Knott's Soak City Offers Relief From Heat, Cabin Fever

Kids have cabin fever from all those weeks of too much freedom? Or perhaps they're dreading the beginning of school and all the stress and work involved. The perfect staycation getaway to let them exercise their excess energy and relieve their anxious anticipation could be Knotts Soak City Water Park.

Located on Beach Boulevard off the 91 Freeway in Buena Park, this activity-driven theme park boasts five thriller-type slides, a lazy river for the sedate crowd, and a couple of small-child-friendly slide and sprinkle areas for the little ones.

Also available is a relaxingly warm 750,000-gallon wave pool. Basically, there's something for every taste in the family, from the infant to the grandpa.

I was advised by my teenage son that I simply had to try the Pacific Spin slide, a ride that shot one through a dark tunnel and into a six-story high funnel. "You'll be scared to death," he informed me enthusiastically.

Respectfully, I declined his invitation. Instead I stuck to the calm currents of the Sunset River, where one can either walk, swim, or hoist oneself into an inner tube to meander around the park's attractions along an 1,800-foot curving river. While I fed my soul this refreshing relaxation, he proceeded to terrify himself on every curving, swerving, and speedy slide in the park.

Though we arrived close to the opening of the water park and stayed nearly until closing, there wasn't a minute of boredom to be had.

One word of warning: outside food is not allowed and food inside the park is expensive. You may want to take advantage of the return stamp to purchase your meal outside the park and come back afterward to enjoy more of the slides and water recreation.

Knotts Soak City

8039 Beach Blvd

Buena Park, California

http://www.soakcityoc.com