Theme Parks for Family Vacations

Walt Disney Theme Parks. Walt Disney began an entertainment revolution when he built Disneyland. The expanding Disney empire now spreads across the globe.

Disneyland (Disney’s California Adventure) is located in Anaheim, California. There are also Disneyland Theme Parks in Paris, Tokyo and Hong Kong.

Walt Disney World is located in Orlando, Florida and includes Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney MGM Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Walt Disney World is a phenomenon, a landmark development that has made an indelible mark on travel and tourism and changed the very notion of what it means to take a vacation and be entertained.

It can be a wonderful source of pleasure and a great way to gather with friends and family for treasured, shared moments. But it is so enormous that, without proper planning, it can also be a powerful source of frustration and disappointment.

Take the time to learn all you can about the resort's incredible palette of options so that you can take full advantage of them. Develop a rough itinerary and make restaurant reservations where practical well before you leave. Do consider some of the other parks and attractions outside the Disney complex.

Whatever you do, don't try to do everything. Walt Disney World is much too big now for vacationers to do it all. Save your energy and patience for the parks and attractions you can reasonably accommodate and save the parks and attractions you miss for your next vacation.

Six Flags owns and operates 30 parks in North America, including 15 of the United State's largest theme parks. Six Flags parks are located in or around 34 of the 50 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S.

Six Flags' fun, family environments comprise innovative rides and exciting attractions including live shows, cutting-edge thrill rides, games, kid friendly play areas, land animals, marine mammals, concerts and special events. Six Flags has the world's largest inventory of branded roller coasters including BATMAN -- THE RIDE, SUPERMAN ULTIMATE ESCAPE and THE JOKER'S JINX.

When its sixteenth roller coaster opened in 2003, Six Flags Magic Mountain in Los Angeles shattered its own Guinness World Record for the most roller coasters in a single theme park.

The first Six Flags park took its name from the six countries whose flags had flown over Texas throughout the state's extraordinary history. Six Flags Over Texas featured six sections reflecting the spirited cultures of those nations.

Hersheypark, located in Hershey, Pennsylvania was opened in 1907 by Milton S. Hershey as picnic grounds for his employees. The Park has grown over the years to become a world-class theme park with more than 60 rides and attractions, award-winning live entertainment daily, mouth-watering food, games of skill and unique souvenirs.

For generations, the name Hershey has been a household word synonymous with fine chocolate products throughout the country and around the world. With Milton Hershey's success came a profound sense of moral responsibility and benevolence. So he built a park that opened on April 24, 1907, and expanded rapidly over the next several years. Amusement rides, a swimming pool and a ballroom were added. Soon, trolley cars and trains were bringing thousands of out-of-town visitors to the park.

Paramount Parks are Viacom Companies and they currently own and operate five theme parks in the United States and manage the Bonfante Gardens theme park. They also have a theme park in Canada.

Viacom acquired the parks chain as part of its acquisition of Paramount Pictures in 1994. The Paramount Family of theme parks features a number of attractions-titillating rides, live shows and restaurants-based on Paramount Pictures films and other Viacom brands. The park now seems to be making a conscious decision to attract families more than thrill-seekers.

The Paramount Theme Parks are:

• Kings Island located in Kings Island, Ohio (24 miles north of Cincinnati).
• King’s Dominion located in Doswell, Virginia (20 miles north of Richmond, Virginia.
• Carowinds located in Charlotte, North Carolina (straddles the North Carolina and South Carolina line).
• Great America located in Santa Clara, California.
• Star Trek-The Experience located in Las Vegas, Nevada.
• Bonfante Gardens located in Gilroy, California.
• Canada’s Wonderland located in Vaughan, Ontario (near Toronto).

Worlds of Fun in Kansas City is themed after Jules Verne's book Around the World in 80 Days. Worlds of Fun features five themed lands including Scandinavia, Africa, Europa, Americana and The Orient. The park is home to five roller coasters, a number of thrill rides for all ages, live entertainment and attractions for all members of the family.
Holiday World-Splashin’ Safari is located in Santa Claus, Indiana (in the southern part of the state near Kentucky). It is one of the few remaining privately owned and operated theme parks.

Holiday World’s two wooden roller coasters rank among the best in the world. And there is plenty for younger kids to love about the place and moms and dads appreciate the park's family-friendly perks: free parking, free entry to the Splashin” Safari water park with admission and reasonable food prices. Everyone appreciates the industry-defying benefit: unlimited complimentary soft drinks.

Originally a Christmas-themed park, Holiday World now includes areas themed to Halloween and the Fourth of July as well. Kids can still sit on Santa's lap and some of the park's original rides endure from the park's 1940s origin.

Magic Springs in Hot Springs, Arkansas combines a full-scale water park-Crystal Falls-with dozens of rides and attractions for a day’s worth of fun in Hot Springs National Park.

Magic Springs, the amusement park, is home to Timberwood Amphitheater, where big-name performers take the stage in the summer. In addition, Crystal Falls, features a waterslide complex, an interactive family splash zone and a river with rapids and waterfalls.

Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. In the 1920s, Walter Knott and his family sold berries from a roadside stand. In 1934, Knott’s wife Cordelia began serving fried chicken dinners, and within a few years, lines outside the restaurant were often several hours long. To entertain the waiting crowds, Walter built a Ghost Town in 1940, using buildings relocated from real old west towns.

In 1968, the Knott family fenced the farm, charged admission for the first time, and Knott's Berry Farm officially became an amusement park. Because of its long history, Knott's Berry Farm currently claims to be "America's First Theme Park."

Knott's Berry Farm is divided into six distinct themed areas: Camp Snoopy, Ghost Town, Indian Trails, Fiesta Village, The Boardwalk and Wild Water Wilderness. In addition, a small shopping village called California Marketplace sits outside the admission gate, and includes the famous Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant and a number of gift shops.

Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri. The 50-acre 1880s theme park features 17 thrilling rides and attractions, 60 unique shops and restaurants, 50 entertaining shows a day with five fantastic festivals.

The glassblowers, basket weavers, potters, blacksmith, knifesmith, quilters and many more of the over 100 resident demonstrating craftsmen make Silver Dollar City the Home of American Craftsmanship.

The Theatre Stage Shows at Silver Dollar City are of the same excellent quality that Branson shows are famous for and are included in the price of the Silver Dollar ticket.
In addition to all the regular activities, Silver Dollar City is continuously hosting special events. These include World Fest, Bluegrass and BBQ Festival, National Kid’s Festival, Festival of American Music and Craftsmanship and An Old Time Christmas. Be sure to check the exact dates of each festival.

During the National Kid’s Festival there are more than 100 hands-on activities throughout the park for kids of all ages to enjoy. Champion cloggers, kid-acclaimed entertainment and kid-crafts are all part of the Kids’ Fest fun.

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