Top Seven Theme Parks in the U.S.

Most people think of amusement parks when they think of summer fun. While there are many such parks that are open during the summer, there are many others that are open throughout the year. Some of these are obviously in places with nice climates like California or Florida, but others are actually in places that are less exotic like Ohio. Here are the top seven theme parks in the U.S.

Kings Island
Located about 30 minutes from downtown Cincinnati, Ohio, Kings Island is one of the oldest theme parks in the US. It has 12 roller coasters, and its newest wooden coaster, Mystic Timbers, was voted the best new ride by Amusement Today in 2017. The Beast was a groundbreaking ride when it opened back in 1979, and it still thrills riders today.

Cedar Point
Kings Island’s sister park is located in Sandusky, Ohio, which is between Cleveland and Toledo. Cedar Pointhas a whopping 18 roller coasters counted among its 71 rides and attractions, and many of them have broken records when they first opened. The park is actually one of the oldest in the US, having opened in 1870, and it is sure to bring much in the way of excitement.

Knott’s Berry Farm
Knott’s Berry Farm, located in sunny Southern California, has four themed areas, including the popular Camp Snoopy. The park has many rides that are tied to California’s history as a frontier area. Overall, visitors can enjoy around 40 rides during a visit to Knott’s Berry Farm.

Disney’s California Adventure
This park is located next to the original Disneyland Park. The California Adventure park has some rides that are geared more to adults than its neighbor. One of the more exciting new rides is the Radiator Springs Racers, which is tied the Cars movie series.

Universal Studios Florida
Located in the Orlando area that’s famous for its tourist attractions, Universal Studios Florida bills itself as the premier movie and TV based park in the world. Fans of Harry Potter will enjoy some of the new attractions tied to their favorite wizard.

Disneyland
The original Disney theme park is located in Anaheim, California. Some unique rides like the Matterhorn Bobsleds are only available at this classic. While there are massive crowds and high prices, at least one trip to Disneyland is worth the effort.

Disney’s Magic Kingdom
After the success of Disneyland, Walt Disney began looking for another place to build a massive resort. He settled on the Orlando, Florida, area. The Magic Kingdom is the most-visited park, not just in North America, but in the world. That many people can’t be wrong! The Magic Kingdom has many of the familiar Disney rides and will soon open Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, a large area of the park dedicated to the Star Wars franchise.

Originally published at robertsiekert.net on August 8, 2019.