O.C. FAMILY : The Little Theme Park That Could : Even small fry can handle the rides at Anaheim’s Adventure City, and the low price gives parents a thrill.

No place proves that big things come in small packages better than Adventure City.

Since 1994, the small, family-owned and -operated amusement park has carved out a niche in the crowded Southern California theme park market by offering a mix of pint-sized rides and attractions that’s a hit with younger children and adored by budget-minded parents.

Packed into a 2 1/2-acre site along Beach Boulevard that straddles the boundary of Stanton and Anaheim, the little theme park is an outgrowth of Hobby City, a 40-year-old, 10-acre retail center (owned by the same family) that features 20 specialty shops that cater to hobbyists and collectors of all kinds.

One of the biggest attractions at Adventure City is the cost. Even though the park recently raised its basic price from $10.95--there used to be a $4.95 admission for those who were not going to ride rides--to $11.95 per person, it’s still roughly one-third the price of other Southland theme parks, and that makes it a parent-pleasing bargain.

It also has shorter lines than the big parks and free parking.

“It’s a great value,” said Azi Noghdi, who recently spent a day at the park with her 1 1/2-year-old son. “And you don’t have to wait in line for hours so the kids don’t get bored.”

Other parents appreciate the park’s smaller, more manageable size.

“You don’t have to spend the entire day here. The kids can pretty much have the run of the place and enjoy everything in the park,” said Nelline Ketchum of Long Beach.

Others are won over by the gentleness of the attractions and the safe, nonthreatening environment.

“A lot of the other parks are too scary for younger children. The size and noise, the characters, can be really overwhelming. This is more relaxed, and I think the kids feel safer and more secure,” said Michelle Rodiger of Costa Mesa.

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Billed as “The Little Theme Park Just for Kids,” Adventure City is a miniature metropolis, where youngsters can play in a firehouse, police station, train depot, airport and farm.

Each area has at least one Munchkin-sized ride that offers thrills for little ones but can accommodate parents who want to share in the fun.

Among the 11 rides are the Adventure City train, a miniature replica of a 1938 steam engine; a ride in which youngsters can “pilot” airplanes; a “Crazy Bus” ride; and “hot-air balloons” that careen 25 feet in the air.

On the ground, youngsters can scale the 24-foot Mt. Adventurous climbing tower, which rewards them with a cacophony of sirens and bells when they reach the top.

On the popular 911 ride, kids are invited to dress in firefighter gear and drive trucks.

There’s also a carousel built in 1946, a kid-powered crank-n-roll train and a miniature Ferris wheel.

For the more adventurous, there are two small-but-peppy roller coasters: the Freeway Express and the park’s newest attraction, the Treetop Racers, a painstakingly restored 1950s “wild mouse” style ride that opened in July. (In wild-mouse coasters, passengers ride in independent cars rather than the usual train of attached cars.)

Other attractions include a Thomas the Tank Engine play area; a petting farm with sheep, goats, chickens and other gentle critters; a theater with regularly scheduled puppet and magic shows; face-painting; and a games arcade.

There’s also a party room: The park offers birthday packages with all the trimmings, including cake, entertainment, rides and shows.

Between rides and shows, guests can stroll next door to Hobby City, where, for an additional $1 to $2, they can tour the Doll and Toy Museum, housed in a half-scale replica of the White House.

Home to more than 6,000 rare and vintage dolls and toys, the museum houses one of the biggest private collections in the world, including intricately crafted wax dolls from wartime England and vintage 19th century porcelain dolls, as well as extensive collections of Barbies, kewpies and GI Joes.

At Walker 47, a shop popular with historical re-creationists, patrons can buy authentic Old West clothing and military uniforms, hats, leather goods and handcrafted replicas of muskets and other historic weapons and knives.

Another shop features plastic model kits of every kind and all types of modeling accessories and tools. The store also stocks a huge selection of collectible toy airplanes and scale replicas of cars, rare and vintage Hot Wheels cars, flying model rockets, and electric train sets and accessories.

Across the way, the sports-card shop offers baseball, football, basketball and other cards including Pokemons.

The mall is also home to Orange County’s largest gem and mineral store, where collectors can find opals, jewelry, fine mineral specimens, geodes and unmounted precious and semiprecious gems.

The American Indian store specializes in Native American crafts and collectibles, as well as leather-craft kits and accessories, beads, feathers, headdresses, clothing, moccasins, basketry, Kachina dolls and more.

Throughout the mall, patrons can shop for collectible bears, Beanie Babies, miniatures, stamps and coins, Cabbage Patch dolls and their accessories, hand-stitched clothing, arts and craft supplies, and even lizards, snakes and other exotic pets.

What you won’t find are the usual promotional T-shirts.

“We didn’t want to create a swap meet atmosphere,” said Adventure City President Allan Ansdell Jr., the grandson of Hobby City founders, Bea and Jay DeArmond.

“We’re extremely sensitive about making the park too commercialized. People appreciate that we’re a little bit more down to earth.”

Ansdell is wary that too much expansion could spoil the niche they’ve created.

“Disney has its Fantasyland and Knott’s has Camp Snoopy. We wanted to create a themed environment that was on the same level, designed just for kids. That’s basically what Legoland has done, but being a major park, they’re forced to keep their prices in the $25-to-$35 range to stay competitive.

“We’re providing entertainment for families with young kids at an affordable price. If you’re too big, you just can’t do that,” he said.

Adventure City is at 10120 S. Beach Blvd., Anaheim. Open today, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Beginning Monday, hours are Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; closed Monday-Thursday. $11.95; $8.95 for seniors. Free parking. (714) 236-9300.