Wild Rides

Amusement parks are a rush. We love the fast rides and cotton candy highs, and the landscape bristling with coasters, Ferris wheels and other dizzying vehicles. This year, we've found five new rides that up the adrenaline ante. So intense are these space-age screamers, in fact, that we also felt compelled to provide an antidote. Parks can sometimes be too much of a rush and it's as if you're trying to cram a summer's worth of rides into one long day.

What's the secret? It's simple: Take your time. In the heat of the day, retreat to a nearby hotel--we've listed a few in the following pages--for a swim and a nap. Then bring your family back at sunset (nearly all parks allow same-day reentry for free) and pick up where you left off. And if you're making a weekend of it, you can always return first thing in the morning when crowds are thinnest. A little wake-up spin on a roller coaster--now that's a rush



When author Greg Lauzon is not riding coasters he can be heard playing the sax in his band, Trailer Park. He also reviews toys, books and software forFAMILYFUN,where he is a staff writer.

Please keep in mind that phone numbers, addresses, and prices are subject to change. Updated July 2005.