Last week I visited Knott’s Berry Farm as part of a #kidifornia trip hosted by Visit California. While it did start as an actual berry farm owned by the Knott family back in the 1920s, it grew to be known for berries, preserves, pies and chicken dinners. The Knotts added attractions like a ghost town for the growing crowds and they just kept growing. The Cedar Fair Entertainment Company became the owners of Knott’s Berry Farm Amusement Park in the late 1990s and they have continued to expand the theme park. In 1999, they also opened Knott’s Soak City. There is also a Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel. In short, a Knott’s Berry Farm vacation in Buena Park makes for a fun vacation with kids.
How To Plan Your Knott’s Berry Farm Vacation With Kids
Knott’s Berry Farm Amusement Park
The centerpiece of your Knott’s Berry Farm vacation will undoubtedly be the Knott’s Berry Farm Amusement Park which is home to world-class rides, shows and attractions in five different themed areas.
Knott’s Berry Farm Hours
The Knott’s Berry Farm Amusement Park opens at 10 am and closing time ranges from 5 pm to 1 am. Check knotts.com/ to be able to get hours for your days of visit and often they offer discounts for buying tickets online so check that out to while you are there.
Knott’s Berry Farm Rides
Knott’s Berry Farm has tons of rides. You like roller coasters? They have 10 coasters, including the newly renovated Ghost Rider, the West Coast’s longest, fastest wooden roller coaster! You can see all the coasters and get their thrill rating at knotts.com. My daughter is 11 and she and I are only mild thrill seekers when it comes to roller coasters. We Pony Express was our favorite! They also have 12 more rides that were listed at children’s rides. They have even more rides like the Timber Mountain Log ride that careens through the darkness of a twisting 2,100-foot waterway or the High Sierra Ferris Wheel for great park views or the Dragon Swing or the Supreme Scream. Knott’s Berry Farm rides won’t disappoint.
Knott’s Berry Farm Shows
There is something for everyone at Knott’s. If you want a break from all the rides, try a Knott’s Berry Farm Show- Camp Snoopy Theatre brings PEANUTS characters to life; Frontier Feats of Wonder! is a Wild West stunt show full of thrills; Native American Dancer celebrates the lore, legends, music and dance of Native American tribes; and more! Our favorite was the award-winning Mystery Lodge. There were all kinds of special effects that really bring magic back to life mixed with a heart warming message.
Knott’s Berry Farm Experiences
Stroll the streets of the Old West Ghost Town® and experience panning for gold, the Blacksmith Shop, the Old Schoolhouse, and the Western Trails Museum. Camp Snoopy, home of the PEANUTS gang, will round out your day with pint-sized adventures and the kids will love the Snoopy/Peanuts Gang Meet & Greets.
Knott’s Berry Farm Food
There are lots of places to grab some grub from on the go stands to sit down and relax restaurants. If you get a Knott’s Berry Farm Dining Plan or voucher, they include six places- Grizzly Creek Lodge, Sutter’s Grill, Coaster’s, Cantina, Wilderness Broiler, and Hollywood Hits Pizza. I ate at Cantina and I thought my beef burrito was pretty darn delicious. Be on the lookout for signature Boysenberry bites and if you go in April, you may catch the Boysenberry Festival!
Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel
The Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel is also in Buena Park and it is conveniently located so you can just walk right over to Knott’s Berry Farm Amusement Park.
Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel Amenities
This 320-room room full service hotel features a SNOOPY-themed wing, fitness center, pool, hot tub, children’s water activity area, and lighted tennis courts. Dining options include Amber Waves, specializing in All-American fare and hotel room service. For meetings and events, there is 20,000 square ft. of space, including an 8,400-sq.-ft. Grand Ballroom, corporate conference room and elegant penthouse. There is a complimentary shuttle to Disneyland Park in case you want to squeeze that into your Knott’s Berry Farm vacation plans as well. They offer a variety of affordable family vacation packages that include admission to Knott’s Theme Park. Our favorite part was the pool and hot tub area!
Pirate’s Dinner Adventure
While you are in Buena Park visiting Knott’s Berry Farm, you will want to go to the Pirate’s Dinner Adventure. I was thinking that it would be a bit cheesy but fun for the kids but boy was I wrong. It was just as fun for the adults in the party as it was for the kids. I loved it. They have a great story line, pirates in fabulous costumes that fight and climb, a gypsy that does amazing aerial feats, a princess that stands up for what right, and a love story. And it all works. The actors were so good at getting the whole theater audience, both kids and adults involved in the show whether it was shouting for our pirate or as volunteers to be included in the show. There were 5 adults and 4 kids in my party and we all loved it. I forgot to mention, the three course meal we feasted on while watching. You can see where my attention was!
If you were inspired by the pirates doing back flips you can try it yourself at the Big Air Trampoline Park in Buena Park. And for more ideas of what to do while visiting Knott’s Berry Farm, check out visitbuenapark.com. They have tons of great resources, like the helpful map below.
I hope you enjoy your Knott’s Berry Farm vacation. Have you been before? What are your favorite parts of Knott’s Berry Farm?
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Nikki from Tikkido says
This brings back such happy memories from my childhood! Thanks for sharing so many cool California vacation ideas for families. I can’t wait to take my girls there.