Travel Midwest Magazine Travel Midwest Digital ReplicaSUM17 | Page 40

Fun ERICA SIX FLAGS GREAT AM SIX FLAGS ST. LOUIS Six Flags is a very well-known regional amusement park chain, with two locations in the Midwest. The Great Amer- ica park is in Chicago, Illinois. The St. Louis location is in Eureka, Missouri. Both of these amusement parks are a great choice for a day of family fun in the summertime. Pick the closer of the two (to you) and head out for an amazing day of thrill rides and other attractions. Six Flags has many different events going on during the summer, such as National Funnel Cake Day, holiday cele- brations, Coasters After Dark, and longer summer operat- ing hours. At the Chicago location, thrill rides include the American Eagle, the Demon, and Goliath. The Demon is one of the first roller coasters in the world to feature a dou- ble corkscrew turn, and Goliath is the monster of all wooden roller coasters, being the tallest, steepest, and fastest! Family rides for younger children are available at the park as well, including the Columbia Carousel and the Buccaneer Battle, a ride in a boat featuring interactive water guns. tHr Six Flags St. Louis features different roller coasters that will deliver an equally thrilling adrenaline rush, including the Screamin’ Eagle, Boomerang, and American Thunder, another classic wooden coaster with drops getting up to 50 miles per hour! The water park is also a favorite here, with the lazy river at Gully Washer Creek, or for the water-loving dare- devil, the Bonzai Pipeline, a 60-story waterslide that drops you out of a tube with a trap door at nearly 40 miles per hour! You can purchase one-day tickets to Six Flags for as low as $45, or buy a season pass if you plan on attending more than once this summer. Six Flags also features exclusive dining and shopping options, as well as season-long live entertainment, which is great for the entire family. ND PAUL BUNYAN LA Located in Brainerd, Minnesota, Paul Bunyan Land is an iconic park of the Midwest. Nearly 60 years old and 6 acres in area, this smaller, but satisfying park is filled with the rich history of America’s industrial growth. Paul Bunyan Land is also coupled with This Old Farm Pioneer Village, which houses one of the largest collections of an- tiques from the 1800s and 1900s. Visit the many original buildings and displays in the park, such as the giant pumpkin or the Thick n’ Thin Lumber Company. The en- joyment of the rides within the park are unlimited, and all included within the general admission pricing. The children will enjoy themselves all day long on rides such as the Frog Hopper, Ghost Mine, Ferris Wheel, and the Tilt-a-Whirl. General admission is about $20, and children two and under are free!