starstruck

Sometimes the best way to beat the heat is to be in it, doing something distracting.

Amusement parks are always key. Everyone knows that Disneyland is here in Southern California, but my personal favorite is Universal Studios. The smaller and much less populated park featuring everyone's favorite movies. Located in Studio City outside of Hollywood, the park is situated in a canyon which actually allows a nice breeze at all times (but just in case they provide giant misters and plenty of cold beverages!).

There are a few rollercoasters that, while not huge, are fast and still adrenaline producing. Try the mummy ride or the simpsons 3D experience. If you want to get wet, Jurassic Park will ensure that you are soaked no matter where you sit. Then there's the shows and more low key events. They have Shrek and Terminator 3D shows, A water stunt show based on the movie waterworld and my favorite is the Blues Brothers R&B Review. The Blues Brothers with Dan Akroyd and John Belushi is one of my favorite movies. At universal they've got actors that look just like the SNL alum singing and dancing away.

But of course, no trip to Universal is complete without the studio tram tour. Adjacent to the park is an active, working backlot used in many films and television shows. It has been around since the 30s I believe. For about 30 minutes you sit in a tram escorted by your host and video monitors as you travel around the various soundstages and outdoor sets. After the fires here in 2008, the "new york" street set has been rebuilt, there is also a little europe section, little mexico, miniatures from peter jackson's king kong, the house and hotel from psycho, set from jaws, pieces from fast and the furious, jurassic park, the mummy, backdraft, and wisteria lane (from desperate housewives), whoville from the grinch and the plane crash set from war of the worlds with the giant destroyed 747 still there.