Six Flags Magic Mountain050

Now part of the two-park complex of Six Flags California (along with the water extravaganza Hurricane Harbor), Magic Mountain is the clear destination of choice for sheer thrills.

While the park offers a lot for younger kids, anyone over 10 who likes an exhilarating scare will love the variety of roller coasters available here. A dozen thrill rides beckon the brave, including classics like the loop-the-loop Revolution and the wooden monstrosity, Colossus.

Comic-book themed thrill rides have become the rage, as witnessed by The Riddler's Revenge and Superman the Escape.

Wet rides are a big draw, especially for the Log Jammer and the Roaring Rapids. The Tidal Wave experience is both a chill and a thrill, but not for the young or the faint-hearted because of its 50-foot plunge over a waterfall.

Magic Mountain never misses an opportunity to cross promote entertainment products. Some rides and shows relate to movie themes, including the Batman Begins Stunt Show.

The park is the home to many of the Warner Bros. cartoon characters. For those with younger kids, the best place to go is Bugs Bunny World. Sixteen rides and attractions feature one or more of the most beloved Looney Tunes stars, including Bugs himself, Yosemite Sam, and Daffy Duck.

Kids can meet the characters at Granny And Tweety's House, Taz's House, or Bugs Bunny's Burrow. For other kid-friendly fun, try the playground at The Looney Tunes Lodge, the aerial joy of Yosemite Sam's Flight School, or the twirly mayhem of Pepe LePew's Tea Party.

Magic Mountain presents too many rides and attractions to do in one day. A good idea is to plan for 45 minutes, on average, to wait for a popular ride. For the younger kids, hit Bugs Bunny World first.

Food around Magic Mountain is plentiful, though (as expected) expensive. If you can stand fried food, the fries and chicken strips are surprisingly good. Candy and ice cream treats are everywhere, too.

Numerous well-kept bathrooms dot the park, some with diaper-changing facilities.

Park hours vary, depending on the season. In the winter months, the hours are usually weekends, 10am-6pm. In the summer months, the hours expand to Sun-Thu 10am-10pm, and Fri-Sat 10am to 12m. For hours on a specific day, it's best to call the park in advance.