There’s no shortage of things to do in Southern California.
From a vast array of hiking trails, the majestic coastline and beaches, and a stunning nightlife in all corners of the area, we’re a short drive away from memorable experiences any given day.
But we don’t always have the time to catch it all. We’ve got long drives home from work with traffic that bogs us down. It feels like we have to dedicate an entire day just to visit the farmers’ market for an hour or two with the kids. It’s exhausting.
But what if you could find the center of it all?
The perfect combination of a short work commute and easy access to explore Southern California with your family?
The “center of the southland” as it is known?
Well, let me introduce you to the city of Buena Park.
Buena Park provides the right balance of easy access to recreation with a diverse, enthralling neighborhood to call home. Live fully with affordable home prices, shopping centers to fill your weekend, and the nightlife to create a memorable date night.
If you’re looking for the right place to begin your family journey, or to enjoy the best bits of Southern California right outside your front door, Buena Park has you covered.
If you’ve just moved into the area, or are looking to put down roots in the “center of the southland,” here’s your in-depth guide to Buena Park for new homeowners.
Central Location to Southern California
Located in north Orange County, the Riverside (91) freeway splits Buena Park into north and south neighborhoods. The “center of the southland” gives residents easy highway access to the beach, the mountains, downtown Los Angeles, and south Orange County.
With so many different highways at your disposal, you’ll slice your commute time to fractions of what you experience elsewhere in Orange County. With more time available, you’ll be able to dive right into the many restaurants, community events, and shopping centers that make Buena Park special.
Diverse, Lively Neighborhood
One of the most diverse suburbs in all of California, Buena Park also boasts an incredible amount of Mexican restaurants, some of the best Korean BBQ in the county, and authentic Vietnamese noodles that’ll make your mouth water.
But with so much to do and such a diverse neighborhood, home prices have to be crazy, right?
Nope.
The average home value in Buena Park is $457,000, perfect for that starter home to build your family or upgrade from rental living. And with so much further development planned from the city, you’ll always have the value of a vibrant, bustling neighborhood around you.
Knott’s Berry Farm & the Entertainment Corridor
If you want to live in the same city as a major theme park, Anaheim comes to mind when looking at Orange County. After all, it’s got Disneyland.
But how about the 12th most visited theme park in North America right in your Buena Park backyard?
Welcome to Knott’s Berry Farm.
Walter Knott started Knott’s as a roadside berry stand in 1923, and since then, the outpost has blossomed into a modern amusement park. Today, the park features over 40 rides and attractions, including themed events around major holidays, like the diabolically enticing Knott’s Scary Farm in the fall. Plus, the legendary Camp Snoopy is the perfect introduction to theme parks for young kids.
Best of all?
You’ll save over 60% on ticket prices alone compared to Disneyland.
Once you’re done during the day at Knott’s Berry Farm, take a walk down Beach Blvd and explore the Entertainment Corridor, packed with unique restaurants, bars, and entertainment areas to cap off a perfect afternoon. You can even get knighted at Medieval Times while munching on a turkey leg.
Downtown Buena Park
Rodeo Drive steals the shopping spotlight in Southern California, but how about something a bit more practical and close to home?
At over 1.2 million square feet of shopping bliss, Downtown Buena Park offers department store favorites like DSW, a metroplex to catch the latest blockbuster, and plenty of restaurants to satiate your hunger after a day at the Entertainment Corridor.
And for those of you trying to tackle Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm in the same weekend? Downtown Buena Park can be the perfect go-between, located just 5 minutes away from Disneyland and home to over a dozen hotels in its vicinity for the perfect staycation.
Top Tier Educational Opportunities
Buena Park School District offers 5 phenomenal elementary schools in the area, with 2 middle schools as well to serve your child’s education. But with such a diverse neighborhood to serve, Buena Park also lives within the boundary of a few more school districts to give parents the optimal option for their children.
There are 5 elementary school districts and 2 high school districts housed within Buena Park, including the highly acclaimed Oxford Academy High School and John F. Kennedy High School.
With so many travel destinations in your vicinity, you can also rest easy knowing your child also receives the best education possible.
Let the Kids Play
Alright, we’ve covered the fun stuff for adults. But what about for the kids?
The city of Buena Park prides itself on providing a jam-packed calendar of events and entertainment for the entire family to enjoy year-round.
The summer concert series at Boisseranc Park runs from June until August, with food trucks aplenty. So don’t worry about packing enough to eat for the night. Boisseranc also hosts “Movies Under the Stars,” with family favorites playing on the big screen on select Friday nights.
Time for your kiddo to learn how to swim? Peak Park Pool has one of the most robust swim instruction programs in the county.
And over at the Buena Park Gymnasium, they’ll keep you moving all year long with basketball, volleyball, soccer, and softball leagues. They’ve even got a horse education class for preschoolers if that’s more your style.
In Buena Park, your style fits right in with the rest of the neighborhood. And that’s the best part about living here.
There’s a never ending list of great places to settle down in Orange County. But none match the “center of the southland” for its ease of travel, affordability, and diversity.
Stop by our office, just a few minutes from Downtown Buena Park, and we’ll share all we know about how to make Buena Park your home for the foreseeable future.
