CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles

Admission:

• $25.95 adults
• $15.95 children 3 - 11
• $17.95 ages 60 and over
• $12.95 for all after 6 pm
• Parking $5 (free 3-hr parking at California Marketplace)

Open:

• June - early Sept (Sun - Thu, 9 am - 11 pm; Fri/Sat, 9 am - midnight)
• Mid Sept - May (weekdays, 10 am- 6 pm; Sat, 10 am - 10 pm; Sun, 10 am - 7 pm)
• Closed Christmas Day
• Stroller rental, wheelchair rental, food concessions, diaper-changing stations.

Raging Waters (Ages 2 - 15)
Top water theme park in California, and at 44 acres, it's certainly the biggest. Aside from the BIG water slides like Thunder Rapids, where riders shoot down a 550-foot slide aboard six-person rafts, and Drop Out, a seven-story drop slide, to name a few, there is also a 1/2 mile river in the Amazon Adventure, and Kid's Kingdom, a new 2,000 square foot water playground with slides, swings, a maze of plastic pipers, and waterfalls to stand under.

Admission:                                  

• $18.95 for adults and
  children over 48"
• $10.95 ages 55 and over
• $9.95 children 42" - 48"
• Children under 42" free

Open:

• Early June - mid Sept (daily 10 am - 6 pm)
• Mid April - early June and mid Sept - late Oct (weekends, 10 am - 6 pm)

Santa's Village (Ages 2 - 9)
Located on Lake Arrowhead, you'll actually find more than Santa here: Storybook characters such as Cinderella and Alice in Wonderland make appearances, too. Kids can climb up the Crooked Tree House, slide down the Rabbit Hole, and scurry around trying to find their way out of a Mirror Maze. Rides are all sized for small kids.

Admission:

• $9.50 ages 3 - adult
• $4.50 ages 65 and over
• Food concessions

Open:

• Mid June - mid Sept and mid Nov - Dec (daily, 10 am - 5 pm)
• Mid Sept - mid Nov, Jan, Feb, and early June (weekends and holidays, 10 am - 5 pm, weather permitting)
• Closed Christmas Day

Six Flags Magic Mountain (Ages 3 - 15)
Located 1/2 hour north of Hollywood, this is Los Angeles County's only major amusement park: 260 acres, with nine landscaped theme areas. Best known for its eight "monster coasters." Expect long waits; it's best to arrive when the park opens in the morning, especially on crowded summer weekends. The big coasters all require height minimums between 42 and 54 inches.

Admission:

• $27 adults and children 48" and over
• $17 ages 55 and over
• $15 children under 48"

Open:

• May 8 - Sept 12 (daily, 10 am)
• Sept 13 - May 7 (opens at 10 am weekends and school holidays only, closing varies)
• Stroller rentals, wheelchair rentals, food concessions

Universal Studios Hollywood (Ages 3 - 15)
If your kids can watch a movie all the way through, they may be old enough to enjoy Universal Studios, though some of the attractions can be frightening for tots. During peak summer season, you won't make it through all the rides, much less the shows in one day. The park is divided into three main areas: the Entertainment Center, the Studio Center, and the Back Lot. You enter through the Entertainment Center, site of several attractive movie set streets and restaurants; various shows take place here. The shows are easier to get into than the rides, so consider leaving those till later in the day. Line up for Back to the Future - the ride before leaving the Entertainment Center (40" minimum for kids). It's worth the wait. Then head directly to the entrance of the 50-minute Studio Tram Ride in the Studio Center. It's the one "don't miss" attraction, though the very young may find some of the special effects frightening. Once back at Studio Center, head for the E.T. Adventure, which is absolutely magical!

Admission:

• $29 adults
• $23 ages 3 - 11, and over 60

Hint: Summertime crowds can be overwhelming, with long lines at the most popular rides and attractions. Try to arrive early; the park opens at 8 am in summer. Restaurants, snack bars, and shops are scattered throughout the park, but consider getting your hand stamped and exiting for lunch or shopping at nearby City Walk, where the food and merchandise are both better and less expensive.

Open:

• June - early Sept (daily, 8 am - 10:30 pm)
• Mid Sept - May (daily, 9 am - 6:30 pm)
• Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's
• Stroller rentals, wheelchairs, food concessions, diaper changing tables

Wild Rivers (Ages 3 - 15)
20-acre theme and water park features more than 40 rides and attractions. There are slides and rides for older kids and younger ones; a two-headed Dinosaur Slide and wading pools make this park as fun for the young as it is for the older child.

Admission:

• $16.95 adults
• $12.95 ages 3 - 9
• $8.95 ages 55 and over
• $8.95 for all after 4 pm
• Parking $3

Open:

• Mid June - mid Sept (daily, 10 am - 8 pm)
• Early May - mid June and mid Sept - early Oct (weekends and holidays, 11 am - 5 pm)
• Food concessions

*Rates are subject to change