Cruising Crazy Coasters – Indiana, Ohio, & Pennsylvania

Every day is a holiday in Santa Claus, Indiana. Located an hour's drive west of Louisville, this small city is home to the massive Holiday World & Splashin' Safari theme parks. As the name suggests, Holiday World pays homage to everyone's favorite annual celebrations like Halloween, Christmas, and Thanksgiving. Visitors will find plenty of festive scenery while visiting this park's coasters, shows, and slides. Oh yeah, and don't forget to bring your swimsuit! In the Splashin' Safari section, you'll find some of the nation's top-rated water coasters, as well as a giant wave pool, lazy river, and kid-friendly splash pads. No matter what your calendar says, it's always a special occasion in Holiday World!

Not far from Cincinnati, Kings Island is a large theme park with a history dating back to the 1970s. Kings Island is beloved by many coaster fans thanks to its original Racer coaster. Many believe the Racer helped inspire the roller coaster building frenzy of the 1970s and beyond. Kings Island was also home to the first aerodynamic coaster The Bat, which has since been demolished. Although The Bat is no more, there are over a dozen coasters and plenty of other amusement rides for all thrill levels in this iconic 364-acre park. Kings Island is open from the spring through the fall, plus a brief season during the winter holidays.

With a history dating back to the 1870s, Cedar Point is one of America's most historic theme parks. But people don't visit this Lake Erie-based park for a history lesson! Sometimes called the “Coaster Capital of the World," Cedar Point has 15 of the world's top-rated roller coasters like Blue Streak, Millennium Force, and Steel Vengeance. Besides its classic coasters, Cedar Point offers plenty of other rides, family-friendly attractions, and water slides. See why millions of tourists make it a "point" to visit Cedar Point every year between spring and autumn.  

Just outside Pittsburgh, PA, Kennywood Park is one of Pennsylvania's oldest theme parks (founded in 1899). Indeed, Kennywood Park is so iconic that it has earned status as a National Historic Landmark. Although Kennywood has changed over the years, it retains a nostalgic feel, with many coasters dating back to the 1920s. An interesting feature of Kennywood Park is that it was built over a ravine, and many coasters like Jack Rabbit use this geography in their drops. While Kennywood isn't the largest amusement park, it packs a punch!

You might think that a park named after Hershey chocolate would be focused on desserts. Although Hersheypark has plenty of fantastic restaurants, it also has many memorable attractions — including some impressive coasters, a waterpark, a zoo, and an events arena. Initially created as a leisure area for Hershey employees, Hersheypark is now one of America's top-rated amusement parks and contains many rides based on the company's iconic candies. Even if you're on a low-sugar diet, you'll get a "rush" on Hersheypark's attractions.

Knoebels is a family-owned amusement park tucked away in a forest in Elysburg, Pennsylvania, between Harrisburg and Wilkes-Barre. First opened in the 1920s, Knoebels retains its nostalgic ambiance and family-friendly atmosphere. Unlike most amusement parks, you don't have to pay to enter Knoebels. To this day, Knoebels lets visitors pay for individual ride tickets. While many of the attractions at Knoebels are kid-friendly, there are also plenty of exceptional wooden and steel coasters for thrill-seekers. In fact, attractions like the Phoenix often rank as some of the best roller coasters in the USA. There are also several museums and a 900,000-gallon pool. Although June through August is Knoebels' high season, this park is usually open every weekend and even longer during the Christmas season.