ML Interest Tag: ghost-town

‘Tis the Season at Knott’s “Merry” Farm

by Leah R. Singer

What do Santa, an ice skating Snoopy and a winter wonderland of snow have in common? Throw in the fun of amusement park rides and you have the magic of Knott’s Berry Farm’s annual holiday celebration. Get ready to enjoy all the fun of an amusement park along with the experience of a classic Christmas on the farm. Knott’s Merry Farm runs Nov. 21 – Jan. 3, and we’ve got your insider’s guide to festive winter fun.

Have a Merry Entertaining Day
Make time to watch the new “Merry Christmas, Snoopy!” ice skating show where Snoopy, the Peanuts gang and ice skaters perform in a winter-themed show in the Charles M. Schulz Theatre. Kids will love seeing Snoopy trim the Christmas tree, wait for Santa’s arrival and attend a festive Christmas Ball. The “Merry Christmas, Snoopy!” The show does not run on Wednesdays, so make a note of the date if you’re heading to Knott’s mid-week. We also suggest arriving early to grab your seats because it tends to attract a full house!

Need more entertainment from our favorite beagle? Then head over to Camp Snoopy to watch the Snoopy, Linus, Lucy and the rest of the gang in “Christmas Time is Here, Charlie Brown.” This holiday show is the perfect length for tiny tots wanting some holiday cheer.

Besides Snoopy and Santa, one of the highlights of Knott’s Merry Farm is the Calico Christmas on the Railroad. This is a must-do activity for your little train lovers! Grab a seat on Engine 41 to enjoy a entertainment and holiday cheer and traveling adventures. You also don’t want to miss Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies bluegrass group that will get you dancing. And the Knott’s carolers will be strolling throughout the streets of Ghost Town.

Don’t Miss: Snoopy’s Merriest Tree Lighting is one of the highlights of the season. Every night on Calico Stage, Snoopy himself lights up the giant Christmas tree (not to be confused with Charlie Brown’s tree in he holiday special). The event also features dancing snowmen, toy soldiers and elves. It’s a really fun time that kids will love!

Merry Must-Do Activities
Santa Claus himself is ready to check off his nice list and visit with your kiddos. The Wilderness Dance Hall in Ghost Town is home to Santa’s Christmas Cabin during the holidays. Kiddos can visit with Santa from 12 p.m. until the park closes. Make sure your camera is charged because this is a must-do photo opp!

Snow in SoCal? Of course! Every night during Merry Farm, the buildings and paths in Ghost Town’s Main Street and School House Road are filled with glow and snow! Thousands of sparkling lights dance to the beat of “Let It Snow” while the white specks gently fall from the sky. This is a must-see activity at Knott’s, especially for kiddos who rarely experience the real deal!

Make Your List and Check It Twice
No trip to Knott’s Berry Farm is complete without fun times on the rides. Little ones should head into Camp Snoopy, which is perfect for young kids and families. The wait time for rides are never too long, and kids will love attractions like the balloon race (that stays low to the ground), train rides, mini mining cars, and “flying” in Snoopy’s flying ace airplane. Older thrill seekers won’t want to miss the Park’s signature roller coasters, too.

Save your appetite to indulge in the many treats only available during Knott’s Merry Farm. We suggest trying a few of Santa’s homemade cookies, a cup of eggnog or the indulgent cinnamon rolls. Be sure to stop by the Ghost Town bakery for homemade treats, a poured-to-order maple lollipop at the Gold Trails Hotel, holiday churros from the Churro Factory, and warm gingerbread men baked at the Farm Bakery.

It’s easy to find unique gifts and take care of your holiday shopping at the Knott’s Christmas Crafts Village. We love that the Village features local artisans selling their unique gifts. You can also purchase a Knott’s Berry Farm 2016 Season Pass for a family holiday gift.

Knott’s Berry Farm
8039 Beach Blvd.
Buena Park Ca 90620
714-220-5200
Online: knotts.com

Have you been to the Knott’s Merry Farm? Tell us in the Comments your favorite part of the holiday season.

— Leah R. Singer

Photos courtesy of Knott’s Berry Farm

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Your Guide to Knott’s Berry Farm’s Spring Boysenberry Festival

by Leah R. Singer

Knott’s Berry Farm may be best-known for its roller coasters and amusement park attractions for kids. But now you can celebrate the berry that started it all! The Knott’s Boysenberry Festival runs March 28 – April 12. This spring tradition is a mix of tasty treats, fun activities, and all the rides and thrills that makes Knott’s a great amusement park. Start planning your trip because we’ve got your insider’s guide to the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival.

What to Do
Located in Buena Park in northwestern Orange County, this historical amusement park features Snoopy and the Peanuts gang as its mascots. Camp Snoopy is the portion of the amusement park that perfect for young kids and families. The wait time for rides are never too long, and kids will love attractions like the balloon race (that stays low to the ground), train rides, mini mining cars, and “flying” in Snoopy’s flying ace airplane.

One of the special things to do during Boysenberry Festival is participate in interactive pie-making with the Bear-y Family. Kids can join the classic Bear-y Tales characters in their very own pie making kitchen inside of Ghost Town’s Toy Barn. The pint sized chefs can also make their very own delightfully sweet boysenberry tarts complete with a crumble topping. There is an additional cost for pie making. But if you have a young chef at home, it’s worth it for this spring-time treat. The Bear-y Family pie making is located in Ghost Town. So you may forget about this fun event if you don’t veer far from Camp Snoopy.

Don’t Miss: Venture over to Ghost Town for boysenberry themed stand-in cutouts like wanted posters and a boysenberry farming family. Be sure to check out the Old Schoolhouse too! This original building was built in 1879 and educated generations of kids until the 1940s. The inside still has authentic chalkboard writing, old books, and desks that have slate boards still attached. Kids are always fascinated to see that students from long ago wrote their homework on chalkboards rather than paper and computers! A visit inside the Old Schoolhouse is well-worth the visit!

Photo credit: Knott’s Berry Farm Facebook page

What to See
When it comes to entertainment at the Boysenberry Festival, there’s no sweater treat! If you want to stick with the kids’ shows, check out “Lucy’s Really Big Spring Show” at the Camp Snoopy Theatre. We also recommend the Peanuts Party in the Park, an interactive show that celebrates spring with music and gorgeous colorful touches. Plus the Park’s Charleston Circle fountain transforms into a beautiful floral fountain, full of colorful flowers and boysenberries.

Even if you have young kids who don’t want to leave Camp Snoopy, make time to check out the other Festival shows. Little ones (and adults) will love Jammin’ in the Dark, which transforms Charleston Circle into an immersive dance party with — you guessed it — illuminated boysenberries and vines! If country music is more your style, stop by and see bluegrass country music group, Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies. This show offers musical fun and also comedy to get the family laughing too.

Don’t Miss: You can’t leave Knott’s Berry Farm without getting a photo taken with the Easter Beagle himself! Knott’s is great about making it easy to get your kiddo’s photo taken with Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus and the gang. During Boysenberry Festival, the photo backdrops include spring butterflies, and Lucy’s famous “The doctor is In” booth is transformed into an “Egg Decorating” booth. It makes a perfect photo for Easter greetings!

Photo credit: Knott’s Berry Farm Facebook page

What to Eat
The question should really be, “What not to eat?” Back in the 1930s, Walter Knott harvested the boysenberry, which is a cross between a loganberry, red raspberry and blackberry. The Boysenberry Festival features more than 60 ways to enjoy the famous berry. Of course you can always enjoy a burger or wings with boysenberry BBQ sauce. But we suggest checking out some of the lesser-known treats, including the boysenberry Icee float or berry trifle. There’s even a boysenberry latte and blended coffee if parents need a pick-me-up during the day!

Don’t Miss: If you’re not sure what tasty bites to eat, get a Boysenberry Festival Tasting card. For only $25, you can sample six boysenberry treats, including the ear of corn with boysenberry butter; boysenberry BBQ wings; hot dog with boysenberry relish; fried alligator bites with boysenberry aioli; boysenberry trifle with ice cream; and boysenberry dessert flautas. This is a great way to sample several items while feeding a small family for a low price.

Knott’s Berry Farm
8039 Beach Blvd.
Buena Park Ca 90620
(714) 220-5200
Online: knotts.com

Have you been to the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival? Tell us in the Comments your favorite part of the Festival.

— Leah R. Singer

Photos by Leah Singer (unless otherwise noted)

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Ready for Your Close-Up? 3 Oscar Activities for Kids

by Meghan Rose

Living in the dream factory is never more exciting than when it’s Oscar time (the Oscars take place this year on February 22). Hollywood Boulevard is closed, parties take over favorite restaurants, and viewing parties are where we’re at on Oscar Sunday.  While we don’t have an invitation to the Vanity Fair party for you, we do have something even better—three free ways to go behind the scenes of the Oscars that parents and kids will enjoy.

photo credit: Hollywood & Highland’s facebook page

See the Red Carpet: Yes, That Red Carpet.
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither are the Oscars.  It takes a lot of workers bees buzzing for weeks leading up to the ceremony to get everything in place.  And the night before the show it all has to come together.  So if you take the kids to Hollywood & Highland on Oscar Eve (Saturday, February 21), you can watch the last minute flurry.  Watch them roll out and tack down the red carpet.  Watch the lights get hung, the flowers and palm trees get rolled into place, and camera crews doing sound checks.  The golden man himself, guarding the doorway, is in place and all is in readiness for movie stars tomorrow.  Head up to the 3rd floor, where you get a birds eye view behind the scenes.  Then on Sunday, kids get a kick out of watching the arrivals on TV and knowing they were right there.

Need a snack?  Hard Rock Café is perfect family fun and lets you get a little rock and roll as well as movie star glamor this weekend, or for a sweet treat, there’s nothing sweeter than Sweet!

On Saturday, February 21 the Hollywood & Highland Center is open and accessible to the public (except the red carpet area where they’re setting up) from 10 a.m.–10 p.m.  It is closed to the public on Oscar Sunday.

Dolby Theater
Hollywood & Highland, Hollywood
Phone: 323-467-6412
Online: hollywoodandhighland.com

photo credit: FIDM

Visit the Costume Department: The FIDM Exhibit
The Art of Motion Picture Costume Design exhibit is the perfect way for mini-fashionistas to celebrate Oscar Weekend. Actually, it’s a fun exhibit for the whole family, since the costumes are from movies kids will recognize, too.  This year you can check out last year’s winner of Best Costume Design: The Great Gatsby.  You can also see costumes from all of this year’s nominated films: Maleficent, Into the Woods, Mr. Turner, The Grand Budapest Hotel and Inherent Vice.  In addition to seeing the wicked queens capes and horns and the fairy tale costumes from the Sondheim flick, kids will love seeing the costumes from The Boxtrolls, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Night at the Museum and X-Men.

While they dream super hero or fairy tale dreams, you can marvel over the tiny waists and beautiful gowns and do a little dreaming yourself. (Like dreaming that this is your closet… )

photo credit: Meghan Rose

When they get tired of looking-but-not-touching, right in front of the museum is a big grassy lawn where kids can run and play (and ride the brass dogs that dot the landscape).  Also sharing the square is an urban playground, complete with bouncy bugs, slides and shaded climbers.  Then a tiny walk up the street and everyone can be relaxing with wood-fired pizzas and perfectly sweet macaroons at Bottega Louie, a family favorite spot downtown.

The exhibit runs February 10-April 25, and the FIDM Museum is open Tuesday- Saturday from 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

FIDM Museum and Gallery
919 S. Grand Ave.,Downtown LA
Phone: 213-623-5821
Online: fidmmuseum.org/exhibitions/current

photo credit: Shoshana via Creative Commons

Go On Location: Paramount Ranch
Get out and celebrate what the Oscars are really about—making movies!  At Paramount Ranch you can take part in “Oscar Goes Outdoors,” a celebration of the Oscar nominated and award winning films connected to Hollywood’s movie mountains (the Santa Monica Mountains).  See where and how early Hollywood pioneer filmmakers transformed the SoCal mountains into Africa, China, Germany and even the South Seas.  There will be presentations, photo displays and more.

Today, kids can still play wild west with the amazing “ghost town” left behind from those movie frontier days.  Bring a picnic (and costumes) and after exploring, you can set up your own craft services and have a photo shoot that will make your kids feel like they’re in the movies.

photo credit: Meghan Rose

The celebration takes place from 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday, February 15.

Paramount Ranch
2903 Cornell Rd., Agoura Hills
Phone: 805-370-2301
Online: nps.gov/paramountranch.htm

How do you celebrate the Oscars – in style, ignore ’em, or TV time?

-Meghan Rose

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San Jose del Cabo: A Family Vacation in Mexico

by Renee M. Rutledge

If the phrase “going to Cabo” reminds you of your college days, think again!  San Jose del Cabo (about 25 minutes away from Cabo San Lucas) is  full of family friendly beaches and kid-friendly adventure. Here are just a handful of possibilities.

Lover’s Beach in Los Cabos is one of the most spectacular beaches you’ll encounter, a place where the Pacific and Sea of Cortez meet. Families flock to its friendly bay with calm, clear water filled with fish. Kids will love the fact that the only way to get to this beach is by boat, and along the way, your guide will show you the famous images hidden in the rock formations, from the face of Scooby Doo to a witch’s profile. Once you arrive, your tiny tidepoolers, taking a break from the sea, will love playing with the many hermit crabs floating in and out of their rocky homes.

Ever wondered if  “Hotel California”–made famous by the Eagles– is real?  Truth is, the song’s inspiration is based in Todos Santos, a small artist town in Baja California, just a short day trip from San Jose del Cabo. Share this trivia with the kids as you snap photos of them in the Hotel California lobby. Then, spend the day walking in and out of beautiful galleries, gift shops, plazas, and cobblestone streets.

If you’re a family of water lovers, an excursion to Cabo Pulmo is a must. It’s home to the only living coral reef in our hemisphere and an easy day trip from San Jose del Cabo. You won’t find a big strip here, just a few hometown restaurants and a convenience store, so be prepared to spend all your time making sandcastles along miles of secluded beaches, snorkeling, or swimming with the dolphins.

 

When you want to spend a leisurely day near the hotel, you’ll be able to walk to the Centro Historico from wherever you’re staying in San Jose del Cabo. This historic downtown is less crowded and modernized, giving the whole family a feel for the past while enjoying the area’s contemporary art and dining scene. Watch your little ones run up and down the steps of the old Cathedral, dance along to a traveling performer at the central plaza, or cool down with some creamy dulce de leche ice-cream.

The new Desertica Multi-Adventure Park is based in a San Jose del Cabo ghost town. The ziplines here are some of the longest in the world, but don’t worry, kids 7 and older can still take part in a shorter ride. The whole family can explore on horseback, finding cacti and fossils along the way before taking a swim then relaxing in the park’s town square.

To Stay

 

There’s a big range of convenient accommodations, from budget-friendly hotels to luxury resorts. Here are some options with kid-friendly amenities:

The Royal Solaris Los Cabos This Mexican hacienda-style resort is smaller and quainter, just five stories high and surrounded by garden grounds, with swimming pools, a mini-water park, and a Kids Club.

Cabo Surf Hotel & Spa. It’s eight minutes from downtown San Jose, and if you don’t want to cross the sand into the Sea of Cortez, there are swimming pools and hammocks waiting for you at this luxury spot.

Hotel Cielito Lindo. This bed and breakfast is more suited to families on a budget. Economical and with classic, old-world style, you’ll enjoy being situated in the town’s historic center, with eggs and pancakes, as well as chilaquiles, waiting for you in the morning breakfast buffet.

To Eat

 

Some of the best places in San Jose del Cabo are small, local spots where the prices are super low and the locals fill the booths. Other spots to look out for cater to vacationers, with ambiance and good food to guide you. Here are a few many possibilities:

El Matador: The chef here is also a matador; thus, the name. The walls here are covered with colorful murals, and there’s an outdoor patio for families who like to dine al fresco. Fusion food combines the best of Mexico and the Mediterranean.

La Fonda: This restaurant feels traditional, with authentic food, folkloric influences, a family-friendly atmosphere, and a beautiful fountain for small eyes to feast on near the outdoor tables.

Habanero’s:  Tacos and burritos along with Mexican fusion dishes infused with honey and fruit sauces, and a long list of yummy desserts make this a family favorite.

Red Tricycle actually wants to send you on your own Cabo vacation getaway! Read more for details.

—Renee Rutledge

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