Thrill-seekers needed: Canada’s top theme parks

From coast to coast, there are plenty of options for visitors to get outside and have some fun in Canada. But if you are looking for a really action-packed adventure then a visit to one of the country’s top theme parks should be on your agenda.

Make your family holiday to Canada even more fun and visit one of these excitement-filled parks. Thrill-seekers after an extra adrenaline boost won’t be disappointed as we round up the country’s tallest and fastest roller coasters.

Calaway Park, Calgary

Calaway Park is western Canada’s largest outdoor family amusement park. Boasting 32 rides, 24 eateries, 23 games, live entertainment shows and its 3D theatre, there is certainly something for every member of your family.

The park is all about family fun and its motto, “your smile is our mission”, is backed up by the fact that the park receives over half a million visitors per season.

The park is home to tons of rollercoasters and rides, but according to Bob Williams, who is Calaway Park’s General Manager, there are a few that stand out as extremely popular.

He said, “The most popular rides at Calaway Park are Vortex Rollercoaster, Timber Falls, Ocean Motion and Dream Machine.”

Ride you need to go on: Mr Williams said that his favourite ride in the park is Timber Falls and therefore, it is one not to miss. The log flume splashes down three high velocity drops as well as a wild, zig-zagging river.

Galaxyland, Edmonton

Galaxyland, located in West Edmonton Mall, is the world’s largest indoor amusement park with more than 27 exciting rides, attractions, and play areas for all ages.

The space-themed park is home to Mindbender, the largest indoor triple loop roller coaster in the world, as well as a four-storey indoor jungle gym.

Everyone can join in games such as skee-ball and a variety of arcade games. Whether your family is the picture of team-work or rivalry rules supreme, the new Lazer Vault puts everyone’s coordination and competitive nature to the test.

Galaxyland, which opened back in 1985, is regarded as one of Canada’s top parks and boasts a number of guest choice awards. An added bonus is that the park is open 365 days a year.

Ride you need to go on: Mindbender – As well as three vertical loops, the coaster has twisting drops and a dizzying helix.

Canada’s Wonderland, Vaughan, Ontario

Canada’s Wonderland is the country’s largest theme park, stretching over 330 acres, and it is one of the most-visited parks in the whole of North America.

The park is home to over 200 attractions, 69 rides and 15 roller-coasters. And if the weather is hot, the 20-acre Splash Works waterpark will help you cool off.

Adrenaline seeker? Test your metal by going on one of the most feared roller-coasters in Canada: Leviathan. It is the tallest (306 feet) and the fastest (over 80 mph) in the country.

In 2016, Canada’s Wonderland has been taking visitors to new heights as two new rides have opened; Skyhawk and Flying Eagles.

Skyhawk riders can take control of their own cockpit as they manoeuvre through 360 degree turns 135 feet in the air. The Flying Eagles ride is aimed at smaller children and these two-person planes glide 28 feet above the ground as little pilots control their flight and ride experience.

Ride you need to go on: Leviathan is arguably the biggest and scariest rollercoaster on the block and will certainly test your nerve.

La Ronde, Montreal

La Ronde in Montreal is the biggest theme park in Eastern Canada, sitting on 146 acres on the tip of Saint Helen’s Island, just a stone’s throw away from the picturesque old port in Montreal.

The Six Flags park has over 40 rides and attractions to delight visitors and offers 10 roller coasters for thrill-seekers to brave.

Even the most fearless theme park goers might get shaky knees on La Ronde’s Goliath, one of the tallest and fastest roller coasters in Canada. Other gut-wrenching rides you can dare include Boomerang, which shoots you down a trio of high-speed loops and then boomerangs you backwards to the start. Or Cobra, a roller coaster that will satisfy your need for speed.

There are also a variety of family-friendly attractions at the park such as the Galopant, the oldest wooden carousel in the world that was sculpted in 1885.

Ride you need to go on: Although the Goliath roller coaster is a great choice, we recommend going on Le Monstre, which is the tallest two-track wooden coaster in the world.

Playland Amusement Park, Vancouver

Canada’s oldest theme park is located just east of downtown Vancouver, where the Playland Amusement Park has resided since 1910.

The park is found on the grounds of the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE). In the last week of August and start of September the PNE’s annual fair takes place, which fills the park to the brim with revellers seeking a rush.

The park is a goldmine of rides, midway games, a haunted house and an arcade, so there are plenty of attractions for visitors to enjoy.

Thrill-seekers should try the hair-raising Hellevator, which shoots riders up a 202-foot vertical tower before free-falling back down.

Ride you need to go on: It is not often that a theme park ride is famous, but Playland’s signature Wooden Roller-Coaster has been featured in films Final Destination 3 and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days as well as the television series Smallville.

Fallsview Indoor Waterpark, Niagara Falls

Aptly named, the Fallsview Indoor Waterpark is the perfect stop-off while you’re at Niagara Falls, as it is just a two-minute walk from the natural wonder.

The attraction is the largest indoor waterpark in Canada and it has previously been voted the number one amusement park and waterpark in Canada on Trip Advisor.

It has 16 thrilling water slides, ranging from body slides and mat slides to toob towers and plunges.

Ride you need to go on: The Canadian Plunge is a giant water centrifuge super bowl – spin and splash your way down the high sides of the bowl before dropping into a splashdown pool.

Calypso Theme Waterpark, Ottawa

From toddlers to teens and thrill-seekers to grandparents, Calypso Theme Waterpark has attractions to suit all ages.

It is Canada’s biggest waterpark and has around a 100 different water adventures. There are huge water slides, a river run and Canada’s largest wave pool, which is the same size as three NHL rinks.

Some of the most adrenaline-fuelled slides include Adrenaline, Black Hole, Fast Track and Canyon Rafting.

The park has a great choice of restaurants and a Hawaiian Beach Bar so you won’t need to worry about bringing food with you.

Ride you need to go on: Calypso Palace wave pool is Canada’s largest with over an acre of ocean – well worth a visit!

Image Credit: liewluck, Calaway Park, Galaxyland, Jeremy Thompson, abdallahh, Carson Ting, Smart Destinations.