EVERY summer and early fall, theme park thrill-seekers and amusement park aficionados prepare to flock en masse to these attractions across the country. Some 300 million visitors traveled to 400 amusement parks and traditional attractions in 2008, according to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. While the big-name parks are always fun, don't overlook some equally exhilarating, but smaller, regional parks. You'll likely find smaller crowds and save on travel costs.

"Often overlooked in preference to household names, these smaller regional parks can sometimes mean shorter lines, a one-of-a-kind adrenaline rush and a welcome escape from the tried and true thrills," says Alistair Wearmouth, family travel specialist for Away.com, which recently published its Ultimate Theme Park Guide.

To get you started, here is a list of regional theme parks offering big thrills this summer:

Midwest

Silver Dollar City - Branson, Mo.

Nestled in the small town of Branson, Silver Dollar City touts itself as a "family-friendly vacation destination with down-home charm." True to form, the park boasts 30 thrilling rides and attractions, in addition to a culinary school, a craft school and live entertainment. In celebration of its 50th anniversary, the park just opened a new ride, the "Tom and Huck's RiverBlast." Raft riders and spectators, armed with water soakers, battle each other raft-to-raft and raft-to-shore.

Information can be found at www.bransonsilverdollarcity.com.

Mid-Atlantic

Kennywood - West Mifflin, Pa., near Pittsburgh

A designated U.S. National Historic Landmark, Kennywood, in West Mifflin, offers visitors a healthy dose of history and hysterics. In late June, the park, which opened in 1898, introduces a new roller coaster, "Sky Rocket." The ride launches riders from 0 to 50 mph in less than three seconds up a hill. Little known fact: The 2009 film Adventureland was filmed at this location.

Information can be found at www.kennywood.com.

Northeast

Seabreeze - Irondequoit, N.Y., near Rochester, N.Y.

Being the 12th oldest operating amusement park in the world does have its perks. Seabreeze, located upstate in Rochester, offers visitors more than 70 attractions and a water park. In addition to housing the second oldest coaster in the U.S., the Jack Rabbit, the park will unveil a new ride, "Revolution 360 Degrees" this summer. Guests face outward aboard a giant disk which rotates 360 degrees in both directions five stories high.

Information can be found at www.seabreeze.com.

Southeast

Family Kingdom - Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Family Kingdom offers vintage boardwalk fun at Myrtle Beach's only amusement park. Rides include a wooden roller coaster, South Carolina's largest Ferris wheel with one-of-a-kind views out over the Atlantic Ocean and an oceanfront waterpark just across the street. Hot deals and discounts ensure fun for you and the family without breaking the bank.

Information can be found at www.familykingdomfun.com.

Southwest

Enchanted Island - Encantado Park, Ariz., near Phoenix

Conveniently located in a city park in the heart of metro Phoenix, Enchanted Island transports visitors to a magical world of amusement. The park boasts rides, bumper boats, a 50 year-old carousel and an old-school C.P. Huntington train. The "soft adventure" rides make this park especially ideal for younger kids ages 1 to 10.

Information can be found at www.enchantedisland.com.

West

LEGOLAND - Carlsbad, Calif.

Modeled after the iconic Danish brand of construction toys, LEGOLAND California Resort in Carlsbad is the only LEGOLAND in the U.S. This summer the park debuts the world's first LEGOLAND Waterpark. The park will include a lazy river, several water slides, a splash tower, spray LEGO models and two beach areas.

Information can be found at www.legolandwaterpark.com.

Rockies

Elitch Gardens - Denver

Elitch Gardens is a combo theme-water park celebrating its 120th anniversary this year. Since its inception, it has been home to the first zoo, first theater, first movie house, first symphony orchestra and continues to be the oldest continually operating theme park west of the Mississippi. If the history isn't a lure, its 14 extreme coasters, good range of kid-sized coasters and all-age group rides make this a good pick for the entire family.

Information can be found at www.elitchgardens.com. (ARAcontent) ■

YOU’RE not the only one looking forward to your vacation or business trip. Identity thieves relish your travel time too, because your vital, personally identifying information may be more exposed when you’re traveling than when you’re at home or work.

You work hard to establish good credit, and have built a reputation for paying your bills on time and making responsible investing, saving and spending decisions. Yet one overflowing mailbox or a stack of uncollected newspapers on your front step can help unravel all your efforts; they’re a red flag to thieves that you’re away from home.

Before you head to the airport or start out on your long road trip, take some precautions to safeguard against identity theft – even when you’re not at home.

Before you leave

Consider signing up for an identity theft protection product like ProtectMyID.com, a part of Experian. You’ll receive alerts by mail, e-mail or text message whenever a key change is made to your credit accounts, like a new credit application. You’ll also be informed if a change of address action is initiated, a popular method for thieves to have bills rerouted from your home to keep you in the dark about the theft. Additionally, if your wallet is lost or stolen while you’re on vacation, ProtectMyID.com’s fraud resolution agents can help you resolve identity theft issues. Learn more about protecting your identity while you travel by visiting www.ProtectMyID.com.

Below, you’ll find useful tips to help you stay secure while traveling.

Ask the post office to hold mail delivery until you return. Request a “postal hold” rather than a “vacation hold” to avoid alerting postal clerks that you will be gone.

Halt newspaper delivery and any other automatic deliveries, like bottled water.

Clean out your wallet. Lock up your Social Security card instead of carrying it with you, and remove credit cards you don’t need; carry only essential identification (a passport or driver’s license) and one or two credit cards. If your health insurance card has your SSN on it, make a photocopy of the card, black out all but the last four digits of the number, and carry that with you instead of the original.

If your neighborhood has a Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol (RSVP), contact them and ask for a courtesy check of your home while you’re gone.

Even if you have a housesitter coming in or a neighbor with a key who’ll check the place while you’re gone, lock up important personal documents like birth certificates and Social Security cards.

While on the road

Store valuables in room safes if your hotel offers them, or in the hotel’s safe if in-room ones are not available. Lock up items like laptops, PDAs, jewelry, passports and documents that contain your personal information.

Be aware that pickpockets frequent high traffic areas that attract a lot of travelers. They’re rarely interested in your cash. They want your SSN, checks and driver’s license. Don’t carry checks or your Social Security card, and store important pieces of ID, like your passport and driver’s license, in a fanny pack or travel pouch worn inside your clothing.

Remember when you’re out and about on your trip – at the airport, in a restaurant, visiting attractions – that you’re in public. ID thieves may look over your shoulder to snatch identifying information, or listen in on your cell phone conversation. Caution and discretion in public can help protect against identity theft.

Carry photocopies of all your travel documents, including plane tickets, hotel reservations and passports. Keep them separate from the originals.

Use credit cards while traveling, rather than debit cards. A debit card gives thieves a direct line to your bank account and, when used to make a “credit” purchase with a signature, don’t require the user to enter a PIN. Also, beware of fake ATM machines, which are known to be placed in high traffic tourist areas. (ARAcontent) ■