Theme & Amusement Parks in Long Beach

With hands gripped to the wheels of karts capable of cresting 45 miles per hour, up to 12 racers hum around the hairpin turns and straightaways of K1 Speed's indoor track during adrenaline-spiking sprints toward the podium. This brand of excitement can be found at all 15 locations, where racers eschew the fumes and inflammatory skywriting of gas kart exhaust for European, eco-friendly electric karts designed to instantly accelerate out of curves, which are bordered by safety barriers that absorb impacts. To keep everyone in the chase, dialed-down junior karts (available at select locations) safely carry tiny drivers between the height of 48" and 58".

Mulligan Family Fun Center's three locations surround parents and kids with sprawling smorgasbords of kinetic entertainment. Outside, each park's sunny grounds encourage healthy activity with putt-testing miniature-golf courses and the hairpin turns of go-kart tracks. In the batting cages, aspiring sluggers test their swing while recognized major-league sluggers test their disguise against the park's do-not-admit posters. Back inside, climbers scale the rock wall’s vertical challenges and friends battle friends in laser tag’s intense light-based combat.

Each location also has its own signature activities. The Torrance location's rookie go-karts, for example, enable younger drivers to take a turn down the track, whereas the Palmdale location boasts a longer, 1,500-foot track for children and adults alike. At the Murrieta location, mini-bowling offers bumpers and kid-size balls, letting the whole family angle for strikes, and warm weather opens water slides so that wee ones can prevent their engines from overheating.

Though science has yet to yield the answer to whether or not time is infinite, Endless Food & Fun hedges its bets on the side of eternity, thrilling visitors with huge laser-tag skirmishes, 7,000 square feet of arcade games, and a bountiful buffet. New and old arcade games challenge players young and old. Dual laser-tag arenas pit dozens of competitors against one another as parents monitor the action via live streaming video. And a 200-item buffet boasts four themed dining rooms, including a sports-themed spot with multiple TVs, a ”Surf’s Up” room with pool tables, and a cartoon-themed room in which patrons gain the inexplicable ability to survive encounters with ACME anvils.

Like a real jungle, Scooter’s Jungle is full of vibrant colors and potential for adventure; unlike a real jungle, however, most of its attractions are inflatable. Named for its tropical theme, the indoor family-fun center’s inflatables range from gargantuan slides and a zip line to an obstacle course, where kids can build the agility necessary to finally outrun their shadows. For a break from the pillowy structures, kids can play ping-pong and air hockey at the free game tables, or nosh on pizza during private birthday parties.