CoasterCapture - Main 
Newest park: Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood is a theme park based solely around motion pictures, their effects, and their actors. The park, split up into an upper and lower level, is home to many shows and attractions that illustrate the amount of work going into movies even today. Other attractions put you in the world of the movie around which they are based, such as Jurassic Park: The Ride and Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride. The park's environment is spectacular, with great views from the edge of the upper level. Be sure to check out City Walk outside the park when you leave, as there are shops, restaurants, and movie theaters all waiting to finish great day off with a great evening. If the park is crowded, it might be worth investing in a Front of the Line Pass to enjoy your day more.
Alton Towers
Alton Towers has one of the most unique atmospheres of any amusement park I have personally visited. Due to the height restriction imposed on the area, many of the roller coasters must be custom fitted to conform with the terrain, resulting in some of the best coasters around. Among them is Nemesis, the infamous Bolliger and Mabillard inverted ride, my personal favorite. The theme of the ride is very well done, and the location is perfect. Air, Rita: Queen of Speed, and Oblivion are three of the other major coasters. Air, the first flying coaster; Rita, a ground-skimming Intamin launcher; and the world's first dive machine. Combining a themed atmosphere with the traditional park look, the park has it all...except height!
Gilroy Gardens
Gilroy Gardens is a small park located in Northern California. Although it is not home to many, many thrill rides, the park is a great place to bring family to enjoy a couple hours together. It is the only park in America to be themed around trees. A few flat rides scattered throughout the park are sure to entertain you, and learning stations are will keep you busy. The park is very small however, so a whole day is not usually necessary. Gilroy's main roller coaster is Quicksilver Express, seen left. It's a long, entertaining ride, and while not providing extreme thrills, it is still great fun. Because it doesn't require much time, it is a great add-on to a Northern California trip, as it is located relatively close to all the other major amusement parks there.
Great America
Great America is a Cedar Fair park, formerly owned by Paramount. The park is strikingly similar to all the other former Paramount Parks, such as King's Dominion, Canada's Wonderland, and King's Island. Inside the park, you won't find all of the most extreme roller coasters in the world, but you will find a few great ones. First, there is Top Gun, the B&M Invert. Although only sporting a few inversions, the ride is great fun, and one of the few must-rides at the park. Grizzly, the park's wooden coaster, is not the greatest in the world, but still worth a try. Vortex is the park's stand-up coaster, notorious for being one of the roughest Bolliger and Mabillard coasters. There are lots of fun activities for kids too, so it's a great place to visit with your family!
Knott's Berry Farm
Dubbed as America's first actual theme park, Knott's has a great enviroment, with amazing themes, rides, boardwalk style games, and much more. Their newest, coaster, Sierra Sidewinder, is a great family spinning coaster in the kid's area. Their invert, displayed in the picture to the left, is a major crowd pleaser. Some other rides at Knott's Berry Farm incude Xcelerator, an Intamin hydraulic launch coaster; Ghostrider, a great wooden coaster which even exits the park it is so large; and Boomerang, a classic Vekoma Boomerang. Although less popular these days, be sure to visit the western section of the park, there are many fun things to do. Knott's is one of the many Southern California parks close to where I live, so updates to the gallery will be more frequent than updates to others.
