Votes
2012 Best Small Towns in America
- 120 votes - Most Fun
- 7 votes - Friendliest
- 2 votes - Best For Food
- 2 votes - Most Patriotic
Description
Buena Park boasts all kinds of fun in a vacation destination perfect for every age. From theme parks and attractions to interactive dinner theater and shopping, everyone can have fun in this small town. With close proximity to both Disneyland and Orange County Beaches, its even perfect for a day trip or weekend getaway.
America’s first theme park, Knott’s Berry Farm features roller coasters, family and children’s rides, entertainment and water and thrill rides. Visit Soak City Water Park after hitting all the attractions and make room for traveling and ongoing shows. The park offers snacks and shopping as well.
For local entertainment, try Medieval Times or Pirates Dinner Adventure for food and a family-friendly show. Also choose from parks, golf course, shopping and art in the area. Knott’s Independence Hall and the Buena Park Historical Society provide history while Buena Park Downtown and Knott’s Marketplace offer shopping and dining.
The community puts on a number of events throughout the year including parades, concerts and classes at the community center. Attend the free summer concert series, watch a civic theatre performance, or browse Saturday farmers markets at the downtown mall. See what else locals and tourists love about Buena Park in its reviews.
Traveler Reviews
I have lived in Buena Park for 13 years, almost as long as I've lived any place else. Prior to BP, I lived in 6 other states, driven across the U.S. 3 different times traveling 3 different routes (42-states), been to Mardi Gras 3x/Time Square for New Years/ a few Superbowls and not enough small town carnivals. When it comes to fun, count me in. (I'm not into the party scene and neither is Buena Park!) My thoughts on Buena Park are quite mixed.
As an African-American, I find that Buena Park is one of the most racist places I have ever lived, although the town has slowly improved. [I was born and raised in the south.] In fact, I find California to be the 2nd most un-friendly places for Black people behind Texas. (I was dismayed to see that not one of the finalists for this contest are African-American, but not surprised. My guess is that not many, if any, applied, and I wonder if the contest was publicized in the Black media. As much as I wish it weren't so, Black people still are treated differently most places I've visited; whether it's relief or angst on the other side doesn't matter.)
Despite all my issues with the place, I do think that Buena Park is not only a fun place to live, but also a safe place to live. Most of the fun here is affordable and deals are aplenty. Restaurants are fair to good with high value and quite accessible.
I am proud of the way we treat visitors to my town. I am proud of the way we cater to outsiders while maintaining our pride of ownership. Our children are well-behaved and we curb our dogs. Most everyone follows the noise ordinances (but I live in a good neighborhood). I am grateful that most visitors are good, but when the visitors are noisy hooligans bent on making trouble our (nepotistic) police force is here to stop trouble in its tracks which is part of why we are so fun.
There are considerably more good people here than bad. I'd vote for my town.
I have been involved with BP since 2006, BP has the best of all things needed to have fun, it is also surrounded by larger cities which gives it a lead that no other town has. To it's east we have Anaheim (The happiest place on earth is here), To it's east the County of Los Angeles (did some one say Hollywood???) . I invite to go to Google maps and see its great location and great images!
Here is a small list of to do things
Knott's Berry Farm
Movieland Wax Museum
Buena Park Downtown
Buena Park Golf Center, The
Harbors Beaches & Parks Dept
Cedar Fair
Japanese Village and Deer Park
Ralph B. Clark Interpretive Center
Whitaker-Jaynes House
Buena Park Historical Society
Golfing
Do I have to say more???
Thanks,
D Cardenas
Buena Park, CA
Buena Park it awesome its home to Snoopy and KNotts Berry Farm!
I love this place! It has so much to offer visitors.
Buena Park is the most fun town I've visited.