When it comes to student travel, theme tours are a great way to tie the whole thing together, to focus your energy when it comes to choosing attractions, and because the fundraiser ideas practically invent themselves. (Doing a Literature-themed tour? Sell used books. One focused on art? Sell your own creations. Etcetera.) And since we’re on the subject of themes…let’s talk about theme parks.

Theme Park Tours are just what the doctor ordered for that nasty bug known as senioritis. It manifests itself in some like a diva-tude in which you begin to think the world revolves around you. And in some as a dark depression when you’re quite sure that graduating means it won’t revolve around you anymore. It’s a sadness because you’ll be leaving your friends behind, an anxiety about the future, a mad rush to finish those last papers, finals, and catch-up credits. You really need a break, don’t you think? And this is just the way to do it.

There are a couple cities in this country where you can fill every single day with a new theme park adventure. The first, and possibly the most obvious, is Orlando. The Disney franchise could keep you hopping for an entire week. But why not mix it up? Disney offers some great parks, The Magic Kingdom being the most popular and Hollywood Studios a favorite for older teens and young adults. But Universal has a corner on this market as well with both Universal Studios itself and Universal’s Islands of Adventure providing some of the best coasters in the nation. Even Sea World has joined the fray. Sea World, you say? With the clapping seals and mischievous killer whales? Yep. Sea World, now home not just to Shamu but to the longest, fastest, tallest coaster in Orlando (the Kracken) and an exciting newer addition, Mantis.

Los Angeles is another amazing city for senior class trips. The beach, the stars, and – in keeping with the tone here – the sheer number of roller coasters and theme parks. Six Flags Magic Mountain, for instance, offers more coasters in one park than almost any other park in the country. You can find the original “happiest place on earth” here as well with Disneyland and its fellow parks (like Disney’s California Adventure). And Universal offers its first creation here as well. Rounding out your tour, you’ll visit Knott’s Berry Farm, which has been thrilling guests since before any of these other yahoos even broke ground.

If you don’t need quite so many thrils but need some chocolate to go with those thrills, then Hershey, Pennsylvania, is for you. These four attractions are all fun, all sweetness, all curing, all the time – from the factory itself, Hershey’s Chocolate World, to the thrilling amusement park anchored by the delightful Kissing Tower and too good for a space between its words, i.e., Hersheypark, you’ll love every minute of your time in Chocolate Town.

So just sit back and endure your “itis” for now. These cities will definitely make the world seem endurable after all. You’ll be all set to take it on with just a few days in these cities packed with thrills.

Yes, we’re throwing in yet another Six Flags.  This franchise holds a teeny tiny CORNER ON THE MARKET when it comes to theme parks.  There are plenty of other parks out there.  But trust us, no matter where you are in the country, if you see the famous flags – you’re definitely in for some thrills.

SF Great Adventure is located in Jackson Township, New Jersey.  So it’s a great addition to those mid-Atlantic trips like New York City graduation trips or Philadelphia educational tours.

It’s got almost as many roller coasters as its California counterpart and holds a few records of its own.  For instance, Kingda Ka.  This steel coaster is the tallest in the world as well as the fastest AND the one with the tallest drop.  El Toro comes in second in its category, but that’s hardly a count against you when you’re the second tallest, second fastest wooden coaster in the world.  An alternative name for it could be Nine Times the Air Time based on how many dips in the ride give you the feeling of weightlessness.  Bizarro is one the newest rides here (opening May of 09) based on the comic book character to whom everything is backwards, aka, bizarre.  The head rest includes audio.  There’s fog.  There’s fire, and there’s a cool zone.  All the senses get to experience this ride.  And if affecting several senses at once is part of the thrill for you, then you’ll love the ride themed after the latest Batman installment, The Dark Knight, which takes place in something akin to the bat cave before anyone turns on the lights, encouraging you to rethink your answer to the question, “Are you afraid of the dark?”

Six Flags Great Adventure is just one more way Six Flags is making the world a scream-ier place, one great coaster at a time.  Don’t forget!  These parks have all kinds of moderate thrills, food, entertainment, and family-type rides as well.  So don’t stay away just because you’ve fully embraced the fact that the answer to the last question is an emphatic yes or if roller coasters seem like the marriage of all your worst fears at once.  There’s plenty more for you to do there.  Still, we’re not highlighting it this week for the corn dogs.  Thus the looping coaster in the photo and the focus on maximum thrill.  Come back tomorrow for more!

(photo by OliverN5 on Flickr)

Valencia, California is home to our next featured theme park.  And if that doesn’t sound familiar, your hint is this:  It’s just a hop and a skip from Los Angeles student tours.

The theme at this park is Extreme, a challenge well met by the fact that Six Flags Magic Mountain is second in the world for the largest collection of coasters in any one park.  THE LARGEST COLLECTION.  (Later in the week, you’ll meet the the park that takes the top spot in that prestigious title).  Let’s discover some of the thrilling participants:

X2:  Um . . . 360-degree rotating seats, head-first drops, visual, audio, and sensory effects – Extreme doesn’t seem extreme enough to describe this ride.

The Riddler:  Another record breaker, the Riddler is the world’s tallest, fastest, stand up roller coaster.

The Viper:  This coaster named for a poisonous serpent has SEVEN head-over-heels inversions.

Tatsu:  A flying coaster, which describes your position to the ground, and also the tallest, fastest of its kind.

Deja vu:  You’ll be strapped into ski-lift type chairs, experience crazy-scary drops, a vertical loop and a 110-story butterfly.  Then you do it all AGAIN.  Backwards.

Are you intrigued yet?  This park is practically the theme park to end all theme parks.  At least if your favorite part is the thrills.  You know Six Flags, of course, there are plenty of attractions for the less than thrill-inclined members of your group.  Perhaps sometime we’ll even devote an entire week to attractions just for them.  This week it’s all about the dips, the dives, the scary climbs, mind-boggling loops, and of course – all the screaming.  Be sure to come back tomorrow for more!

(Photo by respres on Flickr).

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.