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I have a variety of reasons. For one, in general I don't have a "quality over quantity" mentality. Whether it's stopping to ride a kiddie coaster at a park with major rides, or going out of my way to a credit whore park, I don't think pursuing "quantity" detracts appreciably from my ability to pursue "quality." For example, I don't think I've ever gone and gotten 5 or 10 kiddie credits during a trip where I could've just as easily gone to a major park instead. It's both/and, not either/or. Second, I see it as an incentive to enjoy more parks, and more of parks, than I otherwise would've. If I only go to parks for major rides, I might miss out on some fun experiences. But if I want to ride as many coasters as I can, that creates more opportunities for enjoyment, whether it's good times with friends, an interesting setting, or a funny story. Third, I appreciate all coasters and find nearly all of them "fun" in some way. While of course many kiddie coasters will be fundamentally tame and even boring, some can surprise with a bit of airtime or laterals. They'd never be worth ranking highly, but I can still enjoy them in the moment. For the record, I'm much more to the credit whore side than not, but I can also be a bit lazy about it. I don't ride all child-required coasters, and ride fewer and fewer of them over time. I'm also much more conservative nowadays in going out of my way for kiddie credits. Yes, I know from experience that it will be fun and I'll find it worthwhile, but often I can think of other ways I'd rather use those few (or many) hours out of my way.

Skyrush: not my particular brand of intensity in the slightest. I would rather ride any other hyper or major Intamin. As for my personal opinions on other new-for-2012 rides I've experienced (not how well they seem to fit their intended audiences, which I would assume was appropriate in each case)... Verbolten: I agree with most reports that it is essentially a family ride with slight thrills. The theming was a bit overhyped, but still fairly impressive. Wild Eagle: Not quite as tame as many reported it to be, but definitely not as intense as a few people claimed, either. An acceptable but slightly underwhelming middle ground. Apocalypse: Definitely not any better than it was as Iron Wolf. I appreciate the attempts at theming, which were admirable for a Six Flags park, but did nothing to improve my opinion of this lowly ride. Iron Shark: Oh yeah, this one delivered. While not a top-tier ride, it was everything I might've expected and maybe even a little more. Surprisingly intense even for its type, and the setting did not disappoint (in fact, it surprised me with just how much it added to an already thrilling experience).

It does seem like they keep pushing this project back, so I'm glad to hear some more news. Sounds pretty exciting! Now I feel a lot better about always wanting to visit, but never quite knowing when it'll happen. I'll just hold off until 2014 now, provided that really is the year for this. I just hope they don't lose any decent rides between now and then.

Medusa at SFDK. Still one of my top favorites! I have now ridden every operating B&M in the US except for X-Flight (and, soon, GateKeeper).

Boardwalk Bullet on Monday. It certainly hasn't improved since last year...

14/24. Wow. Though this may be one of those quizzes where a lower score is arguably better...

NTAG on Sunday afternoon!

Titan late last night!

I'm headin' over to Six Flags Over Texas. I've missed you, NTAG.

This better be true. I will be very disappointed if I don't get to ride this.

Iron Shark at Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier. Now THAT'S how you do a Eurofighter.

Tomorrow I'll be heading to Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier (what a mouthful).

Just going to post September real quick. I'll catch up at the end of the month. It's a tough choice, since I rode 7 coasters that made my top 50, and several more that were also highly impressive. But I'll have to go with Montu. I will say, though, that I also developed quite the little coaster crush on HRRRRRRR. I take Montu pictures reaaal good. Not.

In July, I hopped across the country to spend a few days and nights enjoying one of my favorite destinations. New York City: easy to fall in love with. Easier still to fall out of love with. And quick to remind you that, all things considered, you really do love it after all. Notes Subway is amazing. I recommend the Spicy Italian. Also, the New York City subway system is awesome. It's surprisingly tourist-friendly, and overall pretty easy to figure out. It won't quite get you everywhere, but close enough. Just remember that the tunnels are almost as deep as Hell...and there's no air conditioning. It is probably not possible to get hopelessly lost in Manhattan. However, it IS possible to get turned around and otherwise average-lost in Manhattan, and hopelessly lost elsewhere in the city. It's best to be a normal person and bring maps or a smartphone. Otherwise, you at least need cross-streets, detailed directions, or something else with enough precise info to get you where you're going. I should probably be banned from New York, because I am a shameless tourist. Yes, I love NYC because the buildings are OMG tall. I actually really like Times Square, especially in the dead of night. I have eaten at the McDonald's in Times Square. True, a lot of my reasons for loving New York are pretty superficial when I think about it. But I also love it because it has such a fascinating history, not to mention a polarizing personality that's a mixture of endearing and infuriating. Where to first? Let's walk the Brooklyn Bridge to Manhattan. "Um, Laura? That might not be the most convenient. You're already in Manhattan." Relax, guys. I took this photo AFTER I crossed the bridge. Pesky crowds. Ugly weather. Renovations severely blocking the views. Three annoyances I had to deal with...on my second and third walks across the bridge. The morning of my first crossing, however, was perfect. Even according to discerning New Yorkers. You are treated to excellent views of portions of the skyline near and far as you walk. Here, the Empire State Building is the highlight. Or, as I proudly call it, "That tall one over there." Simple and elegant, the iconic towers are breathtaking. Seeing them in person is definitely a richer experience than film or photos can convey. Wow, that sounded corny. Be sure to wave to my secret lover, the oft-overlooked Manhattan Bridge. It may be viewed as more utilitarian and rough around the edges, but, yeah. It's beautiful. Or handsome, I guess, I mean, it is the MANhattan Bridge after all. The skyscrapers of Lower Manhattan loom even higher as you near the end of your journey. Though bizarre, the Beekman Tower (8 Spruce Street) really is quite a looker, and contrasts interestingly with the Woolworth Building and the Municipal Building, among others. Way uptown, I found myself facing the unfinished Cathedral of St. John the Divine. I popped in for a few moments, but sadly, high-wire artist in residence Philippe Petit (of "Man on Wire" fame) was nowhere to be found. This is meant to be a children's sculpture and, as such, is not even faintly creepy or disturbing. Let's head over to Central Park, a refreshing oasis of lush greenery in the, well, somewhere in the city, but I don't really know where. Oh, that's right, the center. There are also other types of greenery in Central Park that might be a little less appetizing. Manhattan Schist is the foundation of Manhattan. I don't know if one was named after the other or if it's just some crazy coincidence. Skyscraper camouflage. [insert bear-related pop culture reference of your choice here.] Oh, I can't think of ANY possible use for THAT. Honestly, I'd rather just spend my time gawking at the erection of this massive tower. I'm such a nerd. I seem to be experiencing double vision, but only directly in front of me. What is going on? Oh, that is Time Warner Center, one of the most majestic buildings of this century. I love how I can see what inspired it. "You're Fired." One of the many beautiful and romantic bridges of Central Park. Underneath one of the many beautiful and romantic bridges of Central Park. When I said I can see what inspired Time Warner Center...I meant it. Here is the Century apartment building on Central Park West. Even better, here is the Majestic apartment building. See the resemblance now? Let's head down to Midtown, where the Bank of America Tower bacons at midnight. It seems the W.R. Grace Building does not do so well in hot temperatures. This doesn't look anything like any of their cars! No wonder it's the building that everyone knows about, but no one can name. AKA the Chrysler Building. Now bring your eyes back down to street level for once, and you'll see the iconic Grand Central Terminal. It must be haunted, 'cause I see ORBS. In other news, you can stop wiping off your screen now. Overcome by a near-insatiable thirst for knowledge and enlightenment, I had no choice but to avail myself of the NYPL. The library is guarded by twin lions, or perhaps an unusually small gay pride. You can call them Patience and Fortitude (two qualities most New Yorkers do not possess), or Astor and Lenox. I guess since they have to spend all their time just lion there, they MUST have a lot of patience. "Say...do you play basketball?" What's this about a Rainbow Room? Must investigate on behalf of TPR. I did not make it to the Rainbow Room, but at least I found a cool place to look at some buildings and stuff. While perhaps a touch overrated, the Empire State Building is a masterpiece. And I love how tall One World Trade Center appears already, even from halfway or so across the island. I used to kind of think Top of the Rock was a rock...that you stand on top of. Like you would in a game of King of the Hill or something. But it's actually the top of Rockefeller Center, because the word Rock is in "Rockefeller." It's neat how you can see all of nearby Central Park from your lofty vantage point. The Sony Building amuses me with its Chip 'n' Dale top...Chippendales top...um, CHIPPENDALE top. Sorry, my mind was on other things. And then there's the Stilts Building, or rather, Citigroup Center, which is perched precariously on four alarmingly narrow legs (not shown). Look up the sunset time for your visit and buy a ticket that'll get you in a little before then, so you can admire the city during daylight, dusk, and nighttime. Beware, it gets PACKED as the sun sets. (If you're like me, your camera won't take night photos anyway.) Top of the Rock boasts three levels. The very top is "open-air" (beware of bottlenecks and overall crowding). Otherwise you have to work with (or between) clear panels that allow for pictures of varying quality levels. And made this hipster photo possible, no Instagram required. Why is Top of the Rock so popular? Don't people just want to go to the Empire State Building? Well, when you're on top of the Empire State Building...you can't see the Empire State Building. True story. I enjoyed my time up there, because height makes me feel secure. (This does NOT mean I jump up onto the countertop upon hearing a strange noise. No, never.) In Brooklyn, I decided to get up close and personal with the Manhattan Bridge, because that makes sense to do in BROOKLYN. While attractive in its own way, the Manhattan Bridge is not a pleasant experience like the Brooklyn Bridge. Attempting to cross it is a terrifying ordeal I wish not to repeat. Unless someone will hold hands with me. Maybe. Surprisingly, work has already started on the Staten Island Ferris Wheel. I made sure to get a sign photo for you, Larry, because I'm sure you've never seen it before. In case you ever want to go to Staten Island. (Trust me. You don't.) Actually, the Staten Island Ferry is a surprisingly charming and laid-back experience for something that draws such heavy crowds. And it's FREE! Couldn't be easier. The views of Lower Manhattan are famously stunning. Here, the spotlight is on the new One World Trade Center and Four World Trade Center buildings. It also may well be the best free vantage point for the Statue of Liberty. You've probably known about her all your life, but seeing her in person is really something else. ...and then there's dumb old New Jersey. Coming back in to Manhattan was a HUGE relief. Many tourists take a boomerang ride (not the Vekoma kind, though there's probably an apt comparison in there somewhere), simply deboarding one ferry in Staten Island and hopping right back onto the next one. One NYPL is simply not enough. You need two. Accordingly, while in Greenwich Village I spent my fair share of time fawning over the Victorian-Gothic architecture of the Jefferson Market Library. Museums are a must when visiting NYC. I set my sights on the iconic Guggenheim, on Fifth Avenue across from Central Park. Needless to say, it was very easy to navigate. I'm easily lost, so I'm a fan. Even though I'd made a grueling three-quarters-and-more perimeter tour of it a few days previously (and subsequently died), a return to Central Park was in order. The Dakota is most famous and infamous for first being the home of John Lennon, and then the site of his murder. The juxtaposition of nature and surrounding cityscape may be one of the most impressive features of Central Park. Alternatively, walk deeper in (or just turn your head the right way) and you'll feel like you're on a remote and rustic camping trip. But enough of that nature stuff. I leave you with this. Who says true love isn't real? Coming soon: Six Flags America, where dreams and assorted small animals go to die.

^Agreed. I think Cheetah Hunt has a lot to offer. The only thing I would really label underwhelming as an enthusiast is the launches, but the intensity fits the ride and its audience. Besides, almost any launch is better than none.

37 states Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Minnesota Missouri Montana Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina Ohio Oregon (home state) Pennsylvania South Carolina Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Washington, DC 2 provinces British Columbia Quebec Missing: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota

Same here. Though I may be slightly biased against the pair of Six Flags shooting dark rides as they're pretty generic. I know they're not exactly the same (it was neat how the SFStL one is a boat ride), but still.

^^It's "okay." But I seem to remember having more fun on the Mack version...

Yay for more ICEEs!

Very appealing! Though my first thought upon glancing at them was "new trains for Fire in the Hole," for some reason. I don't think I ever gave too much thought as to what the Outlaw Run trains would look like.

^^My list is above, and I imagine I'd put it no higher than #5, after Maverick, TTD, Millennium Force, and Raptor. I have ridden Wild Eagle, which was fun, a bit forceful in parts, but nothing amazing. If Gatekeeper is especially tame I could see it ranking a few spots lower, but as for now I can see myself as at least a casual fan.

Recently, I decided to take a look at what parks should be highest-priority for me in the US. Criteria: owned by a major corporation (16), has at least one wooden coaster (25), or has at least four credits (only one that doesn't fall into at least one of the other two categories). In total, there are 34 parks that have a significant number of coasters, are particularly famous or high-profile, have at least one desirable coaster, complete a "set" for me, etc. It's not a complete list as there are also a handful of smaller parks I'd like to get to that have at least one major steel coaster. Arnolds Park Bay Beach Amusement Park Beech Bend Belmont Park Camden Park Castle Park Cliff's Amusement Park Conneaut Lake Park Darien Lake Disney's Animal Kingdom Disney's Hollywood Studios Dixie Landin' Family Theme Park Dutch Wonderland EPCOT Family Kingdom Amusement Park Frontier City Fun Spot Action Park Idlewild & Soak Zone Lagoon Lakemont Park Legoland California Legoland Florida Little Amerricka Magic Kingdom Magic Springs & Crystal Falls Martin's Fantasy Island Michigan's Adventure Seabreeze Sesame Place Stricker's Grove Universal Studios Hollywood Waldameer Waterville USA Wild Adventures

01. Maverick - 10/10 02. Top Thrill Dragster - 9/10 03. Millennium Force - 8/10 04. Raptor - 8/10 05. Magnum XL-200 - 7/10 06. Mantis - 7/10 07. Blue Streak - 7/10 08. Wicked Twister - 7/10 09. Disaster Transport - 6/10 10. Gemini - 6/10 11. Iron Dragon - 6/10 12. Mean Streak - 6/10 13. Corkscrew - 5/10 14. Cedar Creek Mine Ride - 5/10 15. Wildcat - 5/10 16. Woodstock's Express - 3/10 17. Jr. Gemini - 2/10 Maverick, TTD, and MF are easily my top 3 for Cedar Point, with Maverick being a contender for my top coaster overall. I would say the most overrated are Magnum, Blue Streak, and Gemini. There's nothing "really" wrong with them, though; they simply had less (or less extreme) airtime than expected, and otherwise lacked major thrills. While all the rides have their fans, I'd say the most starkly underrated is the now-gone Disaster Transport.

Nothing comes between me and my bacon. Nothing.

^Very helpful. I was just researching what chain and/or corporate parks I still need to visit in the US. I came up with 16, counting anything more substantial than a small FEC. I added Castle Park thanks to your list.