MAIN Recreation Amusement Parks

For sheer thrills and excitement - and especially for their ability to make adults feel just like kids again - the more popular amusement and action parks get it just right.

The result? A family vacation that's fun, kid-friendly AND affordable.

In the US, the top ten most popular amusement parks include the likes of Dollywood, Hershey Park and Disney World.

Other top parks in terms of attendance include Six Flags and SeaWorld Orlando, along with the newest addition to the big Florida theme park scene - The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Of course, that's not to say that the love affair with amusement and theme parks is limited to the USA - far from it! In fact, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disneyland, and Universal Studios in Osaka regularly join their American counterparts in making it to the top ten amusement parks worldwide every year.

Water parks are also on the top of many vacation lists (especially if you have kids in tow) with families flocking to the biggest of them for wet and wild adventures during the height of the summer. Here again, the popularity of water parks prove to be universal -- with the most popular worldwide in terms of attendance usually including Aquatica in Orlando; Typhoon Lagoon at Walt Disney World; Wet'n'Wild Water World in Queensland, Australia; Aquaventure in Dubai; and Sunway Lagoon in Kuala Lampur.

Just up ahead, fasten your seat belts for a worldwide tour of some of the best theme parks, popular rollercoaster rides, and water parks for kids of all ages. Have fun!

also see in USA travel -> Great Wolf Lodge Indoor Water Park

More about popular amusement parks around the Web:

Theme Park Insider - More than 6,000 community members rate and review attractions around the world, with commentary and photos on Southern California and Florida with more on U.S., European and Australian theme parks.

Ultimate Rollercoaster | Roller Coasters, Theme Parks, Thrill Rides - Check out all the rollercoasters all the time, with news & updates, feature stories, facts and information on the best, fastest and most thrilling, along with more on other rides and theme parks worldwide.

InfoParks - Browse an extensive directory of almost 500 parks located in 16 European countries. In French and English.