These theme parks don’t draw large crowds, however are nonetheless price a go to – Orange County Register

Earlier this month, the Themed Leisure Affiliation and AECOM launched their annual Theme Index report, detailing 2022 attendance at 20 prime theme parks round the USA. Disney and Common topped the checklist, however this week I need to discuss among the parks that didn’t make the TEA/AECOM report.

Locations comparable to Walt Disney World and Disneyland have earned their standing by providing nice rides and exhibits that appeal to a big and constant viewers. However a number of less-visited parks additionally supply points of interest that rival these discovered on the prime parks. These parks are price contemplating by any household on the lookout for one thing completely different, and maybe inexpensive, for his or her subsequent theme park getaway.

Let’s begin with the Legoland theme parks. Legoland California was the corporate’s first theme park in the USA, and Legoland stays the gold normal for households with elementary school-aged youngsters. The Carlsbad park is providing a brand new motion sports activities present this summer season, and its mixture of rides, exhibits and play areas geared toward younger youngsters make it a compelling vacation spot for households.

The Legoland parks in Florida and New York are price a glance, too, for households hitting the highway this summer season. Legoland Florida is constructed across the previous Cypress Gardens attraction, and the New York park — which opened in 2021 — gives a Lego Manufacturing unit Journey experience that is without doubt one of the most technologically spectacular darkish rides in any theme park.

Again in California, theme park followers ought to contemplate a go to to California’s Nice America in Santa Clara. The clock is ticking on this sister park to Knott’s Berry Farm, with proprietor Cedar Truthful having signed a deal to shut it no later than 2033. The park opened a refurbished NorCal County Truthful land this summer season, and its basic curler coasters comparable to Gold Striker, Demon and Patriot are at all times price a experience.

Elsewhere across the nation, road-tripping theme park followers would possibly think about a cease in Iowa, the place Misplaced Island Theme Park opened simply final summer season. Positioned in Waterloo, this park’s lineup consists of Volkanu: Quest for the Golden Idol — an award-winning attraction from Sally Darkish Rides, which has produced interactive rides for Legoland, Six Flags and different prime parks world wide. That’s only one attraction in a park that gives a way more spectacular try at theming and unique backstory than one sometimes finds at regional amusement parks.