Just looking for some quick advice for an upcoming trip to Knott's Berry Farm - note that I have searched and read up on some of the trip reports and Knott's threads so have a good feel for the coasters and some of the in the park items:

• Yes, I will make sure not to miss Jaguar!
• No, I do not wear glasses, so the quite silly rule will not apply to me
• I'll do some research to help me find the parking lot

My questions, where I'd like some help:

• What is the general vicinity outside the park like - if the wife and kids get tired and want a break or if we decide to leave to grab dinner, is it a fairly safe area with easily accessible restaurants? Any recommendations?
• Park doesn't look huge - since we are visiting on a late July midweek day, should we think of it as an all day event or should we look for something else to do nearby? Any recommendations?

Appreciate any help!

Paging TH13TEEN, who probably knows more about this park than all the rest of us put together...

Meanwhile, I found the area around the park to be quite safe (at least I thought it was). Were it not for the glasses rule, I'd see the place as an all day park, but given the glasses rule, I don't see the place at all...I instead find myself at California Adventure (which I adored before), Disneyland and Magic Mountain. Enjoy...

There is a lot to do at this park. The park can get pretty busy during the summer. If your kids are little the heat can get to them pretty easy Riptide is a good way too cool off. And I highly recommend the chicken dinner. The park itself is very family oriented. But I even after 14 visits I find the park pretty big. Xcelerator has only one train running and don't expect CedarFair operations when it comes to dispatching trains. The park is easy to navigate and you should really have no problem.

The outside of the park is pretty nice. It's really right in the middle of a neighborhood, so you can find plenty of things to eat/do in the area. Be sure not to miss Montezooma's Revenge and Silver Bullet too

I'll agree that I didn't find the area around KBF to feel unsafe (of course,I've always been there during the day). There's a nice little shopping area that's still part of the property, but outside of the park gates. (I usually try to hit it when in SoCA, but don't actually have time to go to the park.) The area around the park is pretty commercial...it reminds me of the area around DL or maybe even a little like the area around BGT (although, probably a little nicer than Tampa...)

It is in a great area. I haven't ridden any of the coasters but Montezooma, Jaguar, Xcilerator, and Silver Bullet all look good. Anaheim is about 20 minutes away. If you are staying at a hotel I would say out of LA and head down to either San Diego or go to Anaheim.