Coasters and COLD Water -- our new ride rankings!

This time last week, Paul and I had just arrived in East Louisville, Kentucky, for our super mini-vacation before the summer ended.  We have both been so busy over the past year, and this summer was no different. We traded a few volunteer activities for grad school work, but time still seemed to be our enemy. Not to mention the fact that this had to be the rainiest summer, ever! Every time we planned to go out on the water it seemed to rain. So, we up and decided to take a MUCH NEEDED quick trip to just enjoy a couple of days of fun and time together before the craziness becomes even crazier with school, volunteer programs, and ministries kicking back into high gear in a couple weeks. 

So, what did a fun, quick getaway look like for us? ..... MORE ROLLERCOASTERS, of course!

We spent a day in Cincinnati, Ohio, at Kings' Island theme park (a place we have been before that we really like) and a day in Santa Claus, Indiana at Holiday World theme park (a newbie for us!).  It was definitely worth every minute! I don't know that I can say we came back relaxed, but we definitely were refreshed. We were also able to add some new rides to our top coaster rankings. 

*** For those who do not know us well, we LOVE rollercoasters and rides. The higher the better; the more loops the merrier; the faster the dizzier; and the more air time the higher the ride goes on our list! 

I did a quick calculation (with room for slight error), and Paul and I have ridden at least 37 rollercoasters TOGETHER, alongside many many other rides. For those who love coasters as much as we do, or simply want to keep reading, I have compiled my TOP 5 list of coasters (Paul's list is slightly different). 

TOP 5 ROLLERCOASTERS

1. The Voyage (at nighttime)

This ride is at Holiday World in Indiana, and it is a lengthy wooden rollercoaster that is currently ranked the #1 wooden coaster in the WORLD and in the top 3 for tallest wooden coasters! It definitely lived up to its ranking. Sidenote: I HATE wooden rollercoasters on pretty much every occasion because they bang you around and really make my head hurt from all the rickety-ness; however, this one did not hurt that much and was totally worth it. It it quite fast for a wooden coaster, with sharp curves and LOTS of air time!! :) The coaster goes out through the woods and through tunnels, which is an amazing venture at nighttime when it is pitch black. (*** Close in ranking with this on Paul's list is The Beast at Kings' Island at nighttime, also a wooden coaster; however, it is much too painful to my head and body for me to list it in my rankings.)

The Voyage Ride 

The Beat - at night

2. Millennium Force

This ride is at Cedar Point in Ohio, and it is currently ranked the #1 steel coaster in the world! It, too, lives up to its ranking. We rode this coaster a few years ago when we were just dating, but I cannot wait to get back to ride it. At 310 ft tall with a drop of 80 degrees and speeds of 93 mph, this ride provides a smooth venture with LOTS of air time. Looking at the height can almost make you wimper to begin with, but one ride on it changes those feelings completely.

Video of Millennium Force

3. Diamondback 

This ride is at Kings' Island in Ohio. At 230 ft tall with 10 drops and a speed of 80 mph, this ride ranks number three on my list for air time. The drops get my stomach every time, which I love!

picture from Google images

Diamond back Video

4. Banshee

This ride is a new one at Kings' Island in Ohio. This is the world's longest inverted coaster, and it goes upside down 7 times at 68 mph!!! LOVE IT!  This was such a fun ride, and I look forward to riding it again!

picture from Google images

Video of Banshee

5. Firehawk 

This is a ride at Kings' Island in Ohio. It is a flying coaster that goes through four inversions at 51 mph. This ride makes my list due to the unique feeling of flying, the fact that you are taken up the chain-lift backwards and then flipped at the last minute, and the experience of going through loops face-down. This ride is much better than its similar ride, Superman,  at Six Flags over Georgia.

Video of Firehawk

**** Other awesome rides that would make the top 10:

Flight of Fear at Kings' Island in Ohio (which you ride with the lights off)

picture from Google images

Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point in Ohio (ridiculously TALL and fast coaster)

picture from Google images

 And, the all-time best WATER ride that I have EVER been on....
is Mammoth at Holiday World in Indiana. It is a new style ride called a water-coaster. Riders are taken on a tube up a conveyor belt and released on slides with inclines and drops, propelled by water. For those of us used to the temperatures and humidity at water parks in the deep south, the COLD water is something to get used to, but completely worth it for this ride. It brought a whole new meaning to the cold-water challenge. 

Video of Mammoth (it's hard to find a good video of water rides, though, obviously)

 


Anywho, for what it's worth, those are my top ranking on rides. My best tip for rides (and I think Paul would agree) would be to always try to sit in the very last seat!! You get much more air time that way.

I loved reminiscing our brief trip with you, but now I must get back to preparing for the new school year. The students show back up in less than a week, so I've got to hop to it. I will be posting updates about all those back-to-school funzies within the coming week. 

Until next time...