Page 34 - 2023-2024 Travel Guide to California

THEME PARKS
NINJAGO THE RIDE, LEGOLAND CALIFORNIA,
right; Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe, opposite.
Knott’s Berry Farm
Knott’s Berry Farm began in the 1920s as
a family-run roadside berry stand. With
a growing number of visitors, other
shops and attractions were added as, over
the years, it transformed into a 160-acre
amusement park. Now owed by Cedar Fair,
this destination includes thrilling rides,
shows, restaurants and attractions in four
themed areas: Ghost Town, Fiesta Village,
The Boardwalk and Camp Snoopy.
Other Bay Area Parks
The San Francisco Bay Area is home to two
other popular parks: California’s Great
America (in Santa Clara) and Six Flags Dis-
covery Kingdom (in Vallejo).
California’s Great America is a top desti-
nation for thrill-seekers and families alike
and the only amusement park in Northern
California that includes a water park
with park admission. Last year, the water-
park opened seven new water attractions.
The park is also known for its rides, which
range from scream-inducing (Flight Deck,
a roller coaster with one 360-degree loop
and a zero-gravity roll) to family-friendly
(Carousel Columbia—a double-decker
carousel standing more than 100 feet tall).
The vibe at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
is more eclectic. In addition to rides such
as the thrilling Medusa roller coaster,
BATMAN: The Ride is a world-class 4D Free
Fly Coaster that thrusts you into a totally
immersive, high-speed Gotham City adven-
ture. Riders flip head-over-heels at least six
times along a weightless, tumbling journey
with unexpected drops and vertical free-
falls. The park also is home to a number of
animals, such as giraffes, lions, penguins
and Siberian and Bengal tigers.
32 2023-24 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA
San Diego Area Parks
San Diego and its surrounding suburbs also
comprise a great region for theme parks.
Out near Mission Bay, in San Diego
proper, SeaWorld is a sprawling homage to
dozens of different species of marine life,
including dolphins, sea lions, walruses and
beluga whales. Throughout the animal-
themed exhibits at SeaWorld San Diego,
you’ll learn about the park’s ongoing work
in the rescue and rehabilitation of sick,
injured and orphaned wildlife—over 40,000
animals spanning a duration of more than
50 years.
New last year was Emperor, the tallest,
fastest and longest dive coaster in Cali-
fornia. With speeds up to 60 miles per hour
through exhilarating loops and a 90 degree
plunge, this Emperor penguin-inspired ride
is exciting and thrilling.
The 17-acre Sesame Place San Diego
theme park opened last year in Chula Vista
and features shows and 18 Sesame Street-
themed rides and exciting water attractions,
including the Elmo rocket ship ride into
outer space and a family-friendly roller
coaster. It is a Certified Autisum Center
(CAC) and part of the SeaWorld Entertain-
ment family of parks.
In the nearby community of Carlsbad,
LEGOLAND is dedicated to tiny plastic
bricks (“Legos”). The park incorporates
more than 60 rides, shows and attractions,
for families with children aged 2 to 12.
LEGO Movie World is a theme area which
opened in 2021, joining the nine other
existing lands of the park and is based on
the LEGO Movie shows. Queen Waterva’s
Carousel and Emmet’s Flying Adventure
Ride are two of the newest attractions.
The new LEGO Ferrari Build and Race
features a life-sized LEGO Ferrari F40 for
photo ops. Then build your own LEGO Fer-
rari car. Completed cars are digitally
projected on a racetrack featuring obsta-
cles, challenges and a competition for the
fastest race time.
FIND YOUR
FANTASY
Universal Studios Hollywood
universalstudioshollywood.com
Children’s Fairyland
fairyland.org
Disneyland
disneyland.disney.go.com
California’s Great America
cagreatamerica.com
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
sixflags.com/discoverykingdom
LEGOLAND California
legoland.com/california
SeaWorld
seaworld.com/san-diego
Knott’s Berry Farm
knotts.com
LEGOLAND CALIFORNIA RESORT. OPPOSITE: CASSIOHABIB/SHUTTERSTOCK