5+ Best LA Theme Parks!

Did you know that LA is home to America’s fastest rollercoasters? The Greater Los Angeles Area is home to countless theme parks, carnivals, and amusement parks with activities for the whole family. Whether to experience the nation’s fastest rides or the original Disney theme park, our limo services are a top-notch choice for all destinations. For many tourists, booking a stretch Hummer limousine is a perfect beginning for a vacation at the Disneyland Resort. For locals, booking stretch limos for Universal Studios or Magic Mountain can make the adventure a little more exciting. Birthday parties are for good reason often celebrated at local theme parks with limousines for transportation. Why not combine a birthday party, a trip to Knott’s Berry Farm, and an awesome limo excursion? We do offer a price rate guarantee, but the increasingly expensive costs of admission to the parks can be a pain. Smaller theme parks aren’t just less costly to visit, but offer generally speaking less time waiting and more time for fun. From some of the world’s largest – to some of the local hidden gems – here are our bets for the best Southern California theme parks.

Happiest Place on Earth

Created by Walt Disney in the mid-1950s, the Disneyland theme park in Anaheim is the original Disney theme park and also Southern California’s most visited tourist attraction. With over 16 million visitors per year, the Disney theme park is also the sixth most visited tourist attraction in America. With millions of tourists visiting the park every year, we are offering daily LA airport transportation and limousines for clients vacationing in Southern California. Disneyland was established in 1955, while the more recent newcomer, the Disney California Adventure opened in 2001. Main Street U.S.A. is a must with its shops and cafes, while Tomorrowland is another attraction worth experiencing. Looking to spend a few days at Disneyland? Many clients order their Los Angeles party bus for their ride there, then stay for a few nights, and call us for the rides home. Some of the most popular hotels include the Disneyland Hotel on Magic Way, Disney’s Paradise Pier on Disneyland Drive, and the Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel on South Disneyland Dr. With over sixteen million people visiting each year, the wait lines can be long and sometimes even intolerable. Order a fast pass ticket to reduce the time waiting in lines for each ride. Whether you are in need of sedans, limousines, party buses, or LAX sedan service, American Luxury Limousine is the only Disneyland limo service offering a price match guarantee!

LA’s Entertainment Capital

Maybe the most signature Southern California experience is a visit to Universal Studios Hollywood. Besides popular rides such as Jurassic Park, Shrek, the Mummy, and Simpsons, the studio tram tours are maybe the most popular ride here. On the studio tour, limousine rental clients can enjoy multiple sets from their favorite movies and television series, including sets from the airport scenes in War of the Worlds (2005), the famous Bates Motel in Psycho (1960), Whoville in Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), Amity Island in Jaws (1975), and the Mysteria Lane neighborhood in Desperate Housewives. Accompanied by one of our limos for rent, featured for example in the Bachelor, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and Meet the Kardashians, everyone will feel like a big shot when visiting the studios! With over five million visitors per year, Universal Studios Hollywood is also the most visited tourist attraction in Los Angeles County, and one of America’s top ten most visited amusement parks! When they are done with the rides, many using our limos for rent go for a stroll along the adjacent Universal CityWalk. Here you can enjoy great restaurants, shopping, bars, and more. Most rides here are named after various best-selling movies, including The Revenge of the Mummy the Ride, Terminator 2 3D, Jurassic Park the Ride, King Kong 360,  Shrek 4D, and more. People from all over Southern California use our Ventura-, LA- and Santa Barbara limo services for their transfers to and from Universal Studios. So wherever place in SoCal you are, we will be able to assist with your transportation needs!

America’s Fastest Rollercoasters

With some of the world’s fastest rollercoasters, including the Riddler’s Revenge and Tatsu, Six Flags Magic Mountain is the perfect choice for those seeking a thrill. Especially recommended for teenagers and adults alike, we get daily calls for LA limos and LAX sedan service for transportation to Magic Mountain in Valencia. The over 250-acre park has rides such as Scream, X2, Deja Vu, Goliath, Viper, Superman, and many more. Just 30 miles north of LA, we have weekly clients ordering their limousine rental from us in order to head to Magic Mountain. While X2 is a 5th-dimensional rollercoaster, Viper reaches for the skies at nearly 190 feet in the air. Colossus is the fastest wooden rollercoaster in the Western U.S., while the Riddler’s Revenge is the world’s fastest standup rollercoaster. Full Throttle is the world’s fastest looping rollercoaster which goes through a 160 feet loop. Whether you’re in Santa Barbara, Ventura, or LA, contact us for your LA airport transportation, city- and wine tours, birthday parties, proms, or any other event.

Best SoCal Waterparks

With more than ten major water theme parks, the greater Los Angeles Area can be a difficult place to pick a water park to visit. With its beautiful sunny Mediterranean weather, it may be no surprise that water parks are popular destinations for our LA-, Ventura- and Santa Barbara limo services. Whether you prefer larger parks such as Knott’s Soak City, Raging Waters Los Angeles, or Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, or smaller water parks with fewer waiting lines, Southern California has it! While Raging Waters is the largest park, occupying 45 acres, the water slides might be the best at the more famous Hurricane Harbor and Knott’s Soak City. Raging Waters is located in Bonelli Regional Park, Soak City in Buena Park, and Hurricane Harbor is next door to Magic Mountain in Valencia, CA. Several of the smaller parks, such as Great Wolf Lodge by Anaheim, offers cheap pricing and less waiting. For example, could a daily entrance ticket to the Great Wolf Lodge be found for $15, while adults are $7 at the Seaside Lagoon Redondo Beach! Other great water parks worth checking out include The Cove Water Park in Redondo, Los Angeles’ Stoner Park Splash Park, Sigler Park Splash Pad in Westminister, and the Buccaneer Bay Splash Water Park in La Mirada. While Malibu may not have a lot of theme parks, combining a day at the beach with a visit to the Malibu Wine Safaris on a Malibu wine tour might be just as fun!

Cheaper & Less Crowded

With so many great large and famous LA amusement parks, it is easy to mistakingly believe theme park admissions have to cost a fortune. But there are also several minor amusement parks throughout SoCal, where our Los Angeles party bus clients have told us the waiting lines are shorter and the price is cheaper at for instance Knott’s Berry Farm. You can expect half the prices and half the wait lines at Knott’s. Tickets here are $56.99 and with over 160 attractions, you will unlikely go through them all. Ghost Town and its Ghost Rider is a must. So is panning for gold here. Looking for a thrilling rollercoaster? You’ll find them too here. Check for instance out the Jaguar or Montezooma Revenge with its 75-foot loop. Other great rides worth checking out are the Xcelerator, the Boomerang, the Pony Express, Riptide, and many more. Cool off in the even more affordable next-door water park, Knott’s Soak City, where the entrance is $21.99 for children. Enjoying a day at the beach? Head by the Pacific Park for the original pier theme park experience if you’re by Santa Monica, or head on a safari and Malibu wine tour if you’re by Malibu! Exploring the Balboa Peninsula and Balboa Island? Visiting the Balboa Fun Zone is a must for anyone in Newport Beach.

4 Magnificent Islands off the SoCal Coast

The Golden State is home to dozens of islands in all shapes, sizes, and natural beauty. From historic Alcatraz, and the quaint neighborhoods of Balboa – to our own offshore National Park: the California Channel Islands. Southern California has an island for everyone. What’s even better than spending the day on a Pacific island? Combining the trip with wine tours or a Santa Barbara limo pickup to your place of embarkment. Let our Santa Barbara- and Ventura limousine service present our top 4 islands of the Southern California coast.

Anacapa Island

Being the most accessible part of the Channel Islands National Park, sometimes called “America’s Galapagos”, Anacapa is an easy getaway for us in Southern California. As the smallest of the eight Channel Islands, Anacapa’s 700 acres and two-mile trail system is an easier way to check out the National Park. Just twelve miles off the coast of Port Hueneme, Anacapa is also the closest to the mainland. Our Ventura party bus recently chauffeured a big group of teenagers to the island and told us this was their third time in the park. Our driver came back and told us about everything from “sea lion fights by the sea happen all the time”, and also happened to have visited the island many times for its great cliffs, untouched nature, great hiking, photographing, canoeing, scuba diving, and also native fauna and flora.

Many in our clientele have also told us about the great whale migrations happening between February to March. At times there many gray whales are spotted here on their way south toward Baja California. Usual visits here last from two to three hours, which is just enough time to explore the island. The island also has a unique history having been inhabited by the Chumash people for thousands of years. This island and any of the other islands compromising the Channel Islands National Park can be visited through the Island Packers, which has ferries departing from both Ventura and Oxnard. For sedans, limos, SUVs, or buses to the island, contact us today! We’ve even had tourists calling in to order a limousine or LAX sedan service from LAX and straight to Anacapa to explore the national park. We’ve also had tired campers calling for Malibu wine tours upon their return.

Balboa Island

Famous for its luxurious beachfront houses and many shops, Orange County’s Balboa Island has attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors and vacationers for over a century. Beautifully located in the Newport Harbor, many have mistakingly assumed Balboa to be its own independent village, although it is part of the bigger City of Newport Beach. Accessible by both bridges and ferry services (the Balboa Island Ferry), it is a kid-friendly and picturesque island village definitely worth visiting. Many renting an LA- or Ventura limousine are heading then to the ferry station near the Fun Zone for a full-day trip over to the island. For dating couples, the $1 ferry ride is a great way of adding to your special occasion. And we get it. Why go on Santa Ynez wine tours when you can taste wine under the stars on this beautiful island? Boasting California’s one and only auto ferry, bringing your car – or Ventura limousine – along is also an option here. The island is home to many small-town shops, miles of sandy beaches, cafes, restaurants, and estate homes. Make sure to check out the locally made Balboa Bar or the frozen bananas for an exclusive Balboa experience. The village’s main street, the European-style 1 ½-mile promenade is a must to see, particularly combined with a world-famous Balboa frozen banana. An alternative or additional trip so often reserved for an LA- or Santa Barbara limo is Balboa Peninsula. This oceanfront peninsula is home to expensive estates and larger craft harbors, as well as numerous restaurants and cafes. Also boasting the most visited tourist attraction and the most beautiful beaches in the City of Newport Beach, a visit to the Balboa Peninsula is popular for tourists and others reserving our LA- and LAX sedan service. We recently transferred LAX sedan service clients here as well, for a hotel night to be spent by the seaside.

Santa Cruz Island

Often overlooked, Santa Cruz is the largest island in the state of California. Similarly to Anacapa, Santa Cruz is also uninhabited as a part of the National Park. But that doesn’t stop our LA- and Ventura limousine and party bus customers from venturing out here to explore. Home to numerous species found nowhere else on Earth – including the Island Fox, the Island Scrub-Jay, and re-introduced Bald Eagles. Besides all the great wildlife, this particular island has a lot more to offer visitors. With its untouched wilderness found nowhere else in the state, the island is also a popular camping spot. We’ve had full vehicles – from a Santa Barbara limo to an LA party bus – packed with camping equipment for people who are looking to camp on the island. Here you can see among the biggest sea caves in the world and learn about the ancient people that once lived on this island for thousands of years.

Many riding with our Ventura limousine vehicles have told us about the various hiking trails found on the island. With ferries from Island Packers landing in two areas, Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoner’s Harbor, there’s a larger trail system waiting to be explored. One hike definitely worth checking out is Potato Harbor on the northern part of the island. Potato Harbor is a gorgeous stretch of beach, often visited by seals and sea lions, while Cavern Point is a popular place for sighting the great whale migrations. Between the months of Feb.-April, Party bus clients have also told us about the amazing bloom of the island’s endemic flowers covering the island. The Pelican Bay Trail offers the best chances of witnessing more native flora than anywhere else, although varying because of variations in rain and temperatures. The relatively fast one-hour ferry ride from the mainland to Santa Cruz is often accompanied by the observation of various sea mammals and birds, including oftentimes dolphins, sea lions, eagles, pelicans, whales, and more. Want an unforgettable canoe experience? Check out Scorpion Bay, famous for being an incredible place for kayaking or canoeing. Prefer a longer hike? A favorite for many LA- and Santa Barbara limo clients is the seven-mile hike to Smuggler’s Cove from the landing by Scorpion Canyon. Prefer another method of transportation to the island? Although there’s no LAX sedan service needed for LAX travels, Channel Islands Aviation flies out of Camarillo Airport. If you are looking to see more exotic animals, book safari wine tours with us to Malibu Family Wines!

Catalina Island

Nicknamed the Island of Romance, Santa Catalina Island is the California island that has it all. We take more LA- and Santa Barbara limo clients to this island than any other Californian island. Here you’ll find everything from beautiful hotels, golf courses, bars, and nightlife, as well as gorgeous beaches and protected nature areas with magnificent native wildlife and flora. Reachable by ferry and by airplane, Catalina is home to two villages: the main town of Avalon and the much smaller Two Harbors. In between is where we find the Airport in the Sky, which is located on the island’s tallest mountain. Many customers looking for limos in Ventura or Camarillo love the short but exciting plane rides with Channel Islands Aviation from the Camarillo Airport. With ferries leaving from Los Angeles as well as Long Beach and Orange County, Catalina has become the most accessible of the Channel Islands Archipelago.

Just twenty-six miles with a boat from the mainland, famously mentioned in the song “26 Miles” by the Four Preps, Catalina is an easy getaway with much to offer. A favorite for many locals and even tourists using our LAX sedan service, spending a night in Avalon is a must for anyone visiting Southern California. At Catalina, you can not only experience the great outdoors (over ninety percent of the island is protected nature areas), but the town of Avalon also boasts some great options for accommodation, dining as well as many activities. Being the only developed island of the archipelago, Catalina is also the only California island to offer a larger variety of day- and night activities for visitors. Recent clients looking for limos in Ventura for a ride to the Catalina ferry station told us: “It is the island that has it all. We visit for the underwater submarine tour and beaching at Descanso Beach.” Others have told us about the great safari tours from Avalon, where you can spot all kinds of wild animals, including buffalos, eagles, the native Island Fox, and many more. You may want to rent a golf cart or bike for a great way of exploring the areas surrounding Avalon. While a day trip might be enough on some of the other Channel Islands, Catalina is definitely a place worth staying overnight!

In whatever way you’d like to experience a backdoor Pacific island – by plane or boat, for nature or hotel night, – our Santa Barbara limo services are your natural choice in choosing transportation to the ferries. We have offered luxury Santa Barbara- and Ventura limousine services, as well as top-rated Malibu- and Santa Ynez wine tours and party bus transportation, for more than twenty years in the making. For your next visit to the islands, consider reserving one of our limos or party bus rentals to begin your trip in style! Whether to visit a Pacific island, head out on wine tours, or “just” for the traditional limousine adventure, contact Blackhawk Limousine & Transportation today!

Did you know scenes from the movie Commando (1985) were filmed in the Channel Islands? Check out our Guide to Best Movies Filmed in Santa Barbara!