Hutchinson was not a place I had any knowledge of, but now it's on my radar. Thank you to those who brought it up! It's possible I may be able to visit both museums this summer.
My travels-I'm recovering from an ankle injury which may prove to be a hindrance, but it's also supposed to be fully healed by the time the trip happens, so hopefully it won't be a big deal. I'm definitely headed to California-revisiting Disneyland, USH, and Knott's is definitely part of the plan, as is going to San Francisco for the first time. The Bay Area parks would be included also, some of which are new to me, and I'd really like to get one more visit back to 'the other Great America' before it closes forever.
What's more up in the air is whether or not I fly or drive out there. From IL I've driven a fair amount west before-within the past two years I drove out first to Salt Lake City and back, and then to Monument Valley and back-so there's a part of me that just wants to go all the way and hit the west coast, just to say that I've done it. There would be various stops along the way, and IL to San Francisco wouldn't be particularly hard to fill-the aforementioned Kansas museums, revisiting Lagoon for the new ride, checking out Reno/Carson City/Lake Tahoe, and so on all seem compelling. It's the way back that would be the struggle. It would also pretty much put me back at home right before the school year starts and have me immediately shifting back into teaching mode, which is a major con of driving out there and back. But if it means I don't have to fly and get to visit a bunch of cool new places along the way, it may well be worth it.
Sirwillow, Lagoon is a fantastic park! Hopefully Lakeside will be better off this year than last-the wooden coaster was advertised as down the whole year on their site, so I was able to get on Wild Chipmunk, but no dice with the wooden coaster. Definitely go at night-the park has seen better days, but at least the lights help disguise that to some degree. I also recommend the train, not just for the view of the place reflected on the lake, but also for the eighth wonder of the world, the backside of Walmart. I'd opt for tickets over the POP (which their website was actually advocating for last year anyway) unless you can be sure everything you might want to do is open.
Elitches...well, I'm grateful I was able to get the Arrow shuttle coaster credit, but I'm not sure I have it in me to go back for the Half Pipe. The Meow Wolf dark ride is really cool though! Although if the dark ride interests you, another possibility instead would be to visit the actual Meow Wolf location in Denver as an alternative. It's immersive art, and I did all of the Meow Wolf locations around the country last year. I highly, highly recommend Meow Wolf while you're in town-it's just an incredible place to visit and explore. Better than any of the actual parks in Denver by quite a lot IMO.
If you're driving between Denver and SLC, I'd highly recommend Glenwood Caverns-it has three coasters now (four with the alpine coaster), two cave tours, a huge variety of excellent dangle-you-off-the-top-of-the-mountain thrill rides. Not sure if they'll ever reopen the drop ride, but it was one of the best ones anywhere. And they have one of the roller coasters from Celebration City! It's better than both the Denver parks. If your route between Denver and SLC takes you by Dinosaur National Monument in Utah, definitely stop there-it's a really cool museum with dozens of dinosaur fossils embedded into the land.
