GETTING THERE

By Car—Six Flags is about 60 miles northwest of the Disneyland Resort. To get there from Anaheim, take I-5 north, exit at Magic Mountain Parkway, turn left at the bottom of the ramp, and follow signs to parking ($20). If you need directions from another point, use your phone's maps app or a mapping web site with this as your destination address: 26101 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia, CA 91355.

By Bus—No wheels of your own? Magic Mountain is off the beaten path, so alternate transportation is more of a challenge. We do know of one tour company that picks you up at your Los Angeles-area hotel, takes you to the park in a motor coach in the morning and returns you in the early evening—for details, visit http://www.starlinetours.com and search the Los Angeles tours, or call 800-959-3131.

BEST TIMES TO GO

Unlike most other Southern California parks, Magic Mountain is not open year-round. It tends to close on weekdays in the colder months (October–March), though it is open daily during the last two weeks of December (closed Christmas Day). On operating days, the park opens at 10:00 or 10:30 am and closes as early as 6:00 pm in the off-season and as late as 10:00 pm or even midnight on summer weekends. You can get the operating hours for your visit at their web site (http://www.sixflags.com/magicmountain) or by phoning 661-255-4100. As with most parks, you’ll encounter fewer crowds if you avoid the summer and holidays. Our most recent visit was in November, and while the crowds were light, we were still astounded by the number of teens in the park. But assuming you’re here for the adrenaline rush, arrive early to beat the crowds on a busy day. If you’re traveling in the off-season, many coasters may not even be open until 11:00 am.

RATINGS