Southern California Theme Parks Have Something for Every Family

Families traveling to Southern California will find an amazing variety of activities available. There is really something for almost any interest and age group. Recently my family traveled to California to review the theme parks found between the Los Angeles area and San Diego. Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, Sea World and Universal Studios each offer their own unique twist on family fun.

DISNEYLAND: Without a doubt, Disneyland and its new sister park California Adventures, are probably the first family theme parks that come to mind when thinking of Southern California. In fact, it is difficult to imagine a Los Angeles family vacation without a trip to Disneyland included. At Disneyland there is truly something for everyone. From youngest to oldest all of our children (and their parents, too) were thrilled with every aspect of this magical place.

The Disneyland Resort is comprised of two separate theme parks, directly across from each other. Disneyland is the original Disney theme park while California Adventures just opened in February 2001. Each of the parks is divided into regions; each with a theme or focus. Tickets can be purchased for individual parks or for both parks. Combined park tickets are called Park Hoppers and they allow you to go freely between the two parks.

The biggest drawback at Disneyland is the length of the lines. To help with that utilize the FastPass program which is available on some of the more popular rides. The FastPass holds your place in line so you can see other areas of the park instead of standing in line. You might consider a trip during non-peak times if you have little ones (non-peak times are during the traditional school year excluding the Winter and Spring holiday breaks). If possible spend more than one day at the Resort to allow you to see the parks at a leisurely pace. If you can only visit one of the parks, I would recommend Disneyland since it has a bit of everything and would appeal to family members of all ages.

Disneyland/ California Adventures is located at 1313 S. Disneyland Drive in Anaheim. Their phone number is 714.781.4565. Since there are a variety of ticketing options, it is best to visit their website or call for pricing. The same is true of the park hours. These differ from day-to-day. Parking is available at a variety of lots for differing amounts. Our favorite lot is the Mickey and Friends lot which is $11. A tram takes you from that parking structure to Disneyland / California Adventures (the kids loved the tram ride!).

KNOTT'S BERRY FARM: Located just a few miles away in Buena Park is Knott's Berry Farm. What started as a restaurant offering delicious chicken dinners turned into America's First Theme Park. Knott's Berry Farm offers a wide variety of thrill rides for the adventurer. There are also many kid's rides especially in the Camp Snoopy area.

The park is divided into 7 themed areas: Knott's Resort and California Marketplace, Ghost Town, Indian Trails, Camp Snoopy, Fiesta Village, Boardwalk, and Wild Water Wilderness. There are numerous roller coasters such as Montezooma's Revenge, Sierra Sidewinder, and Ghostrider. Get soaked on the Big Foot Rapids and the Log Ride. Scattered throughout each section are snack stands and a variety of stores. The original chicken restaurant that started the Knott's Berry Farm is located at the front entrance and still serves the amazing chicken dinners which brought in crowds. Be sure to check out the replica Independence Hall near the parking lot.

Be warned that the parking lot is a long walk from the main entrance. Also, the ride lines were very long even on a weekday. There is no program for place holding in lines so you will spend considerable time waiting, especially for the thrill rides. We were disappointed to find several of the rides were closed the day we were there. At different times throughout the day, we found at least five different rides were inoperable. This seemed to increase the line length at other rides.

Knott's Berry Farm is located at 8039 Beach Blvd in Buena Park. The phone number is 714.220.5200. Single day tickets are available for $49.99 per adult and $19.99 per child aged 3 - 11 and for seniors over age 62. There is a discount for purchasing and printing your tickets at home, as well as a discount offered for AAA Auto Club members. Check their website or call for hours since these vary day-to-day.

SEA WORLD: Appropriately located on the gorgeous San Diego coast, Sea World successfully mixes the fun and excitement of a theme park with the educational aspects of an aquarium. Sea World features three rides, a children's play area, numerous aquarium-type exhibits and a great variety of live entertainment and shows. The aquarium areas are nicely done; signs explain interesting details about the sea life on display. The hands-on touch pools have staff available to answer questions and provide information on the types of sea life in the touch pool. At the Ray touch pool (called Forbidden Reef), buy some fish to feed the rays (the food is only $5 per portion). You can do the same at Rocky Point Preserve to feed the dolphins. Pet colorful starfish at the Tide Pool, let the little ones play at the new Sesame Street Bay of Play and visit the famed Clydesdale horses.

There are three rides included in the price of admission (there are two additional rides available at a fee-- Bayside Skyride and Skytower Ride). Shipwreck Rapids is a raft ride and Journey to Atlantis is a log-style water ride / roller coaster. You are almost certain to get wet! The Wild Arctic is a helicopter simulator ride which takes you over a beautiful Artic Landscape (but watch out for the winter storm blowing in...it's going to be a rough ride!). If you are prone to motion sickness or have medical issues, you can opt for a motion-free version of the Wild Arctic.

To truly experience what Sea World has to offer, take the time to go to the shows. Pets Rule has a variety of non-sea animals; some of whom were rescued from shelters. There are shows at the Dolphin Stadium, Sea Lion and Otter Stadium and Shamu Stadium. If the park is open into the night, you will have a chance to see different shows at these stadiums.

As with other theme parks, there are plenty of opportunities to buy snacks and souvenirs throughout the park. There are also sit-down restaurants. We found them to be priced in-line with other similar parks; not cheap but not as expensive as Disney parks. The kids were happy to find a variety of souvenirs in their price range. If your children love Build-a-Bear or similar, be sure to stop in at Wild Creations to have your own Shamu or dolphin stuffed.

Though not included in the general admission price, I highly recommend reserving a spot to Dine with Shamu. The price might seem overwhelming at first glance but we found this to be the highlight of our Sea World trip. Breakfast with Shamu is a bit cheaper and an amazing way to start your day at Sea World. We were seated pool side, where we could see perfectly how the trainers interact with "Shamu". At the same time we were served a very tasty buffet breakfast. Well worth the price!

As if a great day with your family isn't enough to feel good about, here is an interesting tidbit of information to make you feel even better about the money spent on admission to the park. Sea World is involved in the rescue and recovery of injured and endangered sea life. Most of the sea life they help is eventually returned to its natural habitat, while a few sea animals will stay on at the park (based upon necessity).

Sea World is located at 500 Sea World Drive, San Diego. Their phone number is 800.257.4268. There are numerous ticket options so it is best to call or visit their website for the latest rates and specials. There is a AAA Auto Club discount available. Parking is $10 or $15 for Preferred spots (these might be worth it if you arrive later in the day when the lot is quite full). Hours vary greatly from day-to-day so check with the park for an updated schedule.

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS: Universal Studios offers a fun day out for the whole family. Rides and shows are themed around popular movies and television shows. The three rides are located in a lower lot which is quite a walk from the main area. The journey to this area takes you on four large escalators (Universal likes to call them Starways). I would recommend doing all of the rides and shows in this area at one time to avoid wasting time going between the areas. There are only three actual rides-- Revenge of the Mummy, Jurassic Park and The Simpsons. Some of the shows, such as Shrek 4D, are interactive. Be sure to take the time to see the Animal Actors show which highlights the skills of a variety of animals.

The Studio Tram Tour was a favorite for the whole family. The narrated tram tour goes through the backlot area to see sets you will recognize from some favorite shows and movies. There are some fun surprises along the way (hey, I can't share them or they wouldn't be surprises, would they?). The tram tour is also available in Spanish.

After a hot day walking around the park, stop by the Coke Soak Zone for some cool water fun. There are several restaurants and snack stands throughout the park. We had lunch at Mel's Diner and would recommend it. They offer a good variety of sandwiches/ and burgers. There is a kid's menu with limited choices. This restaurant is cafeteria style; grab a tray and move down the row picking what you would like. The food was freshly made and very hot. There is seating inside or outside. Pricing is a bit higher than average burger restaurants but was comparable to a sit down restaurant. If you have AAA, make sure to show your card to receive a 10% discount at Mel's and other restaurants / shops throughout Universal.

Universal Studios is located at 100 Universal City Plaza in Universal City. The phone number is 800.864.8377. Basic one day tickets are $64 for visitors over 48" tall and $54 for visitors under 48" tall. There are several ticketing options, including a Front of Line Pass (eliminates the need to wait in lines for shows and rides) and a Meal Plan (pay one price to eat at restaurants throughout the park). The hours vary depending upon day of the week and time of year so call for the latest schedule or visit their website. Parking is $11, or pay $20 for Preferred Parking (we found the extra to be worth the reduced walk time to the park).

No matter which park you choose, your family is almost ensured to have a great time and take home amazing memories to talk about for years!