Niles: These theme parks don’t draw huge crowds, but are still worth a visit

While Disney and Universal parks pack in guests, smaller attractions can offer families fun at a value price.

Earlier this month, the Themed Entertainment Association and AECOM released their annual Theme Index report, detailing 2022 attendance at 20 top theme parks around the United States. Disney and Universal topped the list, but this week I want to talk about some of the parks that did not make the TEA/AECOM report.

Destinations such as Walt Disney World and Disneyland have earned their status by offering great rides and shows that attract a large and loyal audience. But several less-visited parks also offer attractions that rival those found at the top parks. These parks are worth considering by any family looking for something different, and perhaps less expensive, for their next theme park getaway.

Let’s start with the Legoland theme parks. Legoland California was the company’s first theme park in the United States, and Legoland remains the gold standard for families with elementary school-aged children. The Carlsbad park is offering a new action sports show this summer, and its mix of rides, shows and play areas aimed at young kids make it a compelling destination for families.

The Legoland parks in Florida and New York are worth a look, too, for families hitting the road this summer. Legoland Florida is built around the old Cypress Gardens attraction, and the New York park — which opened in 2021 — offers a Lego Factory Adventure ride that is one of the most technologically impressive dark rides in any theme park.

Back in California, theme park fans ought to consider a visit to California’s Great America in Santa Clara. The clock is ticking on this sister park to Knott’s Berry Farm, with owner Cedar Fair having signed a deal to close it no later than 2033. The park opened a refurbished NorCal County Fair land this summer, and its classic roller coasters such as Gold Striker, Demon and Patriot are always worth a ride.

Elsewhere around the country, road-tripping theme park fans might consider a stop in Iowa, where Lost Island Theme Park opened just last summer. Located in Waterloo, this park’s lineup includes Volkanu: Quest for the Golden Idol — an award-winning attraction from Sally Dark Rides, which has produced interactive rides for Legoland, Six Flags and other top parks around the world. That’s just one attraction in a park that offers a much more impressive attempt at theming and original backstory than one typically finds at regional amusement parks.

Southern Indiana’s Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari remains one of my favorite family-owned parks in the United States. Offering free parking, free sunscreen and free soft drinks, Holiday World also includes three of the best wooden roller coasters in the country, along with a great Bolliger & Mabillard wing coaster, and Splashin’ Safari delivers the world’s biggest collection of water coasters.

Finally, check out Herschend Family Entertainment’s Silver Dollar City, in Branson, Mo., and Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Dolly Parton’s theme park and its sibling both deliver great thrills, fun entertainment and tasty food with friendly customer service.

Theme park fans do not have to limit themselves to the big parks. Plenty of great alternatives await those who are willing to look around for something fresh.