I don’t know about you, but I love amusement parks! I live easily within driving distance of three major parks, and if I include an overnight stay in a hotel room, the number increases dramatically. I highly recommend them, because they offer something for everyone to enjoy.
There is one thing I’d like to address really quickly: while the terms “amusement park” and “theme park” are often used interchangeably, I don’t see them that way. Theme parks have their activities centered around themes, and some excellent examples are Disneyland, Disney World, and Universal Orlando Resort. While amusement parks may have some theming, their focus is on the activities themselves, with some examples being Cedar Point and King’s Island.
One of the biggest draws for many amusement parks is their Roller Coasters. These bring in the crowds and are among the biggest money-makers for these parks. You’ll often hear them brag about how fast their new coaster is, or how high the drop is, or how many coasters the park has. There are lots of different coaster designs, such as Dual Inversion (the riders are turned upside down twice in a matter of seconds), Floorless, and Wooden Coasters, and most parks have at least two or three. Many of these offer some truly intense rides, but there are many which do not and are designed for children. Be sure to check out the park map or park apps: these will list all rides, and they include ratings for how extreme each ride is.
Extreme Thrill Rides. Oh, yes, there can be rides that equal those huge coasters in terms of intensity. Shot towers, drop towers, pendulum rides – some of these may be scarier than many of the coasters! I recommend caution if you have any physical conditions, such as heart problems.
Pay-Per-Ride Attractions are probably the most extreme thrills offered in any park. You pay for each exciting attraction individually. We’re talking bungee jumping and sky diving.
Almost all amusement parks offer Circular Rides, such as the Matterhorn, Scrambler, and the Tilt-a-Whirl. These may not be a good choice for you if you have a tendency towards motion sickness. They are my personal favorite out of all types of rides. Most aren’t nearly as intense as those mentioned previously, but not everyone can tolerate them.
Family Rides are great for people of all ages, although really young people may need to be accompanied by an adult. Ferris wheels, bumper cars, carousels – who doesn’t love at least one of these? Did I mention that amusement parks have something for everyone?
Water Rides are a wonderful way to cool off during a hot day at the park! Most parks offer a log flume ride of some sort, and many are child-friendly.
Dark Rides are an example of theming that you’ll often find in most amusement parks. Some form of the haunted house seems to be the most popular, and it isn’t unusual to find this one in the children’s section of the park.
Kiddie Rides are usually smaller versions of the adult rides and are located in their own section of the park. Picture child-size bumper cars, Ferris wheels, and coasters, with Circular Rides themed as space ships and race cars. The kiddie section of the amusement park is an amazing place to spend the day with your little ones.
Transportation Rides are mild rides that take you to various locations throughout the park. Trains, monorails, and skylifts seem to be the most popular.
Whether you are after extreme thrills, something in the middle, or a fun day with your children, give your local amusement park a try. Everyone will find something to enjoy, and it’s a great way to spend a summer day!