Universal Studios ($95.00)

Some of the world's most memorable movies and television shows have been shot at this sprawling San Fernando Valley site. Since the 1960s, an eager public has been invited in to see how it's done and become part of the action.

The once-supreme Studio Tour of famous facades now takes a back seat to attractions cut from the traditional theme-park cloth. Standouts include Jurassic Park: The Ride, a plunging dinosaurs-on-the-loose boat trip and Mummy: The Ride, a hair-raising, twist-and-turn ride based on the popular movie. Newer thrill-a-minute shows include the live version of popular gross-out TV show "Fear Factor," Shrek 4-D, a mind-blowing special-effects show, and a vampire spectacular called Van Helsing: Fortress Dracula. If rampaging dinosaurs, vampires and ogres sound too scary, pay a visit to Animal Planet Live (an updated version of the longtime favorite Animal Actors Stage), or the Nickelodeon Blast Zone, a water play area based on the "Rugrats" and "Blue's Clues."