| Buena Park is a city
located in northwestern Orange County, California. The city is located
adjacent to the city of Anaheim and is located 12 miles (20 km) northwest
of downtown Santa Ana. The Current OMB metropolitan designation for Buena
Park and the Orange County Area is "Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA." Buena
Park is home to several tourist attractions, most notably Knott's Berry
Farm, and is the headquarters of grocery store chain Frazier Foods.
Image by METRO96 on Wikimedia
Commons
Buena Park's E-Zone district,
located along Beach Boulevard, is home to several well-known tourist destinations:
the venerable Knott's Berry Farm theme park and its sister water park Knott's
Soak City, Pirate's Dinner Adventure Show, and a Medieval Times dinner
show. The Movieland Wax Museum, one of the largest of its kind in the world,
was once located in the E-Zone until it closed in 2005. The Ripley's Believe
It or Not! museum, across the street from the Wax Museum, has also been
vacated. There also used to be a Japanese Village and Deer Park on Knott
Avenue. The E-Zone also neighbors Anaheim, with Disneyland just east by
way of Katella Avenue, Ball Road, and Interstate 5.
The City of Buena Park has
its own local history park located on Beach Blvd just south of Interstate
5. On these grounds, the city has preserved several historic buildings.
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 Stage Stop Hotel (which houses the current Chamber of
Commerce offices) and the Tice House. The Buena Park Historical Society
manages and maintains the historical content of the museum. The Dreger
Clock, a 75 year old multi-faced street clock, best known for the time
it spent at Knott's Berry Farm, was installed in front of the Whitaker/Jaynes
house overlooking Beach Blvd in September 2009 after a two year restoration
project.
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12
Theme Parks in Southern California -- Plan a Year of Weekend Escapes
by Darla Blackmon
In an area best known for its
glitzy lifestyle and iconic surf culture, sometimes residents just need
to let it all loose. Luckily Southern California is home to an outstanding
number of theme parks.
And, coincidentally, there
are 12 theme parks -- just the right amount for a year's worth of adventure
and escape.
Los Angeles Theme Parks
Universal Studios Hollywood:
Universal
City is home to this movie themed park that dates back nearly a hundred
years. Original its main attraction was a modest tram tour of a working
Hollywood studio. Boy has it has come a long way. Today the park features
11 attractions and is visited by tourists from every country.
Six Flags Magic Mountain:
Since
opening one of the world's first 360-degree roller coasters in 1976, this
park has kept pace with a long list of thrill rides -- with scream machines
like Terminator Salvation: The Ride, Tatsu and Superman: The Escape.
Raging Waters: When
Southern California heats up, there is no better place to cool off that
Raging Waters, San Dimas. This extra large water park has everything from
kid-centered play areas like Splash Island to an extreme surfing simulator
known as Flowrider.
Orange County Theme Parks
Disneyland: Located
in Anaheim, CA, this fifty-five year old institution is the quintessential
Southern California theme park. This Orange County jewel's themed areas
consist of Adventureland, Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, Critter
Country, Mickey's Toontown Adventure, New Orleans Square and Main Street
U.S.A.
Disney's California Adventure
Park: Opened in 2001 next-door to Disneyland in Anaheim, this park
is the ultimate California experience. Designed to replicate every region
of the Golden State, its attractions include Sunshine Plaza, Condor Flats,
"A Bug's Land," Hollywood Pictures Back Lot, Golden Vine Winery and the
Pacific Wharf.
Knott's Berry Farm:
At its official opening in 1940, this Buena Park, CA landmark was still
more of a farm than amusement park -- complete with chickens that roamed
the park. Today, though, this Western-themed attraction has 10 roller coasters
making today's Knott's Berry Farm a world-class thrill park.
Knott's Soak City:
The same people that create the excitement at Knott's Berry Farm operate
this family-focused water park chain. With locations in Buena Park, Chula
Vista and Palm Springs, a wet and wild Southern California adventure is
always close at hand.
Wild Rivers: Plunging
into the Abyss has never been this much fun! The 655 ft. thrill slide is
just one of the excitement-drenched attractions at Irvine, CA's Wild Rivers
Water Park. This family fun destination offers body surfing at Monsoon
Lagoon as well as a play place for the small fry at the Pygmy Pond.
San Diego Theme Parks
San Diego Wild Animal
Park: Nestled in San Pasqual Valley, the San Diego Wild Animal Park
is one of the largest and most famous zoos in the world. Exotic and endangered
animal species from all over the map guarantee visitors a truly unforgettable
experience.
Lego Land, California:
Based on the beloved plastic building bricks, this Carlsbad, CA attraction
is all about creativity. With themed areas like the Land of Adventure,
Dino Island and Mainland, U.S.A. visitors of all ages are sure to find
wonder and inspiration.
Sea World: This is
San Diego's ultimate undersea experience! Exciting kid-friendly Sesame
Street themed rides and fun soaked Shamu show splash zones mean that there
is never a dull moment at this amazing aquatic amusement park.
Sea Life Aquarium: Located
inside Carlsbad's Lego Land, this aquatic adventure provides an entertaining
educational experience. Interactive attractions like the Sea Life Lab and
Discovery Zone Touch Pool offer fun learning opportunities for the whole
family.
The best part about all of
these attractions is, of course, the location. Foul weather is unlikely
to ruin a trip to any theme park in beautiful, sunny Southern California.
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