There is nothing like the feeling of weightlessness you experience as you drop 300 feet at 60 miles an hour. Indeed, roller coasters are not for the weak at heart. Luckily, amusement parks offer a variety of attractions sure to please everyone, from the cowardly to the dare devil in the crowd.

Ohio is home to some of the nation's best amusement parks, so this summer get a group of friends together and plan a thrilling day at one of these amusement parks.

King's Island, located just outside of Cincinnati, boasts a variety of rides and attractions, as well as live shows. Sure, everyone has taken on 'The Beast,' but why not try something new?

'Delirium' is a 137 foot gondola that hurls the unsuspecting rider through the air. The name says it all; you will feel like you're caught in the middle of a violent storm, turning the ride upside down and inside out.

Next try 'Face off,' the Midwest's only face-to-face roller coaster, or 'Flight of Fear,' a 'pulse-pounding experience' according to the park's Web site. Go from zero to 60 mph in just four seconds as you launch through four inversions and 30 vertical turns.

'Tomb Raider: The Ride' simulates the movie's adventure conditions.

'Hurtling through the darkness, you'll come face-to-face with glistening, razor-sharp stalactites and rolling, red-hot lava pits, twisting and turning as you struggle against the fury of nature's polar opposites in a desperate effort to escape,' the Web site's description reads. For more information on

King's Island visit their Web site at http://www2.paramountparks.com/kingsisland/

If water rides are your thing, then Cedar Point is your destination. Cedar Point, located in Sandusky, Ohio is about four hours northeast of Dayton.

'Snake River Falls' is the cure for the scorching days of summer. This 82-foot-tall water flume ride will leave you anything but dry. Just two minutes and 43 seconds long, 'Snake River Falls' is a wet and wild ride, with meandering turns, sharp angles and a 1,600 square-foot wave that soaks riders as well as onlookers on the bridge.

'Thunder Canyon' is a more rugged ride. Riders spin through the water in rafts as they are inundated by waterfalls and crash up against rocky canyon walls. Beware: you will get soaked. 'Thunder Canyon' is ideal after a hot day in the sun. Another word of advice: bring a change of dry clothes.

A day at the park is always better when the weather cooperates. The ideal time to go is in late May or early June.. Be sure to check the forecast before heading off for a day of fun.

Don't forget your sunscreen!