Text size:

Rating amusement parks near New York City

By Ryan Chatelain | ryan.chatelain@am-ny.com

3:44 PM EDT, July 2, 2008

Superman at Six Flags Amusement Park allows riders to sit in a flying position during the ride. (RJ Mickelson / July 2, 2008)

Amusement parks might seem masochistic, but they can also be intensely fun, supported by the fact that more than 300 million people visit them each year.

Within a short drive, New Yorkers in particular have their fair share of amusement destinations -- Six Flags Great Adventure, Rye Playland and Coney Island all featuring exhilarating thrill rides, games and family entertainment. Here's a glimpse of what nearby parks have to offer:

SIX FLAGS GREAT ADVENTURE
Location: Jackson, N.J.

Distance from Manhattan: 74 miles
Ticket prices: $49.99 single day*
Adult rides: 4 stars
Kid rides: 4 stars
Games: 4 stars
Waiting lines: 1 star
Food: 2 stars
Entertainment: 4 stars
* Discount offers available

Great Adventure includes something for everyone, from small children to hard-core thrill seekers. In particular, Great Adventure's selection of 13 roller coasters blows away its competition.

Kingda Ka is the world's tallest and fastest coaster, sending passengers racing from 0 to 125 mph in 3½ seconds and up and down a 45-story tower.

El Toro is an uncharacteristically smooth wooden coaster with nine "air times," meaning it lifts you slightly out of your seat. (Don't worry, thanks to the restraint bar, you'll hardly notice it.)

Nitro buzzes around a mile-long track at 80 mph and features seven steep climbs and dips. It is consistently ranked among the top 10 steel coasters by the Web site Amusement Today.

For pint-sized thrill seekers, Great Adventure's kids park offers more than 30 rides. Among Six Flags' other draws are games, aquatic mammal shows and live concerts Raven Symone, Natasha Bedingfield, Foreigner and, yes, Menudo are on the summer schedule.

About the only drawbacks at Six Flags are its infamous long lines and its size; it's virtually impossible to tackle the enormous park in a single day.

RYE PLAYLAND