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Alton, England
Last Visited: November 2010
After a visit to Blackpool, things could not be more different at Alton Towers, where the setting is a centuries old castle.
The rides, in addition, are stunningly themed, along with the amazing setting make it the most impressive park this side of Busch Gardens Williamsburg.
Thanks to a ban not allowing rides above treetop heights, Alton Towers has had to get creative.
Using the natural landscape and some man-made earth-moving, the coasters skim frighteningly low.
And in a startling manner, way, way below ground - as with the 1994 B&M classic, Nemesis.
Nowhere is their creative ride placement more noticeable than on Oblivion, the world's first vertical drop coaster
While only some 50 or so feet above ground, the 150+ foot deep tunnel makes this otherwise brief ride plenty intimidating.
Who doesn't like plunging straight down 200 feet into a misty, dark tunnel? Suckers, that's who.
A relatively newer addition, they have one of the world's first two B&M flying coasters.
Again, with such low heights, Air is able to speed and spin just feet above the landscape.
This allows some really great interaction between the ride and onlookers
Among their collection is a terrific spinning Wild Mouse
It helps rounds out a really unique and varied collection of steel coasters.
And while the rides may lack the history of the offerings up in Blackpool, there's no shortage of views that will absolutely drop your jaw.