Guidebook for Anaheim
Food Scene
Stefano's Golden Baked Hams
18220 Yorba Linda BlvdThe paninis are great. Try the ham and swiss.
This pizza is amazing. Try the Milan. Its a really nice place to sit and enjoy an evening on their back patio.
8 residents recomanen
Wise Guys Pizzeria
7606 E Chapman AveThis pizza is amazing. Try the Milan. Its a really nice place to sit and enjoy an evening on their back patio.
Entertainment & Activities
Very close (walking distance) and good activity to get the kids energy out. They have toddler hour for $5, but its not advertised well on their site. The entire place is usually empty and its a massive private trampoline park.
39 residents recomanen
Sky Zone Trampoline Park
1301 Kellogg DrVery close (walking distance) and good activity to get the kids energy out. They have toddler hour for $5, but its not advertised well on their site. The entire place is usually empty and its a massive private trampoline park.
If you are looking for a fun adventure without the cost of actually going to the park, you could go to downtown disney and just watch the nightly fireworks! The exact time of the show varies between 2 different times depending on what time of year it is, but you can easily find that info online.
3085 residents recomanen
Disneyland Park
1313 Disneyland DrIf you are looking for a fun adventure without the cost of actually going to the park, you could go to downtown disney and just watch the nightly fireworks! The exact time of the show varies between 2 different times depending on what time of year it is, but you can easily find that info online.
This free science center is world class. Its difficult to do a science center better than this. Jets, Aquarium, Space artifacts, space shuttle ect. You can take the train into LA and incorporate it into your LA experience. It is also next door to the LA Natural History Museum... world class in its own right.
442 residents recomanen
California Science Center
700 Exposition Park DrThis free science center is world class. Its difficult to do a science center better than this. Jets, Aquarium, Space artifacts, space shuttle ect. You can take the train into LA and incorporate it into your LA experience. It is also next door to the LA Natural History Museum... world class in its own right.
This is the most well known children's museum in Orange County. We were members for 2 years. My kids frequently ask me to go back.
159 residents recomanen
Discovery Cube Orange County
2500 N Main StThis is the most well known children's museum in Orange County. We were members for 2 years. My kids frequently ask me to go back.
If you like planes, than this is your place. Extensive collection of flyable WW2 planes and beyond. Once a month they feature different speakers (REALLY interesting speakers) on the planes and they do a demo flight. They still have WW2 combat vets hanging around.
18 residents recomanen
Museu Aeri Planes of Fame
14998 Cal Aero DriveIf you like planes, than this is your place. Extensive collection of flyable WW2 planes and beyond. Once a month they feature different speakers (REALLY interesting speakers) on the planes and they do a demo flight. They still have WW2 combat vets hanging around.
A fun experience for the kids. Depending on the time of year, they always have some sort of pick your own fruits/vegetables going on. Strawberries in spring, pumpkins in fall, christmas trees in winter...
16 residents recomanen
Tanaka Farms
5380 3/4 University DrA fun experience for the kids. Depending on the time of year, they always have some sort of pick your own fruits/vegetables going on. Strawberries in spring, pumpkins in fall, christmas trees in winter...
I would STRONGLY recommend a game here over dodger stadium if looking for a baseball game. The dodger crowd is a bit...rougher...around the edges. When I was a kid, I would have said the opposite. The peanut guy that worked there for 20+ years who could throw it behind his back with his eyes closed in your lap every time, vin's voice on the radio and the live organ player. Those things are unfortunately a thing of the past and in recent times I have never been to a game where I wasn't sitting next to a rowdy drunk person and feeling very uncomfortable with my kids. Angels draws a different demographic. This is a very family friendly park.
478 residents recomanen
Estadi Angel de Anaheim
2000 E Gene Autry WayI would STRONGLY recommend a game here over dodger stadium if looking for a baseball game. The dodger crowd is a bit...rougher...around the edges. When I was a kid, I would have said the opposite. The peanut guy that worked there for 20+ years who could throw it behind his back with his eyes closed in your lap every time, vin's voice on the radio and the live organ player. Those things are unfortunately a thing of the past and in recent times I have never been to a game where I wasn't sitting next to a rowdy drunk person and feeling very uncomfortable with my kids. Angels draws a different demographic. This is a very family friendly park.
Parks & Nature
Hike to a waterfall. Check to see if it is flowing prior because is weather dependent. Recent Yelp reviews are good for this. Only manage with kids if you don't mind, and are physically able, to carry them the whole way. My family manages fine with a 4 and 2 year old at the time, but not for everybody. It is amazing though.
Fish Canyon Falls Trailhead
3901-3929 Fish Canyon RoadHike to a waterfall. Check to see if it is flowing prior because is weather dependent. Recent Yelp reviews are good for this. Only manage with kids if you don't mind, and are physically able, to carry them the whole way. My family manages fine with a 4 and 2 year old at the time, but not for everybody. It is amazing though.
Whale Watching! Don't pay list, groupon or coupon price. You can find it easy for $10 per person and they operate under several different names...each with their own pricing structure. They are slightly sleazy, but it will be a great time. I promise.
27 residents recomanen
Davey's Locker Whale Watching & Sportfishing
400 Main StWhale Watching! Don't pay list, groupon or coupon price. You can find it easy for $10 per person and they operate under several different names...each with their own pricing structure. They are slightly sleazy, but it will be a great time. I promise.
This is the best beach for families and is the perfect combination between a beautiful natural beach and a touristy beach. Smaller waves, fire pits and the children can explore "pirates cove"...a little tiny beach you have to hike over some rocks to get to. Kids will LOVE it.
96 residents recomanen
Corona Del Mar
This is the best beach for families and is the perfect combination between a beautiful natural beach and a touristy beach. Smaller waves, fire pits and the children can explore "pirates cove"...a little tiny beach you have to hike over some rocks to get to. Kids will LOVE it.
This is more of a pristine beach where you can see and explore the tidepools! Check the tide times for when low tide is when you visit. Not as playable as corona del mar... it has many rocks in the sand which makes digging a bit harder. You are however likely to find many unusual creatures both... dead and alive!
101 residents recomanen
Crystal Cove
This is more of a pristine beach where you can see and explore the tidepools! Check the tide times for when low tide is when you visit. Not as playable as corona del mar... it has many rocks in the sand which makes digging a bit harder. You are however likely to find many unusual creatures both... dead and alive!
This park has Play Island which is a replica 1770's Boston village with play equipment inside the structures. This is a destination playground and really fun for the little ones! Visited and commemorated by George H.W. Bush. Combine this adventure with a visit to the Cerritos Library, which, in my opinion is the best childrens library in OC (t-rex, aquarium, light house ect)
Heritage Park station
This park has Play Island which is a replica 1770's Boston village with play equipment inside the structures. This is a destination playground and really fun for the little ones! Visited and commemorated by George H.W. Bush. Combine this adventure with a visit to the Cerritos Library, which, in my opinion is the best childrens library in OC (t-rex, aquarium, light house ect)
Get off the beaten path. Go explore a cinder cone volcano. You can park directly on the volcano itself. This is NOT a typical tourist destination and you will be only a handful of people there. Go in the crater...roll a tire down the side. Bring a headlight and some kneepads because there are over 100 lava tube caves to explore. Kid friendly. I have a map which is super helpful because the caves can be VERY hard to find! In one of my trips, I ran into somebody from JPL who was mapping the caves and he was kind enough to send me all of the locations. On the way there, you can stop and see the San Andreas Fault. Again, ask for help here.
Pisgah Crater
Get off the beaten path. Go explore a cinder cone volcano. You can park directly on the volcano itself. This is NOT a typical tourist destination and you will be only a handful of people there. Go in the crater...roll a tire down the side. Bring a headlight and some kneepads because there are over 100 lava tube caves to explore. Kid friendly. I have a map which is super helpful because the caves can be VERY hard to find! In one of my trips, I ran into somebody from JPL who was mapping the caves and he was kind enough to send me all of the locations. On the way there, you can stop and see the San Andreas Fault. Again, ask for help here.
Its a drive and a half, but it makes for a really great full day trip. Get (fake) lost in the white tank granite which has been uniquely shaped by wind and sand. Still the most fun game of hide and seek I have played with my kids. I have pictures I can send to convince you. If you stay past sundown, this is the closest place to where we live where you can REALLY see stars. Look at a light pollution map and you will understand. I have a large refracting telescope that you can rent from me if you want to bring it out with you. Check the weather and make sure it is not going to be too hot.
1713 residents recomanen
Parc Nacional de Joshua Tree
Its a drive and a half, but it makes for a really great full day trip. Get (fake) lost in the white tank granite which has been uniquely shaped by wind and sand. Still the most fun game of hide and seek I have played with my kids. I have pictures I can send to convince you. If you stay past sundown, this is the closest place to where we live where you can REALLY see stars. Look at a light pollution map and you will understand. I have a large refracting telescope that you can rent from me if you want to bring it out with you. Check the weather and make sure it is not going to be too hot.
"Mt. San Antonio" (WAY more commonly called Mt Baldy here) is the quintessential mountain hike for southern Californians. It is the highest mountain in the San Gabriel Mountian Range and dominates our skyline. Ice House Canyon is not suitable for kids...well...to completion anyway. Its more than fine to take them up and hike in a little bit. Its beautiful. If hiking and there has been any snow recently, you need to use extreme caution. Regularly people die when there is hardly any snow on the mountain (several per week at times) because the snow melts, then refreezes, and makes a hard to spot and slippery ice near dangerous cliffs. Use common sense and respect ice and its a safe trail.
Ice House Canyon Trail
Ice House Canyon Trail"Mt. San Antonio" (WAY more commonly called Mt Baldy here) is the quintessential mountain hike for southern Californians. It is the highest mountain in the San Gabriel Mountian Range and dominates our skyline. Ice House Canyon is not suitable for kids...well...to completion anyway. Its more than fine to take them up and hike in a little bit. Its beautiful. If hiking and there has been any snow recently, you need to use extreme caution. Regularly people die when there is hardly any snow on the mountain (several per week at times) because the snow melts, then refreezes, and makes a hard to spot and slippery ice near dangerous cliffs. Use common sense and respect ice and its a safe trail.
Arts & Culture
They have recently renovated the museum and it is really world class. This is definitely worth a trip since you are just right down the street.
77 residents recomanen
The Richard Nixon Library & Museum
18001 Yorba Linda BlvdThey have recently renovated the museum and it is really world class. This is definitely worth a trip since you are just right down the street.
A very good collection. I personally go simply for the Van Gogh pieces. They are amazing and I am always shocked how the prints dont do them justice. They are a bit more stuffy than some other art museums.
485 residents recomanen
Museu Norton Simon
411 W Colorado BlvdA very good collection. I personally go simply for the Van Gogh pieces. They are amazing and I am always shocked how the prints dont do them justice. They are a bit more stuffy than some other art museums.
Getting Around
They are very cheap and close. I have used them before and was happy ($).
10 residents recomanen
Budget Car Rental
1100 Frank Andrews BoulevardThey are very cheap and close. I have used them before and was happy ($).
Take the Metrolink train down to Oceanside. On the weekends, a day pass is $10. It is one of the most beautiful train rides in the country and goes RIGHT by the water. Hop off at the San Juan Capistrano Station and see the San Juan Capistrano mission and ZooMars petting zoo (walking distance) and then complete the trip by getting off at one of the stops right at the water.
Anaheim Canyon Station
1039 N PacifiCenter DrTake the Metrolink train down to Oceanside. On the weekends, a day pass is $10. It is one of the most beautiful train rides in the country and goes RIGHT by the water. Hop off at the San Juan Capistrano Station and see the San Juan Capistrano mission and ZooMars petting zoo (walking distance) and then complete the trip by getting off at one of the stops right at the water.
This is not as close as the Anaheim Canyon Station, but it is the closest major transportation hub. Think like a major cities union station, but without the "I dont feel safe here" feeling. Its brand new, clean and not used that much. You can see it for miles with is very large (and lit) glass structure.
32 residents recomanen
Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center station
2626 E Katella AveThis is not as close as the Anaheim Canyon Station, but it is the closest major transportation hub. Think like a major cities union station, but without the "I dont feel safe here" feeling. Its brand new, clean and not used that much. You can see it for miles with is very large (and lit) glass structure.
A few steps away from the condo. Use this route to get basically anywhere you want. We are more or less on a checkerboard grid with buses running on all the major streets. Its pretty easy to navigate. $5 for a day pass for all OCTA buses (Orange County). The buses in this area are absent of shady characters and the kids and I take adventures on them all the time.
OCTA Bus #30 Eastbound station
A few steps away from the condo. Use this route to get basically anywhere you want. We are more or less on a checkerboard grid with buses running on all the major streets. Its pretty easy to navigate. $5 for a day pass for all OCTA buses (Orange County). The buses in this area are absent of shady characters and the kids and I take adventures on them all the time.