Best Amusement and Water Parks 2014 Advisors
Meet our panel of advisors for our Best Amusement Parks list.
Meet our panel of advisors — including Travel Channel's resident daredevil and host of Trip Flip Bert Kreischer, roller coaster reviewer Robb Alvey and family travel expert Erin Gifford -- who handpicked our list of top parks you’ll want to add to your family’s travel to-do list.
1. Bert Kreischer
Gabriela Herman
When Kreischer is not passionately discovering local adventures, traditions and thrills for Travel Channel, viewers can find him touring comedy clubs and colleges throughout the US. Prior to becoming Travel Channel's adventure-seeker on his first series for the network, Bert the Conqueror, Kreischer began his career at the Boston Comedy Club. His hilarious storytelling grabbed the attention of Hollywood A-lister Will Smith, who signed him to a television development deal. He has co-hosted FX's The X Show and made his acting debut starring in the CBS/20th Century Fox pilot, Life with David J, with Elliot Gould.
Most recently, Kreischer penned the book, Life of the Party: Stories of a Perpetual Man-Child (St. Martin's Press; on-sale May 27, 2014). In this guidebook on how not to grow up, Kreischer shares some of his most outrageous stories and more.
2. Robb Alvey
Robb can be seen on Travel Channel shows such as Insane Coaster Wars and Future Scream Machines. He has also appeared in interviews on CNN, HLN, CNBC and many other news outlets on subjects like ride safety and the overall state of the theme park industry.
His website, ThemeParkReview.com features information on over 700 theme parks across the globe. You can follow Robb Alvey on Twitter @ThemeParkReview.
3. Erin Gifford
Since its launch in 2011, Kidventurous.com has been named the Best Family Travel Blog by Parents magazine and the travel website, Luxury Travel Mavens, and was named a finalist in the Top Family Travel Sites category by the Red Tricycle Totally Awesome Awards. Erin's travel writing can be found on TravelChannel.com, Fodors.com, MiniTime, SmarterTravel.com and more.
4. Steve VanDis
For the past 3 years Steve has spearheaded Travel Channel's series on the world's greatest roller coasters, Insane Coaster Wars. Steve's crews have traveled from Dubai's Formula Rossa, the fastest coaster in the world, to the world's steepest coaster, Takabisha at Fuji-q Highland in Japan, and experienced Kingda Ka and Intimidator 305 in the United States. Steve and his crews strive to film these roller coasters in a way that's never been done before, giving the viewers at home the ultimate ride experience.
Steve and his crew at Indigo Films have filmed over 90 roller coasters worldwide. His upcoming season of Insane Coaster Wars: World Domination will air this summer and feature some of the world's newest and hottest roller coasters.
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