The votes are in and the winner of the best amusement park in the country is… Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio.
The popular thrill ride park was named the best of the best by readers of Amusement Today. Each year the trade publication surveys hundreds of amusement park guests and uses their feedback to determine the winners of its Golden Ticket Awards competition.
This year there were few surprises. Cedar Point won the best park award again—-as it has every year since the awards began. (To read my review of the park, click here.) It probably didn’t hurt that the park’s Maverick coaster also won the award for best new ride of 2007.
Speaking of coasters, if you are looking for a wild ride you might consider checking out The Voyage at Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana. According to the survey respondents, it is the best wooden coaster in the nation. Meanwhile, the crown for the best steel coaster went to Superman: Ride of Steel at Six Flags New England, in Massachusetts, near Springfield.
Readers also voted for the best waterpark. The winner in that contest was Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort in New Braunfels, Texas. Incidentally, its Master Blaster attraction also won for best waterpark ride. World Waterpark in West Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, was named best indoor waterpark.
No surprise to my best friend, Legoland in Carlsbad, California, won for best children’s park. Meanwhile, Kings Island, in Kings Mills, Ohio, won in the category of amusement park with the best kids’ area.
If you children have a soft spot for flippers and fins then head to SeaWorld in Orlando. Readers named it the best marine life park in the country. And moms, take note, if you are concerned that germs will ruin your family’s vacation, book a trip to Holiday World. It won for cleanest park and friendliest staff.
Foodies will be happy to know that they can get a quality meal at Knoebels Amusement Resort, in Elysburg, Pennsylvania. The park won for best amusement park food and best carousel (though you may want to wait an hour or so before you hop on a painted life-sized rooster after you’ve downed a fried pork chop sandwich).
Finally, according to survey respondents the best place to take in an outdoor night show is “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth,” at Walt Disney World at Epcot in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
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