Tag Archives: roller coasters

Seek a few thrills at Six Flags

Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington has a grand total of 45 rides for kids, wimps and thrill seekers alike. Dangle over 200 feet in the air on Mr. Freeze or loop upside down on Batman the Ride. Have a smoother ride on the redone Texas Giant, the classic wooden roller coaster now with new steel tracks. The Texas Giant has the steepest drop of any wooden roller coaster in the world. There are also a slew of more family-friendly rides, so you can fill up on cotton candy and spin ’til your sick on the teacup-like La Fiesta de las Tazas or go for a splash in the roaring rapids.

Screamers Among the Skyscrapers: Elitch Gardens

Picture 9Not many city skylines boast a Ferris wheel and roller coaster amid the spires and office towers. Thanks to Elitch Gardens, downtown Denver does. Moving to its current site alongside the Platte River basin from its original location in 1995, the 120-year-old theme park presents a kaleidoscope of classic thrill rides—from the Mind Eraser with its double corkscrew turns to the Tower of Doom, which drops daredevils groundward from 200 feet in the air. For the tots, old-time favorites abound: there’s a carousel, tilt-a-whirl, and teacup ride, as well as the Island Kingdom Water Park with a high dive, wave pool, and array of slides. Kicking off in May, the season ends with a spooky bang during October’s Fright Fest—a boo-filled blast of haunted houses and trick-or-treat trails.