It's a big year for fans of theme parks and roller coasters all over North America.

The long list of new attractions includes the rock 'n' roll-themed Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach, S.C.; the Nickelodeon-themed park at Minnesota's Mall of America; Toy Story Mania! at Disney; The Simpsons at Universal; and enough new thrill rides to literally make your head spin.

There also are new Tony Hawk-themed rides opening at several Six Flags, a water ride at Dollywood where you shoot giant soakers at other riders and interactive targets, and new children's areas at Cedar Point and other parks.

"There are new thrills and exciting family adventures from coast to coast at America's theme parks this summer," said David Mandt, spokesman for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.

Here are some of the new parks and attractions in the U.S. and Canada. A few opened earlier this spring; most but not all will open by Memorial Day. Check with parks for specific opening dates.

In the Midwest and West:

PLANET SNOOPY, Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio, www.cedarpoint.com. New children's play area with seven rides, plus a new Snoopy-themed restaurant and ice show.

SKYSCRAPER, Challenge Park (at Cedar Point), Sandusky, Ohio, www.cedarpoint.com/public/park/challenge--park/. A thrill ride that spins like a propeller with open cars 16 stories off the ground. Expected opening June.

THUNDERHAWK, Michigan's Adventure, Muskegon, Mich., www.miadventure.com/. The 105-foot tall inverted roller coaster flips riders upside down five times. Relocated from Geauga Lake in Aurora, Ohio, which is now a water park.

KEYLIME COVE, Gurnee, Ill., www.keylimecove.com. New water park with wave pool, body slides, lazy river, activity pool for water sports.

KIMA BAY: Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, Santa Claus, Ind., www.holidayworld.com. New monkey-themed water park attraction at Splashin' Safari.

NICKELODEON UNIVERSE, Mall of America, Bloomington, Minn., www.nickelodeonuniverse.com. Nickelodeon, the children's cable network, has had Nick-branded zones in theme parks before, but this park, which opened in March, is the company's first standalone theme park. Rides include SpongeBob SquarePants Rock Bottom Plunge roller coaster.

In Florida:

THE SIMPSONS RIDE, Universal Orlando, Orlando, Fla., www.universalorlando.com and at Universal Studios Hollywood, Los Angeles, www.universalstudioshollywood.com. The Simpsons Ride, a simulator ride that's part thrills, part TV show, replaces Back to the Future at Universal in Hollywood and Orlando.

TOY STORY MANIA!, Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Fla., www.disneyland.com and Disneyland, Anaheim, Calif., www.disneyland.com. Interactive ride where you shoot at virtual targets, inspired by the "Toy Story" movies. Opens at Disney World in Florida May 31 and at Disney's California Adventure June 17. Mandt said the ride is a good example of the interactive trend hitting theme parks: "Your first ride and second ride are different, and you actually have a role to play in the outcome." Also new at Disneyland in Anaheim, Innoventions Dream Home in Tomorrowland, a 21st century redesign of the classic House of the Future, and Pixar Play Parade at California Adventure with characters from movies like "Toy Story," "Monsters, Inc." and "Cars" on giant floats.

JUNGALA, Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay, Fla., www.jungala.com. Interactive animal park, where you can watch white-cheeked gibbons up close, observe an orangutan paint, and experience tug of war with a Bengal tiger. Geared to families with children ages 6-14.

AQUATICA, SeaWorld, Orlando, Fla., www.aquaticabyseaworld.com. Water park adjacent to SeaWorld, with waterfalls, racing slides, a raft ride, wave pools, rivers, lagoons, a beach and 36 slides. The park is also home to dolphins, birds and fish.

In the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic:

FAHRENHEIT, Hersheypark, Hershey, Pa., www.hersheypark.com. Vertical lift inverted loop coaster, up to 58 mph, 2,700 feet of steel track. Also new at Hershey, the Howler ride, with sphere-shaped cars that rotate at a 20-degree angle, creating a "tornado-like" experience.

At Six Flags parks:

DARK KNIGHT, Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J., and Six Flags Great America, Gurnee, Ill., near Chicago, www.sixflags.com/greatadventure/ and www.sixflags.com/greatAmerica/. Indoor roller coaster with hairpin turns, drops into darkness and video from the upcoming Batman movie, "The Dark Knight."

EVEL KNIEVEL, Six Flags St. Louis, Eureka, Mo., www.sixflags.com/stLouis. Wooden coaster with a 2,700-foot track, 80-foot drop, and double 55-foot drops. Expected opening late June.

In the South:

HARD ROCK PARK, Myrtle Beach, S.C., www.hardrockpark.com. New rock 'n' roll-themed park, with coasters named for Led Zeppelin and the Eagles, plus a groovy dark ride based on the Moody Blues' "Nights in White Satin."

RIVER BATTLE, Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tenn., www.dollywood.com. Water adventure ride with nine rafts. Each raft holds eight people armed with soaker guns taking aim at each other and more than 100 interactive targets, including splashing beavers, skunks, otters, and bears.