There are many different California theme parks that make great places to visit for a vacation or day trip, which is a wonderful way to get away without going to far. One of the most unusual California theme parks is the Gilroy Gardens in Gilroy, California. This is a Paramount theme park that offers something for everyone in pretty much every age group. They have rides, attractions, theme gardens, food concessions, an Events Plaza, and many other enticements for fun any time of the year.

This is one of the most unusual amusement parks in California because its main attraction is a collection of very extraordinary, one-of-a-kind Circus Trees rescued from Scotts Valley, California. There are no other California theme parks that are dedicated to showcasing trees such as this, which are all more than 50 years old. While this is unusual for California theme parks, the trees were commonly found in Ripley's Believe-It-or-Not, Life magazine and other publications during the 1940s and 50s. The trees just look so unique that people have often found it hard to believe they're real.

These trees would not be available for the Paramount theme park if it weren't for Axel Erlandson, a farmer who observed the natural grafting of two Sycamores and realized he could use this type of tree to create beautiful living pieces of art. There aren't any other amusement parks in California that can boast even one of these trees with complex and compound designs in their trunks such as hearts, lightning bolts, basket weaves and rings. This is an unusual concept for California theme parks, since most parks focus only on rides and games rather than showcasing nature.

Of all the California theme parks that a family could visit, this is one of the best. It provides all the fun and excitement you'd expect from a theme park with an educational and breathtaking view of nature at its best.