Entries Tagged 'dining' ↓

Right across the street from Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California and only 15 minutes away from Disneyland is the ultra fun, wet and wild Soak City USA water park.  If you or your family is really into water sports, Soak City is the place to be!  Usually open from the third week of May until Labor Day, Soak City is just what you need to cool off from the scorching Southern California summer heat.  This water park is practically it’s own city with high speed water slides, both relaxing and swimming inner tube excursions as well as as gigantic 750,000 gallon Tidal Wave pool where you can body surf and boogie board just like you were at the beach.  Soak City USA is great for kids of all ages.  Children visiting the park may not be tall enough to go on many of the slide attractions (the minimum heighth on most slides is 42 inches and a minimum age of 5 years old), the park has a wonderful pool and activity lagoon area to give them a fun but safe experience.   The water park is reasonably priced at $20 for children 12 and under and $29 for adults.  You will need to pay the admission fee regardless if you are planning on utilizing the park or simply watching your family.  If you are hungry, there are several snack shops and hot dog bars within the park, but you are not allowed to bring in your own picnic lunch to eat inside of the park.  You are allowed, however, to bring in a small cooler with water bottles or hydrating drinks.  There are locker rentals so you do not have to carry your bags and towels around the park all day and so your valuables will be stored safely.  The cost is $22 for a large locker and $7 for a medium sized locker as well as a $5 deposit fee.

Knott’s Berry Farm is the oldest theme park located in the United States.  This park pays homage to an 1880’s ghost town complete with saloon girls and a location where you can mine for real gold.  Knott’s is a great experience for those who love the “Old West” as well as for the younger generation who love wild and exhillarating thrill rides, because this park has both!  Knott’s Berry Farm is located just 15 minutes from Disneyland.  It is filled to the rim with charming shops, adorable characters and great food.  The most popular restaurant at the park is Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant where you will get a finger-lickin’ delicious fried chicken dinner made from Cordelia Knotts original recipe.  It is worth a trip to Knott’s Berry Farm just for this meal, I assure you!  Once you are inside the park, there are many different sections that you can visit at a time.  Camp Snoopy is geared entirely for the younger visitors.  All of the attractions are just the right size for the uner 10 age group and children love this portion of the park.  The more adventurous visitor can brave death-defying thrill rides like the all-wooden Ghost Rider, Jaguar, Boomerang or Montezooma’s Revenge.  These rides certainly are not for those with motion sickness or fear of heights!  Visiting Old Ghost Town will take you back into time with a stage coach ride, blacksmith demonstration as well as a shop which sells handmade bonnets and aprons.  Knott’s Berry Farm may not have the “magic” and “wonderment” of Disneyland, but it is charming nonetheless and should be given a chance.

If you drive about an hour outside of Anaheim (where Disneyland is located) you will find yourself in Burbank, California at Universal Studios Hollywood.  This is where all of entertainment action is.  Television shows, movies and commercials are shot here in the lower lots and the park is where you can experience all of the behind-the-scenes action and learn all about how these shows are made and how the special effects work.  Universal Studios also has a large variety of ride attractions and shows to appease every age group.  There are thrill rides such as Jurassic Park and Revenge of the Mummy for those who are not faint-of-heart as well as Shrek 4D or The Simpson’s Ride for those who are just on the ride to get a chuckle and smile.  If you are an “I Love Lucy” fan, you will be blown away at the impressive tribute building they have in honor of Lucille Ball.  You will be taken down nostalgia lane as you learn about “America’s Favorite Redhead”.  If you have an hour or so to spare, you should not miss out on the Studio Lot Tour.  This open-sided tram tour is guided by a tongue-in-cheek guide who points out all of the locations where your favorite movies and television shows were shot.  You will also be taken into several lots designed to show you how the special effects work in movies.  You will experience what a true earthquake feels like, as well as how it would be if a gigantic 10 story tall gorilla tried to capture you…yes, it’s King Kong.  Wherever you walk in Universal Studios, you will find your favorite movie star or character.  Granted, they will only be celebrity impersonators, but boy, do they look like the real thing!  They are always eager to pose for a picture and are more than willing to ham it up for the audience.  There are so many things to see and do at Universal Studios.  If you are close enough, you should consider purchasing a 2-day ticket.  Located directly next to Universal Studios is the City Walk.  This area is full of designer shopping as well as delicious restaurants like The Hard Rock Cafe, Bubba Gump Shrimping Company and the world famous Wolfgang Puck’s LA Bistro.  There is something for everybody at this Hollywood park!