Nowhere can you find so many family-friendly daredevil thrills than in the USA and Canada. Here are our 10 favorite amusement and water parks in North America.

Noah’s Ark, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin

In the rolling farmlands north of Madison, the Dells is mostly a kitschy schlock of taffy and fudge houses and overpriced rides, but the Ark’s for real. There are half a hundred slides, a couple rivers to float, an island ‘playzone’ for the whippersnappers, and a new ‘haunted water ride’ called the Curse of the Crypt.

Sea World, San Diego

Watching Shamu the killer whale and dolphins leap and dive is the main draw – particularly if you’re in the close-up ‘soak zone’ – but Sea World is also home to several fun splashy water rides, a couple Sesame Street-themed rides for the littlest, and an indoor Arctic experience.

Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, New Jersey

Home to the tallest and fastest roller coaster in America, the Kingda Ka (it drops 418 ft), Six Flags serves the 20-plus million residents of the greater New York area, so brace for lines. If you’re not into hardcore thrills, there’s a Wild Safari zoo and a recently refurbished 15-storey Ferris wheel.

Universal Studios Hollywood, Los Angeles

You’re not likely to bump into J-Lo or Will Ferrell here, but this movie-based theme park in the heart of Hollywood has a mix of entertaining thrill rides (including The Simpsons, which debuted in 2008, and the 80-ft raft drop of Jurassic Park), plus the action-packed tram tours of the studio back lots you’ve seen Conan O’Brien taking on The Tonight Show.

Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom, Orlando, Florida

Always bigger than its Californian big brother, the Magic Kingdom – one of several Disney parks, including MGM Studios and Epcot – is the Orlando original and remains the core of central Florida trips. The indoor coaster at Space Mountain, the pre–Johnny Depp Pirates of the Caribbean and the nightmarishly looped recording of ‘It’s a Small World’ are timeless. As is the progress of some lines. Be sure to pre-purchase tickets online to save at least one wait.