Cities with Great Theme Parks

The United States of America boasts the largest assemblage of theme parks on planet earth. As competition is fierce, every theme park operator is faced with the challenging task to innovate rides, attractions, and other guest experiences. As you might imagine, theme parks from 20 years ago don’t look the same as they do today. Faster, larger, more “high tech" are the mandates to keep guests engaged.
There’s no better time to visit a theme park in the USA! Since most major theme parks are in, or nearby, large metropolises, traveling to these shrines of fun is easy! Here’s a list of some US cities that are home to amazing theme parks.

Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse welcome you to the Disneyland Resort.

Los Angeles, California
Southern California’s popularity is undeniable. With a relatively steady climate and recreation offerings that are the envy of the world, it makes sense that this region is home to numerous “top shelf" and groundbreaking theme parks. While the City of Los Angeles itself is “technically" home to one major theme park (Universal Studios Hollywood), there are several others that are adjacent to the City of Angels – and each one of these parks are responsible for laying the framework for how theme parks around the world should operate.
Just a stone’s throw from Disneyland Resort is Knott’s Berry Farm. Knott’s recently celebrated its 100th birthday, and it is just as popular now as it has ever been! Quintessentially “Old West" in theme, it is a living time capsule that peacefully coexists with the modern attractions of today. You and your family can enjoy a ride in a traditional Stage Coach and witness gold mining while aboard the Calico Mine Ride, and moments later, go speeding down a high speed track on Xcelerator, and then careen through numerous loops on Hangtime The Ride.

Not only Is Universal Studios Hollywood a fully operational movie and TV studio, it also is home to numerous thrilling movie-themed attractions for the whole family. From its Wizarding World of Harry Potter land to its Minions 4D attraction, to its ever-popular Studio Tour, Universal Studios Hollywood is many things, but boring it is not.

If high adrenaline roller coasters are your passion, then Six Flags Magic Mountain is the place for you. As the current roller coaster capital of the world, Six Flags Magic Mountain boasts 19 roller coasters, many of which hold record-breaking titles. Of these, you should experience Full Throttle, Twisted Colossus, Tatsu, X2, and debuting Summer 2022: Wonder Woman Flight of Courage, which will be the world’s longest single rail roller coaster.
Orlando, Florida
Central Florida’s temperate climate is very similar to that of Southern California. So, it makes perfect sense that some of the owners of major Southern California theme parks are in the region. Short history lesson: Walt Disney wasn’t pleased with the seemingly immediate and undesired outcome of being “landlocked" after the opening of Disneyland in 1955. Through multiple businesses, Walt shrewdly and quietly bought up tracts of unused land in Central Florida and eventually merged them into what we now know as Walt Disney World Resort. Currently celebrating its 50th birthday, Walt Disney World Resort is 42 square miles of fun. Through its 4 different theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom), millions of individuals continue to live out childlike fantasies through its imaginative wonders.

Amazing fun awaits the whole family at Universal Orlando Resort.

Universal Studios also solved its Southern California landlocked issues in Central Florida by creating Universal Orlando Resort. Spanning over 540 acres, Universal Orlando Resort consists of three amazing theme parks: Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure, - filled with Hollywood-themed attractions, many of which are exciting roller coasters – and Universal’s Volcano Bay Water Theme Park.
SeaWorld Orlando is more than a marine park, as it is home to several innovative roller coasters including the recently opened Ice Breaker which has the steepest drop in Florida, Manta which is a hybrid marine attraction / roller coaster as well as Mako which is one of the fastest roller coasters in the world.

Cedar Point in Sandusky Ohio is home to 16 innovative roller coasters.

Sandusky, Ohio

Hersheypark offers family fun with a chocolate flavor.

Hershey, Pennsylvania
When you think of Hershey, you think of chocolate, right? One of the things Hersheypark does extremely well is telling the story of chocolate and how it's produced by Hershey. But this isn’t the totality of Hersheypark. This 121-acre theme park has a total of 76 attractions, 14 of which are roller coasters. Known as the “Sweetest Coaster," Candymonium reaches a height of 210 feet and reaches a top speed of 74 mph, and it doesn’t disappoint! At 75 years old, Comet is Hersheypark’s oldest rollercoaster and with it's extensive 3,600+ foot wooden frame layout, speeds up to 50 mph and numerous airtime-inducing bunny hills, it’s still providing impactful thrills today as it did when it first opened!
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About the Author: The above piece was written by Jason Gordon, a guest travel blogger, and Costco enthusiast. Jason Gordon is compensated by Costco Travel to share his travel experiences.