Darien Lake Theme Park Resort is a theme park located between Buffalo, and Rochester, New York and Rochester, New York, off the New York State Thruway. It is considered to be New York’s largest theme park and resort destination.

Darien Lake offers over 100 rides, shows and attractions, plus a newly expanded wet and wild water park. The property includes a 162-room themed lodge and on-site campground. Rides include 7 roller coasters, including the “Viper”, “Boomarang”, and the “Predator”, a world-class wooden coaster. There are also dozens of family and children’s rides.

“The Big Kahuna” is a water tubing experience where guests speed thru triple dips and twisting turns on an alternately open and closed track and then burst into a cool splash pool.

The resort also features a impressive list of shows and entertainment. “Le Grande Cirque” showcases some of the world’s best acrobatics in a spellbinding and mind boggling thrill-a-minute artistic experience that is perfect for the whole family! Join superstars Johnny Rhythm and The Darien Lake Sensations at the Midway Gazebo Stage for a timeless Rock n’ Roll show! At night experience “LaserBlast”, an enhanced state-of-the-art visual display combing the latest in aerial fireworks, pyrotechnics, laser animation, lights, sound and musical choreography at the Lakeside Amphitheater.

Hard Rock Park is a 50-acre rock ‘n’ roll themed park, currently under construction in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Construction of the park began in July, 2006 and is scheduled to open in the Spring of 2008. Located on 140-acres of land between Highway 501 and the Intra-coastal Waterway, the site was previously home to the Waccamaw Factory Shoppes in Fantasy Harbour.

The park will feature six “rock environs” celebrating rock’s culture, lifestyle, legends and irreverence:”All Access Entry Plaza” will feature shopping and public spaces. “Rock & Roll Heaven” explores the feelings and emotions “behind the music,” including the influences and the legends of rock. “The British Invasion” is based on English style Rock ‘n Roll. “Lost in the 70’s” explores ’70s genres of punk, disco and glam rock.”Born in the USA” celebrates the birthplace and melting-pot of rock. and “Cool Country” focuses on America’s Country Music.

Hard Rock Park will feature 5 new roller coasters. “Led Zeppelin: The Ride” will stand 155 feet tall and feature six inversions. “Maximum RPM!” is a convertible car-coaster that races to 1980’s new age hits.”Midnight Rider” is a mine train coaster set to southern rock music. “Slippery When Wet” is a suspended roller coaster. “Shake Rattle ‘n’ Rollercoaster” is a coaster just for kids.

Food concessions throughout the park will be themed as well, from chicken and ribs at Rockabilly BBQ to “Carnaby Street Cafe” with it’s 60s lava lamps and British fare. The Hard Rock Park Amphitheater will be a 10,000 seat concert venue featuring live daily shows and special performances. All and all… very cool!

Hersheypark, located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, opened in 1907 as a leisure park for the employees of The Hershey Chocolate Company. Today the park has over 110 acres and over 60 rides and attractions. Park admission also includes entry into “ZOOAMERICA”, an adjacent zoo. Also on the property is “Hershey’s Chocolate World”, a company visitors’ center open to the public and featuring shops, restaurants and a chocolate-themed ride. “Chocolate World” and “ZOOAMERICA” are accessible from outside the park boundaries. “Chocolate World” is free admission.

The park features 10 roller coasters, including “Roller Soaker”, where each car holds 16 gallons of water that can be bombed onto riders waiting in line, while water cannons on the ground can be used to spray coaster riders; “Great Bear”, an inverted steel coaster; and 3 wooden coasters including “The Comet”, which opened in 1946.

With over 60 rides and attractions, Hersheypark has something for every age. Traditional amusement park rides can be found in the “Midway America” section. “The Boardwalk at Hershey Park” is a tribute to the legendary beaches of the Northeast including Atlantic City, Ocean City, Coney Island, and Rehoboth Beach. The Boardwalk features five distinctive water attractions, including “East Coast Waterworks”, the largest water play structure in the world! All Boardwalk attractions are included as part of the one –price admission.

Entertainment at Hersheypark includes shows and strolling bands. The amphitheater features world-class entertainers and the park has fireworks every Saturday night during the season.

SeaWorld Orlando is a theme park owned and operated by Anheuser-Busch and located in Orlando, Florida.

The park has 7 rides, “Kraken”, a floorless steel roller coaster with 3 tunnels, a loop, dive loop, zero-G roll, cobra roll, a second loop, and a corkscrew; “Journey to Atlantis”, a water coaster where visitors take a trip to the lost city; “The Shamu Express”, a family coaster and “Wild Arctic”, a flight simulator where visitors take a helicopter trip to a fictional base station at the North Pole. “Happy Harbor”, a section just for kids, includes 3 new sea-themed family rides, including a Carsoule.

The park features dozens of shows and animal attractions… “Believe” is a captivating and visually stunning new Shamu show with acrobatics, original scores, and live underwater video projection. “Elmo and Bookaneers” features Elmo and the gang. “Odyssea” features high-flying acrobatics, dramatic music, and many special effects on an underwater themed set. “Shamu Rocks The World” is a rock n’ roll concert combining improvisational movements of killer whales with music, computer-synchronized lighting, and LED screens that morph into a kaleidoscope of world images.

Seaworld Orlando animal exhibits take your family below the surface, above the waves and beyond your expectations. You can touch and feed dolphins, count the teeth on a shark and feed seals and sea lions.

Universal Studios Florida is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida and part of the Universal Orlando Resort. The park lets visitors “Ride the Movies.” It offers many shows and rides, along with countless other things for guests to see and do. Universal Studios Florida, its sister theme park “Islands of Adventure”, a nightclub/shopping venue “CityWalk”, and several on-site hotels combine to make a complete vacation destination.

Universal Studios Florida host many special events throughout the year, including Macy’s Holiday Parade, Mardi Gras celebrations and Halloween Horror Nights in the fall.

Disney World is a major recreational resort containing four distinct theme parks located in Lake Buena Vista and Bay Lake, Florida, just southwest of Orlando. The four themed parks are: the “Magic Kingdom”, “Epcot”, “Disney-MGM Studios”, and “Disney’s Animal Kingdom”.

“The Magic Kingdom” opened as Disney World’s first themed area on October 1st, 1971. The kingdom has over 20 attractions set in 7 themed lands… “Main Street USA”, “Adventureland”, Frontierland”, Liberty Square”, “Fantasyland”, “Tomorrowland” and “Micky’s Toontown Fair”.

“Epcot” was the second Disney World theme park and was opened on October 1st, 1982. Epcot is dedicated to international culture and technological innovation. The park consists of two sections: “Future World” and “World Showcase”. Epcot has essentially become a permanent exhibit of the world’s nations.

“Disney-MGM Studios” is the third theme park to open Disney World. Opened on May 1st, 1989, it encompasses 135 acres and is themed around Hollywood classic movies and popular TV entertainment.

Openen on April 22, 1998, “Disney’s Animal Kingdom” is Disney World’s fourth theme park. It is the largest Disney theme park in the world, covering more than 500 acres. It’s the first Disney theme park to be themed entirely around animal conservation, a philosophy once pioneered by Walt Disney himself.

In addition to the four main theme parks, the resort operates two water parks “Typhoon Lagoon” and “Blizzard Beach”, six golf courses, a sports complex, an auto race track, twenty resort hotels and numerous shopping, dining, and entertainment offerings. “Downtown Disney” is an outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment area that features “Pleasure Island”, a nighttime entertainment complex.

Disney World is so large that it even has its own fire department. The 20,000 acre property is considered the largest theme park resort in the world.

Busch Gardens Europe is the new name for Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia. The park was originally known as “The Old Country”. Attractions at this park include “Curse of DarKastle”, “Alpengeist”, “Escape from Pompeii”, “Apollo’s Chariot”, “Loch Ness Monster” and “Big Bad Wolf”. A new roller coaster, “Griffon”, is the tallest dive coaster in the world and the only floorless dive coaster.

Voted one of the most beautiful theme parks in America, Busch Gardens Europe is divided into sections, each themed to a different European country… England, Scotland, Italy, Germany, France and Ireland. With dozens of thrilling rides and attractions, ten main stage shows, a wide variety of authentic foods and shops, and a magical children’s area, Busch Gardens Williamsburg is the ticket to a world-class adventure.

Shows and entertainment abound throughout the park from 4-D comedy adventures for the entire family at the Globe Theatre, to high-energy oompah song and dance that will have you dancing up a German storm at “Oktoberfest”.

Six Flags Great Adventure is part of the Six Flags chain of theme parks, located in Jackson Township, New Jersey, 75 miles from New York City and 60 miles from Philadelphia. The park consists of a theme park area, a Wild Safari area, and “Hurricane Harbor” water park.

Great Adventure is known for its rollor coaster lineup. “Nitro”, “Medusa”, The Great American Scream Machine”, “Rolling Thunder”, “Batman and Robin: The Chiller”, “Batman: The Ride”, “Superman:Ultimate Flight”, “Kingda Ka”, and “El Toro”. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Six Flags Great Adventure has more rides than any other theme park in the world, with over 70 rides.

The park consists of 12 distinct themed sections. “Main Street”is located at the park entrance. It’s home to shops, eateries, and exhibits, including “Dolphin Discovery”, an exhibit that showcases bottle-nose dolphins and sea lions. The Main Street Fountain is a focal point of the park. Another section, “Fantasy Forest” is the main midway connecting the east and west sides of the park. It includes a number of family rides including “Big Wheel”, “Carousel”, and “Enchanted Teacups”.The “Lakefront” is home to “Skull Mountain”, “Blackbeard’s Lost Treasure Train”, “Buccaneer” and “Jolly Roger”. The Great Lake Grandstand is also located here and features a large arena where water stunt shows and summer fireworks are held.

The “Old Country” section is home to “Die Autobahn” bumper cars. The area also has the “Old Country Picnic Grove”, used for large-scale parties with reservations.

Another section, “Movie Town” is home to three of the park’s coasters as well as several other popular attractions. “The Boardwalk” section is home to several more coasters, a parachute tower, a looping starship, and the world’s largest games midway featuring traditional carnival-style games.

The “Frontier Adventures” section of the park has a western theme and features more rides and “The Northern Star Arena” concert venue. “Looney Tunes Seaport” features rides that adults can ride along with their children. It’s also home to “Congo Rapids” river boat ride. “Bugs Bunny National Park” is a children’s section featuring small versions of many of the parks full size rides. This section also includes several Looney Tunes themed shows for the kids.

The “Golden Kingdom” section features adult and children rides. It’s also the home of the park’s seven Bengal tigers who are featured in a 15-minute “Spirit of the Tiger” educational presentation.

The “Plaza del Carnaval” section features the park’s two wooden coasters as well as a number of other attractions. The newest section, “Wiggles World” is the park’s fourth children section and hosts a show featuring Wiggles characters Dorothy the Dinosaur, Wags the Dog, Captain Feathersword and Henry the Octopus.

Carowinds is a 105 acre theme park located on the borderline between North and South Carolina in Charlotte and Fort Mills, respectively.

The park offers more than 100 rides, including 12 roller coasters. Carowinds’ tallest coaster, “BORG Assimilator”, is the world’s first coaster with a ‘Star Trek’ theme. Other high-speed rides include the 50-mph stand-up “Vortex” coaster, the four-G “Jet Coaster” and the ominously named wooden roller coaster,”Hurler”. “Thunder Road” is another wooden coaster where one train runs forwards and the other backwards. The coaster is built over the North Carolina/South Carolina state line so you will actually travel through two states during the ride.

Carowinds offers a great selection of family rides including “Rip Roarin’ Rapids”, a white water rafting expedition down a rugged river course in a 6-person raft; “Scooby-Doo’sâ„¢ Haunted Mansion”, where you climb aboard interactive Mystery Machines and challenge your friends to see who can capture the most ghosts and Scooby Snacksâ„¢; and “WhiteWater Falls”, where you plunge down a 45-foot waterfall and then splash down through a 20-foot wave of water. Get a bird’s-eye-view of the entire theme park and downtown Charlotte from “Carolina Skytower”, as an air-conditioned cabin travels up a 320-foot tower.

Fun for the little ones is guaranteed at Nickelodeon Central. Ride, spin, twirl and hug the day away with your favorite characters from your favorite Nickelodeon TV shows!

Carowinds offers several live stage productions and plenty of characters, the whole park’s a stage.”Nickelodeonâ„¢ Celebration Parade” is highlighted by a colorful convoy of motorized floats, more than 20 Nickelodeon® characters and a cast of nearly 100 performers, the award-winning parade brings families to their feet as they get face to face with the stars of Nickelodeon.

“Boomerang Bay”, is Carowinds’ 16 acre water park and is included in the price of admission. Navigate a four-story rafting adventure; plunge through twisting tube slides; climb, spray, splash on a huge, flowing playground; relax in a heated lagoon; brave wild waves or let the world melt away with a float down a ramblin’ river!

Dorney Park is one of the most popular amusement parks on the East Coast and is a popular recreational destination for residents from Philadelphia and New York City, both of which are less than 90 miles away. The park, located just outside of Allentown, Pennsylvania, features a large number of roller coasters and children’s rides, and features one of the largest water parks in the country, Wildwater Kingdom.

The park features 9 roller coaster including steel coasters “Hydra the Revenge”, “Steel Force” and “Laser”. “Thunderhawk” is the park’s world-class wooden coaster.

For the kids, “Camp Snoopy” is an interactive play area themed with the popular PEANUTSâ„¢ comic strip characters. There are a variety of attractions that parents and children enjoy together in this 2-acre funland. “Tot Spot” offers the little ones their first thrills on a collection of classic kiddie rides.

Dorney Park’s also offers visitors award winning entertainment. Experience the glamour and glitter of live song and dance revues as talented musicians from across the country perform for you.

Dorney Park’s Wildwater Kingdom, located on the park grounds, is one of the largest water parks in the country, and boasts over a dozen water rides and pools. You’ll find 18 water slides, 3 aquatic playlands for children, a water funhouse, 2 tubing rivers, 2 wave pools, a new six-lane mat racing waterslide, and other water rides.