If you’re planning a vacation to Southern California, one destination you’ll be glad you included is Anaheim. Located just southeast of Los Angeles, every year this sunny city draws millions of visitors eager to visit world-class local attractions, from professional sports venues to live entertainment and top shopping and dining spots. Here are a few of the things to do in Anaheim to keep in mind while you plan your next trip.
Courtesy of Disneyland Resort
Disneyland
Anaheim’s largest attraction by far is the Disneyland Resort. Since opening in 1955, in fact, it’s attracted millions of visitors from across the globe every year. Whether as the centerpiece of your visit or simply a day trip, a stop at Disneyland is a great way for kids and adults alike to experience thrilling rides, great food, premium shopping and plenty of opportunities to make lifelong memories.
Type: Amusement park
Price: Starting from $104
Location: Anaheim, CA 92802
Courtesy of Visit Anaheim
CTR City Anaheim
Palm tree-lined CTR City, or Center City, features a range of attractions, including unique local shops and restaurants and bars. It’s also within walking distance of many of Anaheim’s most popular downtown attractions, making it a great starting point for touring the city on foot.
Type: Food and shopping district
Price: Varying
Location: 201 S Anaheim Blvd #1003, Anaheim, CA 92805
Courtesy of Visit Anaheim
Anaheim Packing House
Just a few minutes walk from CTR City is the Anaheim Packing House, once at the heart of Anaheim’s citrus-growing industry. It’s now home to an expansive food hall featuring nearly 30 artisanal eateries, offering delicious entries ranging from craft beer and soul food to tasty handmade desserts.
Type: Food hall
Price: Varying
Location: 440 S Anaheim Blvd, Anaheim, CA 92805
Courtesy of Visit Anaheim
Flightdeck Flight Simulation Center
If you’ve always wanted to take to the skies but never had the chance, make sure you stop by Flightdeck Rogue Racing Anaheim. Offering fighter jet and Boeing 737 flight simulators and eight motion racing simulators, this is a must-see for aviation enthusiasts eager to build some basic piloting skills in comfort at ground level.
Type: Flight simulation center
Price: Starting from $39
Location: 400 Disney Way Ste 196, Anaheim, CA 92802
Courtesy of Visit Anaheim
Angel Stadium of Anaheim
As the first professional baseball team founded in California, the Los Angeles Angels hold a special place of pride for Anaheim and the surrounding communities. Since 1966, this American League club has made its home in Angel Stadium. If you’re looking for a chance to celebrate the national pastime while visiting Anaheim, pick up a ticket for a game during the regular season from April to October.
Type: Stadium
Price: Varying
Location: 2000 E Gene Autry Way, Anaheim, CA 92806
Courtesy of Visit Anaheim
The Honda Center
For ice hockey fans, no trip to Anaheim is complete without a visit to the Honda Center, also known as “the Pond.” The longtime home of the Disney-owned Anaheim Ducks franchise, you can also catch concerts from world-class musical acts, family entertainment and sports events to suit every taste in this multipurpose arena.
Type: Arena
Price: Varying
Location: 2695 E Katella Ave, Anaheim, CA 92806
Eric Stoner / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Bowers Museum
Opened in 1936, the Bowers Museum’s mission is to celebrate and showcase Anaheim's art and culture. Highlights include paintings from California artists, ceramics and other treasures from Native American and Spanish colonial history and a rotating selection of traveling artifacts from museums around the world.
Type: Art museum
Price: General admission $15
Location: 2002 N Main St, Santa Ana, CA 92706
Courtesy of Visit Anaheim
Anaheim GardenWalk
When the sun’s shining in Anaheim, there’s no better place to spend the day than at the Anaheim GardenWalk, 460,000 square feet of premium shopping, dining and entertainment in the fresh air near the gates of the Disneyland Resort. Aside from the House of Blues, Anaheim, this outdoor leisure district is home to nationally-loved restaurants as well as regional favorites, arcades, bowling, live music, nightclubs and more.
Type: Shopping center
Price: Free entry
Location: 400 Disney Way, Anaheim, CA 92802
Courtesy of Visit Anaheim
Huntington State Beach
When Anaheim locals want to cool off on a summer day, they typically head to Huntington Beach, a 9.5-mile-long stretch of Pacific sand known as the original “Surf City USA.” Aside from excellent surfing and swimming, Huntington Beach offers plenty in the way of art galleries, boutique stores, fine dining and family-friendly entertainment.
Type: Public beach
Price: Free
Location: Huntington Beach, CA 92648
istockphoto.com / yongyuan
Yorba Regional Park
One of the biggest attractions in Anaheim is the Santa Ana River from which the city takes its name. If you’re looking for an outdoor experience while you’re in town, head to Yorba Regional Park. Stretched over 140 acres of pristine riverside scenery, the park includes over 400 picnic tables, 200 barbecue stations, hiking and biking trails, boating and fishing and more.
Type: Public park
Price: Free entry
Location: 7600 E La Palma Ave, Anaheim, CA 92807
Courtesy of Visit Anaheim
Knott's Berry Farm
Knott’s Berry Farm is just a 10-minute drive from downtown Anaheim, making it a favorite destination for local families and visitors. Originally a simple roadside berry stand, today, this is one of California’s most unique and beloved amusement parks, offering everything from thrilling rides to themed areas and family-friendly entertainment.
Type: Amusement park
Price: $99.99
Location: 8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park, CA 90620
AAA / Frank Swanson
Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center
Located in Anaheim’s Carnegie Library, one of the few remaining structures from the old downtown business district, The Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center is a great way to learn about Anaheim's history and art. There, you’ll find a rotating selection of work from local and international modern artists and live music and events throughout the year.
Type: Art museum
Price: $10 general admission
Location: 241 S Anaheim Blvd, Anaheim, CA 92805
Jason Hickey / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
Discovery Cube
If you’re traveling with curious kids, make sure to stop at Discovery Cube, an educational museum featuring over 100 hands-on science exhibits as well as a frequently-changing schedule of special events. Plus, if you live in Southern California, you can apply for a family pass for savings whenever your kids get the urge to explore.
Type: Science museum
Price: $14.95-$19.95
Location: 2519 N Main St, Santa Ana, CA 92705
Tracie Hall / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0
Orange County Zoo
Since 1985, this 8-acre zoo in Irvine Regional Park has been a favorite for travelers looking for a relaxing afternoon or families with curious kids. Residents include Southern California natives like bald eagles, mountain lions, black bears and great horned owls, plus a petting zoo with goats, pot-bellied pigs, chickens and other animals.
Type: Animal exhibits and petting zoo
Price: $2 per person over age 3, free for kids under 2
Location: 1 Irvine Park Rd, Orange, CA 92869
Courtesy of Visit Anaheim
Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center
Anaheim’s transit center, built to a striking modern steel-and-glass design, is a must-shoot for Instagrammers, photographers and those who want to record memories at one of the area’s most distinctive architectural landmarks.
Type: Transit center
Price: Free entry
Location: 2626 E Katella Ave, Anaheim, CA 92806
Courtesy of Visit Anaheim
City National Grove
Since 1998, City National Grove of Anaheim has been a top destination for music lovers. The Art Deco-inspired building seats 1,500 and has hosted such notable acts as Stevie Nicks, Prince and Ray Charles and today features regular appearances from new and established musical and comedy acts.
Type: Concert venue
Price: Varying
Location: 2200 E Katella Ave, Anaheim, CA 92806
Courtesy of Visit Anaheim
The Outlets at Orange
At The Outlets at Orange, more than 120 outlet and value stores carry premium goods from brands like Banana Republic, Levi’s and Saks Fifth Avenue. This open-air shopping center is also home to over two dozen restaurants and cafes, an indoor skate park and an IMAX movie theater.
Type: Shopping
Price: Free entry
Location: 20 City Blvd W, Orange, CA 92868
Courtesy of Visit Anaheim
South Coast Plaza
For a more exclusive shopping experience, the place to go in Anaheim is South Coast Plaza. The largest mall on the West Coast and one of the largest in the United States, South Coast Plaza features over 250 stores carrying luxury brands like Prada and Christian Dior, along with 35 restaurants, galleries, entertainment and the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
Type: Shopping
Price: Free entry
Location: 3333 Bristol St, Pricea Mesa, CA 92626
istockphoto.com / yongyuan
Founders’ Park
Founders’ Park is home to the grand Queen Anne-style Woelke-Stoffel house, completed in 1894 and the Pioneer House of the Mother Colony, one of the first buildings constructed in Anaheim. While there, look for the working water mill and orange grove and other exhibits demonstrating how the city’s founders lived.
Type: Heritage center
Price: Free admission
Location: 400 N West St, Anaheim, CA 92801
Buchanan-Hermit / Wikimedia Commons
Anaheim Ice
If you’re looking for a way to beat the heat during your stay, it’s hard to top Anaheim Ice. This indoor ice rink, housed in a building designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry, hosts adult and youth hockey games and offers public skating at certain hours.
Type: Ice rink
Price: Admission starts from $15
Location: 300 W Lincoln Ave, Anaheim, CA 92805
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