Named for the six “national” flags that have flown over Texas during its history, Six Flags Over Texas (I-30 at Hwy. 360, 817/530-6000, www.sixflags.com, daily in summer, 10 a.m.–11 p.m., weekends in spring/fall, $35–55, parking $15) has been the king of Texas amusement parks since 1961, when oil tycoon Angus G. Wynne Jr. was so inspired by a visit to Disneyland he commissioned a similar park for the Lone Star State. Six Flags has evolved over the years by keeping up to speed on the latest roller coasters, rides, and other amusement park diversions.

In 2011, the park celebrated the highly anticipated return of the Texas Giant roller coaster, with a state-of-the-art track of steel fabrication, the steepest drop of any wooden coaster in the world (79 degrees), and a record-breaking bank of 95 degrees, steeper than any other wooden coaster on the planet—all in trains that pay homage to the iconic 1961 Cadillac Deville.

Other thrill-providers that elicit loud screams (and long lines) are the mammoth 245-foot Titan, the 315-foot Superman Tower of Power, and the famous Mr. Freeze. Six Flags also includes traditional amusement park activities such as theatrical shows, family events, and seasonal festivities in addition to the requisite cotton candy, hot dogs, and lemonade stands.