Things to Do in Santa Clarita

The nonprofit Wildlife Learning Center populates its ancient olive grove with more than 50 species from across the globe, teaching visitors the value of conservation while raising funds for wildlife sanctuary and public education through its Wildlife Learning Foundation. Alongside a circular walking path, a menagerie of animals, including lynxes, arctic foxes, kinkajous, and college sports mascots, frolics within landscaped enclosures. Throughout the afternoon, friendly biologists give training talks on the hour and facilitate up-close interaction with various critters. The zoo also hosts children's camps and birthday parties for precocious naturalists to ensure a future generation of nature-savvy citizens.

Under the gleam of black lights, even teeth glow luminously, exposing the smiles of adventure-seekers as they putt mini-golf balls or set high-score records on arcade games at Fin's Glow Zone. The mini-golf course’s 18 holes come to life under glowing depictions of pirates, treasure, and spooky aquatic creatures such as sharks, giant octopi, and scuba-diving Bengal tigers. Inside the Balladium Ball Blaster, players compete for points amid a volley of foam balls throughout the neon playground. The private party room at Fin's hosts birthday celebrations, which can include pizza, arcade tokens, and trick candles that can only be extinguished after being doused in a gallon of milk.

Spitball technology has come a long way since its invention in 1982. Initially a spitball was made of saliva-soaked paper and propelled by the combination of an empty pen and breath. In 1999, an important discovery irrevocably altered the spitball landscape. Now spitballs are shot with semi-automatic CO2-powered weapons instead of empty pens. And due to the increasing concern for deforestation, spitballs are made out of a more renewable resource: thin-skinned, paint-filled gel caps. Check out the enormous advancements in spitballs at Action Paintball Park with today’s Groupon.

Sprawling across 40 acres, Warped Paintball Park's eight outdoor fields beckon paintball warriors to dodge between obstacles such as wooden spools and abandoned cars. Armed with rented Tippmann markers, guests can compete for flags and stashes of stain-removal pens on six scenario fields with themes such as graveyard, castle, and jungle or duck and cover behind brightly colored inflatables in two arena fields held to National Professional Paintball League standards. A rental department refuels ammunition pouches and CO2 canisters throughout each game.