OPINION: What are the best rides and roller coasters at Valley Fair?

Valley Fair opened its doors to Minnesotans for the first time in 1976 and has now been giving kids and adults alike thrills for nearly 50 years.

What makes the amusement park great is the iconic rides that never disappoint, but what are the best rides to wait in line for? Here is a list of my six best rides at Valley Fair.

Call me old-fashioned, but the tilter, or tilt-a-whirl, might just be one of the most fun and worst rides ever at the same time.

Loading up your egg-shaped cart with two people pushed to one side not only had my carriage spinning, but it resulted in the ride attendant personally walking up to ask us if we were okay.

I have fond memories of this being one of the most fun rides to go on as a kid, going with my brothers and friends time after time. But now, a foot and a half later, once was enough and maybe too much.

It's fun to do if you want to feel nostalgic, but that won't be the only thing you are left feeling when you're done.

I remember being in the second grade when Renegade was first built at Valley Fair. With my family, I waited in line for hours, excited to brave the new roller coaster.

A decade plus later, it's still a fun ride, but now instead of thinking about the funny face I want to make for the photo, I think about my brain rattling around inside my head.

Do not get me wrong, I love this roller coaster, but it is far more jarring than I once remembered. Did I ride this coaster five times? Yes. Did I feel like my brain was bouncing around in my skull? Also yes.

Thunder Canyon, or "that ride where you always get wet no matter what," is perfect for a hot summer day when you've been in the sun for most of the morning and afternoon.

The water smells bad, and you don't want to get it in your mouth, but watching the other people with you in the raft attempt to dodge the water flowing in and soaking your shoes is a highlight for any group braving the tides.

Steel Venom is definitely the ride that I think about when someone mentions Valley Fair. Whether it be the blue and yellow color or the screams of those locked into their seats, there is no ride I would rather start my day off with at the park.

Of all the rides on this list, it does get old fairly quickly and isn't the most re-rideable, but it's fun and sets the mood for the whole day.

Where you sit also matters, as I sat at the front for the first time, and I have never been more scared of the pause it does at the top. So if you want a new rush, give it a shot.

I feel like a lot of people would have Wild Thing as their number one ride at Valley Fair, but for me, it takes the number two spot.

I think it is definitely the most re-rideable of every other coaster, and nothing beats the view at the top of the first drop.

The line for the ride isn't quite as long as it used to be when I was younger, making it even more fun to circle through a couple of times in a row or ride real quick before leaving the park.

The only reason I don't have it at the top of my list is because of how much I have ridden it. The thrill is still there, but not as much as the number one spot.

This might be a very controversial take, but to me, Xtreme Swing, not Power Tower, is the best ride at Valley Fair.

There are several reasons why I would say that Xtreme Swing is the number one ride and attraction at Valley, but the main one is that it fulfills a childhood dream.

Almost every adult can remember playing on the swings, wanting to get as high as possible, imaging wrapping around the top poll.

Now imagine a hydraulic-powered swing that does just about the same thing.

No matter your seat, Xtreme Swing is the best ride to be on at any point in your trip. There isn't any spinning, no upside-down movements, or quick turns. It's easy on the stomach and the only ride I could go on all day without needing a break.

The best feeling might be when it hits its apex, and you feel as if you are free falling for a brief second before your seat catches you and swings to the other side.

When it comes to roller coasters and amusement parks, everyone looks for something different, and Valley Fair does a great job of offering a diverse selection. Whether it be the Antique Autos or the Corkscrew, there is a ride for everyone.