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Forget about waiting in those long lines at Disneyland and Magic Mountain this summer.
And don't worry about weighing down your pockets with money to afford these expensive outings hours from home.
You can enjoy a day of fun with the family and save some bucks by visiting one of the Inland Empire's mini theme parks.
These amusement parks, which are 15 minutes to half an hour away from San Bernardino, offer excitement and thrills on a smaller scale than the big theme parks, but they're less expensive and less crowded.
They also offer a wide variety of rides and games to keep families interested for hours.
If the kids want to gain experience safely navigating the Southland's freeways, they can drive a race car or go-kart around a cement track.
They can also reach new heights aboard a swaying Viking ship. Or, if the younger kids fancy a ride on a horse, there's always a carousel in sight.
Owners and managers say their mini theme parks have lots going for them. One is proximity, says Tony Larson, owner of Scandia Miniature Golf and Family Fun Centers in Ontario and Victorville.
"You'd go to Disneyland if it was within a block from your home," he said.
Adds Scott Martineau, general manager of Fiesta Village Family Fun Center in Colton, "There are less crowds and it's a better price."
And, says Mike Brooks, general manager of the Upland Family Fun Center, people don't have to spend lots of time at the mini theme parks and pay a lot of money if they only want to stay a few hours.
Park it here for good times
Here's a park-by-park look at the area's family amusement centers:
Scandia Miniature Golf and Family Fun Center, Ontario and Victorville
Ontario's Scandia, which is owned and operated by Redlands resident Tony Larson and his children, is the new kid on the block --at least in the Inland Empire.
The Ontario entertainment facility opened two years ago, on eight acres just off the 15 freeway south.
But Scandia, which also has a site in Victorville, is not new to the amusement park business.
Larson got his start 20 years ago when he and a fellow Scoutmaster opened a mini theme park...