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A Thrill a Minute

© Shelley Shearer

If being rocketed 155 feet into the air out of the top of a volcano only to fall 80 feet before ending your journey sounds like a fun day out, then you're probably a fan of amusement parks. The ride I just described is Volcano, The Blast Coaster found at Paramount Kings Dominion near Richmond, Virginia. It's boasted as being the "world's fastest suspended coaster." Not being a roller coaster aficionado myself I can only go by what others have said, but the general consensus is that it's worth the wait to get in the front seat on this one! That's only one of six roller coasters at Kings Dominion however so if the Blast Coaster doesn't satisfy your thrill needs try the Anaconda or their wooden coaster, The Grizzly. Personally I have enough trouble with the kids version, Scooby Doo's Ghoster Coaster!

For those that don't enjoy the thrill rides there are still plenty of rides and attractions to choose from. Try the view from the top of the 275-foot high replica of the Eiffel Tower or Blue Ridge Raceway, an antique car ride. For the adventure lover there's the James Bond 007 simulation ride. Parents be warned however that it's a fairly violent show and discretion should be used with the younger ones. Right outside the simulation you can try some Jedi fighting virtual reality style and go up against the computer or a friend. Places you can bet the younger kids will love is Kidzville, the town just for kids or Nickelodeon Central where they could meet Blue and even sit in the "thinking chair"!

Also, right inside Kings Dominion is Waterworks a 19-acre water park, which is included in the price of admission. It features a giant wave pool, special younger kids areas and water slides galore including the Night Slider "the world's tallest enclosed dark tube slide". When you've had enough sun and thrills, step in and enjoy a show like Nicktoons Summer Jam a musical production featuring some of your favorites from Nickelodeon!

Whether it's enjoying the rides or just strolling through the park and enjoying the areas where you can see movie memorabilia from various Paramount movies, Kings Dominion is sure to be fun for the whole family!

General Theme Park Tips:

Make sure you have a set meeting place and time in case you're separated from your group. Some people even find it helpful to carry walkie-talkies with them so they can keep in contact with the family.

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