One of the most exciting and thrilling ways of spending time during your vacation is visiting the local theme parks of this or that country. It will be, by all means, to your liking and you will feel as if you returned into your childhood for a little while, and your children will enjoy it as well.

In the USA, the first amusement park rides were carousels, which appeared as far back as in 1875, when trying to keep a passenger usage up on the weekends, railway companies on the Coney Island introduced weekend and summer activities at the end of the rail lines. Since that time many amusement park rides have appeared and, becoming no more needed, disappeared, while a roller coaster, one of the oldest, is still the only reason for many people to visit an amusement park.

A visit to an amusement park is number one choice for many families. Amusement parks cater for new terrific experiences, thrill and enjoyment, memorable family weekends and long-lasting impressions. Some of the parks are small and cozy, while the others make a boost in all amusement industry and legend in the history. Visiting a small amusement park is a serene family enjoyment; visiting one of the world's famous is a lifelong memory.

Alton Towers in the UK is famous to satisfy all addictions of adrenaline and thrill seekers. It is one of the worlds leading theme parks and the greatest park in the UK. The park is nestling over 500 acres of countryside and is constantly open for innovations and new attractions. While Oblivion and Nemesis are legendary rides, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will be unsurpassed world's attractions.

Alton Towers, one of the UK's premier theme parks, attracts more than three million visitors annually and is an absolute fun and adventure for the whole family. To spend a day out at Alton Towers is a great value; to spend more is a value twice. Here is a world-first, multi-sensory ride, using a revolutionary, military-quality simulator technology, the Great Glass Elevator to be opened in April, 2006. Here are adrenaline-fuelled rides for thrill seekers, capable of frightening the most fearless.

Universal Studios vacations in Orlando, Florida, USA, are known for fun experience that is remembered for many years to come. Two amazing theme parks side-by-side and Orlando's most exciting entertainment complex make Universal Studios vacations in Orlando a thrilling practice. Nearby are Universal's three hotels: Royal Pacific Resort, Portofino Bay Hotel and Hard Rock Hotel. Relax in a tropical paradise at the exotic Royal Pacific Resort. Experience the romantic lifestyle of Italy at the Portofino, Universal Orlando's premier luxury hotel. At last, the exciting Hard Rock Hotel is a perfect mix of funk and just plain fun. If you select Universal Studios vacations you choose a world-class destination to travel to for your holiday. Universal Studios vacations offer you such a varied range of free activities that you will need to come back again and again to experience them all.

Valleyfair Amusement Park located in Shakopee, Minnesota, USA, opened its gates in 1976. Probably, the main attractive feature of Valleyfair Shakopee is safety. Every coaster capable of any thrills has been retrofitted with retracting seat belts. In addition, the ride operators are absolutely hell-bent on stapling you, and the seat belts keep you pinned to your seat. You will experience the gravity-defying action delivered by Riptide, Power Tower, Steel Venom, Skyscraper, to name a few. Plus, there are dozens of 'tame' rides like the Looping Starship, which looks like a giant pirate ship that turns upside down. To 'wet' your appetite for more fun plunge into Whitewater Country Waterpark providing thousands of gallons of splash adventure. People go to Valleyfair Shakopee because it's safe and friendly. With so much to do, don't let summertime fun at Valleyfair Shakopee pass you by.

Valleyfair Amusement Park is located in Shakopee, Minnesota, USA. The park features over 75 attractions and rides, including several roller coasters and a water park. Excalibur's dips and curves are considered the most stomach-churning of all roller coasters located at Valleyfair. Wild Thing has got one of the world's longest low-gravity zones. Steel Venom is a shuttle-type impulse coaster with a top speed of 102 kilometers per hour. Valleyfair's water park is a great way to chill out and have hours of wet fun in sunlight. A six-person raft ride, Thunder Canyon is one of the park's most popular attractions. In addition, the 90-acre park offers Ferris wheel and three especially-for-children designed areas, including Berenstein Bear Country. The major attractions at Valleyfair are its stomach-churning roller coasters and a wide array of water rides, a powerful draw during Minnesota's hot summer days.

Universal Studios Orlando theme parks are situated in Orlando, Florida, USA. Universal Studios Movie Theme Park is the number one movie theme park in the world where you can plunge headlong into the battle for the future of mankind, feel what it is like to look a tornado right in the eye, survive an earth-shattering quake and have a good look at a giant killer Great White Shark approaching your boat. Universal Studios Islands of Adventure is the newest theme park in Central Florida. Explore the greatest legends of all time inside The Lost Continent where larger-than-life characters will captivate you with their daunting presence. Take a fantastic journey into the earth's primordial past as you explore a land where dinosaurs have returned to roam once more at Jurassic Park. Home to an extensive collection of hair-raising thrill rides, Universal Studios theme parks are the third most visited attraction in the United States.

Thorpe Theme Park located not far from London is a famous amusement park in Chertsey, Surrey, England. In 1998, the Tussaud's Group bought Thorpe Park, and it has changed a lot since the new century. The Tussaud's Group realized they needed to make Thorpe Park Britain's foremost thrill seeker's park. This meant the loss of its family atmosphere, and the park is now scarcely recognizable. Since 1999, a thrill ride has been built every year, and the park now contains the world's only 10 looping coaster and Europe's fastest roller coaster. The park also boasts Europe's best collection of flat rides and that of water rides. Thorpe Park is also one of the region's leading Business Parks. Thorpe Theme Park has now reached the stage of being the leading thrill seeker's park for Great Britain.

Universal Studios vacations in Orlando, Florida, USA, are known for fun experience that is remembered for many years to come. Two amazing theme parks side-by-side and Orlando's most exciting entertainment complex make Universal Studios vacations in Orlando a thrilling practice. Nearby are Universal's three hotels: Royal Pacific Resort, Portofino Bay Hotel and Hard Rock Hotel. Relax in a tropical paradise at the exotic Royal Pacific Resort. Experience the romantic lifestyle of Italy at the Portofino, Universal Orlando's premier luxury hotel. At last, the exciting Hard Rock Hotel is a perfect mix of funk and just plain fun. If you select Universal Studios vacations you choose a world-class destination to travel to for your holiday. Universal Studios vacations offer you such a varied range of free activities that you will need to come back again and again to experience them all.

Valleyfair Amusement Park located in Shakopee, Minnesota, USA, opened its gates in 1976. Probably, the main attractive feature of Valleyfair Shakopee is safety. Every coaster capable of any thrills has been retrofitted with retracting seat belts. In addition, the ride operators are absolutely hell-bent on stapling you, and the seat belts keep you pinned to your seat. You will experience the gravity-defying action delivered by Riptide, Power Tower, Steel Venom, Skyscraper, to name a few. Plus, there are dozens of 'tame' rides like the Looping Starship, which looks like a giant pirate ship that turns upside down. To 'wet' your appetite for more fun plunge into Whitewater Country Waterpark providing thousands of gallons of splash adventure. People go to Valleyfair Shakopee because it's safe and friendly. With so much to do, don't let summertime fun at Valleyfair Shakopee pass you by.

Valleyfair Amusement Park is located in Shakopee, Minnesota, USA. The park features over 75 attractions and rides, including several roller coasters and a water park. Excalibur's dips and curves are considered the most stomach-churning of all roller coasters located at Valleyfair. Wild Thing has got one of the world's longest low-gravity zones. Steel Venom is a shuttle-type impulse coaster with a top speed of 102 kilometers per hour. Valleyfair's water park is a great way to chill out and have hours of wet fun in sunlight. A six-person raft ride, Thunder Canyon is one of the park's most popular attractions. In addition, the 90-acre park offers Ferris wheel and three especially-for-children designed areas, including Berenstein Bear Country. The major attractions at Valleyfair are its stomach-churning roller coasters and a wide array of water rides, a powerful draw during Minnesota's hot summer days.

Universal Studios Orlando theme parks are situated in Orlando, Florida, USA. Universal Studios Movie Theme Park is the number one movie theme park in the world where you can plunge headlong into the battle for the future of mankind, feel what it is like to look a tornado right in the eye, survive an earth-shattering quake and have a good look at a giant killer Great White Shark approaching your boat. Universal Studios Islands of Adventure is the newest theme park in Central Florida. Explore the greatest legends of all time inside The Lost Continent where larger-than-life characters will captivate you with their daunting presence. Take a fantastic journey into the earth's primordial past as you explore a land where dinosaurs have returned to roam once more at Jurassic Park. Home to an extensive collection of hair-raising thrill rides, Universal Studios theme parks are the third most visited attraction in the United States.

Thorpe Theme Park located not far from London is a famous amusement park in Chertsey, Surrey, England. In 1998, the Tussaud's Group bought Thorpe Park, and it has changed a lot since the new century. The Tussaud's Group realized they needed to make Thorpe Park Britain's foremost thrill seeker's park. This meant the loss of its family atmosphere, and the park is now scarcely recognizable. Since 1999, a thrill ride has been built every year, and the park now contains the world's only 10 looping coaster and Europe's fastest roller coaster. The park also boasts Europe's best collection of flat rides and that of water rides. Thorpe Park is also one of the region's leading Business Parks. Thorpe Theme Park has now reached the stage of being the leading thrill seeker's park for Great Britain.

Six Flags is a chain of amusement parks headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and New York City. Six Flags is now the largest amusement park operator in the U.S., and Six Flags Great Adventure is the largest park of the whole Six Flags chain. The park took its name from the six flags that have flown over the state of Texas during its history. The newest at Six Flags Great Adventure are the Golden Kingdom, a jungle-themed section, and El Plaza del Carnival, a Spanish-themed section. Also a new Kid's section has been opened up for the 2006 season called Bugs Bunny National Park. Six Flags Great Adventure owns more rides than any other theme park in the world, and is the most popular tourist destination in New Jersey.

Thorpe Park, situated in Chertsey, England, is today a top water park in the United Kingdom. The park opened as a water park in 1979. Water rides are what Thorpe Park is most famous for. The park's impressive line-up of water rides includes Tidal Wave, which boasts the biggest drop on water rides in Europe. Neptune's Kingdom is a great place for the whole family to enjoy Neptune's Beach and its pools. Guests will be charmed to see Port Atlantis, a large underwater cave filled with Arcade Games, shops and restaurants. Thorpe Park is also a home to some of the most exciting roller coasters in Europe. Not all the rides are so intense, though. Younger children will enjoy Miss Hippo's Jungle Safari and Storm In A Teacup, as well as Octopus Garden, a haven of kiddie fun in the centre of the park. Thorpe Park, the best water park of Great Britain, is guaranteed to leave you glowing with energy and reliving your fun-filled visit for weeks after.

Cape Town, a cosmopolitan hub of the Western Cape Province, is situated on the far south-western tip of Africa. Table Mountain dominates Cape Town and attracts numerous visitors. Life in Cape Town centres around the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. You can embark for Robben Island, the jail where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, or visit the Two Oceans Aquarium where scuba divers can dive with sharks. Just 15 kilometers from the centre of Cape Town the world filled with adventure and thrills awaits you at the Ratanga Junction Theme Park. Tygerberg Zoo is located 39 kilometers from the city. The zoo is a wildlife park with lions, leopards, crocodiles, baboons, and many other fauna species. The City has a bustling nightlife, and so Cape Town is a perfect place for adventurous persons to live out their wildest fancies.

Jackson Township is conveniently located in Central New Jersey, USA. The township is not far from New York City, Philadelphia, Atlantic City or from the Jersey Shore. Many homes in Jackson are on wells. Several tourism destinations are nearby including Atlantic City with its many casinos, as well as Point Pleasant Beach, Seaside Heights, and New Jersey's State Capital Trenton. Jackson Township is home to Six Flags Great Adventure Theme Park, Wild Safari Animal Park, Hurricane Harbor, the three greatest amusement parks in the North-East. Great Adventure has launched Kingda Ka, the tallest, fastest roller coaster on Earth. Well known for its brilliant roller coasters, Great Adventure has more rides than any other theme park in the world. In 1997, Jackson Township was recognized as the third best place to live in the country. Obviously, Jackson Township is a great destination for your vacation.

Paramount's Kings Island is located not far from Cincinnati, Ohio, the United States. This famous theme park opened in 1972, and now it has a great number of rides, including the Beast, the longest wooden coaster in the world (1979), the King Cobra, the first stand-up looping coaster in North America (1984), Phantom Theatre (1992), movie themed rides (1993-1994), Flight of Fear, the world's first linear induction coaster (1996), Drop Zone Stunt Tower, the world's tallest gyro drop (1999), Son of Beast, the world's tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster (1999), the world's largest collection of Nickelodeon-inspired rides and attractions (2000-2006). Also Paramount's Kings Island has got a huge water park as well as a number of rides for little kids. Kings Island entertains more than 3 million guests annually and is ranked one of the best kid's areas in the world.

Kings Island Amusement Park is an amusement park located about 20 miles northeast of Cincinnati, USA. The park has got a lot of unique thrill rides. But Kings Island Amusement Park is much more than a park just for thrill seekers. Family Rides include Adventure Express, Congo Falls, Whitewater Canyon, and much more. Families with kids will be interested in Nickelodeon Universe, a new Mecca of family fun. Kings Island Amusement Park has also got a water park with over 50 water activities including tube speed slides, lagoons for surfing, and waterfalls. The park is one of the most successful American theme parks. With over 80 world class rides and attractions, Kings Island is an exciting place for kids, teens and adults.

Silver Dollar City Park, located in Branson, USA, offers many forms of entertainment for visitors of all ages. The rides are one of the main attractions at Silver Dollar City Park. The park is home to thrill rides like Wildfire, a multi-looping rolling coaster, and Thunderation, a coaster with a bird's eye view of the Ozarks. Silver Dollar City presents the Grand Exposition, a collection of new technological wonders. The exciting attractions wait for kids of all ages at Grandfather's Mansion, a house full of tricks and surprises. Near Silver Dollar City are a number of comfortable hotels offering easy access to all area attractions. Shaded and cooled by hundreds of trees and several water attractions, Silver Dollar City Park is a true natural paradise giving you everything you need to have a fun-filled vacation in the Live Entertainment Capital of the World - Branson, Missouri.

Silver Dollar City, one of the best theme parks in the world, is home to fantastic festivals, heart-stopping rides and attractions, entertaining shows, unique craft shops and delicious dining opportunities. Adding to the uniqueness of Silver Dollar City Branson are the 100 resident craftspeople that learned Early American crafts existing when the people living in these mountains created everything needed from local materials using their own hands. Rides like the Wildfire and the classic American Plunge keep the good times rolling all day, and fantastic festivals keep guests scooping up Silver Dollar City tickets each year. Packed with fascinating rides and attractions, unique shops and restaurants, dazzling festivals and shows, Silver Dollar City appeals to all ages. You will have the thrills of your life at Silver Dollar City Branson, the World's Top Theme Park for 1998-1999.

Century City, an important commercial and tourist hub in South Africa, is situated on the outskirts of Cape Town. At the heart of Century City lies Intaka Island, an important eco-tourism destination. Intaka Island is a paradise for birds and a safe haven for thousands of indigenous plants. The canals at Century City are full of fish and provide an ideal training ground for canoeists. Century City combines office, residential, retail, leisure opportunities and is home to both the Canal Walk shopping centre and the Ratanga Junction theme park. Canal Walk is considered to be the largest regional shopping and commercial centre in Africa. Ratanga Junction theme park, located next to the Canal Walk shopping mall, offers fun for the whole family. Century City offers a world of opportunity and entertainment for all visitors which is a reason why Century City has become such a popular new tourist destination in Cape Town.

Dubai is both a commercial centre and a leading tourist destination for the Middle East. To appeal to tourist, they construct Dubailand, a huge theme park. Dubai Autodrome and The Global Village, the subprojects of the Dubailand project, have already been put into operation. Dubai Autodrome aims to create a world tourist destination devoted to motoring, to provide the highest standard of facilities and contribute to educating the Middle East in all aspects of motor sports industry. Dubai Autodrome is a unique opportunity for racing fans in the Middle East to witness all the frantic excitement of touring car racing. The Global Village, located in Dubailand, is a perfect forum for the countries of the world to showcase their heritage, culture and lifestyle. Dubai Autodrome will draw motor enthusiasts from all over the world to Dubai, while the Global Village brings together diverse customs and cultures of different countries.