Page 32 - 2023-2024 Travel Guide to California

THEME PARKS
BY MATT VILLANO
FUN FOR ALL
Kids of all ages love California's theme parks
Diversions are as plentiful as sunshine
in California. One of the most popu-
lar outlets: original theme parks.
These attractions are meccas to amuse-
ment, each focusing rides and exhibits
around different concepts such as fairies,
film, plastic blocks, sea life and an inimit-
able mouse. Most of the parks are situated
in the southern part of the state (where
the weather is generally warmer), but the
granddaddy of them all is up north.
AMUSEMENT PARKS
Europeans started the concept of
amusement parks centuries ago with
fairs and pleasure gardens created
for people’s recreation. The world’s
oldest amusement park is Bakken,
just north of Copenhagen, Denmark,
which opened in 1583. The oldest
theme park in the United States is
Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari
(called Santa Claus Land from its
opening in 1946 until 1984) in Santa
Claus, Indiana. California’s theme
parks date from 1950.
Universal Studios Hollywood
This film-themed park got its formal start
in the 1960s when walk-throughs of Uni-
versal Studios soundstages and sets were
expanded to include peeks at actual pro-
duction. Over the years, the studio added a
tram to shuttle visitors through the back
lot; this tram remains the best way to ex-
perience stunt demonstrations and staged
events (such as an encounter with the shark
from Jaws).
Super Nintendo World opened early this
year, located in a newly expanded area of
the park. It features the Mario Kart:
Browser’s Challenge ride, Browser's Castle
and the Toadstool Cafe. Power-Up Bands,
wearable wristbands, sync with Universal
Studios Hollywood’s free downloadable
app to enhance the many interactive ele-
ments within the land.
The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash is a
dark ride. Take on the role of a stray puppy
in search of a forever home as you’re
whisked around New York City meeting ani-
mated figures from the Secret Life of Pets
movies along the way. Continued favorites
are Jurassic World — The Ride and The
Wizarding World of Harry Potter, complete
with a replica of Hogwarts castle and a
recreation of the shops of Hogsmeade. This
section is home to two rides: Harry Potter
and the Forbidden Journey, and Flight of
the Hippogriff.
The park is divided into two areas con-
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD; DAVID NGUYEN/DISNEYLAND RESORT; SEAWORLD PARKS & ENTERTAINMENT
30 2023-24 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA