Southern California is filled with theme parks, but Knott’s Berry Farm beats them all when it comes to offering something for everyone in the family. While Disneyland is targeted more for kids, and Magic Mountain is teen/adult oriented. Knott’s Berry Farm falls somewhere in the middle, meaning no one walks around bored and sulking! From heart-pounding thrill rides and more gentle rides for tiny tots, to Old West shows and even water rides to cool off on a hot summer day, this is a destination that is sure to please everyone.

This park goes out of the way to ensure a safe, family-friendly experience. If you have kids and a smartphone, just register for the Kid Track Program when entering the gates at Guest Services so that you can gather your group quickly when you need to. The dress code is strictly enforced, with shoes and shirts required to be worn at all times. Profanity and pictures of illegal substances on clothing are not allowed, which decreases the worry about your little ones being exposed to something you’d prefer they not see. The park also makes it easy on those with smaller tots – if you want to ride something your child doesn’t or can’t due to the height limit, just let the staff know ahead of time and you can send one person in and wait at the ride’s exit with your child. Once that person comes out, you can go on the ride without having to wait in line.

You’ll also find strollers as well as manual and battery-powered wheelchairs available for rent, but arrive early as there are a limited amount of rentals available on a first-come, first-served basis.

From mid-June through mid-August, the park is open every day of the week from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. PST with the exception of Saturday, when it stays open an hour later, closing at 11 p.m. Hours vary throughout the rest of the year, but on most days it is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the week and stays open until 10 p.m. on Saturday night.

For those who are looking for lots of excitement, Knott’s Berry Farm is known for its great thrill rides. Get the day started with plenty of screams on the Boomerang, which flips riders in six loops in under a minute. If you dare, take a ride on the Silver Bullet, which is sure to get your heart pumping for the day. This is the park’s most popular roller coaster, and one that is not for the faint of heart. It sends riders up to a height of 146 feet, plunging down to drop 109 feet, followed by spirals, corkscrews and plenty of sharp twists and turns throughout the two-minute adventure. If you still aren’t ready for the more gentle rides, head to the “Supreme Scream,” the tallest freestanding structure in the entire county. It brings riders straight up into the sky to a height of 252 feet at a speed of 8 miles per hour before pausing for three seconds of complete weightlessness in midair, and then blasts them straight down at speeds accelerating to over 50 miles per hour.

When it’s time to get a little aggression out in a safe, fun way, the Wheeler Dealer Bumper Cars are the perfect solution. For those with younger kids that can’t ride the park’s scariest coasters, consider heading to the Pony Express, an attraction just about everyone can enjoy, from elementary school age to grandparents. It was named after the Pony Express mail service and offers the feeling of riding on horseback – unlike any coaster you’ve ever experienced. You’ll sit astride one of the 16 horses and take off from zero to 38 miles per hour in under three seconds.

If you prefer real-life horses, you can experience that, too, on the Butterfield Stagecoach. This horse-drawn coach travels throughout the park over a series of trails and bridges. If someone in your group is starting to feel a bit grumpy, sitting up on top next to the driver is sure to change that frown into a grin.

Continue your journey through the Old West by taking a trip back through time on a ride that’s become an important part of the park’s history. The Calico Mine Ride opened in the Ghost Town section of the park way back in November, 1969, and was recognized as one of the world’s “most immersive dark rides.” This is a leisurely train ride that brings riders on a realistic adventure through a gold mine.

If you’ve got little ones with boundless energy (or who happen to be suffering from a sugar high), bring them to Huff and Puff, which lets them pump a mini-mining car around a track until they finally run out of steam. There are a ton of other options to keep them entertained, including the Red Baron airplanes, a bounce house and a balloon ride. The park also has the lovable Peanuts characters, whom everyone likes to meet and greet.

When that Southern California sun starts to shine a bit too bright, cool off on the Timber Mountain Log Ride or Bigfoot Rapids, which splashes passengers with its fast currents and soaring geysers. Also be sure to take time in your day to experience some of the live entertainment, like the Fool’s Gold Stunt Show and Camp Snoopy Theatre.

All of that running around is bound to work up your appetite. You won’t want to miss the park’s famous fried chicken. Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant has been serving up its special recipe along with homemade biscuits and boysenberry pies since 1934. National chain restaurants like TGI Fridays can also be found here in the Market Plaza, while Camp Snoopy offers a wide variety of options, from kid-friendly Snoopy meals to juicy burgers, vegan dishes and even gluten-free pizza.

Knott’s Berry Farm has something for everyone. You can easily spend a day or two screaming on thrill-a-minute rides or moseying through an Old West experience. No matter your definition of fun, you can find it at Knott’s Berry Farm.

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