8 Unique US Theme Parks You Must Experience

If we were playing a word association game and I mentioned "theme park," your likely responses would be "Disney World" or "Universal Orlando." This is understandable given that both parks attract millions of guests annually — but they are far from the only theme parks around.

In fact, there are parks throughout the country that offer something those major players lack — a distinct quirkiness that may even make them more fitting to be called "theme parks" than their better-known rivals.

What do Santa, SpongeBob, and construction vehicles have in common? You can find them all at these eight unique U.S. theme parks.

Carousel Gardens Amusement Park

Location: New Orleans, Louisiana.

Cost: $25 for guests 36 inches and taller, free for children under 36 inches, $15 for chaperones with a child, and $13 for seniors.

Highlights: Carousel Gardens Amusement Park is nestled within New Orleans City Park, a historic 170-year-old public park spanning 1,300 acres in The Big Easy. The park also features a botanical garden, miniature golf, paddle boats, an art museum, and a Storyland walkthrough filled with larger-than-life storybook sculptures.

Carousel Gardens boasts 18 family-friendly rides, including classic carnival attractions like bumper cars and a tilt-a-whirl, as well as a small roller coaster. The park's carousel, over 100 years old, stands amidst ancient moss-covered oak trees, embodying the enchantment and nostalgia that defines New Orleans itself.

Enchanted Forest

Location: Salem, Oregon.

Cost: Adult tickets begin at $18.25, children aged 3-12 at $16.25, seniors 62 and older at $16.75, and kids under 2 get in free. Save money by purchasing tickets online in advance.

Highlights: If you've ever wished to step through the looking glass like "Alice in Wonderland" or see how the "Little Old Lady Who Lived in a Shoe" styled her cozy home, you can experience both at Enchanted Forest.

The park allows you to step into enchanting fairytale worlds, featuring an Old West town, a charming European village, and an interactive play area inspired by storybooks. Each land offers a range of kid-friendly attractions, including a carousel, a train, and a miniature Ferris wheel.

Individual ride tickets are available for purchase at $1 each; each attraction requires between three to five tickets.

The North Pole — Santa's Workshop

Location: Cascade, Colorado.

Cost: In the summer and fall, entry is free, and you only need to purchase ride tickets. Unlimited ride packages are also offered. During the holiday season, admission is $25 per person, and reservations are required.

Highlights: Fortunately, you don't need to trek all the way to the real North Pole to experience this festive park. This North Pole is conveniently located near the base of Pikes Peak in Colorado — an ideal setting for Santa's workshop.

The park features over two dozen rides, primarily aimed at families with young children, including some attractions designed for kids to enjoy solo. The Peppermint Slide and Santa's Sleigh Ride perfectly capture the park's Christmas spirit, with all rides enhanced by the picturesque, snow-capped mountain backdrop.

While visiting, you can meet Santa, indulge in hot chocolate or apple cider, and send a letter or postcard home with a unique North Pole postmark.

Nickelodeon Universe

Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota, inside the Mall of America, and East Rutherford, New Jersey, at American Dream.

Cost: Ticket prices begin at $45 for the Mall of America venue and $49 for American Dream. Discounted tickets are available for children aged 3-9, active duty and veteran military personnel, and seniors aged 65 and older. Admission is free for children 2 years and younger.

Highlights: While each Nickelodeon Universe location has its unique charm, they share a number of slime-themed features. Both locations are adorned in Nickelodeon's iconic green and orange colors and offer rides and meet-and-greet experiences inspired by both classic and contemporary Nickelodeon shows, such as "Blue's Clues," "SpongeBob Square Pants," "Fairly Odd Parents," and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles."

Additionally, they're more accessible and affordable compared to the all-inclusive Nickelodeon Resorts in Punta Cana and Riviera Maya.

The American Dream venue proudly holds the title of the largest indoor theme park in the Western Hemisphere, while the Nickelodeon Universe at Mall of America is situated within the largest shopping mall in the U.S.

Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park

Location: Gilroy, California.

Cost: $45 per person with online pre-purchase; children under 3 can enter for free.

Highlights: Gilroy Gardens is a unique amusement park centered around horticulture, famous for its remarkable "circus trees." These are actual trees that have been shaped and twisted as they grew. Visitors can admire these fascinating trees throughout the park, which also features a replica circus tree play structure in the water park.

However, Gilroy Gardens offers more than just trees. With over 40 family-friendly rides and attractions, several, such as the Artichoke Dip and the Garlic Twirl, reflect the park's garden theme.

Knoebels Amusement Resort

Location: Elysburg, Pennsylvania.

Cost: While admission to the park is free, you can purchase an all-day ride ticket for $48 for guests 48 inches and taller, or $32 for those under 48 inches. Save money by buying your tickets online in advance.

Highlights: What's not to adore about a park featuring a chipmunk mascot named Kozmo? Knoebels Amusement Resort has been delighting visitors since 1926, preserving its nostalgic charm. You can still enjoy one of the park's original attractions today.

The Crystal Pool, a spring-fed swimming hole, initially offered only a merry-go-round and some food stalls. Now, it's surrounded by a variety of rides for all ages, a haunted mansion, a carousel museum, a mining museum, and a Knoebels history museum.

Dutch Wonderland

Location: Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Cost: $49.99 for guests aged 3 and older, with special discounts for military personnel and first responders. Children under 3 can enter for free.

Highlights: Dutch Wonderland promotes itself as a Kingdom for Kids, placing a strong emphasis on the "kingdom" aspect. Visitors enter through a grand stone castle entrance and will meet characters like Duke the Dragon and Merlin the magician inside.

The park is designed for families with younger children. It features a prehistoric trail filled with life-sized dinosaurs, a digging zone, rides and coasters suitable for kids, and a large water play area.

Dig World

Location: Katy, Texas.

Cost: $24.99 for a two-hour entry pass. Children under 32 inches in height can enter for free.

Highlights: The creative minds behind Dig World understood that many of us have gazed at construction sites, wishing to hop into a bulldozer and take control. Thus, they designed a park where both kids and adults can operate machinery in a safe and supervised setting.

At Dig World, visitors can use various excavators and steer loaders to drive, dig, fish objects from the water, and pick up cones. For younger kids not ready to handle heavy equipment, there are also options for gem mining, a playground, and lawn games to enjoy.

In conclusion

Similar to a must-see roadside attraction, the U.S. is brimming with unique, eccentric theme parks that can turn any vacation or staycation into a memorable and enjoyable experience.