You know what doesn’t get talked about enough?  Awesome roller coasters.  And what are exciting student tours without a roller coaster or two?

This week:  THEME PARKS.  Five great ones spread throughout the country, giving you five more reasons to travel and to diversify the destinations.

Today’s highlighted theme park is Bush Gardens Europe.  Kind of like the Epcot Center of theme parks, you’ll feel you’re traveling the world in this park divided by sections into various European countries. 

Despite the themes based on authentic countries, the rides here are pure legend.  Let’s take a look at a few of the higher thrills just to whet your appetite.

The Griffon - Pictured here by milst1 on Flickr, The Griffon is based on a mythical bird that is actually part eagle and part lion.  This drop?  It’s ninety breathtaking degrees at seventy miles per hour.  And it’s just the beginning.

Apollo’s Chariot – This ride consistently ranks on the lists of top 10 steel coasters in the world.  It’s all 4G climbs and smooth, weightless falls that keep visitors coming back again and again.

The Big Bad Wolf – An exciting suspended coaster, the premise here is that you’re following the Big Bad Wolf as he races over natural terrain that includes a dense, dark forest.  At any given point your answer to “Who’s afraid?” might very well be a raised hand.  But isn’t that why we enjoy them?

The Loch Ness Monter – I told you it’s all about the legends here.  And after this monster flings you 13 stories in the air and 114 down, you’ll probably feel it’s been answered once and for all just who the phony is in this story.

I think that fills our thrill factor quotient for the day.  Come back tomorrow for more high-speed, fast-plunging, ultra-looping excitement.  For whatever less thrilling stuff you have to focus on now, I’m truly sorry.