Some of the most exhilarating theme parks in the world have no mascot and no movie franchise behind them. What they do have is decades of obsessive craftsmanship, immersive storytelling, and rides good enough to build a trip around. 

In this episode, host Angie Orth is joined by Zachary Laks, a travel journalist and theme park expert who has written for Fodor’s, The Points Guy, and Lonely Planet. Before covering the world's parks, Zachary spent more than  20 years as a theater producer, which sharpened his eye for what separates a good theme park experience from an unforgettable one.

You'll learn what makes a theme park memorable, which underrated domestic and European parks deserve a spot on your travel list, and why 2026 may be the most exciting year yet for thrill-seekers.

What You’ll Learn:

3:18 The three qualities that separate a great theme park from a merely fun one

8:51 Why Europa Park in Germany keeps winning Best Theme Park Worldwide

16:35 What makes Silver Dollar City and other regional parks worth a road trip

21:47 Budget-friendly parks where you can stretch your dollar (or euro)

26:04 Why you should add a theme park day to your European itinerary

Connect with Zachary Laks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachlaks/

Website: https://www.zacharylaks.com/

What's a theme park that surprised you? Share it in the comments!

Connect with AAA:

Book travel: https://aaa-text.co/travelingwithaaa 

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Podcast: TravelingWithAAA.com