The United States is home to some of the world's best theme parks. But, if you're looking for an alternative to the same old rides and attractions, consider visiting one of America's more unusual and unique theme parks on your next family vacation. Whether you're looking for chocolate-themed rides and tours, the old-fashioned charms of an early 20th century amusement park or a virtual visit to the Holy Land, you'll find unique places for family theme park vacations all across the country.
Built by the local trolley company in 1902 so Bostonians would have a reason to utilize their services, Canobie Lake Park® today retains nearly all of its old-fashioned charm. Beautifully landscaped and full of shade trees, Canobie offers visitors a number of exciting rides, including the Yankee Cannonball, a vintage wooden roller coaster. Only an hour's drive north of Boston, Canobie Lake Park is one of New England's best theme parks, offering something for visitors of all ages, including a water park, fireworks displays and boat rides out on Canobie Lake, the park's namesake.
After more than 100 years, Canobie Lake Park remains one of America's most unique theme parks, free from the "big-box" feel of many of the country's larger parks. The park is open May through October and makes a great family day trip from most places in New England.
A family-owned park that's still in large part a working farm, Fair Oaks Farms Dairy Adventure® is definitely one of America's most unique theme parks. Located between Chicago and Indianapolis, the park is open year round and offers visitors a number of interesting family attractions, including a 4-D "Dairy Adventure" movie experience. Visit the Birthing Barn, where you and your family can witness live calves being born in a comfortable theater-like setting.
The park also includes "Mooville," a play area for kids that includes a train ride and "Udder Heights," a 25-foot climbing wall shaped like a milk bottle. For adults and older children, Fair Oaks offers tours of its on-site cheese factory, complete with samples of cheese and ice cream from their resident cows.
One of the Northeast's best theme parks for families, Hersheypark® opened in 1907 as a place for the employees of the Hershey Chocolate Company to relax with their families. A short drive from both Philadelphia and Washington D.C., the park today retains much of its old-fashioned charm, in spite of its more than 60 modern rides and roller coasters.
Unique among U.S. theme parks, Hersheypark is home to Hershey’s Chocolate World, featuring the famous “Hershey’s Great American Chocolate Tour." Hershey's water park rides and ZooAmerica, a North American wildlife park, also help make the park a great destination for family theme park vacations.
Billing itself as a "living biblical museum," The Holy Land Experience® takes visitors 2,000 years back in time to ancient Jerusalem on a Disney-sized scale. Nestled among Orlando's collection of other theme parks, The Holy Land Experience aims to bring the bible to life with live theatrical productions, educational exhibits and a number of attractions, including "Cavalry's Garden Tomb" and "Jerusalem Street Market."
The park also offers shopping, dining and "Smile of a Child Adventure Land," where active kids can blow off some steam. One of the best theme parks for religious families, The Holy Land Experience is truly one-0f-a-kind.