Family

Top family attractions mentioned in Susan Freudenheim’s roundup (Page 15).

Adventure City (1238 S. Beach Blvd., Anaheim, [714] 236-9300). Fifteen rides and attractions geared for kids. Children’s theater, petting farm, arts and crafts. Mon.-Thurs., 10 a.m.-5 p.m; Fri., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat., 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-8 p.m. $11.95.

California Science Center (700 State Drive at Exposition Boulevard, [213] 744-7400). “Magic: The Science of Illusion” explores the art and science behind magic tricks. Also houses an Imax theater, with separate admission. Daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free.

Disneyland (Ball Road at Santa Ana Freeway, Anaheim, [213] 626-8605, Ext. 4565, or [714] 781-4565). Sixty attractions in eight themed areas. New features: “45 Years of Magic--Parade of the Stars,” Tarzan’s Treehouse, “The All-New Woody’s Roundup” stage show and the new Autopia. Open daily, 8 a.m.-midnight. Age 10 and older, $41; age 60 and older, $39; children 3-9, $31.

Descanso Gardens (1418 Descanso Drive, La Canada, [818] 952-4400). Sixty-acre botanical garden, noted for its Camelia Forest, Rosarium, irises and California native-plants collection. Daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $5; seniors, students and youth, $3.

Griffith Park

Travel Town Museum (5200 West Zoo Drive at Ventura and Golden State freeways, Griffith Park, [323] 662-5874). Outdoor transportation museum with train ride. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. $1.25 for train ride.

Autry Museum of Western Heritage (4700 Western Heritage Way, [323] 667-2000). Tues.-Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thurs., 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Devoted to preserving and interpreting the history of the American West. “On Gold Mountain: A Chinese American Experience” explores the history of the Chinese in America from the 1790s to the present. $7.50; seniors and students, $5; children 2-12, $3.

L.A. Zoo (5333 Zoo Drive, Griffith Park, juncture of Ventura and Golden State freeways, [323] 644-6400). The new Red Ape Rain Forest is a replica of a natural habitat for orangutans. Chimpanzees of Mahale Mountains houses 13 chimpanzees. Sun.-Thurs., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 10 a.m.-7 p.m. $8.25; seniors, $5.25; ages 2-12, $3.25

Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens (1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, [626] 405-2141). “Worlds of Profit and Delight: Books and Readers in Renaissance England.” Through August. “Land of Golden Dreams: California in the Gold Rush Decade 1848-1858.” Ends Sept. 10. “Religion and the Founding of the American Republic.” Ends Sept. 17. Tues.-Sun., 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. $8.50; seniors, $8; students 12 and up, $6.

Hurricane Harbor (Magic Mountain Parkway, Interstate 5, Valencia, [661] 255-4111). Hurricane harbor-themed water park features 22 water slides. Open daily, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. $19.99; seniors and children 48 inches and under, $12.99; ages 2 and under, free.

Knott’s Berry Farm (8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, [714] 220-5200). “Snoopy’s 50th Birthday Blast,” through Sept. 4. Hours through Aug. 26: Sun.-Thurs., 9 a.m.-11 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 9 a.m.-midnight. $38; over 60 and ages 3-11, $28; after 4 p.m., $16.95 for all ages. Southern California residents, $29; ages 3-11, $14.

Knott’s Soak City U.S.A. (8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, [714] 220-5200). A water park featuring 21 attractions including tube and body slides and an interactive water area for children. Open daily, call for hours. $19.95; ages 3-11, $13.95; after 3 p.m., $11.95.

Legoland (1 Lego Drive, off Interstate 5 at Cannon Road, Carlsbad, [760] 918-5346). Kid-friendly Lego Park with tour of Lego factory, play areas and miniature cities. Open daily, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. $34; ages 3-16, $27.

Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific (100 Aquarium Way off Shoreline Drive, Long Beach, [562] 590-3100). Jellies: Phantoms of the Deep is a new 2,500-square-foot gallery dedicated to more than a dozen species of sea jellies. Also see more than 10,000 fish in 17 major habitat tanks and 30 smaller exhibits. Open daily, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. $14.95; seniors, $11.95; ages 3-11, $7.95.

Queen Mary (1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach, [562] 435-3511). Take a self-guided walking tour or visit “Ghosts and Legends,” a special-effects experience that dramatizes actual paranormal and historic events that have been reported on the Queen Mary over the past 60 years. Mon.-Thurs., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Fri.-Sun., 10 a.m.-9 p.m. $17; seniors and military, $15; ages 3-11, $13.

Raging Waters (111 Raging Waters Drive, San Dimas, [909] 802-2200). Forty water rides, slides and attractions including the Wedge, the Vortex, El Nino, the Ride, and High Extreme. Sun.-Thurs., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 10 a.m.-9 p.m. General admission for those over 4 feet tall, $23.99; seniors and those under 4 feet tall, $14.99.

San Diego Wild Animal Park (15500 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, [760] 747-8702). Walk the trails or take a 5-mile, 55-minute monorail tour that covers the park, home to more than 3,500 animals. Open daily, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. $21.95; ages 3-11, $14.95; children under 2, free.

San Diego Zoo (2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego, [619] 234-3153; giant panda hotline, [888] MY PANDA). Attractions include Polar Bear Plunge Arctic Habitat and the Gorilla Tropics. Baby panda and parents can be viewed daily from 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.-7:30 p.m. (Call panda hotline to confirm viewing schedule.) Skyfari aerial tramway ride and guided bus tours of 100-acre grounds. Open daily, 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m. $18; ages 3-11, $8.

Santa Monica Pier (Colorado and Ocean avenues, Santa Monica, [310] 260-8744). Historic pier built in 1908, an oceanfront family amusement park with carnival rides and a nine-story Ferris wheel. Also home to restaurants, gift shops and arcades. Summer Twilight Dance Series with live music and dancing, every Thursday, 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Free admission. Pier hours: Mon.-Thurs., 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 10 a.m.-12:30 a.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Admission is free; rides and games, pay as you go.

SeaWorld (Mission Bay, San Diego, Interstate 5 to SeaWorld Drive, [619] 226-3901). Animal shows, aquariums, the new “Pirates 4-D” and rides, including Shipwreck Rapids. Open daily, 9 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sat., 9 a.m.-12 a.m. $40; children ages 3-11, $30.

Six Flags Magic Mountain (Magic Mountain Parkway, Interstate 5, Valencia, [818] 367-5965). More than 100 rides, shows and attractions, including Bugs Bunny World for small children. Sun.-Thurs., 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 10 a.m.-midnight. $36; seniors, $20; children under 4 feet, $18; ages 2 and under, free.

UCLA Ocean Discovery Center (1600 Ocean Front Walk, located below the carousel on the Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, [310] 393-6149). A marine-science learning center and aquarium, with exhibits and touch tanks. Tues.-Fri., 3-6 p.m.; Sat., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. $3; children 2 and under, free.

Universal Studios Hollywood (Hollywood Freeway at Lankershim Boulevard, Universal City, [818] 508-9600). Attractions include Terminator 2: 3-D; Jurassic Park: the Ride; the updated Studio Tour, featuring “The Rugrats Magic Adventure”; The Chicken Run Maze; and a behind-the-scenes look at “Nutty Professor II.” Open daily 8 a.m.-10 p.m. $41; seniors, $36; ages 3-11, $31; under 3, free.

Wild Rivers (8770 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine, [949] 768-WILD). More than 40 water attractions for all ages. Open daily, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. $23; 48 inches and under, $18; after 4 p.m., $12; 55 and older, $10.