The United States is famous for its numerous world-famous theme parks and amusement parks. These parks instill fun and adventure for everyone. Every child, and even the grown-ups, cherish dreams of visiting these wonderlands filled with mystery, fairy tales, and magic dust. Every magical character comes alive on these amusement parks. The notable and popular parks also provide thrilling rides, games and other lively activities to the visitors. Some even allow the children to stay at night. Along with the kids, the adults are also transported to their childhood when they are filled with amazement and awe at the myriad themes. Choices are plenty and it is hard to decide which one to visit with the kids on your next holiday. Here are the 10 best theme parks and amusement parks in the United States which provide wonder, a rush of adrenaline, and a memory of a lifetime.
1. Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida
The world-famous Disney World is the land of dreams. It provides a magnificent experience for witnessing fairy tales coming to life. Here, you’ll walk alongside princes and princesses together with a few cartoon characters in this mind-blowing paradise. The place comprises of water parks and theme parks like Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. There are also resorts for visitors who love camping. Truly, your childhood wishes and dreams come true at this place.
Walt Disney World Resort
Address: Orlando, FL, United States
Website: Walt Disney World Resort
Opening hours: 9am - 9pm (daily)
Price: From 109 USD
2. Disneyland Park, Anaheim, California
The original and the oldest Disneyland built under the direct supervision of the entertainment legend Walt Disney is a charming land of make-believe. Located in Anaheim, California, this place was the creation of Walt Disney, who wanted to create an amusement park for his two daughters as well as to promote his own studio. The park is segregated into themed zones offering rides, attractions, and shows that relate to respective themes. The amusement park has improved with time through various fascinating additions such as Mickey’s Toon Town, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and Disney California Adventure Park.
Disneyland Park
Address: 1313 Disneyland Dr, Anaheim, CA 92802, United States
Website: Disneyland Park, Anaheim
Opening hours: Sun: 8am - 12am; Mon - Tue: 9am - 11pm; Wed: 9am - 10pm; Thu: 9am - 11pm; Fri - Sat: 8am - 12am
Price: From 104 USD
3. Six Flags Great America, Gurnee, Illnois
Built by the Marriott Corporation and later taken over by Six Flags, the amusement park located in Gurnee, Illinois, definitely has its tourists taken aback by what they’ll see inside. The place features a vast water park called Hurricane Harbor, along with 16 adrenaline-pumping rollercoasters. If you have little children tugging along with you, you’ll be happy to know that there are thrilling rides and a mesmerizing live entertainment the whole family can enjoy together. Plus, the park offers mouthwatering food and quaint shop for collectibles.
Six Flags Great America
Address: 1 Great America Pkwy, Gurnee, IL, United States
Website: Six Flags Great America, Gurnee
Opening hours: 10:30am - 6pm (April 2020) (Park hours vary daily, please check website for exact timings)
Price: From 79.99 USD
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4. Kings Island, Mason, Ohio
Winner of various awards like the best kids’ area in the world for 18 consecutive years, this amusement park ranked as the second-most visited theme park in 2017. Located in the city of Ohio, this majestic amusement park houses more than a hundred rides and 14 gigantic rollercoasters with other various attractions and theme-based seasonal operations. To top it all off, it has a sprawling water park with 36 slides and massive wave pools, kids’ splash zones, and laid-back lagoons. The world-famous attractions include the most adored Banshee, Beast and Diamondback rollercoasters, Peanuts-themed attractions at Planet Snoopy, and the upcoming Orion — a rollercoaster that will be the tallest and fastest rollercoaster in the world once completed.
Kings Island
Address: 6300 Kings Island Dr, Mason, OH 45040, United States
Website: Kings Island, Mason
Opening hours: Sat: 10am - 5pm (April 4), Mon: 5pm - 8pm (April 6), Tue: 5pm - 8pm (April 7), Wed: 5pm – 8pm (April 8)
Price: From 41.99 USD
5. Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania
Located in Hershey, Pennyslvania, this family-oriented theme park is known for its 14 rollercoasters like the Wild Cat, Candymonium, Trailblazer and the circuit-looping Kissing Tower. Families can also enjoy a stroll down Boardwalk Water Park and Zoo America — North American Wildlife Park where more than 200 animals find their home here. Another spellbinding offering is the Hershey’s Chocolate World, which has a chocolate-factory-themed tour and other visiting arenas.
Hersheypark
Address: 100 Hersheypark Dr, Hershey, PA 17033, United States
Website: Hersheypark, Pennsylvania
Opening hours: Fri - Sat: 10am - 9pm; Sun: 10am - 6pm (closed from Mon - Thu) (Timings are for April 4 - 19, 2020)
Price: From 43.95 USD
6. Knott’s Berry Farm, Buena Park, California
Located in Buena Park, California and owned by the Cedar Fair, this vast amusement park has various fun and scream-inducing rides. Starting out as a charming berry farm, this park now offers 40 rides comprising of pulse-thumping rollercoasters including the fastest and the tallest one on the West Coast. Visitors can also take a look at themed areas like Fiesta Village, Camp Snoopy, Boardwalk, and the ghastly Ghost Town — an immensely popular attraction to the visitors. Interactive experiences and entertaining stage shows are the highlights of this park.
Knott’s Berry Farm
Address: 8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park, CA 90620, United States
Website: Knott’s Berry Farm
Opening hours: Sat - Sun: 10am - 10pm; Mon - Thu: 10am - 6pm; Fri: 10am - 8pm
Price: From 47 USD
7. Epcot, Orlando, Florida
Located in Bay Lake Florida and within Walt Disney Resort is this futuristic-themed park that boasts the reputation of being the second-most visited zone in the Disney World after Magical Kingdom. It symbolizes human achievement and is often referred to as a permanent world fair. A visit to this park will take you to an exploration of space, culture, and cuisine of different nations across the world. You’ll also see the splendors of nature and even of the future at this place. Remember to take some selfies in front of the gigantic geodesic globe, which is a major attraction in the park.
Epcot
Address: 200 Epcot Center Dr, Orlando, FL, United States
Website: Epcot
Opening hours: 9am - 9pm (daily)
Price: From 109 USD
8. Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Orlando, Florida
Enter the world of movies! A walk into the world of magical spells and sorcery, the land of Harry Potter himself is definitely the biggest lure of this theme park that is owned by the renowned Universal Studios. Feel the thrill of almost getting eaten up by the menacing Tyrannosaurus Rex, or choose to jump into a dark abyss! Located in Orlando, Florida, it also houses other notable landmarks from popular movies of this production house. It also houses several rides for all age groups and exhibits entertaining shows for the visitors. Choices of amusement are endless in this fun-filled family destination.
Universal’s Islands of Adventure
Address: Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819, United States
Website: Universal’s Islands of Adventure
Opening hours: Sun - Fri: 9am - 7pm; Sat: 9am - 8pm
Price: From 119 USD
9. Universal Studios, Los Angeles, California
Universal Studios is a theme park located in Los Angeles County. Experience the motion-picture-making experience of Hollywood as movie sets come to life and drag you right into the thick of a plot. Be thrilled in one amazing adventure after another as you take part in the action. Better yet, you can walk with your favorite animated characters. The park is the land of absolute fantasy and offers many rides for a hair-raising adventure.
Universal Studios
Address: 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608, United States
Website: Universal Studios, Hollywood
Opening hours: Sun: 9am - 6pm; Mon - Fri: 10am - 6pm; Sat: 9am - 7pm
Price: From 109 - 129 USD
10. SeaWorld, San Diego, California
SeaWorld is an animal-themed amusement park in San Diego, California. The park houses an aquarium, an oceanarium and a park for marine mammals. A visit to this park offers opportunities to get up close and personal to diverse aquatic life, to experience jaw-dropping encounters with animals, and to burn some adrenaline with exhilarating rides and sensational animal shows. Killer whales, dolphins, walruses, penguins, sharks — the animals that you can view here are diverse and captivating. The park is a complete entertainment package for the entire family.
SeaWorld
Address: 500 Sea World Dr, San Diego, CA 92109, United States
Website: SeaWorld, San Diego
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 10:30am - 5pm; Sun: 11am - 7:30pm; Sat: 10am - 6pm
Price: From 73.99 USD
Watch as fantasies and dreams come to life
Amusement and theme parks in the United States have a unique charisma and each has its own stories to tell. A visit to these parks do not just cheer you up. It opens up a whole new world that exist only in your fantasies and offer an unparalleled experience that is memorable for the entire family. Visit some of these awesome parks on your next holiday and prepare to embark on a day of unmatched fun, thrills and adventure.
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