When planning a trip to the Smoky Mountains, you’re likely thinking about scenic drives, delicious food, and family-friendly attractions. But if you’re a coaster lover or an adrenaline junkie or just looking for a unique way to experience the stunning mountain landscape, you can’t miss the region’s incredible mountain coasters.
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Theme parks can be beautiful places filled with trees, flowers and other botanical displays. For the 2025 season Kentucky Kingdom has opened Discovery Meadow, an $11 million investment that is “a perpetual garden party with a Kentucky twist.” In addition to some new rides and new themes on older ones, you’ll find lots of native Kentucky flora around Discovery Meadow. When you visit the park the biodiversity is quite shocking when you think about it as the park is an oasis of sorts in a sea of concrete with the fair grounds, parking, the interstate and the airport all bordering it.
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The great Muppet band, Electric Mayhem, will be taking to the stage at Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starting in 2026. Disney has released this information along with some concept art of the pre-show area and the building exterior. The pre-show looks amazing with what appears to be Scooter as a director and penguins as audio engineers. The ride descriptions seem quite similar to the current Aerosmith version, but with an exciting Muppet twist to everything.
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Dollywood has released new details about its much anticipated 2026 attraction. We now know it’s called “NightFlight Expedition” and it is a groundbreaking hybrid coaster and whitewater river ride. Riders will board vehicles capable of four thrilling experiences in a first-of-its-kind attraction. Guests will guests soar above the Great Smoky Mountains, plunge into whitewater rapids, float down drops and navigate to a “very special lake.” NightFlight Expedition is featured in an astounding indoor, weather-independent 160,000 square foot facility (that’s larger than four football fields!) in the Wildwood Grove area of the park.
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Six Flags Entertainment Corporation announced it has extended its licensing agreement with Peanuts Worldwide for another five years. The new agreement extends Six Flags’ position as the exclusive amusement park partner for Peanuts™ in North America meaning guest at Knott’s Berry Farm, Carowinds, Cedar Point, Kings Island, Kings Dominion, Dorney Park, Canada’s Wonderland, California’s Great America, Michigan’s Adventure, Valleyfair, and Worlds of Fun will continue to experience the iconic Peanuts characters until at least the next decade.
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If you’re like me you have a small collection of souvenir refill bottles from theme parks. Probably my biggest collection is from my home park, Six Flags Over Georgia. However. when I renewed my season pass this year there was a new option for 2026, a paper cup option. It is quite similar to the sports bottles with refills available every 15 minutes, but you don’t need the bottle as you’ll get a new paper cup each time. Upon a little research, it appears this paper cup program has been an option at the legacy Cedar Fair parks since 2017 that is now coming to the legacy Six Flags parks. Signs are also pointing to this being the only option in 2026 as there is no 2026 bottle option online.
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Universal Epic Universe has quickly established itself as a prime destination for thrill-seekers and, as it turns out, for those seeking unique and sophisticated adult beverages. The park, which opened on May 22, 2025, has made a name for itself not just with its incredible rides and themed worlds, but also with a diverse and creative lineup of cocktails, beers, and other alcoholic libations. Whether you’re looking for a refreshing spritz in Celestial Park or a potent potion in the Ministry of Magic, here’s a guide to some of the top spots to find alcoholic drinks at Epic Universe.
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Getting a balloon at a theme park can be an iconic experience for a child and some of the balloons at Disney are amazing. Balloons can be found for sale, on parade floats and even as part of attractions. Much of the Disney balloon magic can be traced back to one man, Treb Heining who elevated balloons to an an art form. Mr. Heining was part inventor, part artist and part salesman who helped make balloons an integral part of Disney.
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Getting an adult beverage at Magic Kingdom is not easy, and that’s thought to be somewhat intentional. While the other Walt Disney World Parks more openly sell alcohol at bars and kiosks (think “Drinking Around the World” at EPCOT) alcohol has generally been hard to come by at the Magic Kingdom. You can generally get it at table service restaurants, but otherwise it was as part of an upcharge event like the “Fireworks and Dessert Parties“. This has now changed with the opening of The Beak and Barrel Tavern Magic Kingdom’s first bar.
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I was driving through southern Illinois and made a stop at Grady’s Family Fun Park. It has a bit of a feel of a permanent carnival attached to a batting cages and a mini golf course, but it is full of charm. One thing that struck me were the statues of Winnin-the-Pooh and Tigger at the exit. My first thought was that Disney was probably going to sue them, but a little research taught me otherwise as the original Winnie-the-Pooh copyright has indeed expired!
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BGT Safari 