Top 10 Amusement Park Rides In Southern California

I hope you made it out to the carnival this weekend at Mira Mesa High School. The four day event raised some much needed funds for the Football Program, and a lot of fun and games took place right here in the heart of Mira Mesa. As a kid, I loved the rides at amusement parks. The spinning cups, the slides, the carousel, and especially the roller coasters.

I remember the first time I went to Magic Mountain and rode “The Revolution” which was the first roller coaster in the area to have a loop-de-loop. I was terrified just looking at it, but after the ride was over, I couldn’t wait to get back into the 45 minute line and do it again. Now I have a son, and I get to enjoy the feeling of going on thrill rides for the first time again. Here are my Top 10 Favorite Rides from Southern California Amusement Parks:

1.    Toy Story Mania! – California Adventure. This 3-D shooting gallery ride is just awesome. If you are going to go to Disneyland, I recommend getting the park hopper pass and visit California Adventure as well. We went as a family a few weeks ago, and we went on the Toy Story ride 4 times.
2.    Pirates of the Caribbean – Disneyland. Although recently updated to include the likeness of Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow, this is still a fan favorite and will be enjoyed by all family members, young and old.
3.    Journey to Atlantis – Sea World. Is it a roller coaster ride through water, or a water ride that turns into a roller coaster? I can’t say for sure, but I like it. Wet, fast, twisting and turning fun.
4.    Viper – Six Flags Magic Mountain. First they had the Revolution, then Colossus, and then came Viper, which is still my favorite roller coaster. It is very fast, full of loops and sharp turns, and you leave the ride practically exhausted. If you like thrill rides, go to Magic Mountain.
5.    Log Jammer – Magic Mountain. Every amusement park has some sort of log ride, which takes you on a mild boat ride with some sort of drop in which you scream with your hands in the air, then you get soaked at the bottom.
6.    Shipwreck Rapids – Sea World. Actually, you could also put every theme park down for this one. Call it what you will; Roarin’Rapids, Grizzly River Run, it is a big round raft that you share with 8-12 people, and you hope everyone else gets wet except for you. If you are wearing new shoes, you are guaranteed to get soaked.
7.    Free Fall – Magic Mountain. This was the original strap-yourself-in-and-hold on- tight ride. It quickly raised you up 10 stories, then after a slight pause would drop you straight down. For a great variation of this classic ride, California Adventure has the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Do it at night for an added element of fun.
8.    Soarin’ Over California – California Adventure. I can’t believe I skipped this awesome simulated hang gliding ride the past 4 times I went to the park. You feel like you are soaring above the mountains, over the rivers, and through the fields, and you can even smell the orange trees!
9.    Knott’s Scary Farm – Knott’s Berry Farm. Not technically a ride, the whole park transforms into a myriad of haunted mazes, with characters invading the popular rides as well. If you are a teenager or older, and you like to get scared, you have to go to Knott’s Scary Farm.
10.    Lost Kingdom Adventure – LEGOLAND. This ride is like going on a trip with Indiana Jones, and you get to blast things with laser guns along the way. Fun for the kids and adults too.

These are my favorites, what about yours?