California's Top Theme Parks

From the magic of Disneyland to pulse-pounding super coasters at Paramount's Great America to high-octane thrills at Knott's exciting amusement parks add family entertainment and adventure to all your California vacations.

Northern California

Paramount's Great America Theme Park
Paramount's Great America is Northern California's ultimate family theme park and entertainment destination with exhilarating rides, live stage shows, concerts, Nickelodeon TV characters, and beautiful sights. Located in Santa Clara, Paramount's Great America features 10 pulse-pounding coasters, the wet and wild water rides of Boomerang Bay, and the world's tallest double-decker carousel. Visit www.pgathrills.com.

Six Flags Marine World
The country's only combination wildlife park, oceanarium, and theme park, Six Flags Marine World presents animals of land, sea and air in spectacular shows and attractions. This Bay Area adventure park also features exciting thrill rides, such as Zonga, kid's attractions and rides, such as Looney Tunes Seaport, family shows, and a unique animal zoo where you get personal with dolphins, sea lions, sharks, reptiles, giraffes and safari animals. Some lucky youngsters can even kiss a killer whale.

Raging Waters
California's largest waterpark, Raging Waters features 50 beautifully landscaped acres, 36 slides and attractions, and a sand beach. Experience the thrilling Dragon's Den, a breathtaking two-person bowl slide, or the 10-story High Extreme. Float down the 1/4 mile Amazon River or relax in the huge Wave Pool. Kids never tire of Kids' Kingdom and Splash Island. From wet to wild, you'll have a raging good time. Raging Waters ranked #3 by the Travel Channel in its Top 10 ranking of US Water Parks.

Central California

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
California's oldest seaside amusement park, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk blends old-time nostalgia with modern thrills. Located on a mile-beach between Monterey and San Francisco, the Boardwalk is your free hot spot for beach vibes, 34 classic rides, attractions, an old-style arcade, summer concerts, and events. The park includes two National Historic Landmarks - the 1911 Looff Carousel and 1924 Giant Dipper, a giant wood-framed roller coaster - and the thrill rides like Fireball and Cliff Hanger. Santa Cruz Boardwalk also features the Boardwalk Grand Arcades, Casino Arcade, Neptune's the Climb & Conquer climbing wall, Venturer Simulator motion theater, Trampoline Thing, and the 3-D Fun House.

Bonfante Gardens
For a natural day of fun, explore Bonfante Gardens, a combination of four unique gardens and amusement rides with the mid-20th century history and agricultural roots of Santa Clara Valley. Set among 600 acres of countryside in Gilroy, California, home to the Annual Gilroy Garlic Festival, Bonfante Gardens features 19 rides and 21 attractions including theme gardens, concessions, an event plaza, and the world famous Circus Trees.

Southern California

Disneyland
From the charm of Main Street to Mickey's Toontown, your imagination runs free in eight enchanted lands of nostalgia, delight, and entertainment. At Disneyland Park, you'll experience a magical kingdom of 60 attractions, 50 shops and 30 restaurants. Experience thrill rides, such as the Indiana Jones Adventure, Matterhorn, Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Splash Mountain. Meet Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy! A 55-acre theme park next to Disneyland, Disney's California Adventure is a magical festival of shows, parades and attractions celebrating California's past and future. A hip entertainment, shopping and dining promenade, Downtown Disney is a fun way to relax after a day at the parks.

Universal Studios
The magic of the movies comes to life at Universal Studios Hollywood, the world's largest working movie studio and theme park. Universal Studios offers a backlot view of the film and TV industry, a working movie studio, the rich heritage of movies and the stars of Hollywood. Enjoy thrills, magic, stunts and special effects when you take part in your favorite blockbuster movies. Experience the glamour, action and entertainment of Hollywood. Finish your day with LA's coolest restaurants, clubs and fun at Universal CityWalk.

Knott's Berry Farm
America's oldest amusement park, Knott's Berry Farm re-creates the atmosphere of the Old West in six themed park areas including Ghost Town, Fiesta Village, Wild Water Wilderness, Indian Trails, The Boardwalk and Camp Snoopy. Once an actual berry farm, Knott's Berry Farm features 160 acres of wild rides, family shows and world-class attractions. At America's favorite theme park, families experience GhostRider the world's best wooden roller coaster, the 30-story Supreme Scream, and the high-octane thrill of Xcelerator, rated the world's best launch coaster, sending riders to 80 MPH in 2.3 seconds. Stroll on over to Camp Snoopy, home to the beloved Peanuts Gang.

Six Flags Magic Mountain
This Southern California theme park features exciting thrill rides, world-class entertainment, shows, concerts, family adventure and the largest collection of extreme coasters on the planet. The DejaVu coaster encourages a stress-relieving scream, the stomach-churning X coaster features 360-degree rotating seats, and Sweet 16 is Southern California's first floorless coaster. A ride on Scream simulates racing through the air, and the Batman ride is a heart-pounding thrill.

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor
Hurricane Harbor is a family water park with aquatic rides and slides for those hot summer days. Enjoy Taboo Tower's three thrilling body speed slides, three twisting and turning open tube slides at Arrowhead Splashdown, Tiki Falls' two dark slides and one translucent tube slide, Castaway Cove, an exclusive children's water play kingdom, Shipwreck Shores, which offers water activities for the entire family, the Forgotten Sea wave pool, and The River Cruise on the Lazy River.

SeaWorld San Diego
Go below the surface, above the waves and beyond your expectations at SeaWorld San Diego. One of the world's largest marine life amusement parks, SeaWorld is spread over 189 tropically landscaped bay-front acres. See wondrous creatures and walk-through inspiring marine exhibits. From captivating views to splashing adventures, SeaWorld rides offer excitement and wonder. Experience a poolside meal with Shamu the Whale or Journey to Atlantis. From a spine-tingling 4-D movie to highflying dolphins, SeaWorld will amaze.

Scandia Amusement Park
Discover family fun in Ontario at Scandia Amusement Park. Scandia features 25 rides and attractions, including go-carts, bumper boats, two beautifully-landscaped miniature golf courses, batting cages, a state-of-the-art video arcade, restaurants, picnic facilities and a 200-person pavilion. A Swedish-themed park, Scandia features the exhilarating Scandia Screamer - the Inland Empire's tallest roller coaster.

[Back to Top]