Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey

If you told me fifteen years ago that I’d still enjoy Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, as a thirty-year-old adult, I probably would have laughed and said “No way.” Then, Six Flags Great Adventure made beer available at the Park, and suddenly Jackson, New Jersey became one of the greatest places to visit on the east coast.

Once you get to Great Adventure, you’re going to want to rush right over to Kingda Ka, the tallest and fastest rollercoaster on earth. Standing 456 feet high, Kingda Ka launches you from 0 to 128 mph in 3.3 seconds. Since you’ll be catapulted 45 stories in the air in a matter of seconds, I recommend you head to the beer garden after Kingda Ka.

Six Flag Great Adventure’s newest coaster is El Toro, the greatest wooden rollercoaster in the world. With 4,400 feet of mountainous track, El Toro stands 188 feet tall and boasts a record-breaking 76 degree steep drop. Of course, the lines for Great Adventure’s newest rides are always record-breaking, too.

To celebrate the return of Superman to theaters, make sure you try out Superman Ultimate Flight. You’ll lie face down and soar head-first on a twisted steel track, climbing and diving and spiraling like the caped superhero himself.

If you like superheroes, head on over to the classic Batman the Ride. Make sure your shoes are on tight, as your legs will be dangling as you sail over Gotham City on this suspended rollercoaster.

Then, trot over to Batman & Robin: The Chiller. Two different coasters – blue track for Batman, red track for Robin – launch you from 0 to 70 mph in under 4 seconds.

Speaking of classic, the Great American Scream Machine is as awesome as ever, and the newer rides usually lure away the big lines by the early to late afternoon. The Scream Machine is still one of the longest, tallest and fastest looping rollercoasters in the world.

Another classic coaster is Medusa, which was the world’s first floorless coaster. You’ll be strapped into a flying chair and launched around a wild track.

One of my favorite rides at Great Adventure is still Skull Mountain, a dark, indoor coaster that’s as creepy now as it ever was.

If you’re spending the day at Six Flags Great Adventure, you’re bound at some point to get really wet. The best way to do this is to visit Movietown Water Effect. You’ll plunge down a 60 foot waterfall and get drenched. Then make your way across the bridge, nice and slowly, to watch others take the same plunge.

Next, make your way to the Congo Rapids. This white-water rafting ride will not allow you to remain dry. Finally, check out the Saw Mill Log Flume, which will drop you 40 feet and soak you in the process.

Six Flags Great Adventure is a great family destination. There are plenty of rides for younger kids as well. But after a couple hours in the beer garden, they wouldn’t let me ride, not even for this review.