Beyond Disney: 5 Unique Theme Parks Around the World
When you were a kid, visiting an amusement park was likely a special treat. Sure, the food was overpriced and the lines may have been daunting, but the thrill of riding the fastest roller coaster and tormenting people in giant animal suits with requests for photographs was unavailable anywhere else.
Visiting a theme park is an excellent way to try and recapture that child-like thrill while you travel. Theme parks can also provide a unique window into another culture. Here are five parks to consider:
Suoi Tien Cultural Amusement Park, Vietnam
Located in Ho Chi Minh City, this Buddha-themed amusement park is a fun way to educate yourself about Vietnamese Buddhist beliefs and Vietnamese history. There is "Heaven Palace," a roller coaster illustrating the 12 torments of hell and a giant saltwater pool. Plus, there's also a small lake containing over 1,500 crocodiles. Guests at the park can feed the beasts from fishhooks.
Hacienda Napoles, Columbia
Once the home of feared drug lord Pablo Escobar, the Colombian government has turned the sprawling estate into a tourist attraction. There is a zoo, including Escobar's herd of feral hippos and a butterfly dome. There are also a couple of water rides, one of which takes you around Escobar's collection of giant dinosaur statues.
Puroland, Japan
Do you love Hello Kitty? Then you'll love Puroland, Sanrio's theme park outpost in Japan. Here, you can tour Hello Kitty's apartment, watch Sanrio-themed performances and chill with your favorite Sanrio characters.
Agroventures, New Zealand
This eco-friendly theme park in New Zealand features some unique rides, including the "Agrojet," a super-fast speedboat described as "the only commercial jet sprint experience in the world." There's also a wind tunnel that allows you to actually fly like Superman. Seriously. Finally, there's the "Shweeb," which lets you race friends on a device that resembles a recumbent bicycle on a roller coaster track.
Wunderland Kalkar, Germany
What to do with an abandoned nuclear facility? Why, turn it into a theme park, of course! Here, you can climb the walls of the never-completed nuclear reactor, take a swing ride inside it and enjoy other attractions.
To visit these amusement parks, of course you'll need a passport. Be sure to apply early, as it can take six weeks or more to receive yours in the mail. Expedited service is available from the government for an additional $60 fee, but it can still take as long as three weeks for your documents to arrive. For faster service, you must make an appointment at a regional passport agency office, or use a private passport expediting service like RushMyPassport.
Visiting a theme park is an excellent way to try and recapture that child-like thrill while you travel. Theme parks can also provide a unique window into another culture. Here are five parks to consider:
Suoi Tien Cultural Amusement Park, Vietnam
Located in Ho Chi Minh City, this Buddha-themed amusement park is a fun way to educate yourself about Vietnamese Buddhist beliefs and Vietnamese history. There is "Heaven Palace," a roller coaster illustrating the 12 torments of hell and a giant saltwater pool. Plus, there's also a small lake containing over 1,500 crocodiles. Guests at the park can feed the beasts from fishhooks.
Hacienda Napoles, Columbia
Once the home of feared drug lord Pablo Escobar, the Colombian government has turned the sprawling estate into a tourist attraction. There is a zoo, including Escobar's herd of feral hippos and a butterfly dome. There are also a couple of water rides, one of which takes you around Escobar's collection of giant dinosaur statues.
Puroland, Japan
Do you love Hello Kitty? Then you'll love Puroland, Sanrio's theme park outpost in Japan. Here, you can tour Hello Kitty's apartment, watch Sanrio-themed performances and chill with your favorite Sanrio characters.
Agroventures, New Zealand
This eco-friendly theme park in New Zealand features some unique rides, including the "Agrojet," a super-fast speedboat described as "the only commercial jet sprint experience in the world." There's also a wind tunnel that allows you to actually fly like Superman. Seriously. Finally, there's the "Shweeb," which lets you race friends on a device that resembles a recumbent bicycle on a roller coaster track.
Wunderland Kalkar, Germany
What to do with an abandoned nuclear facility? Why, turn it into a theme park, of course! Here, you can climb the walls of the never-completed nuclear reactor, take a swing ride inside it and enjoy other attractions.
To visit these amusement parks, of course you'll need a passport. Be sure to apply early, as it can take six weeks or more to receive yours in the mail. Expedited service is available from the government for an additional $60 fee, but it can still take as long as three weeks for your documents to arrive. For faster service, you must make an appointment at a regional passport agency office, or use a private passport expediting service like RushMyPassport.
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