Top 10 Amusement Parks Outside Orlando


TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel community, announced on Friday the top 10 amusement parks in the U.S., according to traveler popularity and TripAdvisor editors. Many of them offer thrills and chills for genre travelers. And, of course, with Halloween coming up in a few weeks, many of these parks are gearing up for a good scare.

1. Hershey Park, Hershey, Penn.
The chocolate lovers park — you can pretend it’s Willy Wonka’s factory, if you so desire. 😉
www.hersheypa.com/attractions/hersheypark/index.php

2. Busch Gardens, Tampa, Fla.
The African theme of this park is pure fantasy.
www.buschgardens.com/BGT/default.aspx
Howl-O-Scream begins Sept. 28

3. Cedar Point Amusement Park, Sandusky, Ohio
Halloweekends begins Sept. 14
www.cedarpoint.com

4. Six Flags Fiesta Texas, San Antonio, Texas
Fright Fest begins Oct. 6
www.sixflags.com/fiestaTexas/

5. Family Kingdom Amusement Park, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
www.family-kingdom.com

6. Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, N.J.
Fright Fest begins Oct. 6
www.sixflags.com/greatadventure/index.aspx

7. Paramount’s Kings Island, Kings Island, Ohio
FearFest began on Friday!
www3.cedarfair.com/kingsisland/

8. Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort and Amusement Park, Gatlinburg, Tenn.
www.obergatlinburg.com

9. Coney Island Park, Brooklyn, New York
www.coneyislandpark.com

10. Paramount’s Carowinds, Charlotte, N.C.
Scarowinds begins Sept. 27
www3.paramountparks.com/carowinds/

So, did this list include your favorites? If not, let us know your favorite theme parks and tell us why it should have made the list.

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About the author

As The Genre Traveler, Carma Spence loves to view the world through Genre-Coloured glasses. In other words, she sees the world through a lens of science fiction, fantasy, and horror, where trash cans can be Daleks in disguise and neighborhood forests can harbor faeries and sprites. Magic realism is real! Or at least you can choose to see the world that way to add to the fun and awe of life.