Knott's Berry Farm

• Hours: Open year round, but hours vary. Closed December 25
• Cost: Ticket prices and discounts, parking fee
• Location: Buena Park, directions below
• How Long: Allow at least half a day
• Best Time to Visit: Any time is fine, but many rides close when it rains and it can be very hot in mid-summer
• See It Now: Photo Tour

Cordelia Knott must have been quite a cook. When she started selling her fried chicken to supplement the Knotts family income in 1934, it was an instant success. The next thing they knew, customers were standing in line outside their door. Walter Knott wanted to entertain them, so he added a few Old West-themed attractions. Over the next 60 years, the park grew, and in 1997, the family sold out to Cedar Fair, a theme park management company. The Knotts would hardly recognize their place today, with over 165 rides and some of the wildest thrill rides on the West Coast.

Knott's Berry Farm Rides

Knott's Berry Farm is divided into six themed areas spread over 150 acres, and size that's easily walkable. You'll find 38 major rides at the park. Seven are extreme thrill rides, most of them in the Boardwalk area. They include GhostRider, with the longest banked wooden coaster drop in the Western United States. Camp Snoopy is the place to go with smaller children, but you'll find things they like in other areas, too.

Theme Park Insider suggests this plan of attack for the Knott's Berry Farm thrill rides, starting as soon as the place opens: Start with Silver Bullet (suspended cars feel like your'e flying). then GhostRider (wooden coaster), on to the Boardwalk area at the back for Perilous Plunge, Boomerang, Supreme Scream and Xcelerator. After the Pony Express ride opens in summer, 2008, you may want to head for it first instead.

Knott's Berry Farm Special Events

At Halloween, the park transforms into Knott's Scary Farm, an event so popular that tickets often sell out in advance. The park offers a variety of other special events throughout the year.

Knott's Berry Farm Tips

• Many of the Knott's Berry Farm thrill rides have height limits that start at 32 inches and go up to 69 inches. Measure the kids and check the requirements which are printed on the park map you get at the gate to see if they'll fit.

• Dress code is strictly enforced: shoes and shirts or blouses at all times. Profanity and pictures of illegal substances on clothing are not allowed

• There are no alternatives to standing in line. During busy times, bring something to entertain yourself and your kids

• Parents, take note. If you want to go a ride with a height limit that your kids can't get on, send one person in and wait at the ride's exit with your child. when your spouse comes out, you can go in without having to wait in line.

• You can enjoy the fried chicken without paying to get into the park (although we wouldn't particularly recommend it), and parking is free for 3 hours

• You won't find much shade, so on sunny days, hats and sunscreen are essential. bring something to secure your hat while on the rides.

• If you want healthy snacks, bring them yourself. Otherwise, it's fried things, burgers and churros.

• On busy days, a second gate opens on the west side of the park, and there's a parking lot right across the street

Knott's Berry Farm Review

Knott's Berry Farm may be just the place for you if you want screamin' thrill rides or if your theme park budget is limited. You may also like it if you prefer a bit of old-timey ambiance. On the downside, the park can feel disorganized, employees are less than friendly, and when we visited in mid-April, 2008, rides seemed to be having a lot of maintenance problems.

Others may have a different opinion. You can see what other people just like you think about it, then bookmark this page and after you've been there, come back and tell us what you think.

What do you think of Knott's Berry Farm?

• 0 = Yuck! Just say no to this tourist trap
• 2 = OK Some people find it interesting, but I didn't
• 3 = Good Go if you have time, but it's not a big deal if you miss it
• 5 = Awesome! It's a must-see sight that I recommend to everyone

Getting to Knott's Berry Farm

Knott's Berry Farm
8039 Beach Blvd
Buena Park, California, CA
714-220-5200
www.knotts.com

To reach Knott's Berry Farm, take Beach Blvd. two blocks south from California Hwy 91 or six miles north from California Hwy 22. You can get shuttles from some area hotels.

As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary tickets for the purpose of reviewing Knott's Berry Farm. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.