The United States is full of theme parks designed to bring happiness and fun to all ages. These parks vary in their landscapes, rides, and atmosphere providing you with a unique experience when exploring them.
Here are some of the best amusement parks in the country and what they have to offer you.
Dollywood
This amusement park first opened in 1961 and is situated within Tennessee’s Smoky Mountain area. Thrill-seekers will discover plenty of roller coasters to ride in Dollywood. You’ll find many other rides to enjoy, like bumper cars, a giant swing, and the chance to drive a vintage Thunderbird around a racetrack.
Dollywood features entertainment services that range from plays to local music festivals. Visitors will find a handful of shops inside the park which sell various local goods and antiques. Many also allow you to view artists at work. Restaurants are abundant here as well and tend to serve Southern favorites, like grits, funnel cake, and barbecue.
Epcot, Florida
Epcot is one of Disney World’s theme parks and lets visitors easily travel the world. The park is broken up into different countries, such as Germany, France, China, Morocco, and Italy. While touring the grounds, you’ll be able to experience each country’s culture through rides, shops, and restaurants.
Epcot also hosts many special events throughout the day for all ages. This includes short film festivals, behind-the-scenes tours, and animal encounters. There is an International Food and Wine Festival held in the latter part of each year allowing you to attend workshops, try intercontinental food, and view performances and concerts from artists across the globe.
Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park
Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is located in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, and is one of the only amusement parks in the United States to be located on a mountain. In addition to the numerous rides in the park including an alpine coaster, where visitors can explore Glenwood Caverns which features winding pathways and light displays.
There are guided tours available as well as a thrill-seekers option that takes you deep into the caverns requiring you to crawl through tunnels. Other attractions in the park include a laser tag room, 4D motion theater, zip line, and climbing wall. This adventure park also hosts many music festivals and a major Oktoberfest celebration.
Hersheypark, Pennsylvania
Filled with the thick aroma of chocolate, Hersheypark was originally created by Milton S. Hershey as a recreational area for his chocolate factory workers. Today, it is open to the public and not only allows you to try thousands of different types of chocolate but spend time on rides and enjoy various performances. Visitors will find numerous shops to browse in and a variety of Hershey characters to meet. The park is open year-round and is home to seasonal attractions which include a waterpark in the summer and a sweet winter wonderland during the holiday season.
Holiday World
Holiday World is located in Santa Claus, Indiana, and operates not only as an amusement park but water park as well. Visitors will find a lot of family-friendly rides here, including many geared toward young children. Thrill-seekers will also discover some fun options to ride here, like a water coaster and a launcher that will throw you up and down hundreds of feet into the air. The amusement park also has a few roller coasters available. Holiday World hosts many different shows that appeal to all ages. Some you’ll find here include magic shows, comedy tours, and storytimes. There are a handful of restaurants in the park that serve everything from pizza to fresh salads.
Kings Island, Mason, Ohio
Kings Island first opened in 1972 and spans over 364 acres. Considered to be one of the largest amusement parks in the Midwest, Kings Island is filled with rides like the Adventure Express, Invertigo, Surf Dog, and Slingshot. The park also has live entertainment which ranges from performances by musicians to theater groups. There are special events during the year as well, like an ugly sweater day and Halloween haunts. Kings Island is connected to a water park known as Soak City which features 50 water attractions that range from calm swimming pools to extreme water slides. The park is conveniently located next to many hotels and campgrounds.
Knoebels Amusement Resort
Knoebels Amusement Resort was created in 1926 and is one of the largest free-admission amusement parks in the United States. The park features hundreds of attractions which include roller coasters, ball crawls, bumper cars, and a giant flume that plunges you off a waterfall. You’ll find many different shops and eateries that are designed to cater to the needs and tastes of all visitors. In addition to this, the park features a water park. Visitors to Knoebels Amusement Resort can stay at a variety of different campgrounds located within the grounds. There are also cottages for rent and a bed and breakfast.
(Text and Image Courtesy: Vacationidea.com)
