I look over at my alarm.  4:57 AM, 18 minutes before my alarm was scheduled to go off.  I guess I’m getting an early start to my trip.  Over the next month and a half I’m driving coast to coast to coast to ride new coasters and re-visit some old favorites.

I’ve always enjoyed rollercoasters, but I would not have labeled myself as an enthusiast.  Until 2021 I’ve never traveled anywhere for the express purpose of visiting a theme park or riding a specific coaster.  However, I was part of a bible quiz team as a kid and we would always visit a nearby park before our national competition.  This took me to the likes of Michigan’s Adventure, Magic Mountain, King’s Island, Six Flags America, Kings Island, Valleyfair, and Worlds of Fun.  Most of those parks didn’t stand out to me, but my visits to Kings Island and Magic Mountain were some of my best childhood memories.  Outside of those experiences, I didn’t know much else about coasters or theme parks. The one park I did know about and had always wanted to visit was Cedar Point.  One day during lockdown a theme park vlog showed up in my youtube feed about Cedar Point.  Shortly thereafter, I had gone down the rollercoaster rabbit hole.  I was now watching El Toro Ryan, Airtime Thrills, Okay Coasters, and others on a weekly, if not daily basis.  One thing became clear, that when it became safe to travel again, I needed to get to Cedar Point.

August of 2021, I finally got my chance.  My older brother accompanied me.  However, there was one ride neither of us had been on and had been waiting 20 years to experience, Millenium Force.  Going up the steep lift hill and looking out over Lake Erie I couldn’t believe the moment had finally arrived.  As soon as the roller crested the hill and that first drop came, I was hooked, there was no looking back, I was officially an enthusiast. 

Shortly thereafter, I compiled a list of North America’s Top roller coasters (I use Coasterbot’s votecoasters annual results).  I started planning trips to areas where I could drive from one park to the next and visit several of the top ranked coasters. In November of 2022, I went to Florida to visit Sea World Orlando, Universal, and Busch Gardens Tampa. In August of 2023, a trip to the Southeast to visit Six Flags Over Georgia, Fun Spot Atlanta, Dollywood, King’s Dominion, Busch Garden Williamsburg, and Carrowinds.  Later that year I made a quick trip with my parents and brother to visit Silver Dollar City and Worlds of Fun. I’ve made it my goal to ride each of the top 50 coasters in North America.  To this point I’ve ridden 28 of the top 50 coasters in North America and 15 of the top 25 (per Coasterbot’s 2023 list). 

Living in Western Washington makes visiting theme parks difficult.  Typically, it involves, booking a flight, renting a car, and then paying for lodging as well.  I’ve been fortunate enough to have friends & family that have wanted to accompany on these trips & to split the expenses.  However, year 3 into chasing down as many coaster credits as I can my friends and family are growing reluctant to spend so much vacation time dedicated to riding roller coasters.  On the flip side, I work remotely, so I do have the opportunity to take my work with me.  That’s  why I’m packing up my car and setting out alone.  On the first leg of my trip my goal is to hit Valley Fair on the 15^th and Mt Olympus and Six Flags Great America on the 16^th.  I will also spend some more time at Six Flags Great America on the morning of the 17^th before driving to my Aunt and Uncles in Harrison Township Michigan.

I’m on the road by 5:45. My goal to make it by Dickinson, ND (16.5 hours away) and to Valley Fair (25 hours away) by the 15^th.  The journey has officially begun.