In 2013 Universal opened Simpsons-themed Springfield, home to that iconic American TV family. Hang at Moe's Tavern, grab doughnuts at Lard Lad, and meet Krusty the Clown, Sideshow Bob and the Simpson family themselves. The child-friendly Kang & Kodos' Twirl & Hurl offers an interactive twist to whirling, and don't miss The Simpsons Ride (Express Pass).

It's one of the best simulated experiences at Universal, a highlight even if you're not a Simpsons fan. Kids will want to try Springfield's signature drink, a bubbling and steaming Flaming Moe that rivals the theming fun of Harry Potter's Butterbeer and tastes surprisingly good! Sure, it's just an orange soda, but it's a pretty cool orange soda, the cup makes a good souvenir, and in the eyes of an eight-year-old, it's worth every penny of that seven bucks.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Woody Woodpecker's KidZone

0.06 MILES

Kid-friendly shows and rides, a fantastic water-play area and supercool foam-ball cannons – it rivals Islands of Adventure's Seuss Landing as a Universal…

2. World Expo

0.08 MILES

The main attraction here is Men in Black Alien Attack (Express Pass), a 3D interactive video game that is a lot of fun but not at all scary. Your car…

4. Wizarding World of Harry Potter

0.15 MILES

You don't have to be a huge Harry Potter fan to appreciate the genius of the magnificently whimsical Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which invites…

5. San Francisco

0.21 MILES

San Francisco, themed heavily around the city as the site of the massive 1906 earthquake and the inspiration behind the 1974 film Earthquake, is home to…

6. New York

0.22 MILES

Revenge of the Mummy (Express Pass) combines roller-coaster speed and twists with in-your-face special effects. Head deep into ancient Egyptian catacombs…

7. Hollywood

0.23 MILES

With glorious 3D film footage, live action stunts and 4D special effects, Terminator 2: 3-D (Express Pass) is complete sensory overload – delicious fun…

8. Universal Studios

0.31 MILES

Divided geographically by region-specific architecture and ambience and fabulously themed as a Hollywood backlot, Universal Studios' simulation-heavy…