5 Must-Ride Rollercoasters You Can't Miss Out On This Season
You say you want a scary ride? Or are you looking for a coaster that's almost all about speed? No worries. California has some of the most exciting rollercoasters that answer all these calls. If you fancy yourself a thrill-seeker, it might be time for a road trip to one of the Golden State's most highly touted rollercoasters. This summer, consider visiting the following five stellar theme park stars, all of which come with bragging rights galore. Knott's Berry Farm Are you all about a heart-pounding adrenaline rush when it comes to riding a rollercoaster? If so, head for iconic Knott's Berry Farm in Anaheim and line up to experience the highly sought-after Supreme Scream. Not only is this coaster a speed demon that hits 50 mph, but the daring ride also gives you a chance to experience weightlessness. That happens as you are sent some 252 feet into the air where you'll hang out for a few long seconds before being sent back to earth in a very big hurry. ______________________________________________ Related: ______________________________________________ California's Great Adventure The tallest (at 108.2 feet high) and the fastest (at 53.7 mph) wooden roller coaster convenient to Sacramento and the Bay Area, Gold Striker takes riders on a two-and-a-half minute adventure that offers a scream worthy double-down first drop. Perhaps more intimidating, though, is the fact that passengers will travel through an epic covered tunnel on that initial descent. In fact, it's so epic that the tunnel is recognized as the longest wooden coaster located anywhere in the whole world. Now how is that for a gold rush-worthy ride to remember? Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Six Flags Discovery Kingdom has bragging rights to a coaster that rides along a track navigated via magnetic waves. What a concept. This particular roller coaster, called V2: Vertical Velocity, makes use of fresh technology that allows for a magnificent maneuver experts call "a step-up under flip" — and no, that's not a skateboarding term. Not only that, but this monster of a ride sends folks who dare to ride it straight up into the sky at the speed of a sensational 70 mph and toward a twisted tower, the heart of this particular impulse coaster. Oh, and by the way, your feet will have nowhere to rest, but instead will dangle in the air as you take on this wild ride that also includes a completely vertical free fall. Talk about a real rush! Six Flags Magic Mountain Goliath is one of the California's most memorable rollercoasters, especially if you are seated in the front. That way, you'll have a clear view when you come to a full stop while being thrust on your side as you hang there above Six Flags Magic Mountain. Also, get ready for this flying machine to send you into a hole in the ground after what is said to be more than a 200-foot drop. Now that's dramatic, don't you think? Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk If riding a rollercoaster is meant to be a nostalgic treat, seek out Santa Cruz' Giant Dipper, a wooden ride that hearkens back more than a century to 1907, when this baby was built for a mere $50,000. Still, don't expect an anti-climactic experience. In fact, a person who recently relished this old timer commented, "This roller coaster… shakes the life right out of you!" By the way, the boardwalk amusement park at which the Giant Dipper operates is the Golden State's oldest amusement park and only one of a very select few that actually sit on the edge of the Pacific. This article was written by Jane Lasky of Examiner.com for CBS Local.Supreme Scream
8039 Beach Blvd.
Buena Park CA 90620
(714) 220-5200
www.knotts.com
To get quick quotes for your net amusement park trip,
go to BusRental.comGold Striker
4701 Great America Parkway
Santa Clara, CA 95054
(408) 988-1776
www.cagreatamerica.comV2: Vertical Velocity
1001 Fairgrounds Drive
Vallejo, CA 94589
(707) 644-4000
www.sixflags.comGoliath
26101 Magic Mountain Parkway
Valencia, CA 91355
(661) 255-4100
www.sixflags.comGiant Dipper
400 Beach St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 423-5590
www.beachboardwalk.com