Best known for its Disney attractions, Anaheim is home to much more than just Disneyland. Visitors to this bustling tourist town will find a wealth of entertainment options and activities.
We all know what’s #1 on the list, but beyond Disneyland, what are the “Must Do” things in Anaheim? We’ve collected and ranked them below: these are the things in Anaheim that everybody must do at least once!
Known as “The Happiest Place on Earth”, Disneyland is by far the most popular attraction in Anaheim, California, and located just 30 miles south of Los Angeles.
Built under the direct supervision of Walt Disney in 1955, it is only surpassed in popularity by one other amusement park — the one it inspired — Disney World in California.
Among the most popular rides and experiences are Space Mountain, It’s a small world, Tomorrowland, and Star Wars: Galaxy Edge, and Main Street, USA.
The city of Anaheim is located in “Orange County” for a reason: the area is famous for citrus and among its most famous landmarks are a Sunkist factory that opened in 1919.
Although Sunkist left long ago, its factory was re-imagined as a culinary destination in 2014 (Anaheim Packing House) and a year later it was added to the National Register of Historic Places as the “Anaheim Orange and Lemon Association Packing House”.
The concept has proven so popular that its grown to encompass a multi-facility area – known as the Anaheim Packing District – that offers a festival-like food experience that belongs on your bucket list.
If it seems odd that the Los Angeles Angels Major League Baseball team plays their games in Anaheim, consider this: the team has also been known as the California Angels (1965 to 1996), Anaheim Angels (1997 to 2004), and were once owned by Disney.
Names have come and gone, but the “The Big A” is a historic Anaheim fixture: it’s the 4th oldest of all active MLB stadiums. Only Fenway Park (Boston), Wrigley Field (Chicago), and Dodger Stadium (LA) are older.
Although they’re no longer “The Mighty Ducks” owned by Disney, the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks were born from 90’s movie fame and seeing them at the Honda Center is worthy of your bucket list.
When the Ducks aren’t playing you might find other “Stars on Ice”: since opening in 2015, the venue has hosted concerts by Elton John, Madonna, Justin Timberlake, The Rolling Stones, and U2.
In the 1920s, long before Disneyland was a twinkle in Walt Disney’s eyes, Knott’s Berry Farm operated a humble berry stand and chicken restaurant on their farm. It’s since evolved to become one of the most popular theme parks in the world with thrill rides, ghost towns, character appearances (like Snoopy), and other cannot-miss experiences.
At the mouth of the Santa Ana river, for which the city of Anaheim was named, sits the 140-acre Yorba Regional Park. It’s not the biggest park in Orange County, but it’s mile long stretch captures the beauty of the Santa Ana River and its historical surroundings.
Yorba is family-friendly park with hundreds of picnic tables and activity spots to enjoy the great outdoors.