My family and I just returned from a weekend trip to the Twin Cities area and I just found my new favorite rollercoaster ride.

It's at Mall Of America's Nickelodeon Universe and it's called the SpongeBob SquarePants Rock Bottom Plunge.  That's the coaster in the picture at the top of the page.  Sure, it sounds like a kiddie ride, but it's definitely not!

You start by going straight up and you literally go straight down in a hair-raising drop.  After that, it's about two minutes of frightening fun with lots of loops and rolls. 
 

The next day we headed out to Valleyfair and had a great time on a beautiful day. 

I think I'd have to rate the "Renegade" as my favorite ride there.  That ride's first big drop is pictured below.  Normally, wooden coasters leave me with a bad headache but I came away from this ride with nothing but a fast pulse and wish to get right back on!

The "Steel Venom" ride comes in at a very close second.

I'm planning of hitting Worlds Of Fun down in Kansas City in a few weeks and I'll make sure and let you know what ride(s) float my boat down there.