Escape the dreary cold this winter and seek the thrills of one of summer’s greatest highlights: amusement parks. These fantastic parks offer the best fun in the sun year-round.
Indoor parks, mega resort complexes, and smaller boutique amusement parks all bring a new flair for the 2015-16 season.
Pack your sunscreen and get your shorts out of storage as you prepare to go to new heights this winter.
SEE ALSO: The 10 best amusement parks in the United States, according to travelers
Walt Disney World
Where: Orlando
The sun shines 236 days a year on average in Orlando, Florida, home to Walt Disney World, the most visited vacation resort on the planet. More than 52 million people each year descend on the 43 square magical miles encompassing four amusement parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot,Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom). Last year, Disney introduced an interactive way for visitors to create their own experience—MagicBand. This fashionable wristband serves as your park ticket, your method of reserving rides ahead of time, and also a mobile payment system.
Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Walt Disney World Travel Guide
Stratosphere Casino Tower
Where: Las Vegas
The excitement of Las Vegas reaches new heights at the summit of the Stratosphere Casino Tower, where four extreme rides test the limits of thrill seekers. The Stratosphere hosts the Big Shot, a mind-bogglingly high vertical launch that catapults riders 160 feet up from a launch pad 921 feet from earth. Stomachs churn at the tower’s frightening X-Scream, where a roller coaster teeter-totters over the building’s edge, simulating a car running off the track. The screams continue at Insanity, where a rotating mechanical arm dangles brave riders over the edge in a forceful spin. If you’re seeking a dramatic exit, SkyJump should do the trick. The bungee-like experience allows guests to descend 828 feet while taking in the best of the Vegas skyline. The high-stakes tables will seem like nothing after you’ve conquered these feats.
Plan Your Trip:Visit Fodor’s Las Vegas Travel Guide
Nickelodeon Universe at the Mall of America
Where: Bloomington, MN
Nickelodeon Universe, America’s largest indoor theme park, is the centerpiece of the behemoth Mall of America. Minnesota’s winters are no match for the lively selection of five roller coasters and seven thrill rides that operate year-round. Head straight to the SpongeBob SquarePants Rock Bottom Plunge coaster for the best thrill of the day. The coaster features a small car that seats eight and a track that speeds riders through a 90-degree drop, a large loop, fast banked turns, and a barrel roll. The unique Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shell Shock thrill ride puts the rider in control with the ability to flip and twist independently as a powerful engine sends the carriages around its base.
Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Minneapolis Travel Guide
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