π° Beyond the parks
Things to do in Anaheim besides Disneyland
Curated by Simir Shah
23 spots across Southern California β add your zip or city to sort by what's closest to you
The spots
Downtown Disney District
Anaheim
The shops-and-dining promenade between the parks β free to stroll, with live music, a LEGO store and the World of Disney shop.
ποΈ At the resort
Flightdeck RogueRacing (Flight Sims)
Anaheim Β· Indoor play
Real airliner and fighter-jet flight simulators (plus racing sims), now right by Anaheim GardenWalk β a memorable rainy-day pick for older kids and teens.
ποΈ ~5 min drive
π΅ $$ ticketed
Anaheim GardenWalk
Anaheim
A walkable dining-and-entertainment center steps from the resort β restaurants, a comedy club and an arcade.
ποΈ ~5 min drive
Muzeo Museum & Cultural Center
Anaheim Β· Museum & science
A small rotating-exhibit museum in Anaheim's historic Center Street district β an easy add-on near the parks.
ποΈ ~5 min drive
π΅ $ ticketed
Anaheim Packing District
Anaheim
A restored 1919 citrus-packing house turned food hall β dozens of stalls, a great low-key dinner near the parks.
ποΈ ~5 min drive
Center Street Promenade
Anaheim
Downtown Anaheim's walkable strip of restaurants, dessert spots and the MAKE building food hall.
ποΈ ~5 min drive
The Outlets at Orange
Orange
A big open-air outlet mall with an AMC theater, Dave & Buster's and dozens of stores β a handy rainy-day or evening backup.
ποΈ ~10 min drive
Old Towne Orange Plaza
Orange
A charming historic circle of antique shops, ice-cream parlors and cafΓ©s around a century-old plaza β easy, walkable and free.
ποΈ ~15 min drive
Adventure City
Anaheim Β· Theme park
A tiny, gentle theme park built for ages 2β10 β pint-sized rides, a petting farm and a kids' airplane ride.
ποΈ ~10 min drive
π΅ $ ticketed
Bowers Museum
Santa Ana Β· Museum & science
A respected art-and-culture museum with rotating world-culture exhibits and family-friendly weekend programming.
ποΈ ~15 min drive
π΅ Paid admission
Knott's Soak City
Buena Park Β· Theme park
A summer waterpark next to Knott's with slides, a lazy river and a kids' play area β a great heat-beater.
ποΈ ~10 min drive
π΅ Paid admission
Knott's Berry Farm
Buena Park Β· Theme park
America's first theme park β coasters, the Peanuts Camp Snoopy for little kids, and the famous fried chicken & boysenberry pie.
ποΈ ~10 min drive
π΅ Paid admission
Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament
Buena Park Β· Sports & entertainment
A jousting dinner show in a castle β knights, horses and a hands-on (no utensils) feast kids love.
ποΈ ~10 min drive
π΅ $$ ticketed
Pirates Dinner Adventure
Buena Park Β· Sports & entertainment
A swashbuckling stunt-and-acrobatics dinner show staged around a full-size pirate ship.
ποΈ ~10 min drive
π΅ $$ ticketed
Discovery Cube OC
Santa Ana Β· Museum & science
A high-energy hands-on science museum β a shake-table earthquake room, a dino dig and a big kids' climbing zone.
ποΈ ~15 min drive
π΅ Paid admission
Yorba Regional Park
Anaheim
Lakes, bike paths and big lawns along the river β easy free space for a picnic and to burn energy.
ποΈ ~15 min drive
Irvine Regional Park & Railroad
Orange Β· Animal & nature
A huge shady park with a kids' train, pony rides, paddle boats and the small OC Zoo β a classic local day out.
ποΈ ~20 min drive
π΅ Free entry ($ parking/rides)
Adventure Playground & local splash pads
Irvine
OC has dozens of free splash pads and inventive playgrounds β an easy, free way to cool off between park days.
ποΈ ~25 min drive
Boomers! Irvine
Irvine
A family fun center with mini-golf, go-karts, bumper boats, batting cages and an arcade β pay-per-attraction.
ποΈ ~20 min drive
Pretend City Children's Museum
Irvine Β· Museum & science
A miniature city kids 'work' in β a market, cafΓ©, fire truck and farm. Perfect for toddlers and early elementary.
ποΈ ~25 min drive
π΅ Paid admission
Huntington Beach
Huntington Beach
'Surf City' β a wide, easy family beach with a long pier, fire rings and a flat downtown to stroll.
ποΈ ~25 min drive
Balboa Fun Zone & Newport Beach
Newport Beach
A vintage bayfront boardwalk with a Ferris wheel, ferry to Balboa Island and frozen-banana stands.
ποΈ ~30 min drive
Aquarium of the Pacific
Long Beach Β· Animal & nature
One of SoCal's best aquariums β touch tanks, sea otters, a lorikeet aviary and a shark lagoon.
ποΈ ~30 min drive
π΅ Paid admission
Book Anaheim-area tours & tickets
Bookable via Viator Β· we may earn a commission (no extra cost to you)Park transfers, skip-the-line add-ons, and family experiences near Disneyland β booked through Viator.
Free cancellationFull-Day Iconic Sights of LA, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Beaches and More
Free cancellationUniversal Studios Hollywood General Admission Ticket, California
Free cancellationSkip the Line: Express Ticket at Universal Studios Hollywood
Free cancellationThe VIP Experience at Universal Studios Hollywood in California
Free cancellationBest of LA: Hollywood, Griffith, Santa Monica, Venice, and Rodeo
Free cancellationAnaheim to LA: Hollywood, Beaches & Famous Film Sites tour
More experiences via GetYourGuide Β· we may earn a commission (no extra cost to you)
Where to stay in Anaheim
Hotels & rentals via Stay22 Β· we may earn a commissionCompare hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals near Anaheim on one map β then book on your favorite site.
Frequently asked questions
What free or cheap things are there to do near Disneyland?
Anaheim and the surrounding area have plenty beyond the parks. The Downtown Disney District is free to walk and people-watch, and nearby you'll find public parks, splash pads, and the Anaheim Packing District food hall for an inexpensive meal. A short drive gets you to Orange County beaches, regional parks, and family museums, so it's easy to build a low-cost day around a park visit.
Where are good family restaurants near Disneyland?
The area around Disneyland is packed with family-friendly dining at every price point, from the Anaheim Packing District food hall (great for picky eaters and varied tastes) to casual chains and local spots along Harbor Boulevard and Katella Avenue. Many places near the resort are used to families and offer kids' menus and early dinners. Eating slightly away from the park entrance usually means lower prices and shorter waits.
Are there parks or beaches close to Disneyland?
Yes. Orange County's beaches, including Huntington Beach and Newport Beach, are roughly a 20 to 40 minute drive from Anaheim depending on traffic, making a beach afternoon an easy add-on. There are also many neighborhood and regional parks with playgrounds and open space nearby for burning off energy without a ticket. A beach or park morning pairs well with an afternoon or evening park entry.
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Doing the parks too? See our Disneyland first-timer's battle plan and how the SoCal theme parks compare. Drive times are typical estimates β pad them for traffic, and confirm hours before you go.