Google Street View Helps Visualize Cool Summer Attractions

As summer blazes on, travelers are looking for cool places to go. A quick escape from summer heat to a water park, beach or lake might be just what they have in mind too. But how about a look first? Google Street View can give us a panoramic view from positions along many streets in the world, including some major summer attractions.

A little warm where you are today? Click on one of these featured attractions for a taste of coolness and summer fun ahead.

Adventure Island is a water park located northeast of Tampa, Florida, across the street from Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, featuring 30 acres of water rides, dining and other attractions.

Discovery Cove is a theme park in Greater Orlando, Florida. Guests can interact with a variety of marine animals, most notably bottlenose dolphins. The park is located adjacent to sister parks SeaWorld Orlando and Aquatica. In addition to swimming with dolphins, Discovery Cove guests can interact with exotic birds, tropical fish, rays and land mammals.

Santa Monica Pier is a large double-jointed pier located at the foot of Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica, California, and home to Pacific Park and a family amusement park with a large Ferris wheel.

SeaWorld Orlando
is a theme park, and marine-life based zoological park, near Orlando, Florida, that when combined with its neighbor Discovery Cove and the Aquatica waterpark, it forms a larger entertainment complex devoted to Earth’s oceans and the array of life that inhabits them.

Google Street View was introduced in the United States but can now be seen in 48 countries around the world.

See more Google summer attractions in the U.S. through Street View imagery, and make plans to cool off today.

[Flickr photo by matheuslotero]

Pacific Park at Santa Monica Pier sold for $34 million



Pacific Park, the amusement park at the iconic Santa Monica Pier, was sold for $34 million. The new owners are an Orlando-based real estate company called CNL Lifestyle Properties Inc. While the park’s name may not be familiar, many will recognize it from its appearances on television and in movies like Fat Albert, Cellular, and Jarhead. Santa Monica Amusements will continue to operate the park which attracts more than 4 million visitors a year.

While Pacific Park is a tiny amusement park, I had to see it in person when I visited Los Angeles a few years ago. West Coaster, the park’s sole roller coaster, is short and rather tame. However, there’s a great view of the ocean from the ride’s last helix. Also, I got two consecutive rides for $5, which isn’t a bad deal. Pacific Park is also home to the World’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel.

[Photo credit – Flickr user: hjl]

Related Video: How to Enjoy Santa Monica Beach and Pier by AOL Travel