Page 24 - 2024-2025 Travel Guide to California

THEME PARKS
SEA LION RETURN, SeaWorld Animal Rescue and
Rehabilitation Program, right; Manzanita Lake and
Lassen Peak, Lassen Volcanic National Park,
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; and, over
the years, it transformed into a 160-acre
amusement park. Now owned by Cedar
Fair, this destination includes thrilling
rides, shows, restaurants and attractions in
four themed areas: Ghost Town, Fiesta Vil-
lage, The Boardwalk and Camp Snoopy.
Other Bay Area Parks
The San Francisco Bay Area is home to two
popular parks: California’s Great America
(in Santa Clara) and Six Flags Discovery
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. Visitors can expect a
fully restored Carousel Columbia and Cele-
bration Swings as well as a new open air
look for American Café, complete with
mobile ordering. The park is also known for
its rides, which range from scream-
inducing like Flight Deck, a roller coaster
with one 360-degree loop and a zero-gravity
roll to other family-friendly rides.
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 adventure. 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.
22 2024-25 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.
A recent addition is 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 which has opened in Chula
Vista features shows and 18 Sesame Street-
themed rides and exciting water attractions,
including the Elmo rocket ship ride and a
family-friendly roller coaster. It is a Certi-
fied Autisum Center (CAC) and part of the
SeaWorld Entertainment 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
SEAWORLD PARKS & ENTERTAINMENT. OPPOSITE: CHRIS FLENTYE