California Official Visitor's Guide 2018 - 42

Toddler-Friendly

Parks

They don't call Disneyland Resort the "Happiest
Place on Earth" for nothing. This granddaddy of
amusement parks still has all the low-octane classics
(think Dumbo the Flying Elephant) that have been
delighting tots for more than 60 years. Download the
Disneyland app for access to wait times, FastPass
machines, and directions to the nearest restroom.
For more hands-on fun, LEGOLAND California
is your best bet. There are several "building sites"
throughout the stroller-friendly park north of San
Diego. Follow the map's teddy bear icon to find gentler rides and play areas. Kids can dig in the sand for
fossils or "pilot" a plane that flies six feet high.
Thirty or so miles south of San Jose you'll find
agricultural amusement park Gilroy Gardens, where
little ones will get a giggle out of the food-shaped
rides. They can hop aboard a hungry worm for a spin
around an apple core or sit in the center of a giant
twirling garlic bulb at the shady 536-acre property.
Find the choo-choo ride of your little conductor's
dreams in Fort Bragg aboard the 131-year-old Skunk
Train for a four-hour trip along the "Redwood Route,"
through towering trees and along pristine coastline.

Gilroy Gardens

Movie Magic
If you're looking for life to imitate
art, make your first stop Universal
Studios Hollywood. It's where you'll
find Optimus Prime just steps from
Shrek. It's also where you'll watch a
velociraptor roar at passersby while
you snack on a handful of Bertie Bott's
Every Flavour Beans from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. There you'll
find a replica Hogwarts, watch a wand
choose a wizard at Ollivander's, and
drink butterbeer in a souvenir stein
(it's worth the $10).
Diehard film buffs will be blown
away by the memorabilia at the threehour Warner Bros. Studio Tour. View
costumes and props from the Harry
Potter films, or enter the Batcave to
see the collection of batmobiles up
close. The DC Universe: The Exhibit
features original Justice League comic
books. Plus, you can take a selfie in
Harley Quinn's prison cell and spy
some real-life Kryptonite.
You'll find more superhero fun at

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Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in
Vallejo, halfway between San Francisco
and Sacramento. It's easy to find
thrills here, whether your daredevil is
swinging on the Wonder Woman Lasso
of Truth, soaring on the Superman
Ultimate Flight, twisting and flipping
on The Joker, getting soaked on The
Penguin, or testing the new-for-2018
Harley Quinn Crazy Coaster.
Younger movie fans will get lost in
Disney California Adventure Park's
Radiator Springs set, while Frozen fans
should keep their eyes peeled for Anna
and Elsa. And Darth Vader roams
Disneyland Resort. Should you come
face to face with him, may we suggest
enrolling your little Luke Skywalker in
the park's Jedi "training" program?
And don't miss the Star Wars
Miniland at LEGOLAND California,
where you'll see scenes from the
blockbuster films (and a life-size
Chewbacca) re-created with more
than 32 million bricks.

Universal Studios
Hollywood

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of California Official Visitor's Guide 2018