Few things in life are as thrilling as the slow climbs, the fast drops, the tight turns, and the breathtaking twists of a roller coaster ride. Where else can you let loose and shriek at the top of your lungs?

As scary, in a good way, as a roller coaster ride can be, it is actually very safe. You're more likely to be injured in a folding lawn chair than you are riding a roller coaster.

In these pages, you'll read about the five most amazing roller coasters in the United States.

This select group includes wooden coasters, steel coasters, and a hybrid. It's got coasters new and old, coasters that have won industry awards, coasters that enthusiasts love, and coasters that are the fastest and the tallest in their categories.

Most of all, the coasters described here are a blast to ride.