How to Spend Three Days in and Around Anaheim

Settle in, unpack and prepare your palate for a brew or two. Anaheim is home to one of the most exciting craft beer scenes in the country. For a tasting tour, try La Palma Beer Trail, on which you visit breweries along (or near) La Palma Boulevard, sampling an eclectic range of beverages. Spots such as The Bruery, Bottle Logic Brewing and Stereo Brewing are among a host of passionate crafters producing tipples well worth the steps.

Every beer bonanza should be followed by a decent meal – and Anaheim delivers. The Packing District food hall has scores of independent merchants all in one place. Eat inside or al fresco with fine fare from the likes of Georgia’s Kitchen, which serves succulent soul food; Urbana, offering mouth-watering Mexican; and Umami for big beefy burgers.

Walk it off at the shopping paradise that is Center Street Promenade. Find one-of-a-kind, hand-selected clothing at RARE by Goodwill, get a stylish cut at the Single Barrel Barber Shop, and super-cool new outfits at Look Boutique and The Good. You can also restock your stomach with a vegan snack at Gypsy Den or dessert at House of Chimney Cakes.

As early evening approaches, it’s time for a little music. Live gigs and concerts are a big part of the local culture, although few venues offer an experience quite like the House of Blues. The show starts before a single note is played thanks to its floor-to-ceiling paintings, tapestries and murals. The venue also has many stages, small and large, so you’re just as likely to find a well-known star as a rising talent.

Get up early and head to the beach – Orange County has some of the best slivers of sand in California. For a surf and sunbathe there’s Huntington Beach, where the greatest wave riders come to compete and relax. The vibe is everything one would expect from a place known as Surf City USA: beachfront restaurants serving fresh seafood, great breweries and bars, and sensational views. You could also shop at Pacific City, a relaxed retail hub with little boutiques offering chic Californian wares.

Nearby, Huntington Harbour is a must-visit collection of man-made islands peppered with places to eat an al fresco lunch. After a very chilled meal, either lay on the sand or head just outside the city to the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, where you can explore unspoiled wetland teeming with birdlife.

Head back to your hotel to change and, if it’s baseball or hockey season, catch a game. The Ducks play at the Honda Center and the Angels at Angels Stadium. Both have passionate local support and watching them live is an exhilarating Anaheim experience.

On your final day, wear comfy shoes and enjoy the beautiful parks and gardens of Orange County. If you want to try something a little more challenging, Anaheim’s position between the Santa Ana mountains and the Pacific Ocean means there are dramatic and picturesque hikes nearby. Try Crystal Cove State Park, where you can combine a beachside stroll among tidal pools with 2,400 acres (971ha) of forest, filled with trails to suit all abilities.

For lunch, visit Little Saigon to enjoy superb Vietnamese food. This neighborhood is home to a selection of top-quality eateries, such as Pho 79, which dishes out classic beef pho (noodle soup) and bun rieu, a rice vermicelli dish served here with minced crab. Don’t fill up completely though, leave enough room to hit a Vietnamese bakery for steamed buns or fried dough.

After lunch (and pudding) head over to Anaheim Founders’ Park where you’ll historical buildings that immortalize the agricultural history of the city. The mid-19th-century Mother Colony House is one of the earliest structures in Anaheim, while the Woelke-Stoffel House is a two-level Queen Anne delight. You’ll also see a replica of a windmill and carriage house, plus a series of exhibits that offer a glimpse into the colorful past of the city.