California has long been a favorite state to visit for people around the world. With magnificent mountains, fun, sandy beaches and stretches of coastline, tons of shopping, and thousands upon thousands of family activities, it is easy to see why. I remember as a child growing up in Arizona. We went to California just about every year to enjoy all it had to offer. One of the places that people enjoy today is the Bonfante Gardens Family Theme Park.
With 40 rides, a number of great attractions, majestic gardens, and educational exhibits, this is a wonderful place to spend a winter (or summer) vacation. The part only opened in the summer of 2001 but as a horticulture theme park. However, almost two years later, Bonfante Gardens extended its operation, adding in various attractions in 2004 such as the Wild Bird Adventure and Wild Wings, even though these attractions were only temporary to see how the public responded.
As the park grew, soon becoming a favorite destination for families, more things were added to include the Gardens Holiday Lights in the fall of 2004 and then in the summer of 2005, the Bonfante Splash Garden. Keep in mind that each new exhibit or attraction added is not geared just to kids but adults as well. One of the main attractions is the Monarch Butterfly Garden. This massive greenhouse has an actual train that runs through it, giving visitors an up-close view. Other favorites include a boat ride, antique ride, and mine coaster.
As mentioned, the Splash Garden is among the newest, which features five interactive water attractions. There, families can play with spin water wheels, enjoy the Tree Top Sprayground, or climb up the Circus Tree. The Tree Top Sprayground is an 18-foot tall, 12-foot in diameter tree replica of a tree house. Once at the top, you will discover 15 platforms, a 17-foot long dry slide, swings, and more. The kids also love the Aqua Playground, which is a shallow pool of water, great for the smaller children. The water for this feature actually bubbles about four feet into the air.
The Super Squirter Station is probably one of the most fun activities for the entire family. Operated with six, wood-grained squirt guns that circle in intervals around the garden, everyone can have a blast dodging and playing in the water. Finally, I recommend the Soakin’ Fun Sea Aw, which is a pumping station of water that squirts. Two kids sitting on either end can activate the pump, creating amazing geysers.