California kicks off summer 2013 with an abundance of attractions for kids and “kids at heart.” From wild rides to water parks and the magic of Disney surprises to Six Flags adventures, families and friends will experience and enjoy an endless variety of theme park adventures as they travel through The Golden State this summer. New summer 2013 thrills in California include:

Southern California 

SeaWorld San Diego Makes a Splash with Aquatica on June 1, 2013
The South Seas meets Southern California at Aquatica, SeaWorld's whimsical, one-of-a-kind Water Park. Located just south of San Diego in Chula Vista, the park blends up-close animal experiences, waters both serene and extreme, high-speed thrills and a white sandy beach. Aquatica San Diego is SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment's third branded park.
 
• Attractions—like its sister parks at SeaWorld Orlando and SeaWorld San Antonio, Aquatica San Diego features enriching encounters with an array of exotic animals, an added educational component to the traditional water park visit. While exploring the park, visitors can put their adrenalin to the test as they ride down one of three water slides at Kiwi Curl® or choose to relax and float along in an inner tube down Loggerhead Lane, a winding 1,250-foot long lazy river, with more than a dozen Caribbean flamingos on display. Playful fountains provide guests plenty of opportunities to splash while soaking up the sun. Whanau Way boasts a 60-foot water slide complex featuring six slides, four enclosed and two open-air, this ride is a must on any water park enthusiast's list. Tassie's Twister features a plunge down this 75-foot water slide in a multi-person raft through thousands of swirling water before dropping into a six-story funnel. Big Surf Shores is one of the largest wave pools in Southern California, guests swim in period swells of up to five feet. A white sandy beach allows visitors to relax on lawn chairs or luxuriate in nearby cabanas. Walkabout Waters is a four-story interactive and colorful outdoor attraction features loads of hands-on fun with slides, hoses, jets, geysers and more. Every five minutes, a 500-gallon bucket unloads water on everyone below! Kata's Kookaburra Cove® is an area where children can splash and play safely featuring a pool and ropes. This kooky, quirky cove has a way of making even a grown-up want to jump right in and play.

• Animal Exhibits—In addition to an up-close view of more than a dozen Caribbean flamingos as guests float down the lazy river of Loggerhead Lane, visitors can also experience habitat a freshwater turtles habitat, representing several species, available for under- and above-water viewing.

• Guest Amenities—Guests can relax in personal cabanas or comfortable shaded lounge chairs, located throughout the park. Gift shops and merchandise carts will have waterpark necessities available for purchase, including towels, sunscreen and flip-flops for guests who forgot their waterpark necessities at home.

Visit http://seaworldparks.com/seaworld-sandiego/Aquatica-California for full details. 

LEGOLAND California Debuts New Hotel
LEGOLAND California Resort visitors can extend their experience in the Resort's new LEGO-themed hotel. Located in Carlsbad, adjacent to the park, the hotel features 250 LEGO-themed guest rooms, interactive play areas, dining amenities and a heated swimming pool. . http://california.legoland.com/legoland-hotel/

Disneyland Resort Launches Limited Time Magic
Disney fans will be surprised and enchanted by Limited Time Magic, an entire year of weeklong magical experiences that appear, and then disappear as the next surprise debuts. A host of weekly surprises and magical offers will be announced a few days prior either in-park, at www.disneyland.com , on Facebook, Twitter or the Disney Parks Blog. http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/let-the-memories-begin/limited-time-magic/   

Knotts Berry Farm Opens Re-vamped Timber Mountain Log Ride
Originally opened in 1969 as the Calico Log Ride, Knott's Berry Farm's Timber Mountain Log Ride remains one of the most elaborate log flume rides in the United States. The revamped attraction takes guests through a mountain range themed and 19th-century lumber camp, culminating in a 42-foot free fall. http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/attractions/the-nbcuniversal-experience/   

Full Throttle at Six Flags Magic Mountain
For its 2013 season, Six Flags Magic Mountain introduces Full Throttle, the tallest and fastest looping roller coaster in the world. Unlike traditional coasters, this one-of-a-kind triple launch coaster takes the coaster experience to the next generation. With its 160-foot loop, zero to 70 mph acceleration, two forward launches and one backward launch through an underground tunnel, this attraction will take riders' breaths away. www.sixflags.com/magicmountain/   

Northern California 

Cirque Dreams Splashtastic at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Visitors can feast their eyes on Vallejo's Six Flags Discovery Kingdom's new cutting-edge dolphin show, Cirque Dreams Splashtastic - the Most Amazing Show Above H20. The new show will combine aerialists, acrobats and music with the power and grace of dolphins in a Dolphin Harbor Theater showcase designed to delight audiences of all ages. www.sixflags.com/

Gold Striker at California's Great America
California's Great America in Santa Clara, home to the most rides and most water rides in Northern California, is slated to open the Gold Striker, the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster in the region. California's Great America is the only theme park in the state with a water park inside that is free with park admission. www.cagreatamerica.com/

Visit California (formerly known as the California Travel & Tourism Commission) is a non-profit organization with a mission to develop and maintain marketing programs - in partnership with the state's travel industry - that keep California top-of-mind as a premier travel destination. According to Visit California, travel and tourism expenditures total $106.4 billion annually in California, support jobs for 917,000 Californians and generate $6.6 billion in state and local tax revenues. For more information about Visit California and for a free California Official State Visitor's Guide, go to www.visitcalifornia.com. For story ideas, media information, downloadable images and more, go to media.visitcalifornia.com.