Enjoy great rides and attractions for the little set, and fun thrills for the older crowd too.

Theme park fans take note: Here’s a longtime SoCal favorite that makes a special effort to appeal to young families, but doesn’t cut back on the adrenaline-rush rides that older kids love. On acreage that was once a real berry farm in the heart of The O.C.,
Knott’s Berry Farm offers gentler rides for younger children (ages 8 and under), as well as the super-popular Camp Snoopy—what kid wouldn’t want a hug from everyone’s favorite Peanuts beagle? Want more of a rush? Tweens, teens, and roller-coaster fans will love the park’s newer attractions, like the 300-foot-tall WindSeeker ride, where you soar and spin in two-person gondolas. Rides here are also notorious for getting you really, really wet—awesome on hot summer days. Another nice touch—your ticket can include a special Joe Cool’s Backyard BBQ (including Mrs. Knott’s famous fried chicken) at the Knott’s Picnic Center.
 

Watch thousands of rubber duckies dive into the Pacific Ocean and race to shore at the annual Duck-A-Thon. For the past 19 years, more than 50,000 locals and visitors have flocked to the Huntington Beach Pier for the Annual Duck-A-Thon™. The Duck Festival, with shopping and fun, takes place all weekend long at Pier Plaza! This unique family event benefits AltaMed’s Huntington Beach Community Clinic where 10,000 people receive medical and dental care annually. Free to spectators; $10 and up to sponsor a duck.