Magic Mountain, Hurricane Harbor and TPC
Valencia
As your
children or grandchildren grow, they will get the urge to visit a water park
and possibly try out a rollercoaster ride. Hurricane Harbor is the ultimate
water park, and it actually is part of Magic Mountain, the famous rollercoaster
park in Valencia. The TPC Valencia is a great championship golf venue that
opened several years ago and is just a mile or so south of Magic Mountain.
Embassy Suites has opened a brand new hotel in the area as well.
Hurricane Harbor
We
visited the park with some friends of my daughter. One of them was celebrating
her 12th birthday. There were many different water slides to choose from, and
some rafting choices as well. The waits were fairly short and the kids were
able to take in all the slides. The water slides came in a variety of shapes
and angles. Some were quite steep and gave the rider an accelerated run
downhill to a screeching halt with water splashing all around. Others were raft
trips for solo and group adventurers. The kids had a great time and could not
get enough. Hurricane Harbor seemed very safe and park personnel were never too
far away. Magic Mountain is actually right next door to Hurricane Harbor and is
the place for thrill seekers. We got a good look at many of their rides, which
are not for the faint of heart. Several of the rollercoaster rides do a
complete 360-degree loop. There is even one that takes you straight up and then
drops you before an eventual safe landing. For more information visit
http://www.sixflags.com/hurricaneharborla.
TPC Valencia
Just
around the corner from Magic Mountain is a great golf option. TPC Valencia is
part of the Tournament Players Club Courses run by the PGA Tour. It is a
challenging layout with rolling terrain and numerous large oak trees dotting
the landscape. As do all of the TPC courses, it features the best in landscape
management and conditioning. The course can measure up to 7,224 yards but plays
a bit shorter due to the firm fairways that golfers will find here. TPC
Valencia features a 32,000-square-foot clubhouse with a classic California
ranch theme. The clubhouse sits on a hilltop location offering great views of
the entire Valencia area. The course has an excellent practice facility with an
all grass range large enough for an entire shotgun field to hit at the same
time. The course was in excellent shape with very quick greens that held a
crisply struck shot. For more info visit http://www.TPCValencia.com. Valencia
Country Club is a private club that is very close-by as well. It is the home to
a Champions Tour event each spring, and once hosted the L. A. Open. Valencia
links are a tough layout, having been designed by Robert Trent Jones. The
course is heavily treed and has numerous water hazards.
Embassy Suites
The
Valencia area is easy to get to from Santa Barbara County due to the completion
of State Route 126. You pick this up in Ventura and head through Santa Paula
and Fillmore on your way to Valencia. Just as the 126 hits Interstate 5, there
is a brand new office park where the new Embassy Suites Valencia is located.
From here it is just a mile or so down the road to Magic Mountain, Hurricane
Harbor and TPC Valencia. The hotel features and atrium lobby and pool area with
all the comforts of a luxury property. Guests are treated to two–room
suites, complete with 27-inch plasma televisions, work stations and the best in
bedding and linens. The hotel serves up a buffet breakfast each morning as well
as a guest reception each evening.
There is
also a large pool area and a well equipped fitness center. For more information
visit www.embassysuites.com or call (661) 257-3111.
Sisley Italian Kitchen
The
Valencia Town Center is very close by and a must for those who love shopping.
This brand new shopping center is designed to feel like a quaint village with
its own brick-paved streets. Sisley Italian Kitchen is an excellent dining
choice here. This is a classic Italian restaurant with options to fit all
palates. I chose the Chilean sea bass and it was expertly prepared. The service
was excellent as was the choice of wine. The exhibition kitchen and large
booths make for a comfortable and entertaining experience. Be careful not to
fill up on the great bread that they serve while your food is being prepared,
as you will want plenty of room for
the large proportions that come with your entrée. For more information
visit www.sisleykitchen.com.