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Summer 2025: Cool amusement parks in Delaware, Maryland & New Jersey
This fast-moving year has brought its share of highs and lows. And you know what that means, right? Maybe it's a sign you're overdue for a roller coaster ride? If you think it's the latter, here's a look at seven can't-miss amusements parks in Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey you and your kids might want to hit up this summer. These parks offer go-karting, crazy roller coasters and water slides, and so much more. Your pack can soak up the fun at Great Wolf Lodge's 126,000-square-feet indoor water park where the temperature stays a perfect 84 degrees all year long. Guests can enjoy slides like the monster Twister Slide, which stretches 275 feet and features 360 loops, plus families/groups can go rafting. Additionally, folks can kick back and float in the Lazy River. The "Otter Springs" offers a play pool for younger children that has several kid-friendly slides with tiny dips. Great Wolf Lodge has a lot of non-water attractions such as an arcade, mini golf, bowling and a mining-themed mirror maze where you must find the exit. There's an obstacle course that looks like something inspired by "America Ninja Warrior," but on a smaller scale, and other cool attractions. Bear in mind, each attraction listed above are paid add-ons. Amenities: There are several restaurants and food shops like Hungry As A Wolf, Dunkin', Campfire Kitchen (breakfast food like waffles), Wood's End Creamery, Barnwood and Timbers. Folks can buy grab-and-go sandwiches and drinks at the Freshwoods Market. The Pretzelmaker dishes up fresh pretzels. Adults will find alcoholic drinks at The Watering Hole. Hours: Times vary, but the water park is normally open daily during the summer. Admission/Tickets: The price for full-day and half-day passes vary throughout June to September (before Labor Day), ranging from around $48 to $100 per person. Half-day passes are cheaper and are typically available for weekdays, allowing guests to hang out from 4 p.m. to close. Kids aged 2 or younger get in free. Lodging: Folks who want to stay the night can do so in one of the lodge suites. When you lodge at Great Wolf Lodge, your water park passes are included for each registered guest, according to the website. The standard family suite includes two queen beds, full bath a TV and mini fridge. While the prices vary, the amount for a one-night stay for two adult guests and two kids (each over age 2) might start at around $369. There also are options for themed family suites that accommodate up to six to seven people, plus a premium option that accommodates up to 13 people. Address: Great Wolf Lodge (1240 Chesapeake Overlook Parkway, Perryville, Maryland). Visit or call (888) 983-9653. For decades, Six Flags has been a summer staple for adrenaline junkies; and the party hasn't stopped. The amusement park boasts dozens of rides, games and activities, including your favorite hero and villain rides like The Flash: Vertical Velocity, The Joker, Wonder Woman Lasso of Truth, The Dark Knight Coaster and Super Man: Ultimate Flight. Other notable experiences include the Wild Safari where guests cruise around in an open-air vehicle and discover epic animals, while learning about conservation efforts. Amenities: There's over a dozen restaurants, bars and food spots for patrons include the Ale House, Best of the West, Primo's Pizzeria on Main Street, Boardwalk Steak and Fries, Totally Kickin' Chicken Sports Bar, Sugar Shack and Rita's Italian Ice. Hours: The park is usually open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Sept. 1, though hours vary. Tickets: $39, one-day pass starts as low as that price. $75, season pass starts as low as that price. Address: Six Flags Great Adventures (Six Flags Blvd., Jackson, New Jersey). Visit or call (732) 928-2000. Hot Delaware festivals in summer 2025: Comic Con & much more This is an emotional year for some longtime Funland fans because owner Allen 'Al' Fasnacht passed away in March. Yet, his legacy lives on in every smile and fun memory at Funland. The iconic amusement park in Rehoboth Beach offers 20 rides and 11 games. Funland has entertained multiple generations of families since 1962. Amenities: Snack bar and gift shop. Hours: Open daily in the summer: From June 7 to Aug. 23: Games open at 10 a.m., and Rides open at 1 p.m. Ticket booth closes at 10:15 p.m. Aug. 24 to 28: Games and rides open at 1p.m. Ticket booth Closes at 9:15 p.m. Aug. 29: Games and rides open at 1p.m. Ticket booth closes at 10:15 p.m. Aug. 30 to 31: Games open at 10 a.m. Rides open at 1 p.m. Ticket booth closes at 10:15 p.m. Sept. 1: Games open at 10 a.m. Rides open at 1 p.m. Ticket booth closes at 8:15 p.m. Sept. 2 to 4: Park closed. Sept. 5: Games and rides open at 6 p.m. Ticket booth closes at 9:15 p.m. Sept. 6: Games and rides open at 1 p.m. Ticket booth closes at 10:15 p.m. Sept. 7, last day of 2025 season: Games and rides open at 1 p.m. Ticket booth closes at 8:15 p.m. Tickets: Single ticket is $0.75; 25 ticket book is $18.75; $50 ticket book is $33 and $100 ticket book is $55. The Unlimited Ride Wristband (1-4:30 p.m.) is $26.00. Unless you have the Unlimited Ride Wristband, the price of rides vary. Some are 1 ticket, others reach up to 6 tickets per ride. Address: Funland (6 Delaware Ave., Rehoboth Beach). Visit or call (302) 227-1921 Delaware's largest water park is where kids and parents will find a bunch of activities including giant water slides, a wave pool, kiddie pool, lazy river, activity pool, kid's spray ground, and more. But there's more than just water here. There's also a state-of-the-art batting cage system and two mini-golf courses with 18 holes each. Amenities: River Safari Café and gift shop Hours: Water park opens daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with twilight from 3 to 6 p.m. Tickets: $50, all-day water park pass for people over 3½ feet; $35, all-day water park pass for people under 3½ feet; $250, water park season pass for people over 3½ feet; $175, water park season pass for people under 3½ feet. Address: Jungle Jim's (36944 Country Club Road, Rehoboth Beach) Visit or call (302) 227-8444. For decades, kids have loved getting their feet wet at Killens Pond Water Park, a place that offers fun for all ages. The park features two speed slides and two spiral slides, a tot lot for little ones, and more. Hours: The park is open through Labor Day, weekends only through mid-June, and weekends only mid-August through Labor Day. The park is open two sessions per day: 9 a.m. To 1:30 p.m., and 2 to 6 p.m. Tickets: $8, people under 4 feet; $10 for people 4 feet and over. Weekend (Saturday and Sunday) and holiday rates are $10 for those under 4 feet tall; and $12 for people 4 feet or taller. Address: Killens Pond (5025 Killens Pond Road, Felton). Visit or call (302) 284-4526. Midway Speedway Park is a Rehoboth gem that offers four tracks across eight styles of go-kart racing. There's also the White Water Mountain Water Park and Fire Mountain miniature golf. Not to mention, cool attractions on tap include Zip Zone Bumper Boats, or you can go on the water and play Splashing Bumper Boat Action. Hours: Open daily, Go-karts and mini golf from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Water park is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets: $59.99, includes one all-day water park and one round of mini golf, and four choice tickets to be used on any attraction; $200 for a water park season pass. A Single Ride ticket is $12. 1 game of mini golf is $15. For more prices, see website below. Address: Midway Speed Waterpark (8645 Coastal Highway. Rehoboth Beach). Visit or call (302) 644-2042. Celebrate Fourth of July 2025: Delaware & Maryland events with Uncle Sam energy Folks have to make the most of their time at Six Flags America in Bowie this year, since the park is set to close permanently in November. The park boasts dozens of rides and games. This year marks the return of SteamTown, the new steampunk-themed section of the park that launched in 2024, offering cool attractions like the QuantumCanyon Rapids, Professor Screamore's SkyWinder roller coaster, Fillament's SteamPub and more fun. There's also the Hurricane Harbor waterpark, which is an additional fee. Other notable rides and experiences include Harley Quinn Spinsanity roller coaster, the Halfpipe and Batwing Coaster. Amenities: Over two dozen amenities are on tap like the Gotham City Funnel Cakes, Macho Nacho, Hurricane Hotdog, Heritage House Food Court, Calypso's Bar and much more. Hours: Daily hours are usually 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., though hours vary. Tickets: One-day ticket starts at $29. Silver Pass is $59; Gold Pass is $69. Address: Six Flags America (13710 Central Ave, Bowie, Maryland). Visit or call (301) 249-1500. If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at alamar@ Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Summer 2025: Hot amusement parks in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey
Daily Mail
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE I never stepped foot in a gym until age 62... but now people are stunned by my physique
A woman who had never stepped foot in a gym has revealed how she got in shape at age 62... and went on to become the oldest American Ninja Warrior competitor in history. While actor and former dancer Ginny MacColl, now 73, from Southport, North Carolina, has 'always' been active, for the first 62 years of her life, she had no interest in weight training or working out. But all of that changed in 2015, when she decided she wanted to get stronger after becoming inspired by her daughter, Jessie Graff, who had participated on the popular sports competition show America Ninja Warrior. At first, Ginny, who had 'no upper body strength,' said her goal was to do five pull-ups. She worked tirelessly with a personal trainer and it took a full year for her to achieve her first pull-up. But now, a decade on, not only can Ginny do numerous pull-ups, but she also works out six days a week and became the oldest competitor in American Ninja Warrior history in 2022. While chatting with Ginny explained, 'I've always done some sort of exercise. 'Mostly dance from age eight to adult when I moved to NYC to become a professional dancer. But all of that changed in 2015, when she decided she wanted to get stronger after becoming inspired by her daughter, Jessie Graff, who had participated on the show America Ninja Warrior 'In New York, I danced on scholarship and with a modern dance company and then onto Broadway with the hit show, Pippin, in 1974.' She continued to dance professionally until she got married and welcomed two kids, when she decided to turn her focus to acting and modeling. She starred in 'over 100 national TV commercials,' but being a busy working mom with two young children meant she had little time to focus on staying active. 'My exercising was limited to what I did with the kids,' she explained. After undergoing a divorce, she started teaching dance and worked in radio. She eventually remarried and moved to North Carolina to 'rekindle her acting career,' but at age 62, she discovered a new passion thanks to her daughter: weight lifting. 'My daughter competed on ANW and she was showing young girls how cool it was to be strong,' recalled Ginny. 'I thought she was strong, healthy, confident and graceful and I wanted to get strong too. 'I didn't have the upper body strength and eventually went to a personal trainer with a goal of five pull-ups.' Ginny admitted that weight training was extremely 'hard' and so 'different from anything she'd ever done before.' She knew that starting out at that age meant she would have to take it 'slow' and focus on her entire 'body' as to not injure herself. And while there were times she felt 'discouraged,' she never gave up. 'I'd never been in a gym, never been in sports. So I essentially started from scratch,' she continued. 'It took nine months to see definition and toning. It took a year to get one pull-up. '[There was] plenty of discouragement because I saw how so many women accomplished a pull-up and why couldn't I? 'But it made me more determined. If they could do it then I could too.' In 2016, she decided to participate in ANW with her daughter during a mother-daughter segment. 'It's never too late and you're never too old,' she told 'Let's get rid of old stereotypes, like: you can't get stronger as you age, or: it's all downhill after 50' Now, she has been on ANW three times, and in 2022, at age 71, she broke the record as the oldest female competitor on the show. She has documented much of her fitness journey online, and has seen a resurgence in her acting career in recent years. She worked as a stunt actor in Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell's movie You're Cordially Invited, and had a small role as a tennis player in the Sex and the City prequel show And Just Like That. 'It's never too late and you're never too old,' she concluded. 'That's why I post my progress on Instagram, so I can show people that you can do a lot more than you think you can. 'Let's get rid of old stereotypes, like: you can't get stronger as you age, or: you'll get too bulky and you won't look feminine, or: it's all downhill after 50.
