Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California

If you love roller coasters then Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California is the place to go. They have sixteen existing roller coasters with Terminator Salvation: The Ride recently opening on May 23, 2009. Parking is $15.00, if you plan to eat at the park you can purchase meal and snack vouchers on line. If you don't want to eat at the park there is a family picnic area located outside the park. Those who will attend Six Flags Magic Mountain several times a year might consider a season pass. The best value is to buy and print your tickets on line.

When you enter the park do not bring any food or beverages besides water. Security will check your backpack and request that any food items be discarded. You can buy a refillable collectors cup and quench your thirst at many different places in the park, a small refill fee applies. Wear comfortable shoes because you will be walking a lot and standing in line as well. There are a few steep hills that lead to rides such as Superman The Escape, Tatsu and Ninja. Now, let's get to the roller coasters.

Terminator Salvation: The Ride. This roller coaster is a wooden sit down ride. You will need to check your backpack or loose items at the lockers located at the entrance because you cannot bring them on the ride and there is no place to set them down. You begin the ride by walking through a climate controlled area where a small video plays to hype the ride. Once you enter the loading area you will be asked how many in your party and they will direct you to the available seats. This ride is pretty fast and intense, there are no loops and you don't go backwards. There is some fire blasted towards the sky on one of the turns and at night it looks really cool.

Superman The Escape. This is a sit down ride and you can take your belongings with you or set them down to the side. This ride goes 100 mph in seven seconds while it shoots you up a 41-story tower. This ride has a high thrill factor and on a hot day the wait leading up to the ride is nice and cool just like Superman's lair the Fortress of Solitude.

Tatsu is a ride that mirrors a flying experience; it's the only one of its kind at Six Flags Magic Mountain. You can place your belongings to the side before you buckle in. This ride makes you feel like you are flying because it inverts you horizontally the whole time, you feel like you are going to fall out but that's the whole experience. You will travel at speeds of 60mph and see most of the park from a birds eye view. No seat is better than the other, just get on and fly.

Déjà vu is the most intense ride in the entire park. You will never forget the feeling of being hauled up backwards and then dropped 20 stories straight down. You are sitting at a 90 degree angle when they drop you and it takes you straight into a loop. The best part is you get to do it twice but the second time you are backwards. There is a height limit, those over 6'5 might not be able to ride.

Goliath reaches speeds up to 85mph and drops you 255 feet. This one is a sit down steel roller coaster and gives you the maximum thrill you are seeking. Gotham City has two roller coasters within Gotham City, Batman The Ride and Riddler's Revenge. Both are steel and you sit down on Batman The Ride but you stand up on Riddler's Revenge. Scream! is a steel roller coaster and the name says it all. You will never know which way you are going on this ride and at 63mph you just need to hang on and have fun. X or X2 as its known now is a 4^th dimension roller coaster that has moved to the 5^th dimension that means that the cars spin on a horizontal axis. While waiting in line you can watch videos of people doing crazy stuff on bikes, skateboards and it takes your mind off of what is to come. This coaster reaches speeds up to 76mph.

It's best to get there early so you can ride all the coasters I listed. Pay attention to the height requirement and if you bring kids you can always let them play at Bugs Bunny World located through the big Sequoia tree.