ANAHEIM
/ BUENA PARK / ORANGE / FULLERTON
NORTH COUNTY
ANAHEIM Since Walt Disney opened the Disneyland main gate in 1955, families have made the pilgrimage, starting with the yesteryear pleasures of Main Street, U.S.A.; Star Wars now brings epic encounters to Tomorrowland. A mountain range of thrill rides includes Space Mountain, Matterhorn Bobsleds, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain. The park recently marked its 60th anniversary. Guests enter sister park Disney California Adventure along Buena Vista Street, which evokes the era when Walt Disney arrived in Los Angeles; its Carthay Circle Theatre houses an elegant restaurant. Guardians of the Galaxy— Mission: Breakout! is new. The thrills never end at global gliding simulation Soarin’ Around the World and California Screamin’ coaster. World of Color wows nightly with choreographed fountains, lights, lasers, music, film and animation. There’s no admission at adjacent Downtown Disney, a lively promenade lined with
shops, entertainment venues and dining destinations such as Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen and Catal Restaurant and Uva Bar. Eateries range from fast to fancy; none outclasses the Grand Californian Hotel’s Napa Rose. “Eatertainment” destination Anaheim GardenWalk offers more than a dozen eateries including Roy’s Restaurant and Grasslands; nightlife, notably new House of Blues Anaheim; shops including Red Apparel and Harley-Davidson; and attractions such as Mission Escape Games and Go VR Gaming. Acclaimed restaurant and saloon The Ranch is nearby. Honda Center is home to the Anaheim Ducks ice hockey team and L.A. Kiss football team and host to touring acts such as Janet Jackson and Imagine Dragons. American Sports Centers Anaheim, the world’s largest indoor court facility, features 34 volleyball courts that convert into 25 basketball courts. Nearby is the region’s architecturally stunning Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC). At Angel Stadium, “the Big A,” majorleague baseball rules when the
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim play; arena rock acts occasionally invade when the team is away. Anaheim Convention Center’s Grand Plaza is always abuzz. The Anaheim Packing District includes hip shops and restaurants on Center Street Promenade. The historic Anaheim Packing House offers foodie vendors of all kinds, and it’s a smash. Our favorites include Adya for Cal-Indian, Georgia’s for Southern and Hammer Workshop & Bar for cocktails. New MAKE, in a 1919 marmalade factory opposite, adds Unsung Brewing Co. and other beverage vendors. Muzeo is a small museum nearby. Anaheim Ice, training facility for the Anaheim Ducks, is open for public skating.
BUENA PARK Roller coaster, Old West and boysenberry jam enthusiasts flock to Knott’s Berry Farm, a theme park with roots dating back to 1934, when farmers Walter and Cordelia Knott opened a roadside stand selling berries and a diner dishing fried chicken. Diners still feast on drumsticks and berry pie at
Knott’s Chicken Dinner; shoppers stroll California Marketplace, which has a nearby Independence Hall replica (1966). Inside the park is a daunting collection of roller coasters. Xcelerator rockets to 82 mph in 2.3 seconds. GhostRider is one of the world’s longest and tallest wooden coasters. New Sol Spin rotates riders in all directions at once. Less hair-raising are the kiddie rides at Camp Snoopy. Ghost Town recently marked its 75th anniversary. Explore bygone eras without leaving Beach Boulevard. Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament revisits an 11thcentury castle. Audiences cheer jousting knights and pageantry
great find
ANOTHER WORLD Premier virtual-reality arcade Go VR Gaming resembles a calm office setting with spacious cubicles, but its technologically superior 3-D experiences take visitors worlds away. Experiences range from Relax Walk to VR Sports, Catlateral Damage and Drunkn Bar Fight; even just watching players can be fun. Anaheim GardenWalk, 400 Disney Way, Suite 153, Anaheim, 714.829.4189, govrgaming.com
PACKING HOUSE, DALE BERMAN. DISNEYLAND, EDWIN SANTIAGO. BIBBIDI, COURTESY DISNEYLAND RESORT
Long before orange groves and Walt Disney shaped the Anaheim landscape, the region was California’s first wine country, thanks to German immigrants. Now its world-class attractions make it the gateway to endless fun and joyful memories.
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