Six Flags Magic Mountain

Just up the 5 in Valencia, Six Flags 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 (the multiple tiers of Flash Passes can help considerably, but they also can cost as much as quadruple the otherwise reasonable general admission ticket prices). But if you’re simply after unforgettable thrills—like X2, Tatsu, Goliath and more than a dozen other coasters—you’re in the right place.

The park does have a modest number of carnival-caliber 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.