By Greg Benchwick

Cotton-candy dreams still run free in America. This is, after all, the land that brought you massive wooden roller coasters like Cedar Point's Blue Streak and Coney Island's Cyclone. From steel, sweat, and even a few screams, the U.S. created the juggernauting amusement parks that bring us together every summer to explore the best jaw-dropping adrenaline rushes the world has to offer.

Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington
© Richard Cummins. Lonely Planet Images.

Coneys and Chocolate

While the rides aren't nearly what they were back in the early 20th century when the park was hitting its zenith, New York's Coney Island still pulls at the purse strings of your imagination. And with classic rides like the Cyclone roller coaster — one of the originals when it comes to wooden coasters, the Wonder Wheel, the Parachute Jump, and a slew of games and sideshows, this oldie-but-goodie still delivers, and is as good a place as any to start your amusement park road trip.

After exploring all that Coney Island has to offer — don't forget to stop at Nathan's Famous for a dog and a coke — head westward to the original Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory in Pennsylvania's Hersheypark, where chocolate still serves as legal currency and rides like the 60-year-old Comet roller coaster, the Sooperdooperlooper (the East Coast's first looping roller coaster), and more than 14 water rides await. For those looking to burn off some of those chocolate calories on the dance floor, concerts are put on all summer long. On top of that, kids love the more than 200 animals found at ZooAmerica, which is free with your Hersheypark admission.

Your journey begins in Hannibal, where the great Mark Twain grew up at river's edge. Here, you'll enjoy all the scenes of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn's greatest adventures — including the fence he didn't paint and the cave where he and Becky Thatcher got lost. Visit the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum or cruise the river, not on a driftwood raft, but on a dinner cruise aboard the Mark Twain Riverboat.

Cedar Point Plunges

Next up on your adrenaline-pumping summer romp are the tangled structures of steel and cogs — and stomach-clenching drops — at Ohio's Cedar Point, where you'll find more roller coasters than anywhere else in the world. There's nothing like the anticipation of slowly clicking your way up to the tremendous drops on steel giants like Millennium Force and the Magnum XL-200. Then, take on the old wooden monsters like Blue Streak, Gemini (where you race your friends), and Mean Streak, one of the largest "woodies" left in America. And the kids love the Jr. Gemini, the runaway train at the Cedar Creek Mine, and the Woodstock Express.

The park's Soak City features 18 acres of raft and tube slides. And there are daily shows for folks just looking to relax and enjoy their day without getting wet.

Looking to save a bit of green? Head over to the nearby Geauga Lake's Wildwater Kingdom, where tickets are about half the price. This is a water-lover's dream, with a 30,000-square-foot wave pool, Ohio's tallest water slide at Thunder Falls, and a handful of smaller slides for the little ones.

Past Meets Present in Williamsburg, W.V.

Hope you haven't worn out your thrill-seeking yet, because next up is a trip over the hills of West Virginia on your way to colonial Williamsburg, where you get your choice of the modern marvels at Busch Gardens or the educational (and still fun) activities at Colonial Williamsburg. Busch Gardens' nine "European Villages" feature several great rides and coasters, including Apollo's Chariot, which has a 21-story drop at the beginning. Like its brother in Tampa, Fla., Busch Gardens Williamsburg also has a "wildlife reserve," where families can spot wolves and lorikeets in one day.

Those interested in infusing a bit of history into their summer road trip shouldn't miss the historic shops and interactive, educational demonstrations at nearby Colonial Williamsburg, where history comes alive on a daily basis.

Dreams at Walt Disney World

No amusement park trip would ever be complete without going to Walt Disney World. So, before you turn in for the summer, re-pack the car, put on some traveling tunes, and play some road games like I Spy and The Alphabet Game. Or, just see how many times you have to send the ever-famous "Don't make me come back there!" warning to the back seat as you head down to spend a long weekend with Mickey, Minnie and the gang at Disney World to finish off your journey.

Disney World truly has something for everybody, and it's as much a part of American history and lore as the tales of Mark Twain or John Steinbeck. In fact, there's so much to see and do at Disney World that you could focus your entire vacation here, leaving time to chill with Snow White at the Magic Kingdom, learn about interplanetary exploration at Epcot or just get wet at Typhoon Lagoon.

Those endless hours in the car playing games and having the time of your life are what memories are made of — that and a 90-mile-an-hour, 80-degree drop that'll send your stomach to the roof onboard coasters like Cedar Point's Millennium Force.

Bio: Greg Benchwick's love affair with roller coasters dates back to his first ride on The Magic Kingdom's Space Mountain. Since then he's ridden the rails at Busch Gardens, Cedar Point, and in his hometown's amusement park at Elitch Gardens in Denver. When he's not out chasing an adrenaline rush – be it white-water rafting, backcountry skiing or mountain climbing – Greg can be found pounding the pavement in Latin America on his numerous research projects for Lonely Planet.

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