There’s just something that happens to a person when they enter the gates of Disneyland, no matter how old a person is, they are instantly transformed into a ten-year-old who wants to go frolicking about with a lollipop in their hand and see Mickey Mouse. Is it the scent of popcorn in the air? Seeing their favorite characters wandering about? Who knows? Maybe it’s just the Disney Magic!

Staying on topic from last week, if you like roller coasters,  summer is the time to release some screams that have built up over winter.    With a number of amusement parks within driving distances taking a day to put a smile on your face after this long period of hibernation could never be easier.  After spending summers looking forward to that trip to Six Flags or another park, I know roller coasters.  The following is a gathering of some of the best rides within a 200 mile radius and are ride worthy.

Boulder Dash – Lake Compounce, Bristol, CT: The Boulder Dash is the first and only roller coaster built on the side of a mountain.  The track whips through the trees and goes with the natural curvature of the mountain.  This wooden roller coaster opened back in 2000 and has been a fan favorite ever since.  According to the Golden Ticket Awards, the Boulder Dash has been ranked in the top 5 of all wooden roller coasters for the past nine years.