The Adventurer's Guide To Buena Park

Buena Park is nothing short of thrilling. From the steepest rollercoasters to the most daring dinner shows on the west coast, there's a thrill on every block that's suitable to everyone. Take your summer trip to the next level this year and plan a SoCal overnight adventure in Buena Park, California. Just five miles from Disneyland, you and your friends and family can have a thrilling getaway as you grip the lapbar tight on Hangtime at Knott’s Berry Farm, and then explore all the foodie hot spots and entertainment the city has to offer. We’ve made planning your getaway a breeze with this five-day, four-night itinerary full of all the Buena Park favorites.

Day 1

As you arrive into Buena Park, check into one of over a dozen hotels to choose from, you won’t have to stray far to find one that’s perfect for you.

Consider checking out the all-new Hampton Inn & Suites. A quick five minute drive to Knott's Berry Farm, this fresh new hotel is conveniently located and features an outdoor patio, indoor gym, pool, hot tub and large sized rooms with the latest amenities.

You'll want to freshen up and relax for a few before your adventures begin. With complimentary wi-fi, you can grab a Lyft or Uber down Beach Blvd to begin your first evening of adventures at Pirate's Dinner Adventure.

Day 2

Wake up and make your morning memorable with a stop at Porto’s Bakery & Cafe - named Yelp’s #1 Restaurant in the US! Share an order of papas rellenas (potato balls) and a pastel de guayaba (guava strudel) and you’ll know why all the foodies flock here. Take home a slice or two of Cuban cake to enjoy later, you won’t regret it. Trust us, after being adventurous and moving to a new Cuban style breakfast, this'll put those boring old bacon and egg combos to shame and you'll question why you haven't had this sooner.

If you need a break from the parks, head down to Rock & Brews for some great American food and brews! This rockin' spot on Beach Blvd. is owned by two of Kiss' very own members, and it shows. Rock logos and album art adorn every inch of the wall with a kickin' soundtrack to keep the energy flowing for hours on end.

While you wait for your meal, take up a game of volleyball or cornhole on the outdoor sand court, or play 'spot the album art' as you wait for your meal. Remember though, losers pay for the next round of beers. Speaking of which, there's over 60 draft beers on tap, and plenty of great food. Our favorite entree lands top spot with the Santa Maria Tri-Tip Sandwich, or Top Sirloin. You can never go wrong with either. Now, to wash it down, we recommend the Elysian Dayglow. It's strong enough it'll make even Pink Floyd see the Dark Side of the Moon! If you're looking for a lighter beer, give Sierra Nevada's 'Hazy Little Thing' a go. It's definitely a crazy little thing we call love (at first pour, obviously).

After dinner, head over to the Boardwalk and drop in on HangTime, the only dive coaster in California! With a vertical drop, four inversions and loads of airtime, this will leave your breath hanging at the first drop.

After that hearty breakfast, you'll need to burn some energy, so why not head over to Knott's Soak City for the day? With over 20 slides and a giant lazy river, this is the perfect place to slip and slide the day away under the California sun. Be sure to check out the 'Shore Break' - a seven story drop slide - no, literally. You stand inside the tube, they count down and you drop down into the rest of the track as you race down the seven stories before hitting the pool below. Insane? Probably. Thrilling? Absolutely.

If you want to take a break from the slides, you can rent a cabana for you and your friends. Each cabana comes stocked with eight non-transferrable wristbands, shade, four inner tubes and waiter service. Talk about the ultimate summer luxury!

Day 5

When you and your pals are tired from the non-stop, high-energy fun of Buena Park, it’s time to take a relaxing drive 15 miles to the coast of Southern California to visit Huntington Beach.

The 1,850-foot Huntington Beach Pier is one of the longest recreational piers in the world. At the beginning of the pier, Duke’s offers out of this world seafood accompanied by out of this world ocean views; a great lunch place. If you work up an appetite again by the end of the pier, you have to try a bag of fries from Ruby’s, the diner located at the very end of Huntington Beach Pier. Just be sure to keep a watchful eye over them if you’re eating outside, the seagulls are not exactly polite.

Close out your afternoon with a drive over to one of Orange County's most premiere shopping destinations - South Coast Plaza. Its unparalleled collection of diverse retailers, from Gucci to UNIQLO and more, along with its customized concierge services, makes this one of the best places to buy the latest and greatest fashion trends in SoCal.

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.