Does your family love theme parks? Can you identify with Clark Griswold's obsession to visit Walley World in National Lampoon's Vacation? Do waterslides make your kids dizzy with excitement? Were you a zookeeper in a former life? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, a theme park vacation might be just the ticket for your family. And thanks to a state directory of theme parks, amusement parks, water parks, and zoos, it's easy to plan theme park vacations. ThemeParkCity.com (www.themeparkcity.com) offers a state-by-state listing of parks and zoos. Locate your own state or a state where you'd like to travel, and you'll find links to several you can choose from. There are thousands of theme parks, amusement parks, and zoos to visit, but here are a few to consider if you're vacationing in these areas.

Younger children will absolutely love Sesame Place. It's where kids can see that Sesame Street is real — complete with their favorite Sesame Street friends. Kids and parents can enjoy rides, shows, and water slides. Can't miss activities include Big Bird's Beach Party, Bert's Slip-n-Slide, Cookie Mountain, and the Teeny Tiny Tidal Wave. Sesame Place is north of Philadelphia and an hour and a half from New York City. (www.sesameplace.com) The Northwest's largest theme park is Silverwood Theme Park in Northern Idaho. Silverwood has more than sixty-five attractions and rides, a water park, steam engine, and entertainment. (www.silverwoodthemepark.com)

Wisconsin's Wisconsin Dells owns the registered trademark of the “The Waterpark Capital of the World.” A year-round water park in Wisconsin might seem a little chilly, but Wisconsin Dells has indoor and outdoor water parks. Inside the thermostat stays set at 85° F. Resorts are attached to some of the parks so families really can make a whole vacation out of visiting the area, not just the park.

Ohio's Cedar Point in Sandusky is on the speed dial of roller coaster lovers. For eleven years it's won the Golden Ticket Award as “Best Amusement Park in the World” by Amusement Today. Hundreds of activities and rides including mind-numbing and easy-going roller coasters may be why you choose to come to Cedar Point. But the area is also a great destination for a full-on family vacation. Lake Erie's shores and islands are full of family activities. For destination information visitors can contact the Sandusky/Erie County Visitors and Convention Bureau online. (www.shoresandislands.com)