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Three of the Best US Theme Parks

If you’ve been to America on your holidays then it’s very likely that you’ve noticed at least one theme park along your way. In the southern state of Florida, particularly in the tourist hotspot of Orlando, it’s actually pretty difficult to miss the myriad of roller coasters, water slides and screaming crowds that are so customary to some of the top theme parks in the world. The biggest hitters in Orlando are famous parks of Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, while the Busch beer company owns Seaworld and Busch Gardens, the latter of which is in nearby Tampa. On the other side of country in California, these three also hold a fairly big stake, with Disneyland in Anaheim, Universal Studios LA and Seaworld San Diego all being present in the state. So what about the all of the other states in America? Where are all of the other theme parks? Here’s a short guide to three of the top US theme parks outside of Florida and California.

Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, New Jersey

Six Flags is a huge chain of theme parks that not everyone is familiar with in the UK. There are a total of twelve six flags theme parks dotted around the USA, but Great Adventure in New Jersey needs a special mention. This is because it houses the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world, the mighty Kingda Ka. If you’ve ever been to Thorpe Park then you’ll probably think that Stealth is pretty big. Kingda Ka is a similar sort of ride, but it’s twice the height, standing at over 450 feet. It also fires you up this colossal steel tower at speeds of 128 mph, making it one of the most intense experiences on earth. The park also houses no less than eleven other roller coasters, including the superhero themed Batman the Ride and Superman: Ultimate Flight. If you’re a thrill seeking fanatic and you’re heading to New Jersey, then this place is an essential visit.

Busch Gardens Europe, Williamsburg, Virginia

The stretch of the Busch beer company, most famous for the Budweiser brand, heads outside of the more famous theme park states. This theme park is set in the historic town of Williamsburg, Virginia, where the Pilgrim Fathers landed in the 17th century. It’s particularly famous for a number of huge roller coasters. Older classics such as the inverted Big Bad Wolf and the interlocking loops of the Loch Ness Monster have been met by Apollo’s Chariot, a huge ‘hypercoaster’ featuring a 210 foot drop, and the most recent vertical drop monster – Griffon. But Busch Gardens Europe doesn’t stop with world beating roller coasters – there’s also plenty for the kids to enjoy including plenty of animal attractions.

Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio

The self acclaimed roller coaster capital of the world has its work cut out to beat a few of the Six Flags parks, but it’s certainly a very strong challenger. The obsession with coasters reaches fever pitch here with a grand total of seventeen, and amongst the line is the Top Thrill Dragster, the world’s second tallest coaster at 420 feet, and former world record holder. This is just one track that creates the remarkable Cedar Point skyline with Magnum XL-200 pushing through 200 feet tall and Millenium force going over 300 metres with top speeds of 92 mph along 6595 feet of track! Maybe that self proclaimed title was justified after all!

If you’re thinking of heading to America for a thrill seeking adventure around the world’s top theme parks, then take a look at Cheap Flights.co.uk for some flights to USA. Also take a look at Go Travel for travel insurance.