Anaheim

Located in Orange County in Southern California, Anaheim attracts visitors from all over the world due to it being home to the Disneyland Resorts. Anaheim is also home to two professional sports teams, the Anaheim Angels and Anaheim Ducks and whether you are a baseball or a hockey fan, this energising experience of being part of the crowd is a whole lot of fun. For those looking to enjoy some Southern California sunshine, large open spaces like Yorba Regional Park crowd and the Oak Canyon Nature Centre will provide you with easy hiking paths. Just a short drive from Anaheim you will find some of the best Californian beaches including Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, Seal Beach and Mothers Beach.

The main attraction when visiting Anaheim is the Disneyland Resort. They call it the 'Happiest place on Earth'. The combination of both the Disneyland Park and the adjacent Disney California Adventure Park create the Disneyland Resort of Anaheim. There is a huge amount of themed lands within the park so it is handy to take a map with you to navigate your way around. Amongst the most popular places to visit within the resort are Tomorrowland, Space Mountain and Star Wars: Galaxy, which features the opportunity to pilot the Millennium Falcon and build your own lightsabre. Disneyland Resort delivers a full range of experiences including iconic characters you will find on the streets including superhero encounters, Disney Princess performances and Pixar pals. No visit to Disneyland is complete without visiting Main Street U.S.A. and taking a picture with the ‘Mickey Floral’ parterre. Disneyland after Dark is another added and separately ticketed experience, featuring a firework display that dreams are made of.

Close to the entrance of the Disneyland Resort, the Anaheim GardenWalk is a pedestrian friendly entertainment district lined with shops and dining experiences. It encompasses 430,000 square acres in the Anaheim resort district with a lot of the top hotels located nearby. The staple of the GardenWalk is the House of Blues, Anaheim featuring its own restaurant and a rotating line up of nationally touring live musical acts. Other fun places to visit include bowling lanes, virtual reality arcades and Latin music nightclubs.

Filled with rollercoasters and waterslides, Knott's Berry Farm has grown into one of the best theme parks in California. In combination with Knott's Soak City water park, Knott's Berry Farm enables multiple days of family fun. Musical shows, ghost towns and unique dining experiences round out the other fun as well as Knott's Summer Night celebrations featuring live music and food trucks. For those who enjoy the thrill rides, Knott's Berry Farm has Montezooma's Revenge and La Revolución as well as the first and only dive coaster in California, HangTime, which has a 96 degree drop. There are family rides including a Calico Mine Ride and Surfside Gliders.

The Anaheim Packing District offers a modern experience with a historical architecture. Encompassing three national historical landmarks, including a former Packard car dealership and a marmalade factory, these areas now offer culinary creations for the public to enjoy. Within the Packing District, Farmers Park is a beautifully landscaped green space and garden with a scenic boardwalk. The showpiece attraction of the Anaheim Packing District is the restored Anaheim Packing House Food Hall, which was once a citrus packing warehouse, it is now one of the most modern food halls in the nation, with tall ceilings and an abundance of natural light.

Angel Stadium is home to the Los Angeles Angels of the American League West, some would argue the happiest place on earth is Angel Stadium, come sundown during a home baseball game. Home games offer a great time for the whole family or casual sports fans and there are public tours of the grounds between March to September.

The Honda Centre is the home to the Anaheim Ducks from the National Hockey League. This indoor stadium is packed full of fun during the hockey season. Outside of hockey games, the Honda Centre also includes other sporting events including professional wrestling and USA basketball.

Yorba Regional Park is a mile long linear park and a popular spot for all types who like to get outdoors with bike paths and four lakes. There are several volleyball nets, playgrounds, horseshoe pits and over 400 picnic tables in this green space. A short drive from Yorba Regional Park, the Oak Canyon Nature Centre links visitors to the natural habitat of Southern California. This 58 acre natural park encompasses the Nature Centre and includes four miles of trails lined with interpretive information.

Housed within the historic downtown district is the Carnegie Library, this Museum and Cultural Centre displays the history and creativity of the region. You will also find regional artworks that rotate throughout the other galleries of the museum. Nearby the Library the Centre Street Promenade is packed with local eateries and boutique shops. Some of the local treasures to look out for include jewellery, fashion labels and chic household décor.

For a fun night out full of jousting, horseback riding and falconry, then head to Medieval Times located in Buena Park just outside Anaheim. This area is full of fun for the whole family, with live period authentic Knights battling for the Queen's honour like in the Medieval Times, providing quite the show to go along with dinner.