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Anaheim is one of California’s best-loved tourist destinations thanks to its renowned Disneyland Resort, which attracts millions of visitors each year. It also has a host of other fantastic attractions, including the famed Anaheim Convention Center and a variety of popular sporting and entertainment venues. If you’re looking for fun things to do in Anaheim, let this list inspire you.
1. Visit the City’s Theme Parks
There are three popular theme parks to enjoy in Anaheim, and each one has its own unique style and atmosphere.
Disneyland Resort
Walt Disney’s original Disneyland Park opened in Anaheim in 1955, and it continues to be the “Happiest Place on Earth” for Disney fans of all ages. The park has expanded over the years and now encompasses Disney California Adventure Park, a smaller amusement park with bigger and more thrilling rollercoasters. There’s also the Downtown Disney District to enjoy, which is an unticketed area on the Disneyland Resort where you can enjoy Disney-themed restaurants, stores, cafes, and entertainment venues.
Knott’s Berry Farm
Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park began life as a berry stand at the side of the road and has evolved into a huge Halloween theme park over the last 100 years. Fun rollercoasters and entertaining shows are set across four themed areas: Old West Ghost Town, Fiesta Village, The Boardwalk, and High Sierras. Don’t miss out on Knott’s Soak City Waterpark, which is the perfect place to stay cool on a hot day.
Adventure City
Adventure City is an affordable theme park with 17 rides that are perfect for younger children. It features North America’s first forward and reversing shuttle rollercoaster, which is suitable for the whole family. Plus, it has a miniature train and a petting farm where the kids can hang out with friendly animals.
2. Explore Anaheim’s Downtown
Anaheim’s historic downtown area has attractive heritage architecture that has been revitalized and given a new lease of life. Anaheim Packing District is a series of former commercial buildings that have been transformed into stores, eateries, breweries, and bars.
The star is Anaheim Packing House, a former citrus-packing warehouse turned gourmet food hall that hosts live music on the weekends. The MAKE Building is just across the street from the Packing House and is home to many independent food and drink producers.
3. Visit Craft Breweries on the La Palma Beer Trail
Orange County has a fantastic reputation for craft beer, and a visit to Anaheim wouldn’t be complete without a tour of the area’s best breweries. The La Palma Beer Trail is a five-mile strip where 12 of Anaheim’s 19 breweries operate. Spend a lazy afternoon or evening wandering along the avenue to sample a wide range of tasty IPAs and lagers.
4. Catch Live Music Events at Anaheim’s Concert Halls
Anaheim has excellent nightlife, and it boasts some of Southern California’s best live music venues.
House of Blues at the Anaheim GardenWalk hosts world-class musicians while serving up delicious food and drink. City National Grove of Anaheim is a versatile venue that hosts 250 performances yearly, with past acts including Bob Dylan and B.B. King. Pearson Park Amphitheatre is an open-air venue that hosts free concerts in the summer, and they never fail to have a warm, friendly atmosphere.
5. Watch Sports at Angel Stadium and the Honda Center
The Angel Stadium of Anaheim and the Honda Center are famed sporting venues that draw thousands of visitors to Anaheim. The Los Angeles Angels call the Angel Stadium home, and you can get fascinating insights into Major League Baseball when you take a behind-the-scenes tour of the stadium. The Honda Center is home to the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks, but it also hosts a range of other sporting events and live performances.
6. Admire Marine Life at the Aquarium of the Pacific
The Aquarium of the Pacific is a 30-minute drive from Anaheim Resort and is well worth the journey since it’s one of the biggest aquariums in the USA. More than 500 animal species live here, including penguins, sea turtles, sea lions, stingrays, and sharks.
7. Pilot a Plane with a Flight Simulator
Flightdeck Flight Simulation Center at Anaheim GardenWalk is a fun, family-friendly attraction that lets you take to the skies via state-of-the-art virtual technology. Try your hand at manning a Boeing 737, or become a fighter pilot and engage in air-to-air combat.
8. Tire the Kids Out at Seascape Kids Fun Park
If you’re ready for a break from all things Disney, take the kids to Seascape Kids Fun Park to burn off some steam. Despite its relatively small size, this park is packed with fun things to do, including foam pits, slides, bouncy houses, playhouses, an obstacle course, and a climbing wall.
9. Tee Off at Camelot Golfland
Camelot Golfland is the largest miniature golf course in the US. The course is divided into themed areas which include a safari, a jungle, and a medieval castle. There’s also laser tag, bumper boats, and race cars to try, as well as a video game arcade and a pizza restaurant. This is a great attraction for the whole family to enjoy.
10. Hike or Bike in California Countryside
America has many fantastic parks and natural spaces to enjoy, and Anaheim is no different. If you’re looking for outdoor activities, consider visiting one of these natural attractions.
Yorba Regional Park
Yorba Regional Park is 140 acres of beautiful landscape that lies alongside the Santa Ana River in the Anaheim Hills. There are extensive paved trails to walk or bike, and they connect with the Santa Ana River Trail, which leads all the way to the Pacific Ocean if you’re prepared to make the 20-mile ride. There’s an onsite bicycle rental shop, volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, a series of playgrounds, and hundreds of picnic tables dotted across the park.
Oak Canyon Nature Center
At just 58 acres, Oak Canyon Nature Center is a relatively small natural park, but it’s undoubtedly beautiful. Its hiking trails traverse oak woodlands and coastal sage scrub, and there’s lots of wildlife to be spotted. The J. Collier Interpretive Center is a small onsite museum with natural history exhibits and live animals, and it’s the perfect place for kids to learn more about Southern California’s native wildlife.
Joshua Tree National Park
It takes around two hours to reach Joshua Tree National Park from Anaheim, but this day trip is worthwhile to see incredible desert vistas and wild rocky landscapes. There are many short, easy hiking trails, such as the Hidden Valley Loop or the Arch Rock Nature Trail. Visit Cholla Cactus Garden to see incredible human-sized cacti.
11. Eat Local at the Downtown Farmers Market
Downtown Anaheim Certified Farmers Market has been running every Thursday for almost two decades. You can pick up more than just fresh produce at this open-air venue. Vendors offer made-to-order freshly cooked food, flowers, plants, handmade crafts, clothing, and leather goods. There are also some lovely boutique stores and restaurants surrounding the market at its home in Center Street Promenade.
12. Spend a Day at the Beach
Anaheim is landlocked and doesn’t have any beaches of its own, but it’s a short drive to some fantastic seaside towns with glorious golden sands.
Huntington Beach
Huntington is a 30-minute drive south of Anaheim and is known by locals as ‘Surf City.’ If surfing isn’t your bag, you can lounge on the beach, swim, snorkel, or take a stroll along the 1,850-foot-long pier that provides incredible views of the ocean and coastline.
Newport Beach
Newport Beach is a sophisticated, affluent coastal town with a beautiful waterfront. In addition to hanging out on the beach, you can enjoy fine dining in the gourmet restaurants here or take an indulgent sunset cruise on a luxury yacht.
13. Treat Yourself to a Shopping Trip
Orange County is known for having fantastic shopping centers and malls, so you have lots of options when you want to embark on some retail therapy. South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa has over 250 stores and restaurants, and you can find many luxury brands here, including Cartier, Hermès, and Gucci. Outlets at Orange has 120 outlet stores, a spa, a movie theater, and a skate park.
Anaheim Garden Walk is a huge multi-level shopping center at the heart of Anaheim, and you’ll find many of your favorite brand names here. Fashion Island is an open-air mall with a mix of specialty stores, department stores, and restaurants. Fashion shows, concerts, and events for children take place here throughout the year.
14. Discover Orange County History at the Carnegie Building
The Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center is a must-visit attraction for fans of history, but its seasonal exhibits have entry fees. The Carnegie Gallery portion of the center, which is housed in the historic Carnegie Library, is permanently free. The exhibit lets you walk through local history and see a range of fascinating artifacts, including Native American jewelry, 19th-century farming tools, and vintage Disneyland memorabilia.
15. Road Trip Through Southern California
Anaheim is conveniently located to help you explore Southern California while returning to a central base each night. Here are three road trips to consider:
Los Angeles
LA is just 26 miles away, so it’s easy to swing by the famous Hollywood sign when you visit Anaheim. There are lots of fantastic attractions in Los Angeles. Get behind-the-scenes movie insights at Universal Studios, walk the canals and boardwalk at Venice Beach, see incredible art at the Getty Center, or walk the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard.
Catalina Island
Take a ferry from Newport Beach or Long Beach to Catalina Island, a beautifully rugged haven with fabulous beaches and stunning views. You can easily spend the day here taking in the charming town or kayaking in the pristine waters.
San Diego
It takes around 90 minutes to reach San Diego, which is a huge city packed with sights. There’s San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, and Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve to explore. Plus, the city lies just 30 minutes away from the US-Mexico border, which means it has some of the best Mexican food in America.
16. Ice Skate at the Anaheim Ducks’ Training Rink
The Rinks is a popular indoor ice rink that the Anaheim Ducks often use for training. No matter if you’re a seasoned ice skater or brand new to the sport, public skating sessions here are lots of fun. If you’d rather watch the experts, look out for hockey games, which take place several times each week.
Plan Your Anaheim Activities
There are plenty of exciting things to do in Anaheim, but the tricky part is deciding which activities to squeeze into your getaway. What will you get up to next time you visit this region of Southern California?
