Six Flags Magic Mountain

Just up the 5 in Valencia, Six Flags Magic Mountain delivers adrenaline-pumping thrills for strong-stomached visitors. While there are some gentle rides here, the park is most famous for the ones that’ll push your heart into your mouth—and your lunch onto the person sitting in front of you.

It’s a raucous place both on and off the rides, the half-hearted theming admittedly leaves much to be desired, and the lines can become oppressively long. (A Fast Lane pass can help,  but it’s almost as much as the otherwise reasonable general admission ticket prices. That being said, the last time we visited, there were practically no lines.) But if you’re simply after unforgettable thrills—including X2, Tatsu, Goliath and more than a dozen other coasters—you’re in the right place. Some of the coasters will even have you standing, lying down or spinning 360 degrees while riding. And though it’s not a coaster, don’t skip CraZanity, a 170-foot-high pendulum ride.  

The park does have a modest number of Looney Tunes–themed kid-friendly rides. But if you have young kids in tow, they’ll have a much more memorable time at Disneyland or Universal Studios—yes, you’ll need to pay more, but it’s worth the premium.

If you’re visiting in summertime, you may want to stay cool at Hurricane Harbor, Magic Mountain’s smaller water-park sibling next door. As you might expect, the rides here are a little milder, but there are still thrills—and lots of pure fun—to be had, from intense water slides to a wave pool to the eye-catching blue-and-yellow Tornado.