If you’re looking forward to a fun-filled October, fall season or holiday getaway but haven’t decided on a destination, you should definitely consider a trip to Buena Park, California. It’s home to five of the seven major attractions in Orange County, which is why the area has long been considered the entertainment capital of Southern California. It’s an ideal location since there are so many exciting things for everyone to do within a few miles of each other! In fact, it’s only five miles from Disneyland, 15 miles from beaches and 20 miles from downtown Los Angeles … but perhaps a million miles from your everyday life. So that means you’ll get the best bang for your travel buck!

For example, you can dive into some outdoor thrills at ‘Knott’s Berry Farm’ theme park featuring rides that are sure to get your heart racing!  “HangTime,” set 150-feet above the boardwalk, is the first and only dive coaster in California, while the new white water attraction “Calico River Rapids” will take you into uncharted territory. However, if adrenaline isn’t your thing, Knott’s Berry Farm is bursting with other attractions and entertainment for all ages, including stage shows, interactive experiences, delicious food creations and family-friendly fun featuring Snoopy and the Peanuts Gang.

While in Buena Park, you can continue to make a splash at Orange County’s largest outdoor water park, “Knott’s Soak City,” which boasts 23 water slides, a gigantic wave pool and cabana rentals!

And when the sun goes down, you can make “eating” an experience with interactive dinner shows like the “Pirate’s Dinner Adventure” set aboard an 18th century Spanish galleon replica … the “Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament”… or the new vaudeville variety dinner show, “Teatro Martini.” For all you foodies hungry for high-quality cuisine, check out Porto’s Bakery and Cafe featuring the owners’ original recipes from Cuba. With its famed potato balls, pastries and more, you’ll quickly taste why this eatery has a four-and-a-half star rating on Yelp with nearly 4,000 reviews! Also be sure to check out Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner, which has been family tradition In Buena Park for more than 80 years!  One of America’s most popular family restaurants, it’s been serving up Cordelia Knott’s fried chicken, homemade biscuits and boysenberry pies since 1934. In fact, Buena Park is the birthplace of the boysenberry––created right there more than 60 years ago.

I also love the food and atmosphere at Rock N Brews, the brainchild of KISS front-men Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, which serves up comfort food and a side of rock ‘n roll. Also popular is The Cauldron Sprits and Brews, an immersive dining experience featuring uniquely themed French-casual gastro grub with a wicked twist. This includes the “Knotty Kid” cocktail named after the adjacent amusement park, made of boysenberry cotton candy, vodka and lemon juice.

Another reason I recommend vacationing in Buena Park is because it’s an affordable SoCal destination with reasonably-priced hotels, and the city often has great promotions. In fact, this November and December, the City of Buena Park will honor the men and women of the United States Military with exclusive deals on the area’s top hotels, attractions and restaurants. Perks include complimentary upgrades, free theme park admission and discounted rates on Buena Park Hotels.  Those interested can learn more at VisitBuenaPark.com/military.

So, in all, Buena Park is a fabulous home base for fall and holiday travel, with tons of potential for fun, food and adventures! Check out VisitBuenaPark.com for more information and to order your free travel guide!

Also fun this fall is Oktoberfest at Big Bear Lake happening every weekend from now through November 2, where you can break out those lederhosen and dirndls and cluck the night away to the chicken dance! Of course, you can also enjoy ice-cold German beer served at eight bars, including the Craft House, which serves a variety of beers to go along with juicy bratwurst hot off the grill, homemade sauerkraut and fresh apple strudel.

At Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest, there’s continuous live entertainment on two stages––including traditional polkas and dance floor favorites performed by real German bands. Other fun activities include log sawing competitions, stein holding contests, beer pong and more. There’s also a family section full of midway carnival games, face painting, inflatable slides and multiple bounce houses. So, see for yourself why Big Bear Lake’s event is Southern California’s number-one rated Oktoberfest. Purchase tickets online at BigBearEvents.com.

While in Big Bear, also check out the ropes course, which takes family adventure to new heights! This two-level obstacle course for both kids and adults towers 35 feet off the ground and offers 37 different challenges. Many of its features are exposed to nothing but air. One exciting element is the sky rail zipline stretching 80 feet and extending out onto a ledge, enhancing the overall thrill. Big Bear ropes course ensures the highest standards of safety, including a full-body harness connected to a safety line that’s inserted into a continuous track system. Each participant is fully secured at all times, from start to finish. The Big Bear ropes course is open daily, all-year round, and the cost is just $12 per person. Check it out at BigBearRopesCourse.com.

All of that travel will surely make you hungry, so I have some tasty finds on that front as well—a few of my favorite experiences in San Diego. ….