What's new at theme parks this summer?
There are also plenty of smaller regional and local parks that have new offerings this summer at prices, including deals for annual passes, that won't take as big a bite out of your vacation budget:
COLORADO: The new Haunted Mine Drop at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in Glenwood Springs (also take a cave tour) goes underground with ghostly characters telling a mining tale -- before you plunge 120 feet inside Iron Mountain. (Adult tickets are $54; kids $49.)
KENTUCKY: Louisville's Kentucky Kingdom has a new "Eye of the Storm high-speed coaster that circles a seven-story loop with rotations and inversions. (Admission is $44.95 online; $39.95 for kids.)
MISSOURI: Kansas City's Paradise Park offers pay-as-you-go attractions like a foam factory, go-karts, laser tag and a new "Exit Room Express," which is a physical adventure game where players are locked in a room and have to solve puzzles to get out (6 or 7 people, $13.99 for 40-minute experience).
NORTH CAROLINA: The Outer Banks is home to H2OBX, a $46 million water park with more than 20 water slides, pools and attractions, including a Deep Six Adventure Lagoon and Sand Pail Beach and Blue Herron Twirl for the youngest park goers ($49.99; $44.99 for kids).
PENNSYLVANIA: Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster has "Merlin's Mayhem," a suspended family-friendly coaster with a 60-foot rise named for the park's magician and his dragon friend ($41.99 ages 3 to 59).
Don't forget plenty of sunscreen!
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