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!
You can also enjoy quirky museums and public art tours. And if you love to shop, the area offers several outlet malls and open-air centers.
1. Six Flags Magic Mountain
If you’re looking for thrills, there are few places more exciting than Six Flags Magic Mountain. The park, located in Valencia about an hour north of Los Angeles, is the “Thrill capital of the world” with its 20 roller coasters of the highest quality. Teens and adults can get spun, flung, and plummeting on rides named Goliath, Twisted Colossus, Full Throttle, and more. The entertainment options are endless, from dance parties to hypnotists.
Arrive early in order to skip the lines for popular attractions. Pre-purchase your tickets ahead of time to save money, and consider a Flash Pass for line skipping.
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. For example, kids can try their hand at wool spinning and forging as well as goat milking demonstrations. Kids can also take part in pig races or make crafts.
Touch-A-Truck at the farm is also a 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. Weekends are family fun days, featuring pony rides, wagon rides, archery and axe throwing as well as a straw bale maze 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.
The property was purchased by brothers Renaud Veluzat and Andre Veluzat in 1990. The brothers began rebuilding the set using photo references from the time before the fire. The rebuilt set played a major role in seasons 1,4 and 5, of HBO’s Westworld.
4. Public Art Tour
For the art lover, the city of Santa Clarita has a wide range of artistic experiences. The public art pieces are often built in collaboration with the local community, which gives them a 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.
The city also hosts an annual indoor sculpture exhibition and public art walks, and it promotes international people-to-people exchanges through the Santa Clara Sister Cities Program. There are also numerous cultural events and festivals throughout the year.
5. Gibbon Conservation Center
With a mission to promote the conservation, study, and care of gibbons through public education and habitat preservation, the Gibbon Conservation Center is a unique sanctuary where you can experience these amazing animals up close. The facility is the only one in the world to house all four gibbon genera and has successfully produced breeding programs for 7 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. Listening to the primal primate’s musical songs will allow you to discover more about these fascinating creatures.
6. Open Space Parks and Public Lands
The City’s extensive hiking trails offer breathtaking natural beauty and animal encounters. Lace up your boots, pack some water and snacks, and hit the trail!
San Gabriel Mountains is the “backyard” of 17 million Southern Californians. Open space in the region is vital for reducing childhood diabetes and asthma, creating outdoor recreation jobs, and contributing to regional 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.