5 Compelling Reasons to Stay at Knott's Berry Farm Hotel and Water Park
Chances are, thinking about Knott’s Berry Farm Theme Park makes you nostalgic. That’s definitely true for me. When my husband and I got married we had a big photo board that traced our lives from birth to our twenties. We each had a sepia-toned family photo from Knott’s Berry Farm on that board with our families all dressed up in western gear. Those were the days, right?
But Knott’s Berry Farm isn’t just a warm childhood memory. It’s an up-to-date theme park, water park, and hotel that appeals to a wide range of families looking for the perfect place to stay on vacation. Here’s why we’ve chosen to stay at Knott’s Berry Farm on multiple southern California vacations-
The Rooms - One of the Best Deals in SoCal
While the rooms at Knott’s Berry Farm aren’t the fanciest I’ve stayed in (although I’ve never stayed in one of the Snoopy-themed rooms, which is definitely fancy!), the rooms have always been clean, neat, with well kept. Most importantly, the beds are very comfortable. So you can be sure you’ll have lots of energy to tackle the Knott’s Berry Farm amusement park the next morning.
The Knott’s Berry Farm staff was always been kind and responsive to our needs. The shuttles run on time and are reliable for pickup, and the hotel amenities, including the hotel restaurants and shops, are some of the best I’ve ever seen in SoCal. (I love the California Marketplace!) Room prices generally start at around a $100 a night for one room with two queen beds.
The only real drawback I’ve had with the rooms is that there is no refrigerator, but with all the food and drink options a few steps away, and room service, this really wasn’t ever a problem for us. The hotel has package deals where you can add breakfast at the hotel’s Amber Waves restaurant and/or theme park tickets. I didn’t see an add-on for the Soak City water park but that may be a possibility in the warmer months.
The Peanuts Gang! Snoopy and All His Friends!
From meeting a live Snoopy character every morning to staying in a Peanut’s themed room and watching Peanuts animatronics shows at the park, Knott’s Berry Farm is your one-stop-shop for everything Charlie Brown. Knott’s just wrapped up their Peanuts Festival in February and I’m so sorry we couldn’t make it to this fun event. One afternoon they had 150 park goers dressed up like Charlie Brown on stage! I wish my husband and son could have made it 152! What fun. Peanuts really enhances the multi-generational aspect of Knott’s Berry Farm as it appeals to children, adults, grandparents, and everyone in between – even a super cool teen would be hard-pressed to say he didn’t love Snoopy.
On one visit to the Knott’s Berry Farm hotel gift shop my daughter picked out Olaf, one of Snoopy’s brothers, to bring home. Olaf is a little rounder than Snoopy and he’s perfect for snuggling. When we last visited you could pick up any one of Snoopy’s eight brothers and sisters and versions of all your favorite Peanuts characters – Charlie Brown and Pig Pen were my son’s favorites!
Free Parking! Free Shuttles!
Not having to pay for parking really increases the value of a stay at Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel. We have frequently had to add an additional $20 a night, or more, to the price of a hotel stay in Southern California in order to park our rental car. Over the course of a week’s vacation that can add up to an additional $150. When you include a free shuttle like Knott’s does, you don't have to pay the high price for parking at Disneyland or any of the many nearby attractions, and you save even more. Having a personal chauffeur for your family also means you won’t have to fight your way through California traffic so you can arrive at your destination in a positive frame of mind, ready to play.
The Rides! Thrilling, But Also Little-Kid Friendly!
Knott’s Berry Farm has a well-deserved reputation for keeping tweens and teens entertained with their incredible roller coasters and thrill rides. If you haven’t been to Knott’s lately, be sure to check out Hangtime – the park’s newest roller coaster which features, you guessed it, a whole lot of time upside down. It’s the twistiest, curviest thing I’ve ever seen. But don’t forget there is plenty of fun little ones (and the not so adventurous) too.
Camp Snoopy features 14 fun rides with the littlest Knott’s Berry Farm guests in mind. From Charlie Brown’s Kite Flier to Flying Ace (Your child can really be the Red Baron! I wish I could go back in time for this one.) to Woodstock’s Airmail, there’s fun for everyone. And adults can go on many of the rides with their children, which is especially nice if your young child is just getting used to the whole theme park thing.
The California Marketplace
The California Marketplace is a group of shops, restaurants, and specialty food providers. I love to have lots of restaurant and quick food service options near our hotel room. Spending the day running around Knott’s Berry Farm or Disneyland takes a toll. Being able to walk out your hotel room door and take a short stroll to a tasty dinner is pretty much priceless when mom and dad are exhausted.
The California Marketplace includes restaurants – Amber Waves, an All-American restaurant located in the hotel, Knott’s Berry Farm Chicken Dinner Restaurant, Chicken to Go, TGIFriday’s, Starbucks, Cinnabon, an ice cream shop, and extensive souvenir shops where you can stock up on Knott’s Berry Farm products like their delicious jam to bring home. And don’t miss Snoopy Headquarters!
The California Marketplace includes the famous Knott’s Berry Farm Chicken Dinner restaurant, which is definitely something you need to check out if you haven’t yet. The full chicken dinner lives up to its stellar reputation and it is still made using Mrs. Knott’s original chicken recipe. They aren’t kidding when they say a ‘full’ chicken dinner. It includes several sides, the cherry rhubarb is my favorite. Make a reservation or just check and see if they have availability if you’re absolutely starving one night – this dinner will be the perfect fit!
I could easily write 500 words about all the reasons you should stop into the Farm Bakery ASAP. I would start with the beautiful cake slices available here. This is so genius. Why don’t all bakeries sell delectable, gorgeous, decorated cakes by the slice? Love it. And if it’s your birthday, like it was during one of my trips to this hotel, order a birthday cake frosted in the colors and decorations of your choice to enjoy with family and friends on the patio. It’s the best birthday gift you can give yourself. The bakery’s fantastic array of cookies, cupcakes, muffins, and donuts means you can grab a quick breakfast on your way to the rides every morning!
We had one a very fun trip here soon after my son was born. My parents came along and we had three generations of fun. We enjoyed dinner and Amber Waves and guess who showed up to say hello?
Goin’ Back to the Old West!
Who doesn’t love spending a few hours in the Old West? These types of experiences are getting harder to find these days so make sure your kids don’t miss out. Pan for gold, try the Pony Express Ride (which is sooooooooooo fast if you’re a wimp like me), and head over to the Calico Saloon for a tall one. Take in a live cowboy show and of course, don’t forget to grab one of those priceless family photos in Western gear I mentioned earlier. Maybe it will end up being one of the photographs on the memory board when your son or daughter gets hitched! Definitely jump on Ghostrider, the longest wooden roller coaster on the West Coast, before the day ends. This ride is a marvel just to look at and it’s one of the most iconic sites in the park.
When you add in all the incredible amenities from rides to Snoopy to Soak City, I think the value of a Knott’s Berry Farm hotel stay skyrockets. We haven't been able to try out Soak City yet but the exciting water park is available for an additional charge during the warmer months. Definitely check it out.
My family has always made wonderful memories here and when we go home I miss the California Marketplace so badly I wish I could teleport there on a weekly basis. Plus, when we tally up the money we spent on our vacation, the more-than-reasonable bill for our stay at Knott’s Berry Farm helps us make our next family adventure happen that much more quickly. Thanks Snoopy!