Hooray! Summer is finally here and that means it’s time to visit your favorite amusement parks! Rides, roller coasters, entertainment, and more!
Which amusement park should you visit, you might ask? You have a lot of choices. There are so many amazing roller coasters and theme parks in the US to choose from!
In this article, we will talk about 9 of the best amusement parks to visit on your next family outing. If you’re planning a big family vacation, you’ll also want to check out these 7 Best Theme Parks for Family Vacations.
The 9 theme parks we are about to explore come in all different shapes and sizes and offer something for everyone!
So, are you ready for some theme park thrills that will knock your socks off? Read on below to get started on our amusement park adventure tour!
1. Magic Kingdom
Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Magic Kingdom is known as the most magical place on Earth and for good reason!
Magic Kingdom has something to make every member of your family smile from ear to ear.
You’ll find it hard not to get lost in the Disney magic while exploring this large theme park, filled with fun and enchantment around every corner!
Some of the best attractions in the park are The Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
These three rides offer plenty of thrills for all different ages!
A few other popular rides and attractions include Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Toy Story Mania in Toy Story Land!
Walt Disney World and Magic Kingdom are big on family fun for everyone to enjoy together- no matter what age you may be!
2. SeaWorld Orlando
Orlando, Florida
SeaWorld Orlando is best for thrill-seeking individuals who are ready to take a deep dive into the world of marine life!
This one of Florida’s most popular theme parks and it’s not hard to see why.
You’ll find all sorts of fun attractions here that will introduce you to amazing aquatic animals like dolphins, penguins, sea lions, otters and more!
Top rides include Journey To Atlantis, Manta flying roller coaster, Wild Arctic (motion simulator), and the Kraken- a high speed roller coaster that turns riders upside down seven times! Perfect for thrill seekers!
Anchors aweigh on your next family adventure with this awesome amusement park!
3. Six Flags Magic Mountain
Valencia, California
Theme parks seem to come fully loaded when they’re located near a major city and this one is no exception! Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California provides visitors with an excellent opportunity to experience the best of both worlds- thrilling coasters and kiddie rides.
You’ll find over 100 rides here that will cater to everyone’s needs.
If you have older kids who want to go on more extreme attractions, this amusement park has got you covered!
Rides like the Full Throttle roller coaster or Goliath with a 255-foot drop are sure to impress.
For the younger kiddos, be sure to visit Daffy’s Adventure Tours or the Grand American Carousel.
Have a little thrill seeker in training? If that’s the case, then the Magic Flyer will be the perfect fit.
So, if you’re looking for a family-friendly theme park packed with action and 19 roller coasters, then look no further!
Six Flags Magic Mountain is one of the best amusement park experiences out there.
4. Kings Island
Mason, Ohio
Kings Island is best known for its iconic wooden roller coaster, The Beast.
This coaster thrill ride reaches speeds of 65 mph and a towering height of 110 feet. But you don’t have to be satisfied by just one coaster!
There are 18 different rides to choose from and each of them will leave you on the edge of your seat in excitement.
The park features many other popular attractions for all age groups.
Some of the thrilling roller coasters at this amusement park include the riveting Banshee, Diamondback, and Invertigo.
Other rides like Peanuts 500 and Woodstock Whirlybirds offer a bit calmer experience.
You can also check out the premier Soak City water park here at Kings Island. Just don’t forget- it’s a water park, so you WILL get wet!
From water rides to roller coasters, this amusement park has something exciting waiting around every corner- you won’t want to miss it!
5. Silver Dollar City
Branson, Missouri
Silver Dollar City is the perfect place to discover and embrace your spirit of adventure!
This family-friendly theme park is full of thrill rides, a water park, and tons of fun attractions!
Whether you’re looking for thrilling roller coasters, family-friendly attractions, or a little Southern hospitality, Silver Dollar City is the best place to find it all.
You’ll also love the scenic Ozark Mountains backdrop throughout the park.
One of the newer rides that has water-lovers buzzing is Mystic River Falls, which promises the tallest drop experienced on a water raft ride in the entire Western Hemisphere!
If you’re ready to take your amusement park experience to the next level, check out Outlaw Run which claims to be the only wooden roller coaster to twist upside down a total of three times!
Overall, Silver Dollar City is a big thumbs up and worth the visit!
6. Cedar Point
Sandusky, Ohio
What makes Cedar Point so great is that its best roller coasters are located within the first five minutes of walking through the gates!
Another great part about Cedar Point is how the park offers thrill rides for every age group and a wide variety of other attractions to keep you entertained when you just ate lunch.
It’s not always the best idea to ride a topsy-turvy roller coaster on a full stomach!
Standouts include Millennium Force, which has been named one of America’s best steel roller coasters by Amusement Today Magazine; Maverick, an inverted coaster with four airtime hills; and Valravn, recognized as having some of best views on any coaster thanks to 12 different angles from which riders can experience it!
In addition to all these amazing new thrills, Cedar Point also offers some old-school rides that have been around for decades and are still just as popular today.
There are plenty of kiddie rides to make this amusement park fun for the whole family as well!
With family-friendly rides, yummy food options, and thrilling coasters everywhere you look, you’ll definitely want to grab your Cedar Point day pass and experience every single amusement park attraction before the summer ends!
7. Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari
Santa Claus, Indiana
A combination of a theme park and a water park, Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari offers a huge variety of rides, slides, and activities that will make your summer vacation one to remember!
A unique aspect of Holiday World is hinted at by its name- it has rides and attractions themed after holidays!
You’ll find Christmas, Halloween, Fourth of July, and Thanksgiving themed rides throughout the park- how festive and fun!
Rides like the exciting Wildebeest Water Coaster and the Thunderbird Steel Roller Coaster offer another level of thrills.
Then there’s the 1.2-mile-long Voyage, which is one of the largest wooden roller coasters on the planet!
For those who want to take a break from the thrill rides and relax a little, this theme park still has plenty of options for you.
It can be enjoyed by people of all ages, whether you’re an ultimate thrill seeker or not!
In the end, you’re never too old or too young to have some good old-fashioned fun at this amusement park!
Are You Ready for the Ride of Your Life?
From kids to adults and everyone in between, these amusement parks won’t disappoint!
Fill your days with record breaking fun! You’re sure to find some of the world’s greatest roller coaster rides, family entertainment, and theme park magic at these 9 best amusement park experiences!
Looking to make even more memories this summer?
Be sure to visit Destinations Travel Guide for additional ideas on where to go, what to do, and where to stay! Happy travels!
