Amusement park fun and some of the best roller coasters
By: Jillian Scheeler
Long lines, greasy food, hordes
of children and plush toys - amusement parks are a summer staple for
children and a common vacation stop for families. Whether you're a ten-year
old child, a parent, a college student or just somebody looking for
something fun to do - amusement parks are the answer. Here are some
of the best amusement parks from in the US, besides Disneyland, Universal
Studios, Six Flags and Sea World.
Cedar Pointes Cleveland, Ohio
Cedar Pointes has more roller
coasters (15) and rides (68) than any other park in the world? So if
you love roller coasters, lines and that feeling when your stomach drops
- Cedar Pointes is definitely the place to go. Using hydraulic technology,
the newest addition to the park, the Top Thrill Dragsters, stands 420
feet tall and can zoom from 0-120 mph in just four seconds. Your hair
might be a little messed up after that ride. The park also has tamer
rides including an antique carousel, a petting zoo, stage shows and
an ice show called "Snoopy on Ice." This spring, the park
will add the Wicked Twister, which claims to be the world's tallest.
If you need to cool off from the summer heat, the park has an 18-acre
water park called Soak City - the admission is extra though.
Busch Gardens Tampa, Florida
What began as a brewery surrounded
by gardens and birds, has turned into one of the biggest amusement park
attractions. At Busch Gardens they have real animals instead of people
dressed up like them. The park has a 29-acre wildlife area where elephants,
rhinos, zebras and antelope roam and it also is one the largest zoos
in Florida with over 2,700 animals. Don't worry this African themed
park has several roaster coasters that are sure to turn your stomach,
including the famous wooden, double twist coaster, the Gwazi, whose
trains whiz past each other at 100 mph.
Astroland Amusement Park Brooklyn, New York
Located on the famous Coney
Island, Astroland is the granddaddy of amusement parks, featuring the
world-famous Cyclone. Built in 1927, this wooden roller coaster has
2,620 feet of track that winds through 16 direction changes, 18 track
crossovers and an 80-foot, 60-degree drop - the ride is sure you make
your stomach drop and screams to ensue. Charles Lindbergh did say the
roller coaster was scarier than flying the Atlantic solo. The park also
has dozens of other rides, a Ferris wheel, carousel, three arcades,
two restaurants, the Surf Avenue flea market, a skating rink and a fishing
pier.
Legoland Carlsbad, California
With over 30 million Lego bricks,
Legoland is a child's dream come true. The park aims for children
age 2 to 12, but welcomes all Lego-lovers. The Miniland USA is a must.
Where else can you see the White House, Golden Gate Bridge and New York
City skyline in one place? You can't touch the models, but there are
buttons to push that make thinks move in the models. Don't worry,
there are 50 rides, three roller coasters and a clubhouse where kids
can build and play with Legos. There's also an area where pre-teens
can build and program their own robots in conjunction with MIT's Media
Laboratory.
Paramount Parks Carowinds Charlotte, North Carolina
From new thrilling coasters
like the Top Gun and Vortex to the old-fashioned, but still scary wooden
coasters like the Hurler, Carowinds has plenty to offer. For younger
parkgoers, there is Scooby Doo's Haunted Mansion, where youngsters
can hunt ghosts, collect Scooby snacks and help solve mysterious. For
comic book readers, the Seventh Portal 3-D ride simulator brings to
life the comic book world of Stan Lee.
About the Author:
Jillian Scheeler is a spontaneous road-tripper and avid writer working on assignment for TravelPost.com - The Premier Source for Unbiased Hotel Reviews and Ratings. This article can be reprinted freely as long as all links remain active.