Hotel Info:
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Adventure City
Stanton (near Anaheim)
(714) 236-9300
A small park for young children. In Disneyland's shadows, it caters more to the locals.
Belmont Park
San Diego
(858) 488-1549
A seaside amusement park. Home to the great Giant Dipper wooden coaster.
Bonfante Gardens
Gilroy (near San Jose)
The park, which changed its name in 2007, is now known as Gilroy Gardens.
California's Great America
Santa Clara (near San Francisco)
Castle Park
Riverside
(909) 785-3000
Huge family entertainment center with an arcade, mini-golf, and a small ride park.
Children's Fairyland
Oakland
(510) 452-2259
Small lakeside storybook park
Disneyland Resort
Anaheim
(714) 781-4565
Where it all began. Now features two theme parks, three hotels, Downtown Disney, and more.
Disney's California Adventure
Anaheim
Disneyland's second park.
Funderland
Sacramento
(916) 456-0115
Small park for young children.
Gilroy Gardens
Gilroy (near San Jose)
The park, which changed its name in 2007, used to be known as Bonfante Gardens.
Great America
Santa Clara (near San Francisco)
The park is now known as "California's Great America.
Knott's Berry Farm
Buena Park (Next to Anaheim)
(714) 220-5200
The Farm picked up some attitude when the Cedar Point folks bought the park a few years ago. Now you can get toasted on some wild coasters to go along with your boysenberry jam. Adjacent waterpark.
Legoland California
Carlsbad (near San Diego)
(760) 918-5346
Geared to younger children, this charming park takes the ubiquitous toy building blocks and transforms them into enchanting attractions.
Pacific Park
Santa Monica
(310) 260-8744
Classic-style seaside pier park, built in 1996.
Paramount's Great America
Santa Clara (near San Francisco)
NOTE: Paramount sold the park. It is now known as "California's Great America."
Since Six Flags assumed ownership of Marine World, PGA has engaged in a coaster war with its neighbor. The winner so far: park fans that come to the San Francisco area.
Pixieland Amusement Park
Concord
(925) 689-8841
Small park for young children.
Rotary Storyland and Playland
Fresno
(559) 486-2124
Fairy tale-themed park for young children.
San Diego Zoo & Wild Animal Park
San Diego and Escondido (near San Diego)
619-234-3153
No roller coasters or other rides, but arguably the nation's finest zoos.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Santa Cruz (between, Monterey and San Francisco)
(831) 423-5590
Classic seaside amusement park with three coasters, including the vintage 1924 Giant Dipper.
Scandia Amusement Park
Ontario (near Los Angeles)
Also operates family fun centers in Victorville, CA and Sacramento, CA
Small park with a junior steel coaster, thrill and kiddie rides, plus go-karts, 2 mini-golf courses, and bating cages.
SeaWorld San Diego
San Diego
(619) 226-3901
Shamu's West Coast digs. Offers a few rides along with the marine life shows and exhibits.
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Vallejo (near San Francisco)
Hybrid zoo/oceanarium/amusement park
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Valencia (near Los Angeles)
(661) 255-4100
Affiliated water park: Six Flags California Hurricane Harbor
A cutting-edge thrill ride park with an incredible arsenal of roller coasters.
Six Flags Marine World
Vallejo (near San Francisco)
Now known as Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Tahoe Amusement Park
Lake Tahoe
(530) 541-1300
Small, classic-style park.
Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal City
(800) UNIVERSAL
An actual working Hollywood studio, UH rings truer than its Florida counterpart. The California park has upped the wow factor however, by adding some of Orlando's big-bucks attractions.
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