Summer is officially here and with it comes the openings of amusement parks across the U.S. For many, there’s nothing better than walking through the gates to the smell of ice cream and funnel cakes and the sound of roaring thrill rides. These parks have been the staple of many summer vacations and we’ve rounded up some of the best ones to visit in 2016, as well as some of the newest attractions you have to try! If you love hearing the joyful screams coming from roller coasters, you’re in the right spot.

There is a lot of anticipation around some of the newest theme park attractions for 2016. From Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at Universal Studios Hollywood to Frozen Ever After at Epcot in Disneyworld, there’s something new for all ages to enjoy at parks across the country.

If you’re looking for more inspiration to plan a trip, check out Travel Channel’s section devoted to parks across the country. And while most parks have rides for all ages, Travel Channel also has a great list of the best family amusement parks.

According to our research, these are a few of the must-visit parks this year:

Six Flags Great America; Gurnee, IL. Six flags has a lot of great roller coasters for every level of thrill seekers, but the anticipation for the Justice League: Battle for Metropolis is unbelievable! Don’t want to spend every day at the park? Gurnee also has a major mall (Gurnee Mills) and it’s about an hour from Chicago and Milwaukee, WI.

Cedar Point; Sandusky, OH. Cedar point, about an hour away from our CLE facility, is the reigning roller coaster king with 18 coasters ranging from low to high thrill. Not only does Sandusky have the amusement park, it also has a lot of water parks and other attractions.

LEGOLAND California Resort; Carlsbad, CA. LEGOLAND is more than just an amusement park! While it’s going to be busy this year with its new Ninjago ride, the park also boasts a water park and hotel. Kid or adult, who doesn’t love LEGO sets?

Six Flags over Atlanta; Austell, GA. This park, which is only 30 minutes from our ATL location, is full of your favorite thrill and family rides. This year, the Revolution Virtual Reality Coaster at Dare Devil Dive opened, giving riders a new ground-breaking virtual experience.

Which amusement park do you visit every year? Share with us on Facebook or Twitter!