A Southern California Weekend Getaway

Buena Park is home to World-Famous attractions, award-winning dining and comfortable hotels. Proximity to Disneyland, Downtown Los Angeles and beaches make Buena Park an ideal home base for a Southern California weekend getaway. Here's our idea of the perfect Southern California Weekend Getaway in Buena Park.

Ghostrider at KNott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, Ca.

Attractions
As California’s first theme park, Knott’s Berry Farm has an interesting history. It started with a boysenberry! In fact, Walter Knott created the boysenberry in 1926 by crossbreeding a blackberry, loganberry and raspberry. The boysenberry became a top seller at his roadside fruit stand. In 1934, Knott and his wife, Cordelia, opened Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant, another big hit with visitors. To entertain guests as they waited, Knott built a Ghost Town and later added rides. Today, the 160-acre Knott’s Berry Farm has dozens of rides, shows and attractions in four themed areas. The Old West Ghost Town, Camp Snoopy, the Boardwalk, and Fiesta Village trace California’s history. The park is unique in that it has a hometown feel, combining old timey fun with modern attractions. Yummy food, interactive shows and themed holiday events round out family fun. The park is especially fun to visit during the annual Knott’s Scary Farm and Knott’s Merry Farm.

The seasonal Knott’s Soak City Water Park is a perfect way to cool off on a sunny California day. Remember to pack your swimsuits on your weekend getaway near Disneyland. Adjacent to Knott’s Berry Farm, the 15-acre Knott’s Soak City Water Park has 22 slides for all ages. In addition, Tidal Wave Bay and Sunset River offer more boatloads of family fun.

Dinner Shows
The Pirate’s Dinner Adventure is a lively, swashbuckling family-friendly show with an amazing meal. All hands on deck for a Pirate’s Dinner Adventure onboard an 18th-century ship. Kids can help Captain Sebastian the Black and his crew save the day. The fantasy show features swordplay, acrobatics and a four-course meal.

The exciting two-hour jousting tournament at Medieval Times features knights, real weapons and horsemanship. Cheer on your favorite knight during a four-course meal fit for a king. Enjoy a utensils-free feast of garlic bread, tomato bisque soup, roasted chicken, corn, potatoes, and pastry. Vegetarian and other specialty meals are also available.

Entertainment & Nightlife
The Beach Boulevard Club can also be found on the Pirates property, with a dueling piano show that will have you singing your heart out all night. Don't forget to bring your song requests because this is a show run by the audience.

Conjure up an evening of delicious drinks and pub-style bites at the 17th Century, witch-themed bar The Cauldron in Buena Park. Visitors are transported back in time to a French inspired pub adorned with antique furniture, a spell-binding cauldron and secrets hidden around every corner

The brainchild of Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS, Rock and Brews in Buena Park offers a rock & roll themed environment. For beer connoisseurs, there is no better place to grab a brew and with over 60 different craft beers you're guaranteed to find something new. Dine outside in the patio area, eat around a fire pit, or challenge your friends and family to a game of cornhole.

Award-Winning Dining
Buena Park offers several esteemed restaurants including Yelp’s #1 Restaurant in the Country, Porto’s Bakery & Cafe. The world-renowned Cuban restaurant serves delectable desserts, savory sandwiches and their authentic Cuban beverages. For some caffeine, head to Coffee Code, named “Best Coffeehouse in Orange County” by OC Weekly. Chicago based company, Portillo’s and winner of five Silver Platter Awards for the best restaurant in the country serves up the tastiest sausages, Italian beef sandwiches and hamburgers around. Check out all of Buena Park's award-winning spots HERE.

Free & Fun Things To Do
The city has preserved several historic buildings from the 1800's and offers FREE Buena Park Historic District Tours by appointment on select weekdays. These include the Whitaker-Jaynes House - which serves as the city's local history museum, the Bacon House - possibly the oldest surviving structure from the area, the Tice House and the Stage Stop Hotel.Walter Knott, who founded Knott's Berry Farm, loved American history so much that he funded the construction of Knott's Independence Hall. It's a true brick-by-brick replica of the original in Philadelphia---but without the ticket fee and long waits in line! Admission is FREE and open daily from 10 am to 4 pm. Located in Ralph B. Clark Regional Park, the Clark Interpretive Center features ice age fossils and local geology exhibits. Among the fossils on display is a 9 million year old baleen whale skeleton --it is reputed to be one of the only complete ice age whale fossils in existence. Admission is FREE.

After a long day of excitement, choose from over a dozen comfortable and affordable hotels in Buena Park. Check out our ‘suite’ hotel and ticket deals. To start planning your SoCal vacation, order your FREE Buena Park Travel Guide.

Get to Know More About Buena Park, CA!

Guest room at DoubleTree by Hilton in Buena Park, CA

Explore Hotels

Hangtime at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, CA

A Southern California Weekend Getaway in Buena Park

Get to Know More About Buena Park, CA!

Explore Hotels

Ticket Deals