Summer is in full gear, and as things start opening up, you may be planning a trip to an amusement park! Spending a day or two at a theme park is not for the faint of heart, and comfort is a definite priority. Whether just for the day or a week-long vacation, there’s not much call for fashion-forward outfits. However, you can be comfortable and a bit cute with the following outfit tricks!

Starting from the ground up, shoe choice is key when planning your amusement park attire. Being on your feet all day is a given, so you’ll want to have supportive footwear. Even though I love slip-ons for the summer, I’d advise against wearing shoes that have the potential of falling off. So, no flip-flops, or Crocs, or slides; stick with lace-up or Velcro sneakers, preferably ones that are designed for walking. Try to avoid heavy shoes; you want something that won’t smother your feet. I like the idea of a graphic hiking sneaker or track-style shoes.

Obviously, walkable shoes are on most people’s minds when thinking of what to wear to an amusement park. What’s not so obvious, but just as important, are undergarments. Sports bras will serve you well as you wait in line for thrill rides and try to win a giant stuffed bear. Sports bras are more comfortable than lingerie-style bras and come in sweat-wicking material to keep you dry. If, like many, you suffer from thigh-chafe, you may want to consider swapping out your shorts for a skirt and utilize slip shorts. Slip shorts are specifically designed to wear under your skirt and protect your thighs. Plus, they save you from over-exposure. A denim skirt with a graphic tee and white New Balances is a cute but functional theme park look. If it’s not sweltering out, consider bike shorts as an alternative to a slip short.

Activewear, in general, makes for fun and comfortable amusement park attire. Yoga leggings, running shorts, racerback tanks, tennis skorts, and baseball caps can add a sporty element to your look. On chillier days, consider track pants with a striped tank top and brightly colored zip-up.

Speaking of bright colors, if attending the park with a family or large group, consider color-coordinating to easily spot each other in the crowds. Many times, really big parties, like teams, companies, or extended families, will have t-shirts made for everyone to wear and set up meeting points/times through the park to keep everyone together. For smaller parties, like families, I’d definitely advise coordinated t-shirts, again for spotting-in-the-crowd purposes. However, be thoughtful with matching Tees: Avoid anything that has your children’s name on them. For instance, we have matching shirts that all read Mommy & Daddy & Charlotte & Vivian that I would not wear in overly crowded public spaces.

For anyone Disney Bound, if not this summer, then next, because I’m told it takes a full year to plan a family trip to Disney, you may want to bring in a bit more festivity to your park wardrobe than you would at a Dorney Park or Six Flags. Considered wearing pieces featuring your favorite Disney characters, like a tie-die Donald Duck t-shirt or some Frozen-themed accessories. You’ll definitely want to bust out the Mickey ears, which now come in a variety of colors and embellishments. Where else would you wear sequined headgear in the shape of rodent ears than the most magical place on earth, right?

In general, shorts and t-shirts are the standard go-to for carnival and amusement park wear. I love the idea of shorts with zip-up pockets and tees in sun-protected fabric. Tank tops are also great for the park, but I’d advise against camisole-style tanks, bra tops, or overly cropped tops. Just add comfortable shoes, a water bottle, and sunscreen with your shorts and shirt look, and you’re all set!

This month, my family and I are headed to one of my favorite places growing up, Knoebel’s Grove in Elysburg, PA. Every summer as a kid, we’d visit Knoebel’s at least once. We had class trips to Knoebel’s, my Dad’s company picnic, and even some family reunions. I’m planning on going mostly with shorts, tees, and a few activewear pieces for our week-long stay. For my daughters, we’re going to try to color coordinate their clothes with ours so we can all keep our eyes out for each other and because it’s fun. This is our first family vacation since September of 2019, and it’s long overdue. I cannot wait to share all of the fun, food, and fantasy with my girls.