Anaheim: More than Just Disney
Written: Apr 30 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: close to everywhere you want to go in Southern California
Cons: okay, it's the suburbs.
The Bottom Line: People will tell you there is nothing to do here. People lie.
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| naphtalia's Full Review: Anaheim |
People laugh when I tell them that I grew up in Anaheim. After all, the only thing in Anaheim is Disneyland, right? (In fact from my parents' house to the "house of the mouse" was exactly one mile.) Locals, however, can tell you that there is certainly more to Anaheim and the surrounding area - even for tourists - than just Disney.
However, since Disney is the big tourist attraction, lets talk about it. No longer is there just Disneyland and the Disneyland Hotel. Now there is Disneyland, Disney's California Adventure and Downtown Disney. The two Disney theme parks are fun in themselves. On your way to the parks, however, is Downtown Disney. Downtown Disney is free. Here you will find all kinds of shopping including toy stores, candy stores, art galleries, jewelry, cosmetics, clothing...the list goes on and on. There is a multiplex theater here with big comfy seats and popcorn with real butter. There are really excellent restaurants eat featuring a different kind of food. Among those worth mentioning here are Y Arriba, Y Arriba. This is a restaurant which features food from 22 different "Latin" countries. Food can be purchased in "tapas" sized portions so you can have a little of several things. They also have a children's menu. There is also Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen which hosts some of the finest jazz performers around as well as having the best bread pudding in town in a wonderful New Orleans atmosphere.
Before I move away from the topic of restaurants, I should mention a couple of non-Disney associated places worth checking out in Anaheim. First, there's Mr. Stox. They have won numerous awards for their classic and California cuisine There are several dining rooms here each with their own atmosphere. The service is exceptional. Besides the standard daily menu, which is top notch, additional menu planning is done daily by the chef based on the available seasonal ingredients. The wine cellar features 20,000 bottles from all over the world and has received many awards. They bake their own breads and pastries on site. Located at 1105 E. Katella, you may need reservations. Call (714) 634-2994 for reservations or details about the daily specials. This is the very best of what Anaheim has to offer.
The best of the ethnic food here is German. Anaheim's was historically a town settled by German wine growers, and though that's old history, we still have fine German food available. Check out Gustav's Jagerhaus at 2525 East Ball Road. The phone number is (714)520-9500. Entrees include a wide range of schnitzels and sausages as well as more exotic entrees like wild boar, elk, deer and rabbit. This is not a good place for vegetarians, but the rest of the world loves it. They're open breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can get out of there for as little as $5-$7 a person, or you can spend lots of money. The servings are big and hearty and you will not be hungry when you leave.
Okay, just for a moment, back to Downtown Disney. It also has kiosks and carts here where you can have your face painted, your caricature drawn, your hair braided or any number of other attractions. Finally, my favorite part of Down Town Disney are the fountains. There are fountains in pots; fountains in the ground; fountains in planters along the sides. Many of these run through interesting patterns and invite children (and those who are young at heart) to play in them. If you need some special advice on what to do and see, look for the "Anaheim Ambassadors" in the Disney area. These volunteers have trained to be able to help the local police force, and to be guides to the city of Anaheim. They're there to ensure safety and help make trips fun. You can recognize them by their light blue shirts and their pith helmets. (One of them is my dad.)
As I said, however, Anaheim isn't just about Disney. Let me point you to some other places of interest. Featherly Park is a great nature park and has RV facilities if you travel by Winnebago. Located at 24001 Santa Ana Canyon Rd in Anaheim, you can contact the park ahead of your trip by calling (714) 637-0210. This is not a national park, nothing so spectacular as that. Instead, it is a nice quite retreat from the more urbanized world. The Santa Ana River winds through the park's cottonwood and sycamore groves. The park includes a natural riparian wilderness area, areas of planted turf and even many ornamental trees. The park's ampitheater hosts summer campfire programs. There are guided nature walks appropriate for various ages and abilities. For the youngest visitors, there is a play area. This park is also a stopping point for those cyclists who are using the Santa Ana Bicycle Trail which runs from Orange County's border with Riverside County clear to the Pacific Ocean in Huntington Beach. Bet you didn't know that Anaheim had anything like this! That's not all!
If you like golfing, Anaheim has several courses. The Anaheim Hills Golf Course is located at 6501 Nohl Ranch Rd. You can call to make reservations at (714) 765-GOLF. The course is located in Santa Ana Canyon on the site of the old Nohl Ranch. The course has 18 holes set in among the beautiful sycamores and the rolling hills. Anaheim Hills has a country club atmosphere which is how I discovered it when I was in high school. It has a complete pro-shop, a restaurant and a cocktail lounge. There is a 2-tiered, 32-station driving range. Green fees, including a cart are a real deal. Monday through Thursday, it's just $ 40. On weekends and holidays, it's only $50. There are special rates for seniors. Reservations accepted up to one week in advance.
More centrally located is Dad Miller's Golf Course. It's located at 430 N. Gilbert Street (close to Disneyland, in fact). The phone number there is (714) 748-8900. Though carts are available here, this is an easy course to walk, too. It includes a lake and - being Anaheim - lovely mature sycamore trees. The practice center here is the big attraction. It includes a chipping green, a night-lit driving range and practice bunkers. There is a restaurant and snack bar on site. Green fees at Dad Miller's are the best deal in town. Monday through Thursday, it's just $19. Fridays, Saturdays and holidays, it's just $25. Electric carts can be rented for $11. Reservations are accepted up to one week in advance. Of course, these are only the golf courses in Anaheim itself. It doesn't include the many fine courses in the surrounding communities such as Los Coyotes, Eagle Glen, Green River, Hidden Valley and Pelican Hill - just to name a few.
Of course, if you are interested in professional sports, Anaheim has its own baseball team, the Angels at Edison Field and its own hockey team, the Ducks at the Anaheim Pond. Amtrak's station comes right into the parking lot at Edison Field so you don't have to drive if you don't want to.
Step out just beyond Anaheim and into the surrounding communities and you will find there is much more to see and do locally. Looking for museums?
For art, check out the Bower Museum at 2002 Main Street in Santa Ana. Call them at (714) 567-3600 for details about their current exhibits. The museum houses not only a traditional fine arts museum, but a kidsmuseum section that provides a hands-on experience for children. The Kidsmuseum branch is located a block away from the main musuem.
For science, check out the Discovery Science Center at 2500 Main Street in Santa Ana. The Discovery Center has over 100 hands on exhibits, and the staff and volunteers are all really helpful. My favorite exhibits are the earthquake and the 3-D laser exhibits. Call for details at (714) 542-CUBE. It's open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except New Year's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
For surfing (hey, this is Southern California), check out the International Surfing Museum at 411 Olive Street in Huntington Beach. The International Surfing Museum boasts a collections that includes artwork, jewelry, a variety of vintage surfboards, paddleboards, and skateboards. The museum is open during the afternoons either daily in the summer and Wednesday through Sunday for rest of the year.
For general odd stuff, The Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum is located in Buena Park at 7850 Beach Blvd. This whole place is full of strange things from a Last Supper made of toast to dryer lint art. The Ripley's is open from Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.-Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Of course, there are many more things to do around in the areas around Anaheim. Orange County boasts live theater in many venues including the South Coast Repertory theaters in Costa Mesa, the Elizabeth Howard Dinner Theater in Santa Ana, and The Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts in Cerritos. Live music concerts happen in Anaheim at the Duck pond and at Edison Field. There are a number of nightclubs and musical venues throughout the city, too.
I hope this helps if you're planning a trip to Anaheim. I've tried to stay relatively clear of the big tourist attractions in the area that aren't specifically in Anaheim, but don't forget that when you're in Anaheim you're just a hop, skip and a jump from places like Knott's Berry Farm, the Queen Mary, San Juan Capistrano, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Catalina Island, Los Angeles, San Diego, Big Bear and Arrowhead ski areas. A quick ride on Metro Link will take you to downtown Hollywood. Anaheim is a good center for making your trips around Southern California from.
The following travel tips may provide additional assistance.Call (714)550-4636 for Orange County weather information. Tune your radio to KNX 980 AM to get traffic reports. Remember also that rush hour is typically from about 6:30 to 8:00 in the morning and from about 4:00 to 6:00 in the evening on weekdays. If you need to drive somewhere during these times, you may have to arrange extra time for travel. If you have a few days in town and are planning on a trip to the Magic Kingdom, try to go on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. These are generally the least crowded days. During the summer, all bets are off.
I hope this gives you an idea about what to do in Anaheim. For more details on what to do when you visit Anaheim and its surrounding areas, check out http://www.aguidetoanaheim.com. There you will find local attractions and current events. And if you are in Anaheim and see one of the Ambassador's running around, say hi. It might just be my dad.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Families
Best Time to Travel Here: Mar - May
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naphtalia
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 in Restaurants & Gourmet |
 - Top 100 |
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Location: Somewhere in Southern California for Now
Reviews written: 1587
Trusted by: 448 members
About Me:
Just cause you got the monkey off your back doesn't mean the_circus has left town.
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