Labor Day is a great time to get out of the house, take advantage of a day off of work and take the kids out for a day of fun at one of America's great amusment parks. The amusement park is something that is distinctly American. No other culture seems so interetested in the thrill of being catupulted at 120 mph in an open air car heading straight for the ground. Luckily there are a multitude of parks that fulfill our needs for speed, thrills, and fun. Here are some of the best amusement parks to visit this Labor Day.Cedar Point, Ohio — Cedar Point is a roller coaster addicts dream. This amusement park, situated on a small peninsula jutting into Lake Eerie, is home to the most roller coasters in the entire world. The 17 different coasters at this 364 acre wonderland are bound to throw you for a loop. If you’re into speed, Cedar Point is home to the second tallest and second fastest coater in the entire world, hitting speeds of 120 mph. Cedar point also boasts four coasters with heights above 200 ft, the only amusement park that can claim that title. Cedar Point has 75 different rides, also the greatest for any amusement park, and is sure to please the entire family. Cedar Point also has two water parks and a long sandy beach which is great for swimming during the summer.Schlitterbahn, Texas — For those who enjoy water more than absolute speed on a coaster, Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels, Texas, should be your amusement park of choice this Labor Day. The park offers many uphill water rides including the original “Dragon Blaster," and newer iterations like the “Master Blaster." Many travel magazines have rated the “Master Blaster” as the best water ride in the entire world. The park also has miles of innertube rides, a water playground for kids, and tons of other water slides. Schlitterbahn has been consistently rated as one of the best amusement parks in the US and often the best water park.Disneyland, California — For many, childhood memories include a trip to Disneyland in Anaheim. This amusement park, the brainchild of Walt Disney himself, has always been part of Americana. Though Disneyland may not have the biggest coasters or the most thrilling rides, the park has always been able to reinvent itself for each generation. It’s an amusement park that you have to visit at least once in your life, regardless of what type of park you enjoy. The park is constantly adding new rides, and with the addition of a sister park, California Adventure, Disneyland always has something new to offer its guests.Knoebels Amusement Resort, Pennsylvania — The worst part of amusement parks has always been getting past the ticket stand. These days parks like Disneyland and Six Flags have no qualms about charging $100 for a single day ticket. Knoebels is the largest open admission park in the country. The park has 50 rides which are all pay-per-use. In the end, you’re bound to save a lot of money at Knoebels in comparison to most amusement parks. Even if you decided to ride the roller coasters until you threw up, you probably still would have saved money. Knoebels is also a great place to take the kids for the day and is about a three hour drive from Philadelphia.Legoland, California — After creating a hugely successful park in Germany, Lego built an amazing amusement park out of its famed building blocks near San Diego. The park is both a spectacle of engineering and a great place to spend a day. There is everything from race cars made out of Legos to enormous reproductions of famous monuments. Legoland is definitely one of the most unique theme parks in the U.S., and is probably the most complicated. The many different sections of the park keep visitors interested and occupied for the entire day. Legoland is also great for kids who often stare up in awe at what people have made from these little blocks. Don’t be too surprised if they run to the Lego store at the park wanting the largest kit available so that they can start working on their own Lego creation.Photo credit: flickr cc Stefan