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Santa Clarita Valley: where the excitement of Six Flags Magic Mountain and Hollywood mix with the tranquility of remote wilderness areas. Best known for the past thirty years as home to the rollercoaster thrills at Magic Mountain, the Six Flags tower stands as a beacon indicating visitors have arrived.
Lesser known, yet just as intoxicating, are the adventures found around every corner as Hollywood aficionados explore the Santa Clarita Valley movie history.
Famous names from John Wayne to California's Governor Schwarzenegger have been filmed here, with many of these locales on public areas. Tour a western movie star's mansion, follow a self-guided tour of filming locations, visit a real working western movie ranch, or ride the rollercoaster of "Vacation" fame.
When it comes to dining, the Santa Clarita Valley offers a plethora of choices, from authentic Mexican restaurants to French cuisine. Stroll through the lovely Valencia Town Center, Santa Clarita Valley's crown jewel. Boutique and specialty shops, department stores, restaurants, and entertainment are all concentrated within one mile. Town Center Drive is best explored on a warm summer evening when tiny white lights decorate the public areas and music is heard through well-placed speakers.
Speaking of warm summer nights, dance under the moonlight at free summer concerts on Town Center Drive or in Santa Clarita Valley's Central Park. By day, cool off at the beautiful Santa Clarita Aquatic Center, with a zero-depth entry pool for the kiddies complete with a 160-foot water slide. If wake boarding is more your style, then head over to the valley's reservoir, Castaic Lake. Summer swimming, sailing, boating, jet skiing, and fishing are available in addition to land lover activities of hiking, biking, picnicking and just hanging out at the playground within this 8,700-acre recreational area.
In cooler months, hit the trails of the Santa Clarita Valley wilderness. Just off I-5, the Santa Clarita Woodlands of East & Rice Canyon, as well as Towsley Canyon, take the adventurous and the novice past a creek and through lush landscape. Placerita Canyon, off State Highway 14, offers a network of hiking trails as well as the Oak of the Golden Dream, which marks the spot where Gold was first discovered in California. The Nature Center provides curious little ones the opportunity to get up close to snakes, tarantulas and furry creatures. Regularly scheduled hiking and ranger programs are offered on weekends.
On the north end of the Santa Clarita Valley, die-hard hikers can pick up the Pacific Crest Trail out of Agua Dulce. And one of Santa Clarita Valley's best known landmarks, Vasquez Rocks, was the fictional prehistoric city of Bedrock as well as the location for countless movies, television programs, commercials and music videos. Once a month the local astronomy club provides the public with the opportunity to view Santa Clarita Valley's celestial stars. Animal and ranger programs are offered throughout the cooler months.
Some of SoCal's best known tourist destinations are within an hour of Santa Clarita Valley: Universal Studios, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, beaches, mountains, winter ski resorts, wineries, and Valencia orange groves.
Come to the area named as one of the Top Ten Best Places to Live in the United States: The Santa Clarita Valley, where people come first. A great place to visit--for a day or a lifetime. Enjoy our local guide, created to make the Santa Clarita Valley accessible for residents and visitors.
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