Sun, Sand, & Roller Coasters: 20 Tropical Destinations With The Best Theme Parks
Sun, Sand, & Roller Coasters: 20 Tropical Destinations With The Best Theme Parks
When A Beach Just Isn't Enough
Sure, beautiful beaches, sunshine, and crystal clear water are nice, but sometimes you want to do more with your vacation than lie on a beach, especially if you're traveling with young children. Luckily, corporations have caught on, conveniently placing theme parks in tropical destinations. Here are some of the best places where you can enjoy both lying on a beach and taking thrilling rides.
1. Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic is home to some gorgeous beaches, but that's not all it has to offer. It's also home to Ocean World Adventure Park, an all-inclusive entertainment complex featuring sea animal shows, rainforest exploration, and a variety of waterslides.
Eros Reyes Cabrera on Unsplash
2. Paradise Island, The Bahamas
Paradise Island in The Bahamas really is as much of a paradise as it sounds. It comes complete with Atlantis Paradise Island, a resort complex that includes an ocean-themed Aquaventure water park, built around the lost city of Atlantis theme.
3. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic, has long been flocked to for its plethora of marine activities and top resorts. Katmandu Park is a fantasy-themed park with rides and attractions for all ages, Scape Park offers ziplining and cave exploration, and El Dorado Water Park is the Caribbean's largest theme park.
4. Phu Quoc, Vietnam
The world's best theme parks are not exclusive to the Western hemisphere. VinWonders ranks top in Asia and features a large aquarium, a Ferris wheel, a water park, and a safari.
5. Orlando, Florida, USA
Orlando is the first place that comes to the mind of most Americans when considering theme park destinations, and it's no wonder, considering the experiences on offer here. From Disney World to SeaWorld and Legoland, it's a child's paradise.
6. Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Theme parks are the main attraction in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, which is home to several. Mystic Mountain, with its zipline adventures, is one of the most popular, as well as Dolphin Cove, which is centered around marine life.
7. Oranjestad, Aruba
Oranjestad, Aruba, is home to two major water parks: Splash Park and Aruba Waterpark. Splash Park is a floating attraction with inflatable obstacles, and Aruba Waterpark boasts 11 waterslides, three swimming pools, and a VR room.
Katalin Hoczane Melich on Unsplash
8. Gros Islet, St. Lucia
St. Lucia is a stunning Caribbean island. In addition to its breathtaking natural scenery, it's home to Splash Island Water Park, featuring obstacle courses and splash pools.
9. Rio Quente, Brazil
Brazil is famous for its jungly environment and tropical climate, but Rio Quente is also home to a giant waterpark called Hot Park. It features everything from a zoo, a zipline, a lazy river, and water rides.
Thales Botelho de Sousa on Unsplash
10. Tampa, Florida, USA
Orlando isn't the only city in Florida with world-class theme parks. Tampa is home to Busch Gardens, an animal theme park featuring thrill rides, live shows, and animal encounters.
11. Pattaya, Thailand
A trip to Thailand is about more than full moon parties; Pattaya is home to one of the largest theme parks in the country. Located in breathtaking surroundings, it features several rides, pools, and other activities.
12. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur is a city known for its futuristic skyline and cultural experiences, but you can also find some amazing parks here. SuperPark Malaysia is an indoor park with sports-themed activities, and VAR LIVE is a massive VR theme park.
13. Fortaleza, Brazil
Fortaleza, Brazil, is known for its red cliff beaches, but it also offers several fun theme parks and water parks. Beach Park, a huge water park complex known for its slides, is the most prominent.
14. Dubai, UAE
Dubai is known for many things, from its futuristic architecture to its high-end shopping. It's also home to some amazing amusement parks, including IMG Worlds of Adventure, one of the largest indoor theme parks in the world, and Motiongate Dubai, a Hollywood-themed park.
15. Maspalomas, Canary Islands, Spain
Maspalomas is a resort town in the south of Gran Canaria,ia famous for its impressive dunes. It's also home to a major entertainment complex called Holiday World, where you can ride water slides and roller coasters, do karaoke, or gamble in the casino.
16. Sentosa Island, Singapore
Sentosa is a popular resort island off the southern coast of Singapore. It's known for its beaches as well as its theme parks and rides. It's home to Universal Studios Singapore and the massive Adventure Cove Waterpark.
17. Oahu, Hawaii, USA
Oahu is a stunning Hawaiian island with iconic beaches. It's also home to Wet 'n' Wild, featuring slides, a wave pool, and a lazy river, and Wai Kai AquaVenture, an offering of extreme watersports and interactive experiences.
18. Nha Trang, Vietnam
Nha Trang, Vietnam, is known for its stunning beaches, diving sites, and a major amusement park, VinWonders Nha Trang. It has thrill rides like the Sky Drop and Mine Adventure, a large waterpark, and an aquarium.
19. Riviera Maya, Mexico
Riviera Maya is one of the country's most touristic regions. People flock here for the world-class beaches, Mayan ruins, and excellent culinary scene, but it also has awesome nature-focused amusement parks like Xcaret, Xplor, and Xel-Há.
20. Bali, Indonesia
Bali is known for its stunning nature, rich culture, and beaches, but it's also the location of several amusement parks, including Waterbom, featuring a lazy river and various waterslides, and a large indoor park called Trans Studio, offering many fun rides.
