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A trip to Southern California is almost always a good idea! There is so much to do and some of the best year-round weather in the United States, but sometimes it can feel overwhelming. There is so much to see and do, and you want to make the most out of your time. This is why I am excited to share with you more about Buena Park, California, including some of the top things to do in Buena Park with teens. Having two high schoolers, I know how important it is to keep them engaged while traveling!
I was hosted by Visit Buena Park for this trip. All opinions, photos, and reccomendations are my own.
Visiting Buena Park, California
Buena Park is located at the center of it all! Home to Knott’s Berry Farm and known for its family-friendly activities, this Southern California community is a great central hub for your trip with teenagers. In this travel guide, I will share some of the top things to do in Buena Park with teens.
Not only is Buena Park full of fun, but it’s generally much more affordable than many of the popular neighboring communities. You don’t have to sacrifice location because within five to ten minutes, you can be at Disneyland, and a few minutes more, you are at the beach.
Plus, since Buena Park is located at the northern end of Orange County, you are closer to Los Angeles, allowing you to visit Universal Studios and other popular locations in and around downtown Los Angeles. You can even book a full-day Los Angeles tour from Buena Park via GetYourGuide.
Best Airports For Your Trip To Buena Park
And you don’t have to mess with busy LAX (Los Angeles International Airport)! John Wayne Airport, located 15 miles away in Santa Ana, California, has direct flights to and from almost 50 airports across the USA. In addition, Long Beach Airport is about the same distance away. Whether traveling to Buena Park with teens or without, both airports are great options.
Where To Stay In Buena Park With Teens
I have stayed at two great hotels in Buena Park, and I highly recommend both. If you haven’t visited this area in a while, you may not have heard of one or know about the major renovations at another.
Hilton Buena Park Anaheim
On my recent trip to Buena Park, I stayed at the new Hilton Buena Park Anaheim, which opened in summer 2024. Your family will love the heated rooftop pool at this hotel. And the location can’t be beat! It’s just six miles from Disneyland and Downtown Disney and only one mile from Knott’s Berry Farm and Knott’s Soak City Waterpark. The food and drink from The Rosemary Room were fantastic, and you could also order them poolside, making for an easy pool day.
Plus, the Hilton Buena Park Anaheim is connected to The Source OC, which is a Korean-inspired shopping, dining, and entertainment center. My two teenagers were not with me on this trip, but I kept saying how much they would have loved this place. It’s #2 on my list of fun things to do in Buena Park with teens, so stay tuned for more on that.
Knotts Berry Farm Hotel
While visiting California last week, I also stopped by Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel for breakfast at Thirty Acres Kitchen inside the hotel. I had never had Bosenberry Coffee until then, and it was really good. If you visit, try that and the Bosenberry Jam on the menu. All of the food is made fresh, in-house every day!
Right when I walked in, I was surprised to see how nice and fresh everything was! I had stayed here several years ago with the kids while visiting Knott’s Berry Farm, and the property was a bit outdated. Turns out, they just finished a complete multi-million dollar renovation that included all 322 guest rooms, restaurant, common areas, and more. It was done so well!
Everything felt modern and fresh, but still thoughtful and charming, honoring the history of this beloved Buena Park property. Look up to see the mason jar chandelier!
What I love about this hotel is that it’s just 500 steps away from Knott’s Berry Farm Theme Park. When traveling with kids and teenagers, a mid-day break is often needed. This Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel’s location makes that easy! Plus, they have a pool, spa, and splash pad on site and even a shuttle service to Disneyland.
Check out the Knott’s Hotel stay and play specials before booking your trip to Buena Park with teens.
11 Things To Do In Buena Park With Teens
So, now that you know how to get to Buena Park and my favorite Buena Park hotels, let’s talk about what there is to do in Buena Park. In this post, I am specifically highlighting activities that I think are perfect for a family traveling to Buena Park with teens. I have two of them myself, so I have learned how to keep them engaged and energized on our family trips. And, often, that does include allowing time for rest!
What I love about Buena Park is that all of these activities are located within minutes of each other, making getting around easy. We used Uber on our trip and didn’t worry about driving around. In some sections, I will talk about cocktails. Obviously, the teens won’t be having those, but we enjoy unique drinks when traveling. I was really pleased to see so many fun mocktails on the menus at most places for the kids or anyone who doesn’t drink.
So, next, I am going to break down 11 fun things to do in Buena Park with teens! Here is a quick bulleted list in case you want to hop down to a specific place or activity in Buena Park, California. It’s no wonder that Buena Park has been named one of the “most fun” small towns in America.
- Knott’s Berry Farm
- Source
- Portos Bakery
- Pirate’s Dinner Adventure
- Unique Treats
- Medieval Times
- The Cauldren
- Knott’s Soak City
- John’s Incredible Pizza
- Hit The Beach
- Explore Surrounding Areas
#1 Knott’s Berry Farm Theme Park
I love Knott’s Berry Farm Theme Park and haven’t been there for several years. When we lived in Southern California, this was Abby and Jake’s favorite theme park. Here they are on a past visit, and they still talk about those rollercoasters! Knott’s is continually listed as one of the top Buena Park attractions.
What I like about Knott’s Berry Farm is that it doesn’t feel crowded or overwhelming like some other parks. On this last trip (sans kids), we spent much of the day sampling the various Boseberry-themed treats around the park. My favorites were the Bosenberry dip and dots, and of course, the Bosenberry Margarita!
Here is a list of everything I tried along the unofficial Knott’s Berry Farm Bosenberry Trail and where you can find it yourself. Each of these is available in Bosenberry flavor!
- Margaritas from Cantina Del Sur
- Churro from Gourmet Churro Factory
- Cream Soda from the Calico Saloon
- Sugar Cookie from Ghost Town Bakery
- Dippin’ Dots from Boardwalk Dippin’ Dots
- Funnel Cake from Sutter’s Funnel Cake
- Cotton Candy
- ICEE from ICEE Mix-It-Up
Knott’s Berry Farm also has an annual Bosenberry Festival in the Spring. I would love to bring my kids to Knott’s Scary Farm in the Fall, too—they go all out! This Halloween-themed event is quite popular, and it’s fun for these older kids to get dressed up and just have fun.
Click here to learn more about Knott’s Berry Farm tickets!
FUN FACT: The Knott’s Berry Farm ghost town was inspired by Calico Ghost Town, a couple of hours away. We used to visit there often when we lived nearby. If you want to see what it looks like, read my post here.
Before you leave, make sure to try Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant for amazing fried chicken and all the fixings. I find the story behind the Knott family very interesting, and the restaurant has many photos and relics from the past 100 years.
#2 The Source OC
The Source OC is such a hidden gem in Buena Park, California! Honestly, if it weren’t connected to our hotel and our great host (Leslie from Visit Buena Park) hadn’t taken us there, I would have never thought to stop!
When I say my teenagers would have loved this place, I am not exaggerating! There are many opportunities to enjoy K-pop, including live concerts and K-pop karaoke at EKO Karaoke Lounge. There are fun photo booths and many great shops full of Asian-inspired gifts, toys, apparel, and other merchandise. And, while my kids aren’t necessarily super into K-pop music, they could have spent hours in these stores!
Traditional activities, such as a state-of-the-art 4D theater, Olympic Golf Zone, and more, are also fun for families traveling with teenagers. We even saw pop-up K-pop dance gatherings while there!
But the highlight for me was the food! We literally ate our way through The Source OC, trying everything from Korean hot dogs at Myungrang to croffles at Don Melt. There are many options for sweet or savory treats and several full-service restaurants.
We had traditional Korean barbecue at Gangnam House, and it was incredible. If you are looking for reccomendations, this would be a great place to have a fun and delicious dinner on a trip to Buena Park with teenagers.
Before you leave, make sure to grab breakfast for the next day at Old Ferry Donut! I did, and it was such a nice treat the next morning.
Click here to see all of The Source OC’s great dining options, and then browse their entire website for more information and events.
#3 Portos Bakery
Since we are talking about food, I have to mention (and highly recommend) Portos Bakery in Buena Park! This family-owned (three generations) Cuban bakery was phenomenal. Everything is made fresh without preservatives. They have a great community program where extras are donated nightly. I was very impressed with everything at Portos Bakery!
Not only was the food great, but the prices were half of what I expected them to be. When traveling with teenagers, food costs can add up fast! But at Portos, my kids could have gotten a meal, dessert, and a fancy drink all for $20 or less. If you are visiting Buena Park with teens, I bet you’ll end up here more than once!
#4 Pirates Dinner Adventure California
When I say that everything is close by in Buena Park, it’s the truth! Next door to Portos Bakery, you’ll find Pirates Dinner Adventure. And, don’t think that your teenagers are too old for this live theater, food, and fun for the whole family. They bring up to 150 audience members to participate in the show, if that sounds like something your teenagers would enjoy!
This interactive show in Buena Park is an indoor activity, so it’s a great break from the sunshine or a good plan for the rare rainy days in Southern California. And if you are visiting in the Fall, check out VamPirates, where the standard pirate adventure becomes vampire pirates for even more fun for the older kids!
#5 Unique Treats in Buena Park
One thing that I know about teenagers is that they love to eat! On a trip to Buena Park, California, you can make that fun at places like Nobibi, where you can get the Dream Cloud. It’s an ice cream, but surrounded by freshly spun cotton candy! They have a cute Instagrammable wall that teens will love.
Earlier, I mentioned The Source OC, and there are so many unique treats there – both sweet and savory! I had never tried a Korean-style hot dog before, and I can’t get it out of my mind. Myungrang Hot Dog serves all-beef hot dogs with a variety of crusts, fillings, and toppings like squid ink, rice cake, cheese, or sweet potato. Make sure to try the tipping sauces, and when they ask if you want it sprinkled with sugar, just say yes!
While at The Source OC, visit Monday through Sunday for unique Korean shave ice and Sweet Box for the cutest macarons. They are almost too cute to eat, but they are too delicious not to!
There are also many great places to get bubble tea, matcha, milkshakes, and coffee drinks. If you are into ramen and tsukenmen noodles, check out Ramen & Taskenmun Tao, a hole-in-the-wall restaurant with a Michelin-starred design. Both are great options for dining in Buena Park with teens who are foodies!
Click here for a list of dining options in Buena Park, California!
#6 Medieval Times Dinner Show
Located on the other side of Portos Bakery is another fun family dining adventure called Medieval Times! This two-hour adventure includes four-course meals, real horses, jousting, and so much more. You are encouraged to eat the meal with only your hands, and it’s a fun way for these teenagers (and the adults) to get messy, have fun, and just let themselves be entertained.
#7 The Cauldren Buena Park
The Cauldren is another Buena Park hidden gem! It’s a witch-themed restaurant and bar located near Knott’s Berry Farm. It is open to all ages until 11 p.m. (21+ after that) and offers great food, cocktails, and mocktails for teens.
The Cauldren opens at 4 p.m. daily and is closed on Mondays. It’s a great spot for dinner or appetizers. The menu has many nods to French cuisine, such as Gougères, savory crepes, beef bourguignon, and more. I had a Chupacabra cocktail with Mezcal, lemon jalapeno shrub, and ginger ale. I had it smoked, and it arrived with a skull atop the glass. Our server smoked it at the table, and it was probably the best-presented cocktail I have ever had.
I think The Cauldren is one of the top things to do in Buena Park with teens because it’s quirky, dark, and sophisticated. The decor is beautiful and includes art by the owner, and there is even a secret private room hidden behind the bookshelves! It’s one of those places that will have your kids saying, “Remember when we went to that witch restaurant in California” for years to come.
#8 Knott’s Soak City
If you visit Buena Park during the summer months, add Knott’s Soak City to your Orange County Itinerary! This waterpark is open mid-May through early September and is the perfect place to cool off during your trip to California with teenagers!
Just as Knott’s Berry Farm next door has some of the best rollercoasters in Southern California, Knott’s Soak City water park has 23 waterslides that are fun for all ages.
#9 John’s Incredible Pizza
I know that one quick way to get my teenage son’s attention is an All-You-Can-Eat buffet! Sometimes when traveling, it’s hard to please everyone, and let’s face it, these teenagers can be bottomless pits. So, I love the idea of having an easy pizza buffet dinner at John’s Incredible Pizza in Buena Park.
While there, your family can play games including classic arcade games, bowling, laser maze, bumper cars, and so much more. There are even some indoor rides!
#10 Hit The Beach
All of the first nine activities are within a few miles of each other in Buena Park, California. Honestly, Buena Park offers so many fun things to do! That said, when visiting Buena Park, you are so close to the beach that you have to take your teenagers there. I particularly love Huntington Beach, and if your kids are interested, they can even try surfing lessons!
TRAVEL TIP: Plan ahead and pack lightweight, quick-drying Dock and Bay beach towels. I almost always bring these, except for when we are at a big resort.
#11 Explore Surrounding Areas
Lastly, take advantage of all of the other fun things to do in Orange County and the Los Angeles metro area. Buena Park is in such a fantastic location because within 30 miles, you can enjoy fabulous state parks on the beach, play at theme parks, or explore downtown LA. There is so much to see and do on a trip to Southern California!
If your kids are into sports, consider catching an Anaheim Ducks hockey game or an Angels baseball game; both are very close by.
Click here to browse things to do in the Los Angeles metro area!
Plan Your Trip To Buena Park With Teens
One of my best tips for traveling with teenagers is to seek out things that interest them! If you are planning a trip to Buena Park with teens, show them this list and ask them if anything sounds fun to them. And, if you do visit any of these places or try any of these foods, leave me a comment and let me know what you thought!
Click here to learn more about visiting Buena Park, California!
More Family Travel Inspiration
If you love to travel with your family, check out my other family travel blog posts! We love spending time traveling all around the world together. And, I have to say that traveling with teenagers can be quite enjoyable when you let them have some input and include plenty of food and breaks!
If you want to learn more about any of the places mentioned in this post, check out the Buena Park story highlight on my Instagram page. I have photos, videos, reels, and more from this trip!
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Love the food!