There's no shortage of heart-stopping excitement in Orange
County. If you live for the adrenaline rush, if you have the need for speed,
you'll find it among the many fun rides throughout Orange County. Here's just a
sampling of what you can experience in the OC.
Knott's Supreme Scream
Knott's Berry Farm keeps reinventing the big-G thrill ride
and its Supreme Scream is no exception. Located on the park's boardwalk, this
white knuckler lasts an adrenaline rushing 45 seconds and reaches speeds up 50
mph. The ride has separate Turbo Drop towers arranged in a triangular fashion.
And being 312 feet tall, it's the tallest freestanding structure in Orange
County. Seated in a carriage with 12 other brave souls, with your feet dangling
beneath you, you ascend to a "nose-bleeding" height of 252 feet.
After a momentary stop at the top, a quick blast of compressed air rockets you
straight down in just three hair-curling seconds. Unlike traditional free-fall
rides, which end after the drop, Supreme Scream takes thrills to a new level by
rebounding each carriage back up the tower for a second drop. The sudden upward
rebound creates a positive 4G-force, followed by a second free-fall. The ride
ends with a number of smaller up and down bounces until your carriage comes to
rest at the base of the tower.
Disney's California Screamin'
A classic up-down-sideways high speed thrill ride that has
you hanging on for dear life, California Screamin' is a wood-mimicking steel
roller coaster located at Disney's California Adventure park. Reaching a top
speed of 62 miles per hour, it's the fastest ride at the Disneyland Resort and
one of the fastest rides at any Disney theme park. In fact, it's pretty intense
for a Disney park ride, with a power blast take off that accelerates you from
zero to 55 miles per hour in a heady four seconds after launch. The Paradise
Pier themed ride has become the longest looping coaster in the world.
Sports Car Thrills
Instead of an amusement park, why not experience the ultimate
racing thrill and have a professional driver take you for the ride of your life
in a fast car at Auto Club Speedway? After you buckle up, you better hold on
tight for two heart-pumping laps through the Auto Club Speedway Exotics Road
Course. You're next to a professional driver as he pushes the limits of a
meticulously prepared, 505 horsepower Corvette Z06. If you think you have what
it takes you can also drive an exotic car yourself-when you sign up for their
Race a Ferrari or Race a Lamborghini experience.
Aerial Thrills
Not for the acrophobic or faint of heart, Sky Thrill in
Fullerton lets you take control of a world-class aerobatic stunt plane-and fly
it like a stunt pilot. They offer several flight experiences from short intro
flights to over-the-top "World Aerobatic Champion" thrillers. You
don't need a pilot's license or prior flight experience to fly in any of their
programs. You fly the aircraft of your choice for up to 90% of the flight time
at speeds up to 250 mph pulling up to 6 Gs! Sky Thrill pilots brief you on
everything you need to know before your flight during a short safety briefing.
They also teach you how to perform each aerobatic maneuver and what to expect
from your instructor pilot. Once airborne, they talk you through every maneuver,
step by step. Flights start at $365 for a 1- hour, 35-minute flight.