Sponsored by Go to Buena Park
Buena Park in northern Orange County is most well-known for being the house of Knott’s Berry Farm, America’s first ever theme park.
Nonetheless, there’s a lot extra issues to do in Buena Park. There’s a historic district, world-class buying, and it’s near our favourite Californian seashore, Huntington Seaside.
When you’re planning a trip to go to the world well-known theme parks, however need extra points of interest so as to add to your itinerary, then listed here are some extra points of interest you possibly can take a look at in Buena Park that provide a complete lot of family-friendly enjoyable!
We visited on a paid marketing campaign with Go to Buena Park, however all of the concepts, tales and opinions are our personal!
1. Spend the day at Knott’s Berry Farm Theme Park
Buena Park is a vacation spot recognized for one factor – theme parks, so in fact we stated sure to screaming curler coasters, to swashbuckling pirate kidnappings, to household leisure, and to scrumptious Southern California meals. All of which you could find at Knotts Berry Farm.
It began again in 1920 with the Knott Household and their berry farm. Mrs. Knott quickly turned legendary for her rooster dinners, which helped this entrepreneur household increase their enterprise from a meals stall to the creation of the very first boysenberry, to a reproduction ghost city, to now one of the vital visited theme parks within the USA.
It’s so common that even Australians will go to on their journeys to California. I keep in mind listening to my dad and brother’s tales of Montezooma’s Revenge once they visited again within the early nineties.
They each stated they loved it greater than Disneyland!
Knott’s Berry Farm has extra thrill-seeker rides than Disneyland at a extra inexpensive worth. Though, in case your finances permits, I’d suggest a Quick Lane Go to maximise your time within the park.
So, if you happen to’re not that into Mickey Mouse, it is a nice theme park various and it’s solely quarter-hour up the highway from Disney in Anaheim. And, Knott’s Berry Farm is 57-acres, which makes it possible to beat in sooner or later.
There are 40 rides throughout 4 themed areas, which pay homage to the historical past and tradition of this area: the Previous West Ghost City, Fiesta Village, The Boardwalk, and Camp Snoopy.
It’s possible you’ll not discover Disney characters at this park, however you’ll discover Snoopy and the PEANUTS gang. They wander round dancing and taking photographs with company in addition to performing in a number of reveals all through the day.
The Previous West Ghost City was our favourite place to stroll round within the park with its outdated picket shops, salons, blacksmith outlets, cute eating places, and the Chook Theater.
There’s a lot to take a look at and do they usually typically have stay reveals and leisure. Get pleasure from one whereas sipping a boysenberry beer on the saloon.
I additionally cherished the enjoyable, seashore vibes of The Boardwalk, residence of California’s first dive coaster, HangTime.
It additionally has the steepest past vertical drop in California. I discovered the drop thrilling, it was the vertical climb up on the opposite facet that had me screaming, “I need to get off!”
We may have a full information to Knott’s Berry Farm. Listed below are our picks for the very best rides:
- GhostRider – the longest, tallest, quickest Wood coaster on the West Coast. I actually wasn’t anticipating this trip to be nearly as good because it was. Completely shocking!
- HangTime: 150 ft past vertical drip, 5 inversions and mid-air suspensions, solely the bravest will say sure to this coaster.
- Silver Bullet– Savannah’s first the wrong way up curler coaster and thrill trip. Wow! 2 minutes of intense velocity, inversions, corkscrews, cobra rolls, loops and 109-foot drop!
- Sierra Sidewinder – a curler coaster that spins because it dips, banks, and nostril dives? I’d say that’s a YES!
- Pony Specific: Whereas extremely quick, this trip will launch you 38mph in lower than 3 seconds.
- Supreme Scream: 312 ft excessive, spectacular views over Buena Park, and assured abdomen drops as you all of a sudden drop from these heights.
We didn’t get to expertise all of the rides on our day at Knott’s Berry Farm, some weren’t working, however we did a lot of the thrill ones.
If visiting in Spring, you possibly can benefit from the Knott’s Boysenberry Competition, to rejoice this berry first created by Walter Knott within the Nineteen Twenties.
The occasion runs from March to April and options stay leisure, interactive experiences and scores of boysenberry dishes.
In addition they have seasonal occasions. In October, they’ve Knott’s Spooky Farm which is aimed toward children, and Knott’s Scary Farm which is aimed toward teenagers.
Christmas is an enormous month, with Knott’s Merry Farm. It’s all the time enjoyable and cheerful at Knott’s Farm!
2. Store native at Knott’s California Market
Outdoors the entrance gates to this California theme park is Knott’s California Market.
It’s a set of shops and eating places that provide these visiting an opportunity to buy some Snoopy-themed souvenirs, native jams and jellies.
You possibly can eat on the place that began all of it – Mrs. Knott’s Hen Dinner Restaurant. It’s been serving up Cordelia Knott’s unique fried rooster recipe since 1934, in addition to well-known boysenberry pies!
Make sure you cease in at Berry Market to see the massive mural on the partitions sharing the historical past of Knott’s Berry Farm and the Knott Household story.
I bought a lovely purple summer time costume right here.
The Market Emporium is one other place for garments buying – heavy on the nation theme – in addition to a year-round Christmas retailer, and a mini-Sweet Parlor!
The most important retailer within the market, PEANUTS Headquarters has unique Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the Gang clothes, plush toys, books and even canine ears to put on into the park.
And what Aussies couldn’t resist choosing up just a few Billabong gadgets from Knott’s California Store?
The most well-liked souvenirs for guests to buy on the California Market are the berry market preserves, particularly the boysenberry, home made fudge, and berry market syrup! And you’ll devour some boysenberry funnel desserts from Cable Automobile Kitchen.
That’s a YES to as a lot boysenberry as you possibly can eat in sooner or later! You’re on trip, in fact you possibly can!
You do not want a theme park ticket to go to Knott’s California Market, it’s free and open to the general public.
3. Splash round at Knott’s Soak Metropolis Waterpark (Seasonal)
As we visited Buena Park within the winter, Knott’s Soak Metropolis Water Park, the 15-acre water theme park, was closed.
However, if you happen to’re visiting from Could by way of early-September, you might need to incorporate a day into your Buena Park trip cooling down on their velocity, tube and physique slides, or of their Tidal Wave Pool, and stress-free Sundown River float.
We additionally hear the cafeteria serves scrumptious boysenberry pie, so make sure you test it out if you happen to occur to go to in the summertime.
Soak Metropolis is throughout the highway from Knott’s Berry Farm and requires a separate ticket.
4. See a Liberty Bell Reproduction at Knott’s Independence Corridor
Out the entrance of Soak Metropolis is Buena Park’s very personal Independence Corridor. It’s the one place within the nation to have a precise brick-by-brick reproduction of the place the place American signed their Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia.
So, if you happen to can’t make it to Philadelphia to see the actual factor, that is your subsequent most suitable choice. Inside can be a reproduction of the Liberty Bell.
There’s a small room that has recreated what the signing of the Declaration of Independence expertise would have been like with recorded voice reenactments of the forefathers debating over the doc and plans for independence from Nice Britain.
5. Get pleasure from a Pirates Dinner Journey Present
As quickly as we walked into the Pirates Dinner Journey Present, we knew we had been in for a blast. Rambunctious company had been swilling rum cocktails on the pre-show bar with their swords and pirate patches.
Youngsters had been having simply as a lot enjoyable with their sodas taking photographs in entrance of the pirate paraphernalia, and you’ll even play mini golf whilst you await the present to start out and revel in free appetizers.
Contained in the theater, you’re seated in rows that encompass the middle stage – an 18th century Spanish galleon adrift on a small lagoon.
We had been within the 1st row near the motion due to a VIP seating improve, which additionally features a pirate headband, beaded necklace, pirate flag (make sure you wave it) and a Photograph E-book!
Right away the pirates wander round interacting with the company, questioning what you’re consuming, the place your flags are, and threatening you with swords.
For the following two hours you’re entertained by their swashbuckling antics: sword fights, particular results, pirate songs, and pirate video games as they carry out stunts swinging throughout the ship’s rigging, and aerial trapeze performances.
They invite you to sing alongside and take part in among the video games, and cheer in your pirate crew (we had been the purple crew).
Kids had been pulled from the viewers for boat races and to behave as troopers within the remaining pirate preventing scenes. I had a sword held to my chest a few instances. I believe for not having rum in hand.
We did have two big glasses of pirate cocktails on the desk although! Drink purchases include memento glasses – which are correct glass, not faux plastic!
All of this as a three-course meal is dropped at your desk all through the night: Soup, roast rooster and mash, and chocolate cake for dessert. There are alternatives for vegetarians, vegans, and people with meals intolerances.
In order for you one thing else, there are numerous meal improve choices obtainable comparable to shrimp skewers and turkey legs.
The Pirates Dinner Journey Present is a good expertise for households eager to let their interior pirate have enjoyable. It was enjoyable for the entire household, vacationers and locals alike!
6. Watch a Medieval Instances Dinner & Match
Much like the Pirate themed dinner present – and just about subsequent door – is a themed attraction for many who love Center Age tournaments and preventing.
Once more, many company – younger and outdated – got here wearing costumes, able to be knighted, and watch their crew’s knights compete in Medieval video games, sword preventing, and jousting.
The setting for the Medieval Instances Dinner and Match is an 11th century-style citadel, and the match is hosted by the Queen and her Lords. Andalusian stallions carry out dancing acts and a falcon flies across the area.
For this present viewers participation is generally of the cheering and jeering sort, though the courageous knights throw roses out to the group. Savannah was delighted to obtain one from our Inexperienced Knight – the eventual winner and hero.
Once more, it’s a three-course menu of soup, roasted rooster (which is a large Medieval sized portion) and a Dessert of the Fortress. I don’t need to spoil your shock however, chocolate eclairs, YES Please!
There are alternatives for vegetarians, vegans, and people with meals intolerances. Communicate to your attentive server and they’ll assist get the proper meal to you.
In true Medieval style, you can be consuming together with your palms. Embrace it. And naturally, beer in a memento glass. You’re on trip. Bear in mind, Buena Park is the Land of Sure!
Come early to see the horses and to take photographs in entrance of all of the props contained in the citadel. Seize your self a memento stein of beer – it’s the Medieval Means.
7. Eat and play at John’s Unimaginable Pizza
This isn’t only a place for lunch – hiya all you-can-eat pizza buffet – however a 58,000 sq. foot indoor leisure middle with arcade video games and points of interest.
After lunch, refill a card with credit score and revel in some household enjoyable competing towards one another in Pac-man, automotive racing, and different arcade favorites.
We loved the bumper automobiles, a model we haven’t tried earlier than. You management the motion of your round bumper automotive with levers that assist you go ahead, backward, flip, and spin round!
Households with youthful children will particularly take pleasure in John’s.
8. Bounce on the Huge Air Trampoline Park
Our women are all the time able to say sure to again flips and warrior programs. We’ve been to sufficient of them to know that The Huge Air Trampoline Park has an excellent number of leaping actions and programs.
There are Ninja-Warrior programs the place they will navigate their method round obstacles over huge foam pits; an enormous trampoline space for leaping, backflips and aerials, a trampoline dodgeball courts, a zero-gravity court docket, a battle beam in your personal jousting, the bouncy Huge Courtroom for capturing hoops, rock-climbing and one thing I’ve not seen earlier than: a mechanical bull.
Whereas older children will get extra out of this household exercise, there are leaping sections for younger children too.
The climbing wall can be nice, and we love that it has a foam pit on the backside in case they drop off!
9. Go Purchasing at The Supply OC
In case you have time for buying in your Buena Park trip, the Supply OC is an open-air buying middle. We didn’t get time to go to, despite the fact that it was conveniently situated subsequent to our resort.
From my analysis, there are quite a lot of nice eating places within the middle as effectively, particularly the candy sort with creatively embellished macarons from Candy Field and soufflé pancakes from Basilur Tea. I had In-Sit Espresso bookmarked for my latte repair. YES, for subsequent time.
10. Get pleasure from seashore time at Huntington Seaside
Huntington Seaside is our favourite Southern California seashore, and it’s solely a 30-minute drive from Buena Park. With its surfer vibe, spectacular sunsets, and night firepit gatherings, it reminds us of Australia probably the most.
Huntington State Seaside is likely one of the cleanest in California and top-of-the-line Southern California seashores for browsing, in addition to subsequent door Newport Seaside.
40 years in the past, it was recognized by the rows of oil derricks alongside the shoreline. Now it’s boutique shops, traditional cafes, fine-dining choices and luxurious motels create a vibrantly enjoyable ambiance. HB within the OC is the place to be seen!
11. Tour the Suan Juan Capistrano Mission
One other attraction inside a 30-minute drive is the Mission San Juan Capistrano, the birthplace of Orange County.
See, Orange County is not only about amusement parks and exquisite seashores! There’s additionally historic appeal just a few miles away from the Dana Level shoreline.
It was based by the Spanish in 1776, on the identical time the Founding Fathers had been signing these necessary paperwork over within the East.
With its crumbling sandstone partitions, bell wall, bougainvillea draped pathways, and flowering gardens, it’s one of the vital fascinating locations to go to in Southern California and a fairly place to wander for an hour.
Whereas right here stroll across the Los Rios Historic district to get an inkling of life centuries in the past.
12. Go to the Dana Level Institute (or Whale Watching Tour)
40-minutes from Buena Park is Dana Level, a departure level for crusing adventures and whale and dolphin watching excursions. You possibly can mix this with a go to to the Suan Juan Capistrano Mission, which is a 10-minute drive away.
Richard Henry Dana, the seaman who Dana Level is known as after, described this place as solemn and romantic. It’s a really fairly location with the harbor sitting beneath the cliff tops that you just see a lot of in Southern Orange County.
It’s additionally the house of the Dana Level Ocean Institute, which makes use of the ocean as their classroom to encourage kids to be taught.
We wandered by way of the varied elements of the amenities that included contact tanks, and life-sized shows of whales, and the rising life cycle of the jellyfish.
The Institute additionally teaches about maritime life and historical past. Outdoors within the harbor sits the tall ship, The Pilgrim, a full-sized reproduction of the brig on which Dana as soon as sailed, which you’ll be able to discover.
The Ocean Institute is now open to the general public seven days per week the place you possibly can tour the power, take part in lab actions, go on a Whale Watching Cruise or head to sea aboard a historic tall ship.
You might be near Laguna Seaside, so contemplate leaving time in your day for some seashore time. I choose Huntington Seaside, however Laguna remains to be an excellent possibility.
13. Go to Disneyland Park in Anaheim
And naturally, California is host to among the world’s prime theme parks, comparable to Disneyland. It wants no introduction. Disneyland Park in Anaheim is simply a 10-minute drive from Buena Park, so it’s a must-visit on any household trip.
It’s particularly nice for youthful children with all of the characters and reveals, and for extra sedate rides. California Journey Park subsequent door is the place you’ll discover extra rides for older children.
Staying in Buena Park places you outdoors the chaos of Anaheim, however shut by. You may as well simply catch an Uber, get dropped on the door and save on parking prices and problem, or lengthy shuttle bus strains.
Your resort in Buena Park will most likely have Disney shuttles, which gained’t be as busy because the Anaheim resort shuttles.
The place to eat and drink in Buena Park
We didn’t get to eat at many eating places in Buena Park as we skilled two themed dinner present experiences and a day contained in the theme park, however we do understand how onerous it’s to seek out family-friendly eating places, so we’ll share those we did go to.
It’s Southern California, so that you’ll discover various, distinctive and flavorful meals from all kinds of cuisines, not simply scorching canine and burgers. Listed below are just a few we discovered and loved.
1. Damaged Yolk Café
Damaged Yolk Cafe has the type of meals typical to Southern California. A South of the border twist, with colourful, flavorful meals utilizing recent, native components – and HUGE servings.
Benedicts are their signature breakfast dishes: for a novel twist, order a rooster and waffle benedict.
I actually loved my MOM scramble, full of beneficiant servings of mushroom, purple and inexperienced bell pepper and topped with avocado. I additionally added bacon.
The Unique Damaged Yolk Café began in 1979 in Pacific Seaside, in San Diego, California and has since turn into a Southern California favourite for breakfast, brunch and lunch.
Because it’s throughout the highway from Knott’s Berry Farm, Damaged Yolk is the proper place to gas up earlier than the 10am opening.
2. Porto’s Bakery and Cafe
If you wish to take pleasure in sweets and savories, head to Porto’s Bakery.
I don’t suppose I’ve ever been in a bakery as huge or busy as this iconic native Cuban bakery. It’s like a big meals corridor all to itself with an abundance of Cuban pastries, savories, scrumptious desserts, and home made bread.
There’s additionally a espresso bar if you happen to simply need to seize and go (or eat in).
Meals baked with love and high quality components has all the time been the main target of Cuban-born Rosa Porto, who opened her first storefront on Sundown Boulevard, Echo Park in 1976.
She began by promoting desserts to an extended line of household and pals who heard how good her desserts had been again in Cuba.
These lengthy strains now snake round six of her bakeries in California. Rosa’s kids and grandchildren now proceed Rosa’s legacy after her passing in 2019.
I discussed it’s busy, so include time and endurance for ordering. Households will love that there might be one thing to go well with all members of the family – besides if you’re gluten illiberal – and the costs are inexpensive.
You may get a filling savory or breakfast pastry for beneath $3. Their signature Cuban Sandwich is common as are their potato balls and guava strudels.
The ladies gave a double thumbs up YES to apple strudel and chocolate croissant. My pork tamales had been flavorful, and Craig had a meat pie and ham and cheese croissant.
Undecided if Porto’s is the actual deal? It landed at No 1 on Yelp’s 2016 High USA eating places record and the LA Instances named it within the area’s greatest bakery in its 2022 Better of the Southlands awards.
3. Rock & Brews
We had an hour to spare earlier than our dinner at Pirates Dinner Journey, so as an alternative of losing that strolling backwards and forwards to our resort, we determined to cease into the Rock and Brews Restaurant for a drink and a snack.
Rock is our style, so we felt at residence on this restaurant devoted to the greats. As quickly as we noticed the enormous guitar out entrance and the vinyls embedded into the sidewalk, we made a plan to seek out time to go to.
Big murals adorn the partitions of Kiss (this chain was based partly by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley from Kiss), Aerosmith, and wall to wall photographs of U2, Jim Morrison, and any Rock Gods and Goddesses you possibly can consider.
A lot of which we bought to take heed to and watch on the TV screens across the restaurant taking part in stay live shows and music movies. I felt like I used to be surrounded by pals and recollections.
Their meals is made out of scratch with domestically sourced components in dishes that go well with native flavors. We had some garlic parma fries and guacamole and dip for snacks. Their nachos seemed large!
There’s a beer backyard out again with the overhead shade fabric lined in rock icons and a small stage for stay music.
Because the identify suggests, it’s a beer lover’s paradise with over 60 brews from all over the world.
Craig was very impressed along with his Pilsner from close by Buzzrock Brewing and I loved my seltzer from the identical brewery.
The Grammy’s could not acknowledge Rock, however that doesn’t imply it’s useless.
4. Espresso Code
I’d say it’s a criminal offense to make horrible espresso in California. I hereby proclaim Code Espresso in Buena Park, not responsible.
I might inform it might be good at one have a look at the latte paintings on the froth – no barista goes to that a lot effort with out backing up the artwork with creamy flavorful brew.
It’s proper close to the Damaged Yolk, so I’d say save your morning espresso till after your breakfast and cease in at Espresso Code.
It’s additionally close to the Knott’s Berry Farm entrance so if you happen to’re in want of espresso throughout your theme park day, you possibly can simply stroll over and seize one from there. Make sure you have your ticket available for re-entry.
5. The Cauldron Spirits and Brews
Whereas we didn’t go to The Cauldron Spirits and Brews, my witchy spirit was fairly drawn to what I discovered by way of my analysis on issues to do in Buena Park at evening.
Darkish and comfy ambiance, overstuffed chairs, lounge hearth, cauldron, and witches and black cats’ paraphernalia (True witches like us have two black cats!)
It’s not simply enchanting brews and alchemic cocktails on supply, however French fashion meals.
I needed to embrace this simply in case you might discover time to sneak in!
Video: Watch us discover Buena Park
You possibly can watch us discover Buena Park and have enjoyable at these points of interest within the following video:
The place to remain in Buena Park: DoubleTree by Hilton Buena Park
We cherished how our resort, the DoubleTree by Hilton Buena Park, was inside strolling distance to all of the Buena Park points of interest. This meant parking was not obligatory!
Knott’s Berry Farm was beneath a 20-minute stroll, and we normally broke that up with a croissant from Porto Bakery alongside the way in which, or a Pirate themed dinner of a night.
The resort was every part you’d anticipate from a DoubleTree – heat cookies upon arrival, fashionable double queen rooms, a big inviting lobby, heated swimming pool, health middle, and free shuttles to each Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm (you should e-book prematurely).
Getting round Buena Park
On account of its central Southern California location, Buena Park is straightforward to get to, and simpler to get round.
Lengthy Seaside (14 miles) and John Wayne Airport (18 miles) are the closest to Beuna Park with LA airport solely 25 miles away.
As talked about, Disneyland is simply a 10-15 minute drive away, and Huntington Seaside and the OC Seashores are a 30 minute drive.
In relation to getting round, Buena Park is greatest explored by automotive or through the use of rideshare apps comparable to Uber or Lyft. Main freeways (Interstate 5, CA‑91, and Seaside Boulevard SR 39) run by way of city, making it straightforward to drive to locations.
For individuals who don’t drive, the Buena Park Metrolink Station connects you to different locations in LA however isn’t the best choice for getting round Buena Park space. You may get the OCTA bus providers round Buena Park – Routes 29 (Seaside Blvd), 38 (La Palma Ave), 123, and 460 hook up with locations like Knott’s Berry Farm, Disneyland, and Huntington Seaside.
Last ideas
We had been thrilled that we stated YES to visiting Buena Park, California, which included a day at America’s first theme park, Knott’s Berry Farm.
We had been delighted to seek out that there are many issues to try this adults will take pleasure in in addition to children.
With its central Orange County location, Buena Park is inside straightforward driving distance to prime SoCal points of interest like Disneyland, Hollywood, and the beautiful OC seashores of Huntington and Laguna. It may be an excellent base when exploring the Orange County area, too.
Buena Park is called the Land of Sure! So, in case your children have been bugging you for a YES Day, why not make it in a land the place sure is adopted by memorable household moments?
So, what are you ready for? Which of those prime Buena Park points of interest are you going to go to first? Tell us within the feedback.
