California Road Trips - 50 Life-Changing Adventures - 19

STA R T
SeaWorld San Diego

days

165
miles

FINISH
Six Flags Magic
Mountain
MOST
ADRENALINEPUMPING RIDE
Superman: Escape from
Krypton at Six Flags
Magic Mountain

Theme Park
Thrills

Whether you're tooling around with
old friends or a backseat full of kids,
this trek is certain to please

DI SN EYLA N D RESORT

H O L D O N T I G H T-W E ' R E G O I N G TO PAC K TO N S O F F U N I N TO T H I S W H I R LW I N D
adventure. We begin at sun-drenched SeaWorld San Diego. Take a ride on San Diego's tallest, fastest roller
coaster, the Electric Eel, which soars to 150 feet with multiple loops and inversions. Then splash your way
through Shipwreck Rapids or plunge 60 heart-stopping feet on the Journey to Atlantis. True to its name,
SeaWorld offers more than just rides-you'll also get an in-depth look at ocean creatures from sea horses
to sharks.
Next, hop in the car for the 40-minute drive north on I-5 to LEGOLAND California. Settle into one
of the kid-friendly themed rooms at the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel and plan to get an early start on day
two. The emphasis at this Carlsbad theme park is on kiddie fun, so most rides are on the tamer side. But
adults will be fascinated by Miniland USA, a diorama of cities built from 30 million multicolored bricks,
including a mini Golden Gate Bridge. There's also an aquarium with 200 different sea creatures and a
splash-happy water park. You've had your fair share of fun today, so score a summer-camp-style dinner
at Campfire in Carlsbad Village, a rustic-chic eatery where diners vie for picnic-table seats and almost
everything is prepared over an open flame (kids will love the teepee outside).
On day three, don your Mickey Mouse ears and make a one-hour freeway dash to Anaheim,
home of Disneyland Resort's "happiest place on earth." There's never a dull moment at the original
Magic Kingdom or its neighbor, Disney's California Adventure Park, where the recently reimagined
Incredicoaster serves up exhilarating drops on Pixar Pier. You'll mingle with the Disney family of
characters, take a spin on nostalgic rides like the Jungle Cruise and It's a Small World, and check out the
park's biggest new attraction: Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. You'll be ready to sleep after an all-Disney day,
so turn in for the night at the ultramodern Disneyland Hotel.
The next morning, zip over to Knott's Berry Farm, just seven miles away. America's oldest theme park
dates back to 1932, when farmer Walter Knott offered visitors carnival rides along with boysenberry pies
and fried-chicken dinners. Today, Knott's is known for stomach-flipping roller coasters: Scream your head
off on the Silver Bullet's corkscrew and double spiral, or streak 80 miles per hour on the Xcelerator.
After another thrill-a-minute day, take your pick from an array of Buena Park hotels. Enjoy a later

PHOTOGRAPH: BARRY KING

start as you wait for rush hour to subside on the way to Universal Studios Hollywood. Pass through
the park's gate, then take the movie backlot tram tour, constructed with advice from Steven Spielberg.
Cinema buffs will love seeing props and sets from Jaws, Psycho, and other Hollywood films. Step into
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter or scope out the new Jurassic World attraction.
Save plenty of energy for your final day, which holds this trip's biggest kicks. Cruise 30 minutes
north on I-5 to the Santa Clarita Valley, where Six Flags Magic Mountain boasts a staggering lineup of
roller coasters-19 in all-including the world's tallest and fastest looping coaster (Full Throttle), and
the world's fastest stand-up coaster (Riddler's Revenge). Adrenaline seekers, your search is over.

California Road Trips - 50 Life-Changing Adventures

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of California Road Trips - 50 Life-Changing Adventures