Plan Your Family Vacation to These U.S. Theme Parks

From coast to coast, the USA’s theme parks deliver an assortment of multiverses that fuel enthusiasm, imagination and memories rooted in togetherness. Whether your crew is chasing thrills on stomach-dropping coasters, diving into underwater worlds or meeting their favorite characters face-to-face, these attractions combine entertainment and education to make unforgettable moments. Use this roundup of American amusement parks to help plan your next family trip.

SeaWorld: Orlando, Florida; San Antonio, Texas; & San Diego, California

Budding marine biologists will take to these Orlando, San Antonio and San Diego parks like fish to water thanks to animal experiences, shows and thrilling rides. Watch your family’s faces light up at smiling stingrays, sharks slicing through the water and wispy, bioluminescent jellyfish. Animal presentations couple cool facts with demonstrations. Learn about wild orca hunting techniques or how high sea lions can jump — and possibly get splashed in the process! Ramp up the excitement with swooping roller coasters and water rides or hit the tamer rides for younger kids. Meet beluga whales, swim with dolphins and waddle with penguins on special tours and encounters.

Sesame Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, & San Diego, California

Meet-and-greets and monster musicals are perfect for sweeping cares away at these Certified Autism Center parks. Expect sightings of Cookie Monster, Rosita, Oscar the Grouch and others as you wander the colorful Sesame Street neighborhood or cheer at parades. Big Bird’s story time captivates children of all ages, interactive activities get imaginations firing, and dinners with Elmo bring ear-to-ear smiles. Squeal on a variety of rides, from gentle carousels and lazy rivers to twirling orbiters and full-on roller coasters. Find year-round fun and special holiday events in Philadelphia, while San Diego is open for sunny-day experiences seasonally.

Busch Gardens: Tampa Bay, Florida, & Williamsburg, Virginia

There’s no need to choose between an amusement park and a wildlife park with Busch Gardens. In Williamsburg, explore historically inspired European “countries” and test your nerve on 10 roller coasters (one in the dark!). In between adrenaline rushes, spot pacing wolves and Highland cattle peeping at you from under their fringe. Tampa Bay offers safari-style adventure: Hippos, sloths, big cats and elephants also call the park home, as do nine coasters. You might just spy a loping giraffe from an upside-down vantage on the Serengeti Flyer swing. Both parks boast plenty of rides for littler ones, as well as special seasonal events.

Water Country USA: Williamsburg, Virginia

Virginia’s largest outdoor water park is the ideal setting for a summer family vacation with 12-plus pools, slides, flumes and rafting rides. Pulsating lights and music enhance the excitement of zipping through tubes on Aquazoid Amped, and disputes over who gets to pick where you’ll have dinner can be settled via body-surfing contests on Nitro Racer: Supercharged. An interactive splash pad and misty play area keep your youngest water babies happy, while Hubba Hubba Highway lazy river is ideal for letting stress drift away. With water cannons, slides and spray features, the multi-level High Tide Harbor is a must.

Universal Studios Hollywood: Los Angeles, California

Film-loving families will find delights around every turn — all a stone’s throw away from actual Hollywood in Los Angeles. The studio tour takes you behind the scenes to discover how movie magic works. The tram route varies, so depending on the day, you might roll past the infamous Bates Motel, through earthquakes and flash floods or come face-to-teeth with Jaws. Shake off shark encounters with kid-friendly dips on The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash ride and the Flight of the Hippogriff. In CityWalk, shop for Hollywood memorabilia, sweets and souvenirs. Dining options range from dinner with live music to burgers and specialty milkshakes.

Universal Orlando Resort: Orlando, Florida

With four parks — Universal Studios, Universal Islands of Adventure, Epic Universe and Volcano Bay — and its CityWalk dining and entertainment hub, this Florida resort is a dream destination. Where else can you escape the vaults at Gringotts in 4-D, race velociraptors on the high-speed VelociCoaster or ride vibrant elephant birds on the Caro-Seuss-el? Compete in a MarioKart race, learn to train dragons or take wild rafting rides. The fun continues at CityWalk with mini-golf, shopping, concerts, theaters and escape rooms. An array of eateries pleases every palate, whether you’re after kimchi-fried-chicken bao buns, burgers and fries, or empanadas over mariachi music.