Six Flags Magic Mountain (SFMM) is a 260-acre theme park located north of Los Angeles at the Magic Mountain Parkway exit off Interstate 5 in Valencia. From Ventura County, you can get there by taking either the 101 or 118 to the 405 North then to the 5 North, or you can take the backroads route via the 126. In fact, coming from Ventura, Ojai, Oxnard, Santa Paula and Fillmore, the 126 is probably the best way to go.

SFMM originally opened on Memorial Day weekend on May 30, 1971 and was purchased by Six Flags in 1979 for you trivia buffs. The park has over 100 rides, games and attractions and boasts 18 world-class roller coasters, apparently more than any other theme park in the world!

Among the park’s world-class roller coasters and thrill rides are X2, the world’s only 5th dimensional roller coaster, Tatsu, the tallest, fastest and longest flying coaster, Scream, Southern California’s first floorless coaster, Déjà Vu, a looping, boomerang coaster, Goliath, the giant among coasters, Batman The Ride, The Riddler’s Revenge and more.

There's an entire kids rides section called Bugs Bunny World that has 9 kiddie rides. There's about 16 "family" type rides that are for all ages. There are shows all the time and plenty of Looney Tunes characters around the park. This is a complete no brainer of a place to bring a group of kids for birthday parties. I took my stepson here with his pals at age 12 and of course they loved it.

On a personal note, I actually worked at SFMM one summer during my high school years. I'll even admit to what I did. I was a Park Service Attendant (PSA), which is a glorified title for cleaning crew.

Visit www.sixflags.com/magicMountain to learn more about SFMM and to purchase tickets. Speaking of tickets though, the Auto Club usually offers discounted tickets, so check that out if you're a member.