Lisa's Travels

The millions who make their way to Anaheim each summer all have plans for a one-on-one with Mickey & friends, but Knotts Berry Farm may or may not be a priority. That’s not a surprise, given Disney’s unique ability to mesmerize kids. But Knotts also has its own special brand of family fun and entertainment.

Also, Knotts Berry Farm is a historic landmark, as far as theme parks go. In fact, its slogan is that it is ‘America’s 1st Theme Park.’ The park’s origin dates all the back to 1920 when Walter Knott started selling berries by the roadside near Buena Park, CA.

That ended up in the immensely popular boysenberry pies, which in turn led to Mrs. Knotts Chicken Dinner Restaurant. With huge crowds waiting their turn for food, the Knotts came up with a plan to entertain customers while they were a-waiting. And that’s how the theme park came into existence.

Knotts is now a major corporate brand with many products, but the park still remains the same authentic family hotspot. Mrs. Knotts chicken is still mouth-wateringly tasty and the roller coasters still quite popular. So are the park’s eccentric kid-friendly attractions like Camp Snoopy and the Ghost Town. Let’s also not forget the Soak City water park.

End of the day, though, the fact remains that travelers come for Disney and also visit Knotts as a bonus. It makes more sense to stay in Anaheim while visiting Knotts. It’s easier to enjoy everything that Disney has in Anaheim and also check out Knotts. Since it’s just a 10 mile distance, a whole bunch of hotels in Anaheim are suitable for this plan.

Of course, there are many options in Buena Park too. But the relatively limited choice makes it hard to find the kind of price and amenities possible in Anaheim. Anaheim hotels lay out the red carpet for families, with chocolate chip cookies as a welcome and everything from pools to free shuttles, car rentals, cribs and special menus for children at in-house restaurants.

In summation, Knotts Berry Farm is much more than just a theme park. It happens to have a rich history that is just as much a part of America is as Disney. Also, Knotts offers better family food and fun than can be found anywhere in and around Anaheim. Lastly, no special plans or budget need be set aside to visit Knotts. It fit in neatly into any plan that includes a stay in Anaheim.

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