Knott's Berry Farm

Rich in history and local tradition, Knott's Berry Farm (known simply as Knott's, or even KBF to us locals), is more than just a theme park, it is a tribute to good old-fashioned Western America culture.

Knott's for Thrill Seekers -

Start off early in the morning, ideally when the park opens its gates (at 10 a.m.). If you need, there's a nice Starbucks down the street (Beach Boulevard, north of La Palma) to pick up a coffee to start your day. Before you get too much filling your stomach, which will be easy with the delicious funnel cakes and boysenberry topping with powdered sugar, hop on all of the jolting rides first. You'll also avoid longer lines near the end of the day by going on early. This means you will be starting at the Boardwalk section of the park, running to be one of the first on Boomerang. Afterwards, go strap yourself in at the Supreme Scream station as you prepare for a crawl to the top of a 254 foot high tower and take a deep breathe before the quick and forceful drop down (said to be a mere 3 seconds). Heart pumping yet? How about a slide down “The World's Tallest, Steepest and Wettest Water Ride!” The Perilous Plunge will get you and everyone pointing at you wet... a great way to cool yourself off in the middle of the day.

Wait... we know your clothes have stopped leaving a puddle behind you. It's time to change that! Walk across the path, over to Rip Tide. Choose a seat in the middle for maximum effect as you tumble around the spouting fountain. Okay, now it is time to dry off again, for the meantime. Head over to the Xcelerator (the big, tall red one) and zoom around corners like you're racing in that t-bird. Get out of the sun and sit under a lovely umbrella in Fiesta Village... while spinning around at the Hat Dance. Your head will certainly be spinning afterwards. If all that activity has really stirred up your appetite, stomp over to the Bigfoot Broiler for a juicy burger. When done chomping that beef, it is required to go to Bigfoot Rapids (you're in the area, anyway). As they say, you will get wet, and you just may get soaked (if you sit at the seat that swerves under the waterfall). For dessert, and a quick drying off, saunter on back to Fiesta Village for Montezooma's revenge. Once that is done, relax, grab a funnel cake (it's a requirement to have it with boysenberry sauce), and catch one of the Old West shows back in Ghostown.

Knott's for Families -

Begin your day with a serving of the classic pancake breakfast at IHOP, across the street from KBF's entrance. The park will open at 10 o'clock, so it's best to get there at the time to allow yourself to maximize the day at this multi-faceted theme park. Make it a fun history lesson for the kids by pretending they're going off to work in a gold mine on Ghost Rider, a roller coaster said to be one of the longest and tallest in the world. After that little bit of exhilaration, pan for gold over at the Gold Rush Camp and possibly strike it rich! Cool down from the heat of the day on the Timber Mountain log ride, a Knott's classic.

Take a break from all of the excitement of the Old West and enjoy a delicious burrito or other Mexican fare at La Victoria Cantina in Fiesta Village. Once the food settles, be prepared to discover ancient mysteries on the always adventurous Jaguar ride. Don't worry, Camp Snoopy is next! Great for kids of all ages (but still best for the young ones), this offers many cute attractions for the family. I remember around the age of 5 having my picture taken on the Huff and Puff mining cars, while pumping and moving the car all by myself.

Near the end of your day, take a tour on the Ghost Town Calico Railroad... just be sure to watch out for flying bullets, as handkerchiefed bandits may board your train. Finish off with a supper at Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant. Just be sure to make the reservations in advance, otherwise the wait is destined to be terribly long any day of the week. For a map of the park's location, please check here.

So, what else is there to do here? There is also the Knott's newer sister park, Soak City, which is mainly used by locals to cool off from the Southern California heat and nothing I would particularly recommend going out of your way to visit.

Don't pack your bags just yet, Buena Park still has more to offer than a family themepark.

Dinner and a Show

Medieval Times -

A classic in its own right, Medieval Times is the ultimate place for "chivalry, rivalry, and revelry."  Feast on a meal fit for royalty while watching, and perhaps even taking part in, a medieval tournament. Located on Beach Blvd. in between La Palma and the 91.

Pirate's Dinner Adventure -

A result of the late pirate-craze, the old Wild Bill's Dinner Theater was renovated into the Pirate's Dinner Adventure. A stunning show accompanies a decent dinner, and preceeded by a reasonably-sized appetizer buffet, pre-show. Just be sure you practice your swordsmanship before entering this territory. Also located on Beach Blvd, just south of the 91 freeway.

No Dinner, but a Bit of a Freak Show

Ripley's Believe it or Not! Museum -

Get weirded out by this museum full of real (or not?!) oddities recorded throughout history and throughout the world by Robert Ripley. This is a good stop for some fun if you have an extra hour or two in your agenda. The boys will love all the exhibits meant to gross you out. Located on Beach Blvd, north of La Palma.

Buena Park is a great down filled with the necessities for suburban life and more. The historic, but entirely renovated Buena Park Mall, now known as the Buena Park Downtown (on La Palma, between Stanton and Dale), hosts a variety of stores, eateries, and a huge new movie theater. At Beach and Orangethorpe sits Golden Nights Restaurant, a fun Middle Eastern dining experience. This city is also filled with a variety of lodgings at your service (searchable on any travel site). Enjoy your stay!

Welcome to Anaheim. The one-time Bavarian delight along the Santa Ana River and previously filled with great citrus and walnut trees is now nearly half Hispanic and an established center of a metropolitan region in its own right.

Disneyland

Yes, it is a staple of visiting the Southland and you are obligated to visit if you're in the area and haven't been before. California Adventure is adjacent to the park and is just a pretty waste of time, so I recommend saving your money and going to see the real things the state has to offer. If you're limited on time and want the best of the rides, head first to the Matterhorn to wake you up and help get you pumped for the remainder of your day. Run over to Space Mountain and soar through the stars … and try to think of Michael Jackson when he wasn't so odd.

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Stop off at the Café Orleans for a yummy crepe or sandwich. Mosey on down to the Pirates of the Caribbean cruise and relax, enjoy a boat ride while your food settles. Don't move too fast, you can take a fascinating show of outer space while sitting in the theater in Star Tours… be careful, your seats do move in correspondence with the show. You'll come outside and the difference between an air-conditioned theater and the Southern California heat will hit you. Skip over to Splash Mountain for a refreshing cool down… and be careful, you will get wet!

Cruise through Autopia and let a breeze dry you off a bit, and then hit the Indiana Jones adventure for a shaky Jeep ride. It's now time for a little meet and greet with some characters, which is best done in Toon Town (my favorite part as a child). Minnie's house is a little girl's dream and the boys should really enjoy the Chip n'Dale Tree House.

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All the sugar and candy is done (and don't forget to buy some edible and non-edible treats at the Gag Factory before you leave), dusk should be hitting, and there's some sort of eerie feel as the breeze of the Santa Ana winds hit you and you wonder where the sun has gone. Well, it's the perfect timing for the trip to the Haunted Mansion. Will you see a ghost? Once you get over being spooked, run to Fronteirland for a place close to the water to get the best view of the Fantasmic special effects show performed on the lake. The showing should be at about 9, and following it will be a spectacular firework show. You should head back to your hotel room after this… get some rest and instruct the baby sitter… because now it's time to party!

Map of the park's location

Nightlife

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The Grove - This is a hot event venue, located on Katella east of State College. Its stunning exterior architecture and generally fabulous feel will make you feel like a movie star as you saunter in here. For upcoming events, go to their event schedule page.

House of Blues - The famous spot for some amazing live performances, located in the Downtown Disney District. You'll find all sorts of music being played here, and even though food is served, you'll likely find yourself moving those hips the entire time. For more information, head to the House of Blues website.

J.C. Fandango - Thespot to hit for a fun night of moving to the Latin groove. This is now technically in the city of Garden Grove, located on Chapman (west of Harbor… this is for your taxi driver), but it was previously in Anaheim so I'm including it… Anyway, they have all the best Latin music, a vibrant crowd, excellent DJs and even offer Salsa lessons. Check out their website to find out more.

Sports

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The Concourse Entertainment Center (Bowling) - For some reason, I think us Anaheim folks love to bowl. Well, this is the place to try your luck at a strike. They even have fun theme nights to enjoy. Located on La Palma, east of Kraemer.

California Angels - (had to be old school with the name) This is the baseball team that hadn't one a game for decades, and out of the blue took the World Series by storm in 2002. They play a great game, and if you have a chance, you should take the opportunity to see one. Go here for their schedule and watch them play at the Angel Stadium.

Anaheim Ducks - Are you Canadian and bored by the prospect of being without your beloved hockey while on vacation? Don't be! You can watch the Ducks play with the sticks and the puck (when it's the season). Schedule available here to see them play at the Arrowhead Pond.

Anaheim Hills Golf Course - Anaheim Hills is for sure the most beautiful part of this city. If you're seeking a relaxing afternoon and want to take a swing, The Hills golf course is a lovely spot to play a round of golf at. Phone 714-998-3041

From standing at the Main Street Train Station with the flowers made into Mickey Mouse's head you walk your way down on red bricks into Main Street where you can look to your left to see City Hall and to your right, Bank Of America where you can set up your annual pass. Then, next to City Hall is the Fire Station sitting on the bottom of a double decker building. On top sits a light, always lit because Walt lived on top of the Fire Station and every time he entered the park onto his apartment he lit the candle. Walking down Main Street you see many stores such as the Penny Arcade, the Emporium, and the Main Street Cinema where they show six of the original black and white cartoons. Looking straight ahead, you see a horse drawn carriage and a fire truck looking on, you see a statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse holding hands as Walt is pointing to Main Street.

Entering Tomorrowland, you zoom into the new age of technology. There is Star Tours featuring C3POand R2-D2 of Star Wars, Space Mountain where you blast off into the stars and beyond, Buzz Lightyear and his Astro Blasters, Autopia where even a kid can get behind the wheel of a car and the newest attraction, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage where you enter the Australian current and listen to the fish. While in this land of technology, you can hear, see, play and even encounter the new electronics of today and tomorrow.
Crossing the moat and through the castle, you enter Fantasyland. Where anyone can become a princess and all your dreams come true, and once upon a time does come true. You can join Peter Pan and take a flight with him, journey to hell with Mr. Toad, take a trip into the forest with Snow White, sail along through a storybook land canal, fly with Dumbo, venture to Pleasure Island with Pinocchio, or just spin around on King Arthur's Carousel or on the Mad Tea Party. There you can see shops where you can buy your young one's princess costumes and see it come to life. You can buy hats with your name on them, collectible pins with your favorite character on them, or magical wands. Fantasyland is truly the most magical land of Disneyland.

Singing birds and wild jungles surround you as you enter Adventureland. You can take a cruise into the deep jungles, ride a jeep into a lost temple with famous explorer Indiana Jones, climb a treehouse with Tarzan or just hear the birds sing at the Tiki Room. Adventureland has interesting shops that bring you a variety of items from around the world. There you can also get your hands on the juiciest Bangel Barque and mouth watering pineapple shaved ice cream. Adventureland is for everybody of all ages where you can enter your own story from around the world and see things you couldn't normally see if you were at home on your couch.

Don't you wish you could ride a horse into the wild west, well you can with Frontierland! Seeing this land is drawing you back into the olden days where you could shoot a gun and not get in trouble, funny thing you can do that in this land as well, target and aim with a gun for only 50 cents. You can also get a wonderful Mexican meal or sit in a large room serving chicken tenders and watch a puppet show like the old western children. You can take a trip around in the Mark Twain or ride a real pirate ship, the Columbia. The Mark Twain you can actually drive, all you have to do is ask before hand and you can get your certificate with the captain. And in Frontierland you could end your day with the watershow called Fantasmic.

Step into New Orleans Square and enter the land of a bayou where you can ride a ship into the Pirates Lair. You can see a real band play where they throw Mardi Gras beads at you or have your painting done by the best. You can ride on the Pirates of the Carribean and see Captain Jack Sparrow and see Davy Jones bewaring you of the Carribean haunts. New Orleans Square is where you can visit the Haunted Mansion and ride on your Death Buggy and see the spooky haunts of Jack Skellington and hear the many songs, and around Christmas time Disney presents Haunted Mansion as Haunted Mansion Holiday, where they decorate the mansion as Jack's house and see the attic with presents galore. New Orleans is authentic from buildings, food, smells and music, and in my opinion New Orleans Square has to be the best land.

Mickey's Toon Town, you can enter Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald Duck, and Chip n Dale's own house. Ride Rodger Rabbits car and have a hot fudge sundae on an old broken down trolley. Toon Town is filled with gags or tricks of all sorts. While there you can ride Gadget's Rollercoaster and sit upon a fountain of Rodger Rabbit or Mickey Mouse. Toon town is the best land to meet Disney toon characters and their own houses.

Critter Country, a wilderness of animals, take an adventure to the Hundred Acre Woods with Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin. Take a laughing boat ride on Splash Mountain where you can sing along with all the characters and just so happen to get soaking wet in the process! There you can push along a canoe and see shops filled with plushes of Winnie the Pooh and more collectible Disney pins. Or even sit down and listen to the many sounds of birds. Critter Country is the sweetest land of them all.

Disneyland, the happiest place on earth. Where an elder can become a kid and a kid can grow up in Tomorrowland, a princess castle where anyone can become a princess or a prince. Critter Country filled with animals of all sorts. Frontierland is just a horse ride away from taking a trip around in the Mark Twain. Or even set foot on Main Street to do a little shopping. Adventureland where you can set sail into the jungle and Toon Town is the character land to find everybody or take a trip into New Orleans Square and sing yo-ho with pirates. Disneyland the empire of all dreams coming true and of every age can come to be enlightened with Disney cast members and see your favorite characters.

"And we remember that it was all started with a mouse"- Walt Disney.