Rub elbows with Shrek, the Terminator, Scooby-Doo and more at this massive theme park owned by NBC Universal. Catch the popular studio tour, where you might peek in on movie and TV filming and maybe see celebs in action. Of course, there are monstrous thrills provided by the likes of Jurassic Park—The Ride, with its wild 84-foot plunge. Also catch the Universal Animal Actors show and the Shrek 4-D interactive experience—a must for little ones. What's new: This spring, Universal Studios adds the Simpsons to its mix, with an unimaginable ride that features the twisted mind of Krusty the Clown. Also enjoy the IMAX 3-D theater on the CityWalk, a promenade of retail and dining venues. Bargains: Savor the park's array of eateries with All You Can Eat tickets, $20 for adults and $10 for kids. Buy any Universal ticket online and get coupons for more than $100 in food, drinks and more. Planning to park-hop? The Southern California CityPass saves you up to $98 on combined admissions to Universal, Disneyland, SeaWorld and others. 800-UNIVERSAL, universalstudioshollywood.com.

Where to stay: The Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City is right across the street from the CityWalk (rooms from $199 per night). 818-506-2500, hilton.com.