I\u2019ve never had a knack for romanticism. Or gift giving. Or even delivering well-timed compliments. For me, Valentine\u2019s Day may as well be called \u201cthe day before the week that I can buy really cheap candy.\u201d But for those who have neither a date nor a taste for drugstore chocolate, Valentine\u2019s Day can be a bit of a stress-fest. That\u2019s why I\u2019m renaming the 15th of February \u201croller coaster therapy day.\u201d<\/p>\n
If you think about it, it\u2019s a perfect post V-Day solution. Instead of the ups and downs of a long-term relationship, you get the twists and turns of a 70 MPH roller coaster ride. Butterflies in your stomach? Sweaty palms? Yep. It\u2019s like all the adrenaline of a first kiss plotted out over 4,000 feet of track. And in the sunny states of California and Florida, you can find great thrills even in February. Here are a few of my favorites:<\/p>\n
California<\/b><\/span> <\/b><\/p>\n Disneyland<\/i><\/b>\u00ae Resort<\/b> Knott\u2019s Berry Farm\u00ae<\/b> Six Flags Magic Mountain<\/b> Florida<\/b><\/span> <\/b><\/p>\n Busch Gardens Tampa<\/b> Universal Studios\u00ae Orlando<\/b> Walt Disney World\u00ae Resort<\/b> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Ready for a ride?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":12843,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3311","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nMost people know Anaheim as the home of the family-friendly Disneyland<\/i>\u00ae Park. But while much of its attractions are tailored to kids, thrill seekers are hardly excluded. The Matterhorn Bobsleds, Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Space Mountain are all classic coasters offering plenty of switchbacks and turns, while California Screamin\u2019 (offered across the way at Disney California Adventure<\/i>\u2122 Park) takes riders for a loop.<\/p>\n
\nFor those who want more aggressive thrills, Buena Park\u2019s Knott\u2019s Berry Farm\u00ae offers nine roller coasters of varying intensities, including the corkscrew-like Boomerang and a towering wooden coaster called GhostRider. For unique excitement, check out the Sierra Sidewinder. Each of its four cars rotate as you fly along the bright red track.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cMore coasters than any other theme park on the planet.\u201d It\u2019s quite a claim, but this Los Angeles area Six Flags backs it up with a total of 18 roller coasters. And these coasters are fierce<\/i>. Superman: Escape from Krypton hits speeds of up to 100mph and shoots you up a 41-story tower. The Riddler\u2019s Revenge is a stand-up fling through several startling loops. As for Scream, Viper, and Apocalypse? I think the names say enough. Come prepared.<\/p>\n
\nWith 12 different thrill rides, Busch Gardens gets high marks for variety. ShieKra hits speeds of up to 70mph and boasts a 90-degree drop. Kumba cranks through seven inversions and climbs to skin-prickling heights. And Montu whips you through another seven inversions at 3.85 Gs, which is enough to make anyone giddy.<\/p>\n
\nThis Hollywood-inspired park offers rides as twisted as a celebrity romance. Climb 17 stories on the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit before shooting through the world\u2019s first non-inverting loop. Go from zero to 40 in two seconds flat on the aggressive green Incredible Hulk Roller Coaster. Then, slip into the Islands of Adventure area for a ride on a Harry Potter-themed dueling coaster: the Dragon Challenge.<\/p>\n
\nWhen you want just a little <\/i>bit of adrenaline, the Walt Disney World\u00ae Resort is the perfect Florida solution. You\u2019ll find the Rock \u2018n\u2019 Roller Coaster–a high-speed ride in a stretch limo-shaped car–at Disney\u2019s Hollywood Studios Theme Park. And if you\u2019ve picked up a ticket for Disney\u2019s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, the high-altitude Expedition Everest coaster is a quick fix for any adrenaline junkie.<\/p>\n