It`s no wonder that millions of visitors from all over the world visit California every year to experience the famous playgrounds, theme parks, wildlife parks, and movie magic. California is home to America`s first theme park, Knott`s Berry Farm and it is the place Walt Disney chose for the location of his dream, Disneyland. But the fun, fantasy, and adventure doesn`t end there. Each year the parks add something new, fun and/or exciting to entice the visitors.

From the North of the State to the Southern boarder following are details of the new, fun and exciting additions to the parks:

Paramount`s Great America, Santa Clara
A universe of new Nickelodeon(r) fun, friends, and adventures burst into Paramount`s Great America in 2003. The stars of Nickelodeon -- the network kids prefer to watch -- come to life at Northern California`s favorite park for family fun and adventure in 10 new exciting Nickelodeon rides and attractions. The epicenter of excitement is in Nickelodeon(tm) Central, a brand new expanded area just for kids, offering the premiere of the SpongeBob SquarePants 3-D movie (an underwater adventure), Rugrats Runaway Reptar family coaster, Dora`s Dune Buggies (a chance to steer your own beach buggy), and other family-friendly attractions.

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk swings and glides with new thrills for 2003! The Boardwalk`s brand new ride, the Fireball, is a huge pendulum that takes riders up, down, and around in a frenzy of excitement. The new Cliff Hanger also offers thrilling circles of suspense as riders lie flat on their stomachs and scream...`I can fly!`

The West Coast`s only major seaside amusement park features a mile-long beach, more than 34 rides and attractions, games, shops and restaurants. A state historic landmark, the admission-free Boardwalk celebrates its 96th year as a truly unique California experience.

Six Flags Marine World, Vallejo
Fun runs wild at Six Flags Marine World in 2003! Six Flags Marine World, America`s only combination wildlife park, oceanarium and theme park, debuts its new ride Zonga in the spring of 2003! Zonga, which takes its name from a Swahili word for coil or loop, is Six Flags Marine World`s new seriously twisted supercoaster featuring four full-circle, full-tilt looping inversions. Also debuting in 2003 is the new 33-meter tall thriller is the sixth and wildest major roller coaster among the 35 rides added to the park in the last six years. From the top of Zonga`s sky-high lift hill, the 20-passenger trains will take a screaming dive at a 70-degree angle then immediately arch backwards into two giant back-to-back steel circles.

Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia
Continuing its run at the record books for world-class mega-coasters, Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia announced the completion of yet another Xtreme roller coaster - Scream! - Southern California`s first floorless mega coaster. Scream! marks the park`s 16th roller coaster, shattering its own Guinness Book world record status as the theme park with the most coasters on the planet. In Scream!, riders are strapped into flying chairs racing at intense speed with their feet dangling in the air - no track above their head, no coach around their seats, screaming through a series of Xtreme maneuvers up-and-over seven 360-degree inversions, flying through numerous twists and turns that span 12,000 meters of track for a thrilling three-minute rush!

Universal Studios, Hollywood
The all-new multi-sensory Shrek 4-D(tm) attraction, a multi-media continuation of the Shrek(r) fairy tale debuted in Hollywood in May. The comic talents of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and John Lithgow returned to give voice to the swamp-dwelling ogre, Shrek; his faithful chatterbox companion, Donkey; his bride, Princess Fiona(tm); and the vengeful ghost of Lord Farquaad(tm) in an all-new animated saga that picks up the story where the Oscar winning feature film Shrek left off. Surprising sensory elements through seats capable of both vertical and horizontal motion, equipped with tactile transducers, pneumatic air propulsion and water spray nodules. The attraction is housed in its own castle-like building.

Disneyland(r) Resort, Anaheim
The DISNEYLAND Resort unveiled a whole new world of entertainment in April with two new attractions - The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh at DISNEYLAND and Playhouse Disney - Live on Stage! at DISNEY`S CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE(tm).

America`s most beloved bear, Winnie the Pooh, and his friends from the Hundred-Acre Wood - Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet too - were bouncing with excitment as The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh attraction came to DISNEYLAND. This attraction, a featured Disney`s FASTPASS(r) attraction in Critter Country, is based on the loveable characters from the Disney animated version of A.A. Milne`s classic children`s stories. An exciting romp for guests of all ages, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh combines memorable music, surprising illusions and fun for the whole family in a heartwarming journey through the Hundred-Acre Wood on an endless pursuit of hunny.

Young fans of Disney Channel`s popular Playhouse Disney programs are jump for joy and dancing the Cha-Cha-Cha along with their television buddies as they star in a new stage show - Playhouse Disney - Live on Stage! - premiering in April at DISNEY`S CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE. Jim Henson`s Bear in the Big Blue House(tm), William Joyce`s Rolie Polie Olie(c)Nelvana in trust, Stanley and other stars will entertain and amuse kids and their families with music, songs and stories of friendship.

The 20-minute stage show opens with a visit from Bear of Bear in the Big Blue House, and his friends. Bear, who dances the Cha-Cha-Cha, wants to dance with all his friends. Jamie, the show`s host, reads from a giant storybook, with chapters featuring characters from the Playhouse Disney learning-based series - each teaching the importance of friendship. There is an interactive area for kids, from bubbles to streamers, to singing and dancing along with their television pals. Check it out at Disney California Adventure Hollywood Pictures Backlot.

Knott`s Berry Farm, Buena Park
New Joe Cool`s GR8 SK8 (Great Skate), a Peanuts-themed family attraction, and the Camp Snoopy Theatre are two reasons to love Camp Snoopy this US summer. Reaching a height of 6 meters, Joe Cool`s GR8 SK8 is a thrill that takes riders on a 12-meter slide from one end of a giant skateboard to the other while the platform teeter totters. After such experience, youngsters will be excited to relax in the 200-seat Camp Snoopy Theatre and watch Charlie Brown`s Hoe-Down, the first show performing in this newest location for Peanuts Gang`s musical performances.

LEGOLAND, Carlsbad
LEGOLAND has debuted a new ride and a new themed area this year. The 4, 800-square-meter expansion, LEGO SPORTS Center, puts guests in the middle of the sporting action and makes them feel like an all-star! Also opened in 2003, the new BIONICLE(tm) Blaster is a twisting, turning interactive ride the whole family can enjoy together. The BIONICLE Blaster consists of 12 circular cars that twist and spin on and around a circular platform with a wheel in the centre of each of the cars. Like everything else at LEGOLAND, this ride allows guests to control the speed of their adventure. In addition to featuring the newest NBA and NHL-themed LEGO Sports Build & Play toys and attractions, the LEGO SPORTS Centre at LEGOLAND will also offer football and soccer-related activities geared toward youngsters. Soccer fans can test their skill as they kick for speed and accuracy, and life-sized NBA players constructed of LEGO bricks will tower over your visitors shooting baskets at hoops of various heights. Altogether, it`s a slam-dunk for family fun!

The World-Famous San Diego Zoo, San Diego
The World-Famous San Diego Zoo has begun construction on the largest and most expensive animal habitat project in the Zoo`s history. The New Heart of the Zoo will transform the centre of the property - from the flamingo lagoon and beyond - into African and Asian tropical forests. The new developments will provide new habitats for clouded leopards, bearded pigs, pygmy hippos, mandrills, guenons and more. The entire project is estimated to be complete in spring 2005.

SeaWorld San Diego
A new 4-D movie just opened in SeaWorld and it promises to provide plenty of thrills and chills. R.L. Stine`s Haunted Lighthouse is based upon the original story written by R.L. Stine, world-famous author of the Goosebumps and Nightmare Room children`s horror books. The thrilling experience combines state-of-the-art visual effects with multi-sensory surprises. Sensory effects such as fog and interactive seats surround the audience to add to the 4-D experience. Special 3-D glasses allow state-of-the-art visual effects to pop off the screen, right in front of viewers` eyes. The 22-minute experience also includes in-your-face special effects like water sprays, air blast and rain synchronized to action on the screen. Seats in Mission Bay Theatre are equipped with specialized surround-sound speakers to enhance the sensory experience.

Southern California CityPass
For the first time, admissions to Southern California`s major tourist attractions are offered together in one convenient ticket booklet. The new Southern California CityPass includes admission to world-famous theme parks, including Disneyland(r) and Disney`s California Adventure(tm). Other attractions represented in the new pass include Knott`s Berry Farm, SeaWorld San Diego, and the World Famous San Diego Zoo. Tourists who purchase the booklet will have 14 days in which to use the tickets, individually redeemable at the various attractions. Southern California CityPass provides a three-day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper(r) ticket (valid for admission to both Disneyland and Disney`s California Adventure parks) and one-day admission tickets to Knott`s Berry Farm, SeaWorld San Diego, and the World Famous San Diego Zoo. The Southern California CityPass is available for purchase through all licensed travel agents.