CA.THEME PARKS GOLD STRIKER ROLLER COASTER at California’s Great America, Santa Clara, below.
dozens of different species of marine life, including dolphins, sea lions, walruses, polar bears and beluga whales. It also is one of only two places in the world where emperor penguins are kept in captivity. In the nearby community of Carlsbad, Legoland is dedicated to tiny plastic bricks (dubbed “Legos”), and boasts mind-boggling Lego replicas of famous architectural icons (the Statue of Liberty and the Taj Mahal among them) as well as dioramas of seven areas of the U.S. The park incorporates rides and eateries, and is home to the Model Shop, the headquarters for the
Other Bay Area Parks
from scream-inducing (Flight Deck, a roller
park’s 10 master builders (a window allows
The San Francisco Bay Area is home to two
coaster, has one 360-degree loop and a zero-
guests to witness these professionals at
other popular parks: California’s Great
gravity roll) to family-friendly (the Carousel
work). In the summer of 2013, the park also
America (in Santa Clara) and Six Flags Dis-
Columbia is the world’s tallest double-
opened a hotel; the lobby has a giant pit of
covery Kingdom (in Vallejo).
decker carousel). In the summer of 2013, the
Legos with which children can play.
Great America, next to the new Levi’s Sta-
park opened the Gold Striker, the tallest and
dium, is all about rides. Diversions range
fastest wooden roller coaster in Northern California. The coaster climbs over 108 feet and sends passengers shooting at freeway
»
FIND YOUR FANTASY
speeds of up to 54 m.p.h. The vibe at Discovery Kingdom is more eclectic. In addition to rides such as the Medusa roller coaster and SkyScreamer (a
Children’s Fairyland fairyland.org
swing ride), the park also is home to a
Universal Studios Hollywood universalstudioshollywood.com
walrus, who starred in the 2004 movie, 50
CityPASS
First Dates, and Brandon the reticulated
Once you’ve decided where to go, try City-
giraffe, who was named after San Francisco
PASS for saving some money: In Southern
Giants slugger, Brandon Belt. In 2015, park
California, it knocks as much as one third
officials are expecting to add Dare Devil
off the price of admission to Disneyland,
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom sixflags.com/discoverykingdom
Chaos Coaster, a roller coaster that takes
Disney California Adventure Park, Universal
passengers upside-down in both forward
Studios Hollywood and SeaWorld. The
Legoland California california.legoland.com
and backward directions.
Southern California CityPASS is a single-
SeaWorld seaworldparks.com/en/ seaworld-sandiego
San Diego Area Parks
period and allows you to skip most ticket
San Diego and its surrounding suburbs
lines. In San Francisco, CityPass offers sim-
also comprise a great region for theme
ilar discounts (for attractions such as the
parks; two family favorites are SeaWorld
California Academy of Sciences and the
and Legoland.
Exploratorium), and is good for nine days.
California’s Great America cagreatamerica.com
Knott's Berry Farm knotts.com CityPASS citypass.com
admission card that’s good over a 14-day
Out near Mission Bay, in San Diego proper, SeaWorld is a sprawling homage to
58 2 01 5
T R AV E L G U I D E T O C A L I F O R N I A
Buy your CityPASS at any of the above attractions or online at citypass.com.
SANTA CLARA CVB
Disneyland disneyland.disney.go.com
number of animals, including Jocko the