This doesn’t profess to be a complete list of theme and water parks in New England but it includes the largest and the most popular parks and covers each state in the region. Baked into these nine parks are enough exciting hours to satisfy the thrill-seeking hunger of any teenager. There’s also plenty of fun for kids and those of us adults that have swapped pulse-racing thrill rides for the Carousel – or something like that.

Here goes…

Six Flags New England – Agawam, Massachusetts:

The largest of the theme parks in New England, Six Flags is a water park as well as theme rides and entertainment complex. This park is large enough there are rides to suit all ages. Sure there are the usual adrenalin pumping rides but there’s also plenty for those of us that prefer to be in more in control of our thrills. The water park is called Hurricane Harbor and has a distinct tropical feel. The park is well maintained and clean. Six Flags can be expensive so look for discounts on tickets or consider a season passes if you’ll likely to visit more than once in a year. The park is located close to Springfield, western Massachusetts. More information and tickets for Six Flags New England here.

Canobie Lake Park – Salem, New Hampshire:

If you’re not seeking the heart-stopping thrill rides of a large park but something more family oriented then Canobie Lake Park is your destination. Now don’t get me wrong, the ever popular Boston Tea Party and Yankee Cannonball rides can still get your pulse racing but it also has a large selection of rides suitable for young kid and attractions for older kids and adults that delight and surprise rather than scare your pants off. This is one of my family’s favorite New England theme parks. Reasonably priced and located in Salem, southern New Hampshire and convenient travel distance from Boston. Further details on Canobie Lake Park here.

Water Country – Portsmouth, New Hampshire:

Advertised as the largest water park in New England, Water Country does one thing and does it well – water – rides and slides. There are plenty of attractions of varying speeds – try Double Geronimo if you want a slide as near perpendicular as you can safely get! Other rides include: Dragon’s Den, Racing Rapids and the Plunge, Thunder Falls and Wild Canyon, and of course the Giant Wave Pool, and lots more. Many of the rides use tubes and these are supplied. An added nicety about this park is it allows you to bring in your own food, except no alcohol, glass containers or BBQ equipment – so leave your Weber at home! For park information on Water Country click here.

Lake Compounce Theme Park – Bristol, Connecticut:

Lake Compounce Theme Park is billed as the oldest continuously operating theme park in America and in 1996 was purchased by Kennywood Entertainment who has sunk $60 million investment into rides and attractions. Lake Compounce is a ride and splash park with thrill rides like Wildcat and Zommerang, along with water slides such as Anchor Bay and Lake Plunge. The family theme of the park includes shows and special events throughout each day, and a special rate after 5:00pm. Lake Compounce is located in Bristol, Connecticut and you can find out more details here.

Storyland – Glen, New Hampshire:

Storyland is located in the heart of the scenic White Mountains of New Hampshire a few miles from North Conway. Storyland is definitely a place for the kids and the young at heart to visit and popular for summer vacationers with children aged 2-12. With 21 themed rides including the Buccaneer Pirate Ship, Safari Tour, Huff Puff and Whistle Railroad along with some faster rides such as Bamboo Chutes and the Polar Coaster, the emphasis is on low-key young family fun. This is another park that allows you to bring in your own food for a picnic. Now operated by the same group that owns Lake Compounce Theme Park in Connecticut. For more information on Storyland go here.

Funtown Splashtown – Saco, Maine:

Maine is not a state big into theme or water parks – after all when you consider the natural beauty of the wilderness areas and the coastal destinations and attractions available this is hardly surprising. But taking a day out from touring in a car or hiking on trails to let the youngsters burn off some energy helps you relax from figuring out what to do and where to go for at least one day. So if you’re close to Saco near the Orchard Beach area of southern Maine then check out Funtown Splashtown. Not a huge park but enough to offer thrill and kiddies rides, and water slides and amusements and games. The park sells separate tickets for the rides and water park entrances but the best deal is a combination ticket. You can take food into the park if you wish. More details on Funtown Splashtown Park can be found here.

Thrill Zone – Bromley Mountain, Vermont:

In the winter Bromley Mountain in southern Vermont is a popular and scenic Green Mountains ski resort. When the warm weather arrives the complex turns into an adventure park with a 2/3 mile alpine slide, 24ft climbing wall, space bikes, water slide, trampoline activity, a four-story giant swing, miniature golf, and a bunch more rides and something most theme parks can’t offer – nature trails and hiking. You can purchase individual ride tickets or one-day or weekend unlimited ride passes. Read a recent story about the complex at Exploring New England magazine and at the Thrill Zone web site here.

Quassy Amusement Park – Middlebury, Connecticut:

Quassy Amusement Park is a small park with rides and water fun slides but has the additional bonus of a beach and swimming area right on cool and refreshing Lake Quassapaug. 22 rides cater for big kids (and adults),your young ones, and include Yo-Yo Super Swing, the Big Flush Water Coaster, and the Grand Carousel, and on the water theme there’s the gigantic Tunnel Twister and the play area for all ages – Saturation Station. The park also includes arcades, food stands and restaurants, and has a reasonably priced day pass. More details on attractions and park hours check out their web site here.

Water Wizz – Westerly, Rhode Island:

Located right next to popular Misquamict State Beach in Westerly is Water Wizz – a park of water slides. The park includes the Speed and Giant Slides for racing and big splash freaks, and the little Dipper for young riders, making for a combination of over 1,000 feet of wet thrills and spills. You can purchase a ticket for the duration of 40 minutes or an all-day pass. Westerly and nearby Watch Hill and the beach make this area one of the most popular day trips for southern New Englanders in the summer. Find more details about Water Wizz here.

Be sure to check back for more hot destinations on New England vacations in a few days, or better still subscribe to the RSS feed here so you get new posts automatically.

Cliff Calderwood
Publisher
New England Travel Online Magazine

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