August 26, 2009

Three Great Cities for Theme Park Madness

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.

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