California has more theme parks and amusement parks than any other state in the union. If you are traveling in Southern California or in the San Francisco Bay Area, chances are there’s a park near you.
Several of the amusement parks have adjacent waterparks if you or your kids want to get wet when it’s hot out. Of course you can still get soaked in your clothes on log rides and white-water rafting trips at some of the major parks.
Disney, Knott’s, and Six Flags may have set the standard quite high for thrilling and entertaining parks, but there are many smaller amusement parks around California. Most are geared at kids and families instead of scaring the bejesus out of teens and adults. So if you are looking for something simpler, less expensive, and less time-consuming, then consider one of the smaller parks.
Attractions on this map
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Disneyland
Disneyland vacations are some of the most popular California family experiences. You can stay at the theme park in the Craftsman-style Disney’s Grand Californian with a room overlooking the theme […]
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Disney California Adventure Park
Are you looking for an adventure that includes fun rides to sweep you off your feet? California Adventure will do that to you. Soar in a ride that takes you […]
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Knott’s Berry Farm
Welcome to the land of Charlie Brown, Lucy and Snoopy. Knott’s Berry Farm is a mix of the Old West entertainment and extreme thrill. Six themed areas…Ghost Town, Camp Snoopy, […]
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Legoland California
LEGOLAND theme park in Carlsbad, California should be added to your vacation list, especially if you have kids. While bigger kids can have fun here, youngsters from ages “baby” to […]
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Knott’s Soak City Water Park
Soak City is one of Orange County’s top theme park attractions and there are several great ones nearby including Disneyland, Disney’s California Adventure, and Knott’s other nearby park Knott’s Berry […]
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Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood is one of the top theme parks in Southern California. When you buy Universal Studios Hollywood Tickets, you aren’t limited to just theme park fun. You can […]
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California’s Great America
Great America is Northern California’s favorite place for family fun and thrills starring your kids’ favorite Snoopy characters, and the most kids rides and attractions in the Bay Area. The Planet […]
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SeaWorld San Diego
SeaWorld San Diego is on the shores of Mission Bay north of Downtown San Diego. The park opened in 1964 and has been thriving ever since. It’s a popular park […]
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Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain has the largest collection of XTREME roller coasters on the Planet! Known world wide as a thrill ride haven, Six Flags Magic Mountain features world-class roller […]
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Santa Cruz Boardwalk
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk offers more than 30 amusement park rides from roller coasters to kiddie rides, four arcades with both vintage machines and hundreds of modern video games, a […]
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Belmont Park
San Diego’s Mission Beach Belmont Park is a beach amusement park reminiscent of traditional thrill parks that Americans enjoyed in the early 1900s. Filled with fun kiddie boat rides and […]
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Pacific Park on Santa Monica Pier
Pacific Park is Santa Monica’s amusement park on the Santa Monica Pier. On a beautiful, sunny Southern California afternoon thousands of people stroll onto the pier to enjoy a sprawling […]
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Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is a unique thrill ride amusement park mixed with an aquarium and zoo. It is located 30 miles northeast of San Francisco in Vallejo. The officials […]
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Adventure City
Adventure City is another amusement park in Anaheim and is just four miles from Disneyland. It’s a small park that is aimed at younger kids and tighter budgets. The motto […]
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Castle Park
Castle Park is a smallish theme park by Southern California standards, but it’s got a lot to offer. In addition to over 25 amusement park rides it has a water […]
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Aquatica Waterpark San Diego
Aquatica is a waterpark theme park in the San Diego area that’s fun for all age groups. It’s got all the modern big water slides and rides. You’ll find options […]
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Children’s Fairyland
Children’s Fairlyland is a non-profit theme park that opened in 1950 for San Francisco Bay Area families to enjoy. This opening era was pre-Disneyland and Children’s Fairyland in fact had […]
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Boomerang Bay Waterpark
Boomerang Bay is the popular waterpark adjacent to the Great America amusement park in Santa Clara in the South Bay Area. Access to the park’s water-based rides is included in […]
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Legoland Water Park
Legoland Water Park is located inside Legoland California and like the main park, it has Lego-themed rides. They have created a water park aimed at all ages with rides and […]
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Trees of Mystery
Trees of Mystery is a nature based theme park in Klamath along the northern coast of California. They have a gondola ride that climbs nearly 600 feet in a third of a […]
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Gilroy Gardens
Gilroy Gardens is the brain child of Michael Bonfante, owner of a chain of northern California Nob Hill grocery stores. This 75-acre theme park has ecology at its roots. Gilroy […]
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Balboa Fun Zone
The Newport Beach Balboa Fun Zone with its small Ferris Wheel has long been a tradition for families with kids who come to play near the ocean. For years it was […]
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Winchester Mystery House
Winchester Mystery House in San Jose is named after a wealthy widow Sarah L. Winchester. She began a construction project of such magnitude in 1884 and it occupied the lives of […]
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Sonoma TrainTown Railroad
TrainTown is a railroad-based theme park in the North Bay Area town of Sonoma. Since 1968 train enthusiasts and curious visitors have been riding the trains at this 10-acre park. […]
