Orange County, California is home to many popular cities. Newport Beach and Laguna Beach both have been the back drops to famous television shows and Anaheim has Disneyland, but what do you know about Buena Park? There are so many fun things to do in Orange County for families that it would take you multiple trips to see and do it all. I’m lucky enough to call this piece of the U.S home and I want to share the best of it with all of you! Today, I want to share all the fun things to do in Buena Park with kids!
My family has deep seeded roots in Buena Park. In fact, my dad is the oldest surviving officer of Buena Park Police Department! Grams (my mama) used to hang out at Knott’s Berry Farm as a teenager and I was even married in Buena Park! So, I’m very familiar with this area of Orange County. There are tons of Buena Park attractions and exciting restaurants, making it easy to have a fun-filled day in Buena Park with kids.
Here’s what’s in this article:
Unique area attractions
- Knott’s Berry Farm
- Knott’s Soak City
- Medieval Times
- Pirate Dinner Adventure
- Ralph B Clark Interpretive Center
- The Source
Kid-friendly live music & nightlife
Family Restaurants
- Mrs. Knott’s Chicken House
- Rock & Brews
- Tana Ethiopian Restaurant
- Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai
- Porto’s Bakery & Cafe
Family Hotels
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Kid-friendly Buena Park Attractions
Knott’s Berry Farm
8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park, CA 90620
Okay. Okay. I know you heard about Knott’s, but I can’t talk about Buena Park with kids and not give a few shout outs to Knott’s! Well, first there is the theme park, but across the parking lot is Soak City (Knott’s water park). You can a combo tickets if you are traveling with kids and what to try our both. The Knott’s Independence Hall is a free Buena Park attraction, so that is good for budget travel. It is an exact replica of the real Independence Hall and is often visited by schools, but the public can visit for free every day. See more on my post, HERE.
Knott’s Soak City
8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park, CA 90620
Knott’s Soak City is a water park located across the street from the Knott’s Berry Farm theme park. You can purchase combo tickets, which makes for the perfect Southern California family day out in Orange County. During the summer is fun to start your day at Knott’s Soak City and then head over Knott’s Berry Farm for lunch and to the rest of the evening. There are a ton of areas for various ages from toddlers to adults. So, if you like water parks, Soak City is one to check out.
Medieval Times
7662 Beach Boulevard, Buena Park, California, 90620
This is a time when knights fought for honor, for the king, for that special lady. Take the family and pick your side. As you feast on a royal meal, cheer your knight to victory. It is a really exciting dining experience. I still remember my parents taking me here as a child and how thrilled I was when “our” knight handed me a pink rose! I tried to save that rose forever!
Disclaimer: The Knights and Stable Hands are currently on strike for better wages and working conditions. You would have to cross the picket line to visit and temporary performers are being hired, which may result in low-quality shows. Stay tuned, for further notice!
Pirate Dinner Adventure
7600 Beach Blvd, Buena Park, CA 90620
Ahoy Matey! Watch the all the pirate ship action go down while you and your family gobble up a three course meal! When they say, “dinner adventure,” they are not kidding. This is a magnificent performance of sword battles and aerial tricks. There is action, comedy, romance and, yes, MERMAIDS!!! All of this while you and your family enjoy a delicious four-course meal.
Ralph B. Clark Interpretive Center
8800 Rosecrans Ave, Buena Park, CA 90621-1069
At the Ralph B. Clark Interpretive Center, you will get a glimpse into prehistoric Orange County. There are exhibits to explore and tons of fossils on display including 9 million baleen whale skeleton! You can even watch as scientists excavate and prepare fossils specimens. Admission is free and there are guided tours available.
The Source
6940 Beach Blvd, Buena Park, CA 90621
The Source is a multi-level shopping, dining and entertainment complex. This is the spot to go if you are looking for unique restaurants, some that even offer live music. There are also some really cool attractions within The Source like Play Pie( a little kids’ play zone) and OG Zone, which is a restaurant, bar and arcade. You could easy spend a whole day hanging out at The Source!
Kid-friendly Live Music near Buena Park
La Huasteca Mexican Restaurant
6960 Beach Blvd Buena Park, California 90621
Located on the 3rd of The Source, La Huasteca is a fun Mexican restaurant featuring delicious food and live music! The restaurant is inspired by southern region of Mexico, the decor makes you feel like you are in plaza with artifacts from the region on display. On weekends evenings and Sunday brunch you can find a variety of live music performance from mariachi to a singing duo.
Isla Cuban-Latin Kitchen & Rum Bar
30 Centerpointe Dr. La Palma, CA 90623 Suite 12
This relatively new restaurant on the scene is bursting with Latin flavor. Isla Cuban-Latin Kitchen is family-owned featuring a menu inspired by the flavors of Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. The decor is elegant, yet cozy. To sweeten the deal, they have live music sprinkled throughout the week and every other Saturday. You will have to call the restaurant to ensure a live act for the night you plan to dine.
Family Restaurants in Buena Park
Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner House
8039 Beach Blvd Knott’s Berry Farm, Buena Park, CA 90620
You can’t go to Buena Park with kids and not go to Mrs. Knott’s Chicken House. Established in 1934, it is one of the oldest and most popular restaurants in Buena Park. You can tell it is popular among locals as well as tourists, thanks to the daily and endless line of hungry people waiting patiently to get a table. If you get there early or non-peak times, you can get a seat fairly quickly. Early dinners and late lunches seem to be the best times to get in. You’ll want to dine here at least once. The fried chicken dinner is not only yummy, it is also a classic. It was even the dinner served at my wedding reception! Did you know that the Boysenberry was created here at Knott’s Berry Farm? No meal is complete without a slice of Mrs. Knott’s famous Boysenberry Pie!
If you are in Buena Park with kids, specifically Knott’s Berry Farm, you have to indulge in all that is Boysenberry. Knott’s has everything from jam, pie, cookies to punch, coffee and yes, beer. There are even new Boysenberry cocktails! Boysenberry fun for parents and kids! Yay!
Rock & Brews
7777 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, CA 90620
One of the newest restaurants, and one of our favorite new things to do in Buena Park, Rock and Brews is also one of the coolest! A magical combination of Rock & Roll, craft beer, great food and family fun, Rock & Brews is guaranteed to make everyone in your group happy. This is a great pick if dining out with kids, because not only is the atmosphere exciting and stimulating, but there is an awesome outdoor play area! Parents can dine al fresco, sip on some cold brewskies, and maybe play a few rounds of corn-hole, while the kids enjoy yummy choices on the kids’ menu and burn energy in the play house. Win-Win.
Tana Ethiopian Restaurant
2622 W La Palma Ave, Anaheim, CA 92801
I love teaching my kids about the world through food and there are plenty of opportunities for dining adventures in and near Buena Park. This is one of the few areas in Orange County that one can find good Ethiopian food and Tana is my favorite. It gets great reviews on Yelp and has a strong following. The kids love eating with their hands and feeding others (Gersha). I love the yummy food, Ethio beer, Tej and Ethiopian coffee.
Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai
7550 Orangethorpe Ave E300, Buena Park, CA 90621
If you love ramen, then you will LOVE Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai. It is one of our favorite ramen restaurants with broths so rich and buttery you will want to slap your mama. The classic Kitakata Ramen is a favorite, but if you like spicy definitely try the Green Chili Shio Ramen. Kids will love slurping up these yummy noodles and parents with love a delicious hearty meal for a great price.
Porto’s Bakery & Cafe
7640 Beach Blvd., Buena Park CA 90620
Porto’s is a family-owned Cuban bakery and quick-service cafe. This bakery has wonderful back story as it started when Rosa and her family left Cuba with nothing and came to America to begin a new life. She saw opportunity in her baking skills and her first location opened in 1976. It is wildly popular and super delicious, so my family was super excited when the family opened a location in Buena Park. When you go, expect a crowd, because we are not the only ones who love Porto’s. I guarantee you will too.
Family Hotels in Buena Park
Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel
7675 Crescent Ave, Buena Park, CA 90620
I love the Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel for a few reasons. For one, it was where my wedding reception was held. So, I have sentimental attachment. Secondly, it is walking distance to Knott’s Berry Farm and Knott’s Soak City. Finally, it is good for budget travel, because they offer packages for attractions/accommodations with payment plans to help further. Basically, Knott’s Berry Hotel helps make traveling with kids and family travel that much easier.
Hampton Inn & Suites Buena Park
7307 Artesia Blvd, Buena Park, CA 90621
What is great about this recently built Buena Park hotel, it that every this clean and new. Located close to Knott’s Berry Farm and only seven miles from Disneyland. What is also great about Hampton Inn Suites is that you are sure to find large family rooms at a reasonable rate. In addition they offer free breakfast, free parking and a nice outdoor pool with a fire pit!
Fairfield Inn & Suites Anaheim/North Buena Park
7828 Orangethorpe Ave, Buena Park, CA 90621
Fairfield Inn & Suites Anaheim/North Buena Park offers large family rooms as well as connecting rooms, perfect for families visiting Buena Park. The also have free breakfast, which is great for those mornings you just want to get out and have some fun. Located by both Knott’s Berry Farm and Disneyland as well as many other Buena Park attractions, Fairfield Inn & Suites is a great option for traveling families.
That’s a Wrap!
Whether you want to hang with knights, pirates or cowboys, Buena Park attractions has you covered. Great restaurants, exciting live entertainment and amusement for the whole family. So, next time you are thinking about family travel, think about visiting Buena Park with kids. It’ll be fun, I promise.
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3 Comments
Lovely to read about your visit back to somewhere that is so special to you and your family. Looks like a lovely place to visit 🙂
Thanks. People don’t always think about Buena Park when it comes to Cali travel, but there are so many great things to enjoy.
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