Tallest, Fastest, Longest: Top 10 Roller Coasters in America
by Linda (minnemom) of Travels with Children
Kingda Ka. Photo by Dusso Janladde.
Faster than a car. Longer than a mile. Higher than the Statue of Liberty. Check out these extreme roller coasters from the United States that make a trip to the amusement park exciting!
Top Steel Roller Coasters
Kingda Ka
Six Flags Great Adventure
Jackson Township, New Jersey
Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson Township, NJ. Photo by nthdesign.
With a height of 456 feet, a drop of 418 feet, and a speed of 128 mph, this mighty beast is the tallest and fastest in the United States.
Top Thrill Dragster
Cedar Point
Sandusky, Ohio
Top Thrill Dragster, Cedar Point, Sandusky, OH. Photo by adpowers.
Just behind Kingda Ka is this thrill ride, which boasts a height of 420 feet, drop of 400 feet, and amazing 120 mph speed.
Millennium Force
Cedar Point
Sandusky, Ohio
Millennium Force at Cedar Point, Sandusky, OH. Photo by soundfromwayout.
Also at Cedar Point, Millennium Force ranks on the list for longest as well as fastest, tallest, and tallest drop. It has stats of 310 feet in height, a 300-foot drop, is 6595 feet long, and runs at 93 miles per hour. It’s a force to be reckoned with.
Goliath
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Valencia, California
Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia, CA. Photo by respres.
With a speed of 85 miles per hour, height of 235 feet, and spot on the record list for vertical drop as well, Goliath lives up to its name.
Superman: The Escape
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Valencia, California
Superman: The Escape at Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia, CA. Photo by Mike Kazarnowicz.
Goliath’s neighbor at Six Flags Magic Mountain may not hold as many records, but with a drop of 328 feet and speed of 100 mph, it’s a superhero in the world of roller coasters.
Top Wooden Roller Coasters
Son of Beast
Kings Island
Mason, Ohio
Son of Beast, Kings Island, Mason, Ohio. Photo by Brandon Cirillo.
With a height of 218 feet, drop of 214 feet, and speed of 78.4 mph, Son of the Beast is the current world-record holder for height, drop, and speed.
El Toro
Six Flags Great Adventure
Jackson Township, New Jersey
El Toro at Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson Township, NJ. Photo by tenioman.
Six Flags Great Adventure isn’t just great for a steel-coaster ride. The wooden El Toro ranks on the tallest, fastest, and biggest drops lists with a height of 181 feet, drop of 176 feet, and speed of 70 mph.
The Voyage
Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari
Santa Claus, IN
The Voyage at Holiday World, Santa Claus, IN. Photo by Neuski.
This voyage is one of the longest in the world on a wooden roller coaster at 6442 feet. It also ranks on the lists for tallest (173 feet), tallest drop (154 feet), and fastest (67.4 mph).
Mean Streak
Cedar Point
Sandusky, Ohio
Mean Streak at Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio. Photo by nealpatrick61.
This is one mean wooden coaster, with a length of 5427 feet, a height of 161 feet, and a drop of 155 feet.
The Boss
Six Flags St. Louis
Eureka, Missouri
The Boss at Six Flags Over St. Louis, Eureka, MO. Photo by HAM guy.
The Boss is no slouch, with a speed of 66.3 miles per hour, a length of 5051 feet, and a drop of 150 feet.
Do you have a favorite roller coaster or amuseument park?
Information credit: Wikipedia
The Works in Newark, Ohio
by Linda (minnemom) of Travels with Children
The Works in Newark, Ohio
Children’s and science museums can be found in big cities and small towns, in impressive new spaces and reused buildings. Bigger and newer do not always mean better. Such is the case with The Works.
The Works is found in the small town of Newark, Ohio, east of Columbus. The museum has been created in an old manufacturing building and serves multiple purposes. On the main floor is the science museum, which includes hands-on areas for toddlers as well as exhibits that older kids will enjoy. (Pieces in the toddler area are stored in real Longaberger baskets, thanks to the factory just down the road.) Also included in the museum is a working glassworks, where visitors can see glass-making demonstrations. Pieces made in the museum are on display in the gallery and for sale in the gift shop as well.
Xylophone Bench at The Works
Upstairs, the history of the county is depicted. Though most of the exhibits are standard word-and-picture displays, there are a few hands-on areas as well. The manufacturing and transportation of the area is quite diverse, as depicted in the history area of the museum.
In the summer months, additional buildings on the campus are open as well.
Toddler Area at The Works
We found The Works to be interesting, educational, and uncrowded. While there are bigger museums in Columbus and other large cities in Ohio, The Works is worth the drive out of the city to learn about science, history, and art in one location.
Photo credits: minnemom