Amusement parks offer visitors an assortment of activities, rides, and general attractions intended to amuse, entertain, and excite. Modern day amusement parks have evolved since their earlier days as temporary or traveling attractions like a local country fair, circus, or carnival. Unlike their ancestors, today's amusement parks are in permanent locations, offering patrons continuous access to entertainment.

Following the traditions of county fairs and carnivals, amusement parks offer a variety of food options, often serving local specialties and fast food, along with traditional fine dining to cater to all visitors.

In the United States, amusement parks of all sizes and themes can be found in almost every state. Quite often, amusement parks will follow specific themes. Some parks offer a large number and variety of roller coasters, while other parks offer water themed attractions, like water slides, water tubing, and wave pools. Six Flags is a popular amusement park that offers both land and water attractions. With over 20 locations in the United States, the Six Flags brand has theme parks, animal parks, and water parks. Perhaps the most famous amusement parks in the United States and worldwide are the Disney theme parks. The original Disney theme park, Disneyland, was opened by founder Walt Disney in Anaheim California in 1955. Since the opening, Disneyland has been visited by over 500 million people, including presidents, prime ministers, and royalty from across the world.

The success of Disneyland in California sparked the creation of new Disney resorts. Opened in the early 1970s, Disney World, located in Orlando Florida, offers visitors four different theme parks, roller coasters, rides, and even a towering replica of Cinderella's famous castle. Disney resorts have since opened around the world, including Paris, Tokyo, and Hong Kong.