Sure, you’ve heard of the theme parks here but there’s so much more to this town! We spent 2 nights and 3 days exploring Buena Park’s best activities and dining with kids.

 

When to Go:

Peak season in Buena Park is the summer so if you can find alternative times, it might make sense. It also is very warm in the summer so the other seasons will allow for more comfortable temps.

 

Weekday is ideal—you can get around Knott’s easily and get reservations. But weekends are still great! Just know you might have to plan ahead and prioritize your rides.

 

Where to Stay:

Courtyard Marriott Buena Park

Affordable prices, convenient location and clean rooms—this is a solid hotel choice for your stays in Buena Park. Our kids appreciated the pool and there was a Starbucks in the lobby. The location is great—we could see the roller coasters from our room but far enough not to hear them. We were right across the street from Porto’s and quick walks to both the Pirate Dinner Adventure and Medieval Times.

Other options: The Knott’s Hotel, located right next to the park, this is a convenient option!

Note: Reach out to me if you’d like to get upgrades/perks on your stays!

What to Do:

 

Knott’s Berry Farm

Absolutely a blast for a wide range of ages, we’ve been taking our kids here since they were 5 months (seriously!). Camp Snoopy is perfect for the under 9 age set, with Peanuts themed rides, many of which may allow the kids to ride on their own. Swings, a roller coaster, jumping cars, planes—there’s a variety of cute rides here.

Make sure to check out the timings for appearances by Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the rest of the gang. We were lucky enough to meet up with Snoopy!

 

The Ghost Town was another favorite part of the park. With so many shops and historical buildings to wander in, it felt like a step back into the Wild West. We loved seeing the blacksmith actually forging horseshoes and wandered into the schoolhouse to hear a “teacher” giving a lesson. This area is very interesting and good spot to stop for lunch. We loved the Ghost Town Grill for a sit down experience but there are many counter options here as well. While over here, Calico Railroad and the Calico River Rapids are super fun!

 

My seven year old is adventurous so she loved some of the bigger rides in the park. Ghostrider was her favorite, followed by HangTime and Xcelerator. If your child likes rides but not ready for those big ones yet, the Dragon Swing and the Jaguar roller coaster were great. For youngers, the Surfside Gliders and Coast Rider were enjoyable. There are a variety of games in this area. We found one that was a “play until you win,” which as a parent, you know saves a lot of tears!

Kid Tip: Get there before the park opens and beeline to your favorite ride! Camp Snoppy is shady so good for when it gets hot.

 

Pirates Dinner Adventure

We had never been and were blown away by this show! The experience starts after you enter, with a lot of games (mini golf, ping pong) set up outside, the Buccaneer Bar and a gift shop. Our ticket included gear for us all, so we immediately donned our pirate haps, bananas and the kids loved their swords.

Once we were allowed to our seats, we were amazed by the stage which is a life sized boat in the center, surrounded by water. Each reserved seat roots for a specific pirate – you meet your pirate at the start have to cheer when they ask and boo at their rivals. Our specific show was during the Halloween season so we saw “Vampirates”- yes all the pirates had fangs. There’s a story, many characters, fighting, swinging and shooting—it’s an impressive display! They even called up dad and my daughter to participate in the show. My daughter was thrilled to be a part of the production.

Kid Tip: Arrive early to take advantage of all the games, enjoy the gift shop and get to your seats early to marvel at the set!

 

PlayPie

I have been to a lot of playspaces and PlayPie is one of the best. An indoor playground with an imagination town, book area and digital room, this Koreatown kid haven a must stop for kids. We visited in the morning on a weekday and had the run of the place—it was very clean and so much fun. There’s a café inside for snacks, drinks and Korean specialities. My kids wanted to stay longer—particularly in the digital room and the giant climbing structure area.

Kid Tip: Arrive early for less people and everything fresh & clean!

 

John’s Incredible Pizza

Both a dining spot and an arcade, your tickets include both at this dizzyingly expansive games hub. Inside, my kids went straight for the games before trying out some of the rides like the  bumper cars and a scrambler. Once the credits ran out, we hit the all you can eat pizza buffet. Besides a wide variety of pizzas, there was a salad bar, baked potatoes, and a pasta bar. I can’t say you go there for the food but the kids were happy and it was so convenient.

Kid Tip: Let them choose the themed dining area—there are so many options!

 

Where to Eat

Porto’s Bakery and Café

By far, the standout was Porto’s Bakery & Café. Located on the main Beach Boulevard, this beautiful space boasts multiples areas focused on each of the following: cakes, coffee & drinks and the main sandwich and pastry counter. We enjoyed our breakfast sandwiches and pastries, along with the excellent coffee drinks and smoothies. The indoor/outdoor seating area was bustling and we can see that this a main draw for both the locals and visitors in Buena Park.

Kid Tip: The fruit smoothies were great!

 

Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner

If you want Southern home cooking in a friendly atmosphere, this restaurant is perfect for you. The portions are huge and come with many sides, starters and even dessert. My husband and I both went for the famous friend chicken and wow—with two starters and pie—it was a feast.

The kid’s meals were the same in terms of many courses—theirs included a drink like Boysenberry Juice or lemonade, started with Jello and ended with a scoop of ice cream!

 

Nobibi

A super fun stop for a boba drink or an ice cream treat, this is the home to the wild ice creams that you see on Instagram! I have to say—they live up to the hype. The space is bright and vibrant, with claw games in the back and a Pac-Man table. It’s a fun hangout spot and was very busy when we arrived.

The kids were wowed by the presentation but the ice cream itself is very neutral milk flavored. It’s good but the toppings are what take it to the next level.

 

Old Ferry Donuts

Next to PlayPie, these donuts are a SoCal fave for good reason. Tasty varieties, with options for stuffed donuts, it was a hard choice. More of a grab and go location, these donuts are great to pick up after your time at PlayPie.

 

Honeymee

A creamy soft serve swirl coated in honey—what’s not to love!  Honeymee offers a variety of soft serve options but I opted for the classic Sweetie. The location inside a car wash is unusual but the window access makes it easy for a grab and go.

 

Summary

Two nights in Buena Park was the perfect amount of time to allow us to do a lot and not feel rushed. We had a full day at Knott’s, able to arrive early with ease as it was just steps from our hotel. Staying over also enabled us to do an evening Pirate Show, without worrying about a drive home. There’s a lot to do in this busy little city and it’s a trip that kids still talk about!