Most of the small attractions that Bekah and I enjoyed, like the Tilt-a-Whirl, Sky-View and Cosmic Coaster only cost two or three dollars apiece. After I mentioned that I had never been on a Ferris wheel before, Bekah and her family made sure that we went for a spin — I was glad we did. The ride provided a great view of the park and was the cherry on top of an already great weekend!

— Amanda Ekstrand, intern