Theme Parks

Theme parks and amusement parks are great ways to spend time with your family and friends. Nothing else evokes the thrill and excitement of arcade games and roller coasters quite like an amusement park. With all types of fun and activities available for age groups both young and old, theme parks provide a full day of entertainment for the same price as a nice night out with your significant other. 

Theme parks differ from amusement parks in that they are divided into specific areas and groups that each have different themes. One such example of this is the Busch Gardens theme park in Tampa, Florida. Owned by Anheuser Busch, this theme park offers some of the largest roller coasters in the country and divides itself up into different regions of the world such as Egypt, the Amazon, and various other tropical habitats. The roller coasters take the theme of each area and incorporate it into the colors and story line behind the rides.

The most commonly known amusement parks are the Walt Disney owned Disney World and Disney Land. By taking themes from different Disney owned movies and cartoons, they constructed an amusement park with rides for smaller children. 

Parks usually require an upfront admission price. Depending on the park, with each type being equally abundant, some parks require you to pay per ride once you've paid to enter the park. Be sure to check at the front gate to see how much each ride costs. If the park does not require you to pay for each ride, expect the ticket price to be fairly high upon entry. The cost of food in theme parks can be quite extortionate and many people pack their own food and drinks in a backpack to carry around with them for the day, eating as they go, and only stopping for one main meal at the theme park restaurants. 

One way to avoid the long lines at theme parks is to join a line skipping pass option that many parks offer. By inserting your park ticket into a machine, the park will issue you a pass that will allow you to come back at a given time to skip the line and get right to the front. This is especially useful if the ride you want to ride is very popular and there are always long lines.

Amusement parks are great fun so be sure to wear leisurely clothes and pack lightly so you're not weighted down while you're trying to ride the rides. Wear sunscreen and enjoy the day with the family!