Nothing screams fun more than theme parks, and lucky for you, LA has some of the world’s best theme parks. Here, we’ve narrowed down 4 that are sure to give you an adrenaline-rushing and heart-stopping time!
Disneyland
A happy place for the young and old, Disneyland is where you can feel the magic up close and personal. Located in Anaheim, it encompasses both Disneyland Park and Disneyland California Adventure. Disneyland Park is where you’ll find the iconic castle from Sleeping Beauty and other such attractions and shows like the Haunted Mansion, and the “Magic Happens” daytime parade. Step into new worlds like Fantasyland, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and Mickey’s Toontown! In Disney California Adventure Park, you’ll be able to see your favourite stories come to life. Sit on the Incredicoaster and prepare yourself for some big drops to a grand musical score to save Jack-Jack. Some new plans for this park include the Avengers Campus and an Inside-Out fun spinning ride! You can easily spend more than one whole day there, so plan your trip well, and be prepared to pay a bit more for admission into both parks.
Universal Studios
To experience being in all your favourite movies and immerse yourself in their universes, head on down to Universal Studios Hollywood. For you Potterheads, enjoy a Butterbeer at Hogsmeade, soar over Hagrid’s hut on the Flight of the Hippogriff or get yourself your own wand at Ollivander’s! Feeling thirsty? Venture into Three Broomsticks for your pint of Butterbeer. Next, enter Krustyland from The Simpsons, and save Krusty the Clown’s low-budget theme park with the help of everyone’s beloved cartoon family. While you’re on it, keep your eyes peeled from quick cameos from your favourite supporting characters. If that’s not enough to keep that adrenaline going, hop on the Fast & Furious - Supercharged ride, where you’ll ride along with the all-star cast on a high-speed chase that goes faster than 120 miles per hour! Whatever thrill you seek, you can be sure to find it here.
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Situated in Santa Clarita, less than an hour’s drive from LA, Six Flags Magic Mountain holds the world record for the most roller coasters in a theme park, making it the perfect place for you thrill seekers. Enjoy the world’s fastest pendulum ride, CraZanity, which stands at 170 feet in the air and swings up to 75 miles per hour. Or buckle up in the monster Goliath, which is what the theme park terms a “hypercoaster”. You’ll surely have the ride of your life with a staggering 255 foot drop at 85 miles per hour. You don’t have to convert those to the metric system to know those are some crazy heights and speeds! If you’re with family, don’t worry, Six Flags also contains some family-friendly rides such as the immersive Justice League: Battle for the Metropolis ride where you can experience a whole range of 4D effects and life-like animatronic characters like Cyborg and Harley Quinn. You’ll even get to go through a virtual loop that has all the feeling of a real one. Once you’ve had enough rides, head out and meet your favourite Justice League and Looney Tunes characters all around the park.
Knott's Berry Farm
Knott's Berry Farm sits in Buena Park, California, less than 30 miles away from downtown LA. The theme park has humble origins as a small berry farm before growing into the huge amusement park that it is now. The Old West Ghost Town is the heart of the park, featuring cowboys, gunfights and can-can dancers that will entertain you. It also features the Ghost Rider, which is the tallest, fastest and longest wooden roller coaster on the west coast. Fiesta Village pays homage to California’s Hispanic roots, though you’ll find thrill here in equal doses, especially aboard the Montezooma’s Revenge, a ride that will send you racing both forward and backward on a looped track! Adjacent to Knott’s Berry Farm is Knott’s Soak City Waterpark. Put on your swimsuits and get ready for the Banzai Falls water slide, a six-lane slide that starts 41 feet up in the air. While it requires a separate admission ticket, it’s worth every penny as you max out all the fun you can have in a day.
