Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial kick off to summer. June 1st is considered the meteorological start of summer. But those of you with school age children know summer really begins on the last day of school (around here that’s June 6th). Just as there are different interpretations as to when summer officially begins, families consist of members who have differing opinions as to what the perfect summer vacation entails.
That said, today I am beginning a series of blogs, which cater to the individual interests each family member may have and how each can be satisfied on a group vacation.
This blog addresses the needs of thrill seekers. You know who they are: the son who is willing to bungee jump off a 50-story building; the husband that gets a rush from almost losing his lunch while plummeting 100-feet on a wooden roller coaster; or the adrenaline junkie niece who takes joy from boarding a seven-story swing that takes riders 75 feet in the air.
Personally, I am a huge chicken when it comes to amusement park thrill rides. I get sick on the Merry-Go-Round. Needless to say you won’t find me anywhere near the following new thrill rides debuting at amusement parks around the country this summer (unless it’s to snap pictures of my thrill seeking family members enjoying their time on them):
GRIFFON—Located at Busch Gardens Europe in Williamsburg, Virginia this new coaster is set in a French village and comes with a 90-degree drop and no floor. The park is touting it as the tallest — and first floorless — dive coaster.
MAVERICK—This coaster is scheduled to open by mid-June at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. Once it opens your thrill seeker can experience a 95-degree drop (steeper than straight down) while topping speeds of 70 m.p.h.
MYSTERY MINE—This roller coaster may not be the fastest you have ever experienced (top speed on the 2-minute, 30-second ride is 60 m.p.h.), but it has a great spooky theme. The ride simulates a scary, abandoned coalmine and drops 85 feet at 95 degrees. You can board the coaster at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
FIREHAWK—Located at King’s Island in Ohio, this coaster takes you 115 feet in the air and through five inversions at more than 50 m.p.h.
SHEIKRA—This 2-year-old roller coaster located at Busch Gardens Africa in Tampa is getting a makeover to make it even scarier. The park plans to remove the coaster’s floor to provide “an unobstructed view of the 70 mph rush.”
WICKED–Located at Lagoon near Salt Lake City, this roller coaster takes riders 110 feet high and goes up to 55 m.p.h.
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