A Guide To The Thrills

Given the state’s huge size and population, it is perhaps no surprise that Texas is home to a number of world-class theme parks. Featuring an enormous range of attractions, including high-speed roller coasters, family-friendly rides and entertaining shows, these offer something for every age group to enjoy. Here’s a quick guide to the essential experiences available at Six Flags Over Texas, Six Flags Fiesta Texas and SeaWorld San Antonio.

Six Flags Over Texas

The oldest park in the Six Flags chain, which includes a variety of parks in North and Central America, Six Flags Over Texas covers a sprawling 212-acre site in Arlington. Having opened in 1961, it has grown substantially during the last few decades, becoming one of the most popular theme parks in the US in the process. It is divided into a number of themed areas, including one each dedicated to the six different nations that have governed the state of Texas.

As with most Six Flags parks, the majority of Six Flags Over Texas’ headline rides are roller coasters. The park hosts a total of thirteen coasters, of varying types and intensity levels. Among the most impressive are Titan (the tallest, fastest and long coaster in Texas), Batman: The Ride (an inverted coaster that sees guests suspended underneath its track), and Mr Freeze: Reverse Blast (on which riders are launched from 0 to 70 miles per hour in a backwards direction, before racing back through the circuit facing forwards). Nostalgia fans will also have fun riding the Runaway Mine Train and Mini Mine Train, both of which date back to the 1960s.

Kids will be kept entertained by a variety of rides in the park’s Looney Tunes area, while families can enjoy attractions such as the Roaring Rapids water ride together. Six Flags Over Texas also offers a variety of large-scale seasonal events, including Spring Break Out (which includes a number of concert performances), Festival Latino (which celebrates Hispanic and Latino culture) and Holiday in the Park (which sees the park lit up for the Christmas season). The most popular event is Fright Fest, an annual Halloween celebration that features a host of temporary horror attractions.

Don’t miss: The Texas Giant, an iconic hybrid wood-steel roller coaster that received a $10 million refurbishment in 2010.

Six Flags Fiesta Texas

Located in San Antonio, the second Six Flags theme park in Texas opened in 1992 (a third park, located in Houston, closed in 2005). Covering 200 acres, Six Flags Fiesta Texas is slightly smaller than Six Flags Over Texas, but still offers a huge variety of rides for adrenaline-junkies and families.

Six Flags Fiesta Texas is home to eight roller coasters, including two (Kiddee Koaster and Road Runner Express) that are primarily aimed at younger guests. The most intense and thrilling are Goliath (an inverted coaster that opened in 2008), Superman: Krypton Coaster (a “floorless” coaster on which riders can see the track rushing beneath their feet) and Pandemonium (which features spinning cars). The park’s wooden coaster, Rattler, is expected to receive a major upgrade in 2013.

Two major elements distinguish Six Flags Fiesta Texas from its sister park in Arlington, which hosts a more extensive range of thrill rides. The first is its White Water Bay water park, which offers a number of slides, a lazy river and a wave pool, and is included with admission to the theme park. The second is its award-winning shows, which take place throughout the day on a number of stages throughout the park.

Don’t miss: SkyScreamer, a 200-feet-tall spinning tower ride that will open for the 2012 season, offering stunning views across the park and beyond.

SeaWorld San Antonio

Although SeaWorld Orlando often grabs the headlines due to its location close to Walt Disney World in Florida, SeaWorld San Antonio is actually the largest park in the marine-life chain. Spread over an enormous 250-acre site, it combines a world-class aquarium, outstanding animal exhibits and thrilling theme park attractions into one impressive offering.

As with all SeaWorld parks, the stand-out attraction at the Texas version is the One Ocean killer whale show. This sees orcas performing a range of astonishing stunts, as part of an overall display that incorporates music and video. Alongside a variety of other shows, guests can also view penguins, sea lions, sharks and many other marine creatures in large-scale exhibits.

SeaWorld San Antonio is home to two major roller coasters. The first, The Great White, is an inverted coaster that hits a top speed of 50 miles per hour during its 2,562-feet-long circuit. The second, Steel Eel, is the tallest coaster at any SeaWorld park, standing at some 150-feet-tall. A third thrill ride, Journey to Atlantis, combines elements of a roller coaster with a water ride, and is themed around the mythical lost city.

Don’t miss: Aquatica Texas, the adjacent water park that will debut to the public in May 2012. Expect a variety of attractions that combine elements of a traditional water park with SeaWorld’s signature marine-life exhibits.

Whichever of Texas’ selection of major theme parks you opt to visit, you will find enough attractions to keep guests of any age group entertained for a full day or more. Visit all three, and you’ll be able to experience a range of thrilling experiences that rivals those on offer anywhere else in the world.

Photo credits

Nick Sim covers theme parks all over the world on his own website, where you can find all the latest theme park reviews and guides.