Salem Willows
Salem
Massachusetts
(978) 745-0251
This place is so small, it barely qualifies as an amusement park. And it has seen better days. Having said that, Salem Willows (named for the stately willow trees that line its promenade) is located on a stunning peninsula, surrounded on all sides by the ocean. The circa 1926 carousel is charming, the cruise line is delightful, the buttered popcorn may be the world's finest, and you haven't truly lived until you've had a Salem Willows chop suey sandwich.
Sam's Fun City
Pensacola
Florida
(850) 505-0800
Small amusement park, mostly geared to younger children. Includes a waterpark (in 2003).
San Diego Zoo & Wild Animal Park
San Diego and Escondido (near San Diego)
California
619-234-3153
No roller coasters or other rides, but arguably the nation's finest zoos.
Sandy Lake
Dallas
Texas
(972) 242-7449
Traditional picnic grove amusement park with a couple dozen rides, including bumper cars, Tilt-A-Whirl, Scrambler, and a classic Rock-O-Plane.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Santa Cruz (between, Monterey and San Francisco)
California
(831) 423-5590
Classic seaside amusement park with three coasters, including the vintage 1924 Giant Dipper.
Santa's Land
Cherokee
North Carolina
(828) 497-9191
Clearly, the triple-Ho guy is the big attraction here. Features Christmas-themed rides and shows. Also has a petting farm (with reindeer, of course).
Santa's Land
Putney
Vermont
(800)-SANTA-99
Very small park with a Christmas theme (obviously!). Includes a petting zoo, a few kiddie rides, and audiences with a certain white-bearded gent.
Santa's Village
East Dundee (near Chicago)
Illinois
The park closed in 2006.
Santa's Village
Jefferson (in the White Mountains)
New Hampshire
(603) 586-4445
There have been a number of parks called "Santa's Village," but this is the original. It has the perfect blend of authentic nostalgia and contemporary appeal. Young children and adults alike will find its charm irresistible.
Santa's Workshop
North Pole (where else?), NY (150 miles north of Albany, near Lake Placid)
(800) 806-0215
Small, Christmas-themed park with a few rides and shows. Open in the summer and some weekends before Christmas.
Santa's Workshop
North Pole (really!-near Pike's Peak)
Colorado
(719) 684-9432
Small, Christmas-themed park.
Scandia Amusement Park
Ontario (near Los Angeles)
California
(909) 390-3092
Small park with a junior steel coaster, thrill and kiddie rides, plus go-karts, 2 mini-golf courses, and bating cages.
Sea Life Park Hawaii
Oahu (near Waikiki)
Hawaii
(866) 365-7446
Like Sea World, but without the rides. Swim with the dolphins, feed the stingrays, watch the whales make a big splash, and other marine life attractions.
Seabreeze Amusement Park
Rochester
New York
(585) 323-1900
Park on Lake Ontario features the classic Jack Rabbit wooden coaster and the Quantum Loop steel coaster. Also includes Raging Rivers waterpark.
Seasme Place
Langhorne (near Philadelphia), Pennsylvania
Includes water park rides as well as dry rides.
SeaWorld Ohio
SeaWorld used to operate a separate marine life park. Between 2000 and 2003, Six Flags bought SeaWorld Ohio, combined it with Geauga Lake, and called the mega-park Six Flags World of Adventure. Six Flags sold the property to Cedar Fair in 2004. Cedar Fair closed the marine life park and reverted to the park's original name, Geauga Lake.
SeaWorld Orlando
Orlando
Florida
(877) 434-7268
No longer just the happy home of Shamu, SeaWorld has some great rides and a second park where you can swim with dolphins.
SeaWorld San Antonio
San Antonio
Texas
(210) 523-3000
Now called "Adventure Parks," a day at any of the SeaWorlds is more than just getting splashed by Shamu and his marine life friends. The Texas park includes more rides than the other SeaWorlds, including two world-class roller coasters, a log flume, and Lost Lagoon, an entire waterpark.
