Orange County family guide

Things to Do in Anaheim with Kids

Yes, Anaheim means Disneyland, but families who live here know the city stretches well beyond the resort. The Anaheim Packing District is a fun food-hall stop, Adventure City offers a low-key amusement park for younger kids, and Yorba Regional Park nearby is a local picnic favorite.

Curated by Simir Shah

Reviewed & updated June 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.

📍 Where Anaheim is

Anaheim sits in Orange County, Southern California. Nearest major airport: John Wayne / Orange County (~11 mi / 18 km). It's roughly 24 mi (39 km) from Downtown LA and 89 mi (143 km) from San Diego — SoCal traffic can make a drive take far longer than the distance suggests, so plan around it.

Visiting? See SoCal at a glance, getting around and which airport.

💡 Local tip: Skip resort-area parking fees by parking near the Packing District for non-Disney days.

Things to do in Anaheim

Theme Parks & Rides

Disneyland Resort

The big one. Pricey, magical, and exhausting in the best way — best saved for a special day with an early start and good shoes.

~$104+/person/day

Theme Parks & Rides

Adventure City

A tiny theme park built for ages 2–8: gentle coasters, a petting farm, and a play maze — all the magic, none of the overwhelm.

Farmers markets in Anaheim

Thursday · 11am–3pm

Downtown Anaheim Certified Farmers' Market

On the Center Street Promenade with produce, food trucks, and live music; shifts to evenings in summer.

Friday · 9am–2pm

Kaiser Permanente Anaheim Certified Farmers' Market

Convenient weekday market with fresh produce and prepared foods.

See all SoCal farmers markets →

Local restaurants in Anaheim

Pizza & Italian

Stadium Pepz Pizza

Family-owned pizza-and-wings spot with casual family dining.

Mexican & Tacos

VIP Tacos

Authentic taqueria since 1980 with handmade tortillas and house chorizo.

Mexican & Tacos

Sabrosada Fresh Mexican Food

Family-owned since 1995 serving fresh Mexican classics in a casual setting.

Mexican & Tacos

Taqueria De Anda

Beloved OC taco shop (SoCal-only) known for cheap, authentic street tacos.

Comfort & BBQ

Georgia's Restaurant

SoCal-born soul-food spot at the Packing House with Creole-inspired plates.

Pizza & Italian

Out of the Park Pizza

Baseball-themed local pizza, wings, and salad — an easy casual family stop.

Sweets & Treats

Hans' Homemade Ice Cream

Old-time parlor since 1972 making every flavor in-house, a nostalgic OC family destination.

See all local SoCal restaurants →

Local shops in Anaheim

Makers & Local Goods

SEED People's Market

Packing House boutique blending home goods and artisanal products from local makers.

Makers & Local Goods

Eco Now

Sustainability-focused shop and artisan community selling eco-friendly, zero-waste goods.

Books & Stationery

The Untold Story Bookstore & Cafe

Independent bookstore and cafe built as a community hub, opened 2024.

Vintage & Thrift

RARE

Curated boutique-style thrift on Center Street Promenade with clothing, purses, and records.

Makers & Local Goods

Okayama Kobo

Bakery-maker that chose Anaheim for its first shop outside Japan, using Hokkaido flour.

See all local SoCal shops →

Seasonal & outdoors near Anaheim

The closest splash pads, patches, lights and more — distances from Anaheim.

Splash pad · 2 miLemon Park Splash Pad Toddler spot · 2 miBilly Beez — Anaheim July 4th fireworks · 2 miDisneyland 'Celebrate America' Fireworks Dog-friendly · 3 miBootlegger's Brewery Christmas lights · 4 miSparkle Ball Lane Birthday venue · 5 miJohn's Incredible Pizza Pumpkin patch · 6 miEnchanted Country Pumpkins Photo spot · 13 miHuntington Beach Pier

More Orange County family guides

Newport Beach →San Clemente →Orange →Irvine →Costa Mesa →Mission Viejo →Huntington Beach →Laguna Beach →Santa Ana →Fullerton →San Juan Capistrano →Tustin →

Browse all SoCal city guides →

Listings are curated and may change — confirm hours and details before you go.