California - Knotts Berry Farm
By Gareth
Von Kallenbach
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Knotts Berry Farm
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Proclaiming itself as the "Nations First
Amusement Park", Knotts Berry Farm (located in Buena Park California)
has something to offer every member of the family, and is a must see
attraction when visiting the Southern California area.
The park was started by the Knotts family as a way to entertain patrons
of their famous chicken restaurant who would often wait hours in line
to be seated.
Compared to other parks in the area, Knotts is very affordable with
admission prices sitting at a low $51.95 for non California residents
(which are almost $8.00 less than most parks in the area).
There are annual passes available as well which allows for greater
savings as they pay for themselves in a few visits.
The fabled "Ghost Town" which was the parks first attraction is still
in place and is a nostalgic look back at the early days of California.
The main attraction of this area is the "Ghost Rider" roller coaster
which is one of the largest and fastest wooden coasters in the world.
"The Ghost Rider" features steep drops and turns and while a bit rough,
is a true classic.
The newest ride is "The Pony Express" which is a coaster the entire
family can enjoy.
Riders sit on a car designed like a horse and assume a horse riders
posture for a truly unique coaster experience. Blasting from 0 to 32
MPH in under three seconds, riders are shot through a twisting and
turning track that is an absolute delight.
In fact, my only regret was that the ride is very short. Since the
tracks are not highly elevated nor steep this is ideal for riders who
prefer a milder coaster as well as those who want somethingjust that
little bit different from the norm.
"The Knotts Railroad" features a steam locomotive from the turn of the
century which, when purchased, was the last of its kind in operation in
the country. It's a highly recommended nostalgic trip if nothing else -
and a chance to witness a train robbery first hand.
Two of the unbeatable favorite rides at Knotts Berry Farm are
the "Timber Mountain Log Ride" and the "Bigfoot Rapids" ride, which
allow guests to take a fun and scenic jaunt along the waterways of the
park and experience one of the sharpest drops of any log ride in
existence.
I highly suggest bringing a towel... as riders are likely to get soaked!
"Timber Mountain" has some classic scenery for riders to view as they
journey through and impressive recreation of a frontier mining camp all
of which ends in a steep drop that completes this highly enjoyable
attraction.
For guests with younger children, "Camp Snoopy" offers a wide range of
rides and attractions for children.
If thrills are more in line with what you expect from a theme park,
then make sure to venture to the boardwalk and Fiesta Village where
thrill rides ranging from "Montezoomas Revenge" and the "Perilous
Plunge" ride lurk.
"The Silver Bullet" (which sends guests on a looping course on the
parks first suspended coaster) is a very popular ride and should not be
missed. For those needing a more subdued coaster, the classic "Jaguar"
is ideal as it offers an classic coaster experience without the fear
inducing moments that are so common with the newer and larger coasters.
Guests with a flair for nostalgia will want to make sure they visit the
Charles Schultz Theatre to learn more about the man who created the
classic Snoopy
and Peanuts
characters as well as the vast array of classic rides ranging from
bumper cars to the Calico Mine Ride.
Make sure to visit Mrs. Knotts for their famous chicken dinners to
complete your visit as their reputation is still going strong several
decades after they first opened their doors.
I was able to get a dinner that featured soup, salad, rolls, three
pieces of chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetables - and one an
amazing piece of Apple Boysenberry pie - for only $14.99. Highly
enjoyable and a very good value.
While my time at Knotts was enjoyable - I
just wish I had more time - as there is so much to explore when it
comes to some of the non-ride features such as "The Old West" area as
well as look at the sets that are being constructed for the "Halloween
Haunt" which is set to hit the park in the near future.
For
more information please visit the Official Knotts Berry Farm Website: www.knotts.com
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