I bought a season pass for the 2026 year because I am worried that Great America might be gone next…read moreyear. I wanted to experience all the rides, food, games, the vibes and much more, all once again. I have been coming to Great America for over 25 years and I have made many memories at the park. From first rides on Stealth, to Days of Thunder, to getting wet on Whitewater Falls. Of course, some of those rides are long gone and have been replaced by other attractions. My favorite roller coaster there is actually Patriot. It is a simple floorless coaster that use to be the standup coaster, Vortex. I like how there are many rides very close to each other and you are just a few feet away from food and drinks in every corner. There are some days though where the lines move painfully slow. I wish the staff would consider optimizing the loading and unloading process so that wait times are more bearable. Other than that, everything else is good. I do hope someone or even the City of Santa Clara can sweep in and save Great America for future generations. If we lose Great America, we lose a community gathering spot for picnics, attractions, waterpark fun, concerts and so much more.

Overall: It's alright, but it could be so much better…read more It's not a bad place overall. It's good for the area and they have a nice park. The guests we encountered were all friendly, which honestly surprised me in a good way. In many ways, the other visitors helped make the experience what it was. The staff, however, were hit and miss. A few were genuinely nice and engaged, but many seemed to be in their own world and not very sociable. I understand that a lot of them are young and it may just be a generational difference, but the overall vibe felt disengaged at times. One thing that really stood out was the lack of working places to fill up water jugs. The few that did exist barely functioned. My son has to drink an electrolyte/salts mix to counter a medication side effect, so we always carry the mix and our own water containers. We had no issues bringing them in, but there was simply nowhere reliable to fill them. When I asked a staff member about it, they jokingly said it was so people would buy drinks. They weren't rude, but it didn't feel like a joke--and it ultimately cut our day short because we had to leave just to get water. On the positive side, the ticket staff were excellent. We spoke with them about pass activation and Fast Pass options, and both times they were beyond helpful and professional. Lines did build up, partly because loading on some rides took a long time. That said, the staff seemed focused on doing things safely and correctly, which I respect. I'm genuinely disappointed to hear they may be closing at the end of the year. With a bit more staff engagement and some attention to infrastructure and maintenance, this place could easily feel like a true local park--something the community could take pride in. If they could capture the welcoming, energetic staff atmosphere you find at places like the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and pair that with some basic improvements, they'd have something really special. We might come back, and if you live nearby or are visiting the area, it's worth checking out at least once. But right now, it's hard to feel excited about returning when it seems like it's so close to being much better than it is.

Oh, this roller coaster…read more This roller coaster great America must be the oldest roller coaster in the area or something. I personally cannot probably go on it anymore because whenever I do I get a huge headache. It really shakes it's not good at all and I just have a hard time having any fun on it whatsoever. If you're into that old wooden roller coaster field and go right ahead. Recommend skipping.

The Grizzly rides heavy like I'm sure you can imagine a huge Grizzly running down a wooden track…read morebeing that this really isn't a bear in the forest it is simply one of the awesome wooden coasters out there that will never disappoint anyone as it's just fun! Fun fun fun fact seriously try to sit with all adults as if you ride with kids even if they are behind you both share the same lap bar so if one closes it on you it's really right even for me! There are a few seat belts and the one that attaches to the bar to make it just that much tighter on you so don't forget about that little thing because you know you want it on! Once you've been strapped down to the car you try going and that's when you realize this whole becoming restrained part was totally worth it as you find yourself riding heavy down this radical wooden coaster like I said it rides heavy but you don't feel it as the whole ride is very smooth and just awesome coaster ride in it's own way which makes me kinda forget that I've been strapped down to the car the whole review through! One thing I've noticed at the park over the several few Grizzly rides is that the time of the ride opening seems to be later after the park is already open for a busy minute so plan accordingly! Overall awesome coaster for anyone but like I said don't ride with the kids if you don't have to!

Boomerang bay in the summer time is nice for everyone to cool down. You get to enjoy 2 parks for…read morethe price of 1. They have plenty of lifeguards working to ensure safety, but be sure to come early to secure shady seats. These seats fly off the shelf like hotcakes. They have a wave pool, waterslides, a lazy river, a water playground and food areas. You are able to book cabanas. Problem is that you need to book the cabana in advance especially for weekends because they get booked up fast. Looking forward to this summer!!!

Fun, staycation spot local to Bay Area folks…read more I like to come here with my kids. It's super safe. There are lifeguards everywhere. I have no trouble letting my kids just kind of run around and Rome especially in the waddle pool area. There are lots of beach chairs for parents to lie on all the kids do their damage. It is tucked away in a corner, a great America that just makes it feel like it's it's a little world. Love that lazy river. Season pass makes this place well worth it. Recommend for parents with young kids.

If you didn't grow up going to Happy Hollow, and you say you're from San Jose, are you REALLY?…read more Happy Hollow will always have a special place in my heart. I grew up going there as a kid, and now getting to bring my own child feels really full circle. There's something so nostalgic and magical about it, one of those places that truly spans generations. From the rides to the animals to the play areas, there's just enough variety to keep kids entertained without it feeling chaotic. My child absolutely loves it every time we go. What I appreciate most is how it still holds onto that classic charm while staying clean, well-kept, and family-friendly. The food is pretty good, too! Special shout out to David for being super friendly and helpful. Become a member if you have kids, it is so worth it!

Location / Parking There's a dedicated parking lot for…read moreguests on Story Road and several self-service parking meters. Each parking ticket is $10 per car for the whole day. You must place the printed hardcopy parking ticket on the car dashboard as there may be parking compliance enforced to avoid being fined. Depending on the day and time that you go, the parking lot seems to get full earlier in the day when the park opens at 10:00 am. However, there was plenty of parking available around 11:30 am on a Saturday morning. Admission It varies on the age of the guest that determines the admission price. Children under 23 months are free. They do allow strollers, wagons, and outside food/drinks. You can also purchase an annual membership if you buy a daily admission ticket and upgrade it. There's an entrance area for regular admission and a separate entrance for memberships. Once you have the physical ticket on-hand, there's a separate line where an employee will scan the ticket. I hosted a party here and reserved the Whistling Woods picnic site, which accommodates 80-100 people. Based on the event package chosen, I was able to buy tickets at a wholesale price for $14 each (instead of the $22 general admission for adults and children over 24 months old). There's a $25 fee for will call where you pay for guests to pick up their physical tickets on the day of the event. Alternatively, you can pay extra to pick up the physical tickets in advance and distribute it yourself. In total, the total costs for the event was $1,200. Guests who attended the party can come at any time during park hours the day of the reserved event (ex. Sunday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm). The reservation time that I booked was from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm and was given 30 minutes prior to the reservation to set up. There was a discrepancy advised by the staff during my reservation process that I would have 30 minutes to break down the event after my reserved time. However, the Happy Hollow dedicated staff arrived at 2:30 pm to advise that my party needed to break down the area and vacate the picnic site by 3:00 pm. There was dedicated staff to help provide carts to transport personal belongings and they came with plates, table covers, and utensils for the prepaid event. Park There's a variety of activities that both adults and children can do in Happy Hollow ranging from the following: animal zoo (it's not a petting zoo), rides for children, adults must accompany if the child does not meet the age requirement, picnic areas, benches/tables to eat, and several playgrounds for all ages. There's also an onsite cafe if you plan to dine at the park or bring your own food, drinks, and snacks. The park is well-maintained and fairly clean overall.

I been on this ride a couple of times, but not the ride I must need to ride every time I go to the…read morepark. It used to be called Survivor the ride, but since Cedar Fair bought them out it is called tiki twirl. The line can get really long, but the longest we have waited is 30 minutes. The nice thing is they have a cart to put in your belongings and you drop it off. Then at the end of the ride you exit the other side and pick up your things. Ride experience, not too bad considering, I do not like rides that go in circles as it makes me dizzy. It is overall fun and a good 3 minute ride. You get use the motion after awhile.

It's more fun than it looks like it would be. Just enough of a thrill but nothing too scary. Wear…read morea hair tie if you have longer hair.

This place is awesome! I go t to meet a nice guy who raced me which I had no idea that we were! The…read moreworkers are nice and friendly!

Where do I begin... called a total of 3 times to clarify information and possible scenarios before…read moredriving up 2-3 hours to celebrate a buddies birthday and have some fun. Unfortunately we only had 7 so we couldn't do the 8 person reservation. I called to get info about wait times (I understand that they can't give me an exact estimate so I told them give me worse case scenario) and I was advised that the group of 7 could have some long wait times so we opted to just come up with 3 of us. Upon arrival, place was dead other than 2-3 staff members within sight. We asked the individual behind the counter some basic questions being first timers at that location, we ended up purchasing 2 races and we received 1 for free because it was Tuesday and that was just a deal they had. After they took our money they said "well it could be about 30 minutes until you all race" which we responded saying that it's totally fine we will hangout thank you. Well since we had 30 minutes to kill why not buy some arcade credits and mess around (very mediocre arcade at best). After we purchased arcade credits, about 15 minutes went buy another employee came up to us to let us know that if we wanted to race we would have to wait till about 4:45-5pm because a group rented out the facility and there's just nothing they can do. Keep in mind when we purchased our races, 2:23pm to be exact, we got told 30 minutes. Somehow between multiple phone calls to confirm before the long drive and the day of upon arrival purchasing our races not a single individual let us know about this possible booking. ALSO no we did not show up before this group event, they were already there. Which in their defense the employee giving us a refund said "well we are not allowed to tell people about bookings". Great totally understandable I run a business my self and I understand private information etc. however the lying of race times, letting us wait for a bit and following up with "if you don't take the refund we will give you 2 extra races" well thanks but I find it hard to believe we got the full reasoning behind the situation... also to add more context, no we weren't those customers causing issues, being overly loud, or causing any sort of issues. Civilized beings and in return got a pretty S*** end of the stick. K1 speed its self is great but this location is ran by some individuals that have zero interest in making the experience rememberable. K1s slogan "Arrive and Drive" they have printed on their business cards left out crucial information. Arrive and drive past. Keep your money and spend it with a business that will give you the proper attention. Not asking to be treated like royalty. Just some common decency.

A fun family outing on a nice, sunny day. Train ride tickets are $5 each and the train ride itself…read moretakes you on a loop through the Vasona County Park. Very relaxing ride that takes about 10 minutes. All seats are uncovered so make sure to bring your hat or sunscreen. Right next to the train is an antique carousel, tickets are also $5 per person. The ride lasts relatively longer than the average carousel ride so I feel like you get your money's worth. Billy Jones Railroad is located within a larger park so there are several playgrounds and lots of open, grassy picnic areas or picnic tables to enjoy some lunch or snacks outside.

Came here on a Saturday morning around 11am. Tickets for train and carousel is $5 per person and…read morefree for kids 2 and under. The train ride is less than 10 minutes with no cover so we brought our hats. It's a quick ride and you pass by the parking lot and a park. My girls enjoyed it. After we played by the nearby park. There is a bathroom close to the train ticket booth and lots of tables to enjoy a snack or even lunch. They were just starting the grill to cook the food for lunch but our girls were hungry so we left to get food elsewhere.

I had to run some errands in Palo Alto, and my little one tagged along with me for this trip. I…read morethought it'd be fun to bring her along to this museum. There isn't much fun stuff to do in Palo Alto if you're a tiny tot, but this place seemed like it was created for the little ones! Would highly rec if you are in Palo Alto for a day and want to bring your young child somewhere. There are different parts to this - a museum, and also a mini zoo. The museum has all sorts of fun activities, similar to the Bay Area Discovery with building blocks, magnets, trains, cars, tops, etc. The mini zoo is also quite fun with a variety of animals, although not many. The quality of the animals was great, though. They had a feeding hour for the Flamingos when I was there, and although my toddler was not interested, it seemed like the staff stayed for the whole hour, and made sure that anyone who wanted to do it had a chance to do so. Other animals there included a free-roaming peacock! The only draw here is that it's a little small, compared to a real zoo, or a real museum such as the Bay Area Discovery Museum, or the California Academy of Sciences. That being said, the price for this museum was quite reasonable, at $14 per person over 1 year old. Even for the 1.5 hours I was there, I thought it was well worth it! Free parking too. If in the area, I'd definitely stop by again.

Pretty nice little spot for the kids to spend some time. It's not very large, so be prepared for…read morethat. Still, we were able to spend a quality couple of hours here and enjoy the time with the kids. A nice little museum with a tree house and some animals that the kids will enjoy. Again, slightly small, but overall a good time.

This museum holds a special place in my heart -- I grew up coming here, and now I bring my own…read more3-year-old. She can spend hours here without a single complaint, which says everything. The indoor exhibits are largely the same as they've always been -- a bit unchanged over the last decade -- but the new outdoor additions have completely breathed new life into the experience. The playground, gravel section, and bubble area are an absolute hit and clearly a favorite for little ones. We now come back 3-4 times a year just for that outdoor space alone. A beloved Bay Area staple that keeps earning return visits. Highly recommend for families with toddlers!

This place is awesome! I've only been twice so far and have already signed up for a membership…read morebecause I can see myself coming here with my family more during the warmer summer months. My 1.5 year old's favorite exhibits are the water/ball area, outdoor bubbles, market stand with the pretend food, and the dancing room. They also have a room that you can rent out for birthday parties, which would be so fun for all the guests!

So much fun! Whether it's a date or family fun, it's so worth it. The lazy river is one of my favs!…read moreHighly recommend!

This is a ride I enjoy to go on during the park. Beware the hours from from 11am to 6pm on most of…read morethe days. It can go to 8pm in the summer months, but it does have a specific opening and closing hours usuall at 11am. The best time to go is usually in the morning or at night when the line is a walk on. In the afternoon, the line can be an hour long easily but that is when it is the hottest. This ride is a hit or miss when getting wet. You get wet the most when people use the geysers to soak you. There is parts where you get bumped hard on the edges and then when you hit the wave you will get wet as well and your shoes soaked. I have not gotton drenched yet on the ride. You do dry off fast which is great. I believe they have dryers for $5 dollars as well.