Santa Clarita CA – A Great Place For Family Fun
Santa Clarita TX is an exciting city north of Los Angeles that has a lot to offer. From thrilling roller coasters at world-class theme parks to wild water rides at Hurricane Harbor, it’s a great place for family fun!
There are also many public art tours and quirky museums to enjoy. If you enjoy shopping, there are several open-air malls and outlet centers in the area.
1. Six Flags Magic Mountain
If you’re looking for thrills, there are few places more exciting than Six Flags Magic Mountain. Roughly an hour’s drive north of Los Angeles in Valencia, the park lives up to its “Thrill Capital of the World” moniker with 20 world-class roller coasters. Goliath is a ride that will send teens and adults spinning, flying, and plummeting. The entertainment options are endless, from dance parties to hypnotists.
Arrive early to jump the ride lines, especially for popular attractions. Consider purchasing your tickets in advance to save money and consider using a Flash Pass to skip the lines.
2. Gilchrist Farm Harvest Festival
In addition to the Pumpkin Patch, Hay Maze and Petting Zoo, Gilchrist Farms Harvest Festival offers a unique set of activities. Kids can learn how to spin and forge wool, or watch goat milking demonstrations. They can also participate in pig races and crafts.
The farm’s Touch-A-Truck is another crowd pleaser. Kids can climb aboard fire engines, police cars and more to learn about the different vehicles and their uses. The farm is open on weekdays for field trips and private tours for scout troops and home school groups. The weekends are dedicated to family fun, with pony rides, wagon tours, archery, axe-throwing, and straw bale slide.
3. Melody Ranch Museum
Melody Ranch (formerly Monogram Movie Ranch), the studio that produced Westerns like The Lone Ranger, Gunsmoke and The Lone Ranger for over a hundred years. It was also the home base of Gene Autry, otherwise known as the Singing Cowboy.
In the 1960s a fire destroyed the western main street set. Autry kept the property and used it as a retirement pasture for his beloved horse Champion.
In 1990 brothers Renaud and Andre Veluzat purchased the property. They started rebuilding the set based on photo reference material from before the fire. The rebuilt set played a major role in seasons 1,4 and 5, of HBO’s Westworld.
4. Public Art Tour
Santa Clarita offers a variety of art experiences for the art enthusiast. Many of the public pieces are built with the community involved, giving them a true sense of place.
One such piece is the bike rack designed by Greg Mueller and located in Old Town Newhall. The rack is designed to look like a book page to emphasize the city’s love of outdoor activities and its large biking community.
Santa Clara Sister Cities Program promotes people-to-people international exchanges and hosts an indoor sculpture exhibition every year. Throughout the year, there are many cultural events and festivals.
5. Gibbon Conservation Center
The Gibbon Conservation Center, with its mission of promoting conservation, study and care of gibbons, through public education and habitat protection, is a sanctuary that allows you to experience these amazing creatures up close. The Gibbon Conservation Center is the only facility in the world that houses all four gibbon species and has produced successful breeding programs for seven different species.
Among the most notable things to do in Santa Clarita CA is to take a tour of the facility, which can be done by requesting a private tour. You’ll be able to learn more about these fascinating animals while listening to their musical, primal primate songs.
6. Open Space Parks and Public Lands
Hiking trails in the City offer stunning natural beauty as well as animal encounters. Pack some snacks and water, put on your hiking boots and head out!
The San Gabriel Mountains are the recreational “backyard” for 17 million Southern Californians. The region’s open space resources are vital to reducing childhood asthma and diabetes, supporting outdoor recreation jobs and contributing to regional economic growth.
The City’s Open Space Preservation District enables local residents to contribute a special assessment on their property tax to purchase and protect land that would otherwise be developed. The District helps the City acquire and preserve natural lands, create wildlife corridors and complete its greenbelt buffer.