Other Attractions

Downtown Disney--Borrowing a page from central Florida's successful Disney compound, the Downtown Disney District is a colorful (and very sanitized) "street scene" filled with restaurants, shops, and entertainment for all ages. Options abound: Window-shop with kids in tow, have an upscale dinner for two, or party into the night. The promenade begins at the amusement park gates and stretches toward the Disneyland Hotel; there are nearly 20 shops and boutiques, and a dozen-plus restaurants, live music venues, and entertainment options.

Highlights include House of Blues, the blues-jazz restaurant/club that features Delta-inspired cuisine, big-name musicians, and the hand-clapping Sunday Gospel Brunch; Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen, a spicy mix of New Orleans traditional foods and live jazz; ESPN Zone, the ultimate sports dining and entertainment experience, including an interactive game room with a rock climbing wall; and World of Disney, one of the biggest Disney shopping experiences anywhere, with a vast and diverse range of toys, souvenirs, and collectibles. There is also an AMC Theatres 12-screen multiplex, the LEGO Imagination Center, a Sephora cosmetics store, and much more.

Getting Soaked at Knott's--Surf's up at Knott's Soak City Water Park, a 13-acre water park next door to Knott's Berry Farm, with a theme of surf woodies and longboards of the 1950s Southern California coast. The fun includes tube and body slides, speed slides, an artificial wave lagoon, and an area for youngsters with their own pool and beach shack fun house. The park is located at 8039 Buena Park (tel. 714/220-5200; www.soakcityusa.com). Admission prices are $26 for adults, $15 for kids 3 to 11, and free to children under 3; parking is $9. Ask about special promotions and discount coupons (or check the website). The park is open weekends in May and September, and then daily between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Soak City Water Park opens at 10am and closes between 6 and 8pm, based on the season.