With 15 roller coasters, Magic Mountain is a great amusement park for thrill-seekers and roller-coaster aficionados. Some of the insane rides include Tatsu, the longest, fastest and tallest "flying" roller coaster in the world; X2, a five-dimensional roller coaster that races at a speed of 76 mph/122 kph on 3,600 feet of steel track and spins riders 360 degrees; Scream!, a floorless roller coaster; Superman—The Escape, which speeds to 100 mph/160 kph and promises six seconds of weightlessness (though it feels longer); and Viper, the largest looping roller coaster in the world at 188 ft/58 m. Located next to Magic Mountain, Hurricane Harbor offers waterslides, pools and a 1,300-ft/403-m river. Lines are long, and it is hot in the summer, but the many shops and restaurants help.
Magic Mountain hours: October-March Saturday and Sunday 10 am-6 pm; April-September daily for longer hours. Hurricane Harbor hours: May-September daily 10 am-7 pm, closed in winter. Admission for Magic Mountain US$59.99 adults, US$29.99 children 4 ft/1 m in height and shorter, free for children 2 and younger. Admission for Hurricane Harbor US$29.99 adults, US$20.99 children 4 ft/1 m in height and shorter, free for children 2 and younger. Special combo tickets are available for visiting both attractions (US$69.99 for adults), and lower pricing is offered for booking online. Parking is US$15. 26101 Magic Mountain Parkway (about 40 mi/65 km northwest of downtown L.A.), Valencia. Phone 661-255-4100. http://www.sixflags.com/parks/magicmountain.
