I’ve come to realize that, if you are a roller coaster lover, Southern California is the place to visit. In particular, Orange County and Los Angeles County are home to two of the best theme parks for thrill rides. No, Disneyland is not one of them, although it (and its adjacent sister park Disney’s California Adventure) does offer some exciting action rides worthy of a visit.

The two parks that come to mind when speaking of roller coasters are Six Flags Magic Mountain and Knott’s Berry Farm According to the SoCal Vacation Guru website, these parks have made roller coasters a strong priority in competing against The Mouse.

Magic Mountain is crazy with wild coasters; the place is lousy with thrill rides. If you are visiting with folks who don’t care as much about thrill rides, you’ll still find plenty to do; check out the Southern California Vacation Guru for useful ideas.

The second Southern California theme park with a strong emphasis on roller coasters is Knott’s Berry Farm, although it too offers many activities such as Ghost Town. We have talked to employees who can confirm that several of the roller coasters at Knott’s will push you to the limit of comfort.

One place at Knott’s Berry Farm that you don’t want to miss is the World-famous Chicken Dinner Restaurant. For like 70 years or more this establishment has been delighting tens of thousands of diners with down-home cooking. Check out the Southern California Vacation Guru for insider information and tips for having the best time at Knott’s. The site covers hotels near the park, and provides useful information about other theme parks and vacation opportunities in SoCal.

You can learn about the other Los Angeles-area theme parks, namely the Disneyland Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood. You’ll find some fun thrill rides at other parks, but they don’t stack up to what they offer at Six Flags Magic Mountain. If you’re a roller coaster enthusiast, this information may come in handy.