- Busch Gardens Williamsburg is hands-down #1 for the best theming and gardens. Their architecture, gardens, and holiday season theming are all fantastic. It's right up there with the World portion of Epcot. They also have some excellent rides, but not quite as good as some of the others on this list.

- Cedar Point is obviously #1 for thrill rides. There are truly epic rides. But it is pretty run down in some parts and has zero theming. It also has nothing for younger kids and dizzy parents to do.

- Dollywood gets #1 for the most surprising. We spent the previous few days hiking through Great Smoky Mountains NP and then experienced a day in Hillbilly Hell (a.k.a. Gatlinburg). I don't know what I was expecting, but Dollywood really surprised us. Great rides, some fun theming, good food, etc. It was such a fantastic change of pace from the rest of the road trip.

- Six Flags Magic Mountain gets #1 for having the most great rides. On a slow day, you can just run from one of the best roller coasters you've ever been on to another all day long.

- Carrowinds gets my #1 for best ride. Fury 325 is both the tallest and fastest coaster that doesn't have the boring launch, vertical, back to horizontal cookie cutter experience of Kingda Ka, Top Thrill 2, and Superman.

Honorable mention to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom for being the best park to mix animal attractions with roller coasters. Go on an epic roller coaster and then go to a tiger show or a dolphin show. Busch Gardens Tampa and Sea World are also in this space, which works really well for families with teens and little kids.