Anaheim Family Vacation Attractions
CALIFORNIA FAMILY VACATIONS/ Anaheim Attractions
Anaheim, California is probably most famous as the home of
Disneyland,
the first Disney theme park, known around the world as "The Happiest
Place on Earth”, but there is much more family fun to be found in and around this
city in Orange County, California.
Anaheim Resort, Disneyland
313 S. Harbor Blvd
Anaheim, CA
The Happiest Place on Earth" is an enchanted kingdom of fantasy and imagination
filled with family-friendly attractions and entertainment, dining and shopping.
Disneyland Vacations
Disney's California Adventure
Opened on February 8, 2001, Disney's California Adventure occupies about 55 acres of the
original 100 acre Disneyland parking lot. Located immediately to the south of the Magic
Kingdom, this entirely separate gated attraction features all the best of California in
condensed form. The entrance to California Adventure is under a jaunty rendition of the Golden Gate Bridge
flanked by two tiled murals representing California's riches. Disney designers traveled
throughout the state while drafting California Adventure. The result is a celebration of
the brightest and best that California offers (past and present)
The themed areas within include an area representing a seaside resort, complete with a
Boardwalk and "ocean front” amusement park, with a roller coaster, California
Screamin', and other rides, a "Cannery Row" area representing the Monterey area,
something of Tinsel town with the Hollywood Studios backlot, a high desert aviation area
named Condor Flats, an area for agriculture called Bountiful Valley and wine tasting with
the Mondavi family from Napa Valley. Finally, a wilderness area, Redwood Creek, featuring
the symbol for the entire park, Grizzly Peak (it's a rocky outcropping in the shape of a
bear head) which has a white-water rafting adventure. Also included within the park itself
is the Grand Californian Hotel, themed as a wilderness lodge in the architectural style of
the National Parks lodges.
Soarin' Over California in Condor Flats is a favorite. This is a theatre attraction that
lifts each guest 20 degrees up and down. Participants soar, as though on a hang glider,
over the most scenic and exciting places in California, including Yosemite, the Golden
Gate, the Central Valley, the coast, San Diego, Los Angeles and Disneyland, along with
other locales. You can feel the wind in your face, and each guest "glider" moves
and tilts in full compliance with the scenes above, below, and to each side.
Paradise Pier
Paradise Pier is the amusement park section of Disney's California Adventure. On the
surface, it looks like a seaside recreation park from years gone by, but beneath the
veneer are state-of-the-art thrill rides and amusements and midway games along the
boardwalk at the edge of the lagoon. Paradise Pier lights up at night with thousands of
lights and visual effects.
Knott’s Soak City USA
8039 Beach Blvd.
Buena Park
The park is a 10-minute ride north on I-5 from Disneyland. From I-5 or Calif. 91, exit
south onto Beach Boulevard. The park is about half a mile south of Calif. 91.
Open May through September
Orange County’s wildest water adventure park! Thirteen water-logged acres packed with
21 of the most intense water rides, all themed to the surf woodies and longboards of the
1950s Southern California coast.
Knott's Berry Farm Theme Park
8039 Beach Blvd.
714/220-5200
Buena Park. The park is a 10-minute ride north on I-5 from Disneyland. From I-5 or Calif.
91, exit south onto Beach Boulevard. About 1/2 mile south of Calif. 91.
Knott's Berry Farm's hours vary both during the week and week to week, so call ahead. The
park is usually open during the summer daily from 9am to midnight.. Special hours and
prices are in effect during Knott's Scary Farm in late October (a hugely popular event).
Stage shows and special activities are scheduled throughout the day. Pick up a schedule at
the ticket booth.
This park focuses on newer and faster thrill rides that target Southern California youths
and families instead. With 165 fast-paced amusement rides, shows and attractions. Enjoy
Wild West stunt shows, thrilling roller coaster rides, and the children’s favorite:
Camp Snoopy.
Legoland California
This new family theme park is especially meant for children 2-12. Most of the attractions
in the 128-acre park are kid-powered, requiring youngsters to pedal, pull, push or steer
their own way. Of course, the park features the LEGO toys and prominent LEGO constructions
like Miniland, a scaled down replica of five regions of the U.S. made of 20 million LEGO
bricks. There is also the LEGO Mindstorms learning center featuring computer-equipped
facilities utilizing LEGO software. Other attractions include a castle, a roller coaster,
a safari adventure, and several boat rides.
Ripley's "Believe it or Not!" Museum
7850 Beach Blvd, Buena Park
At Ripley's, visitors are challenged by the unique and the bizarre. The museum has
assembled a collection of real-life phenomena and scores of curiosities that are very
strange and also mystifyingly true. Some of the items are even quite beautiful!
The Motts Miniatures Museum & Dollhouse Shop
7900 La Palma Ave.
Buena Park
Just up the street from Knott’s Berry Farm
The museum showcases the History of America in miniature from the Pilgrims to modern
times. Some exhibits are so small that they must be viewed under magnifying glasses. There
are dressed fleas, rice carvings, 350 hand-carved ivory elephants in a bean shell,
portraits of U.S. Presidents on the heads of pins, the world's smallest folding pocket
knife, and more.
Anaheim Indoor Market
1440 S. Anaheim Blvd. The marketplace, Orange County’s largest indoor swap meet, has
more than 200 stores selling merchandise at 50 percent to 70 percent below retail price.
It is open six days a week, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., closed on Tuesdays.
The marketplace has a food court, and shoppers can enjoy mariachi music, 3-5 p.m.
Saturdays, and live concerts, 1-4 p.m. Sundays.
Believe it or not, you can also watch professional wrestling in the marketplace’s
back lot arena, 1-4 p.m. Sundays.
Call: (714) 999-0888.
Anaheim Museum
241 S. Anaheim Blvd.
714-778-3301
10 a.m.-4 Wednesday-Friday; noon-4 Saturday, and by appointment Sunday-Tuesday.
The Anaheim Museum houses a combination of history, culture, and art in its 1908 building.
Children can visit the Communications Room for interactive activities. The Anaheim Room
has displays of pictures and tools essential to Anaheim’s settlers.
The Farmers Market and Crafts Fair, at Center
Street Promenade and Lemon Street. Every Thursday 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the Farmers Market
features more than 60 vendors selling fruit, vegetables, baked goods, flowers and
craftwork.
Call: (714) 956-3586.
Hobby City
1238 S. Beach Blvd.
Families can enjoy 10 acres of hobby, craft and collector shops. A half-scale replica of
the White House offers rare dolls and toys. Hobby City also has a theme park called
Adventure City, where children can enjoy rides, face painting and puppet shows.
Aquarium of the Pacific
100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach
(Los Angeles County)
(562) 590-3100.
This internationally renowned aquarium creatively examines the treasures of the Pacific
Ocean, the planet's largest, most diverse body of water. The Aquarium of the Pacific
explores three regions of the Pacific Ocean: the Southern California/Baja Pacific, the
Northern Pacific, and the Tropical Pacific. The aquarium features futuristic design and
technology.
Discovery Science Center
This 59,000-square-foot facility is filled with fun, hands-on exhibits for children and
adults. Visitors can experience an earthquake in the "Shake Shack," lie on a bed
of 3,500 nails, walk through a tornado, engage in live science demonstrations, watch a 3-D
laser show and more.
Universal Studios
Located in Universal City, Hollywood, about a 40 minute drive northwest of Anaheim
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City
Hours fluctuate seasonally. Open everyday except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Universal Studios Hollywood, the world's largest movie studio and theme park, allows
guests an exhilarating opportunity to experience a genuine working movie studio through
their thrill rides, one-of-a-kind attractions and live shows based on movies actually
filmed at its fully functioning movie studio.
Themed rides and shows propel the visitor into the exciting worlds of their favorite
movies. Among these are the new rock n’ roll Spider-Man Rocks, the popular Mummy
Returns: Chamber of Doom or the monster plunge of Jurassic Park: The Ride, plus more
attractions and shows.
Disneyland Vacations
back to California Vacations
back to Anaheim Vacations
Discuss Anaheim in our Travel Forums