Coney Island- the iconic American boardwalk- sits just an hour outside Manhattan. Here, visitors of all ages can enjoy not only the beach and eats, but original rides like the wooden coaster Cyclone and a swinging Ferris wheel.
A hour north of Chicago, Six Flags Great America features incredible views from the top of coasters like X Flight. This ultra-modern, winged coaster leaves riders crouching as they roll through a control tower and dip through fog.
Home to 18 coasters-- more than any other park in the world-- no ride at Six Flags Magic Mountain is as thrilling as X2. Riders board a free-form compartment that rolls through the drops and loops so orientation is never grounded.