Knott's Berry Farm

Often cited as one of America's first themed amusement parks, Knott's grew from a 1920s roadside berry stand and fried-chicken restaurant into a full park. It blends serious thrill coasters (GhostRider, Xcelerator) with the Old West-themed Ghost Town, and the adjacent Knott's Soak City water park.

Practical: A short drive from Disneyland but distinctly more affordable and less crowded. The seasonal Knott's Scary Farm in October is a regional Halloween institution.