The Girl’s Guide to Anaheim: Theme Parks and Coastal Escapes
This is your guide to all of it — the theme park, yes, but also everything that makes it worth staying in just a little longer.
Land, Breathe, Go: Arriving in Anaheim Without the Chaos
LAX is the main gateway for most travellers heading to Anaheim, and while it gets the job done, it is not exactly a calming start to a California holiday. The airport is large, the signage is confusing, and the last thing you want after a long flight is to navigate a rideshare surge.
The smartest move? Arrange private chauffeured transportation from the airport to your hotel before you leave home. You step out of the terminal and find a professional chauffeur already waiting — spotless vehicle, your name on a sign.
Your Home Base: Where to Sleep Well in Anaheim
The Resort District is the practical choice if you’re spending time at Disneyland — everything is walkable, and the energy is fun. For something genuinely special, the JW Marriott Anaheim Resort is a standout. Its rooftop bar, Parkestry, is Anaheim’s highest — think fire pits, Mexican-inspired small plates, and on clear evenings, a full view of Disneyland’s nightly fireworks display over Sleeping Beauty Castle.
For a more local feel, look at properties closer to the Packing District. You’ll be better positioned to explore downtown on foot and, after a day or two in the Resort bubble, that sense of breathing room is genuinely welcome.
The Anaheim Nobody Talks About
Give yourself at least one full day away from the parks, starting at the Anaheim Packing District. This beautifully restored 1919 former Sunkist citrus warehouse is now one of the best food hall destinations in Southern California — two floors of independent vendors, artisan food stalls, and craft cocktail bars.
Venture a little further, and Centre City rewards you with the Anaheim that locals actually love — chef-driven spots, independent boutiques, music spilling out onto the street, and a farmers’ market that draws the whole neighbourhood out on weekends.
Eat as You Live Here: The Honest Food Guide
The food scene rewards the curious traveller. For a proper sit-down dinner, THE RANCH Restaurant is the one to book — MICHELIN Guide listed, nine-time Wine Spectator Award of Excellence winner, and known for its impressively sourced steaks and seasonal farm-to-table dishes.
For something livelier, GardenWalk on Katella Avenue is a relaxed open-air precinct where fire pits and tiki torches come out after dark — House of Blues Anaheim anchors the evening here with live music and a great atmosphere. Soul food lovers should make a beeline for Georgia’s inside the Packing House: fried chicken, cornbread, and the kind of cooking that makes you want to sit down and stay a while.
And for Little Saigon — a short drive southwest into the Garden Grove and Westminster area — this is home to the largest Vietnamese population and some of the most extraordinary Vietnamese food you’ll find anywhere.
Escape the Resort Bubble: Day Trips Worth Every Mile
Southern California’s greatest gift to the traveller is its easy reach. Newport Beach is just a short drive south — elegant, breezy, and ideal for an afternoon by the water. Fashion Island sits just nearby — an open-air shopping complex with a strong lineup of restaurants and a relaxed, unhurried atmosphere. Push a little further to Laguna Beach for dramatic coastal scenery, independent art galleries, and some of the best cliff-top views in California.
For day trips that cover more than one stop, booking a dedicated Anaheim car service in advance is genuinely worth it. Parking along the California coast is notoriously painful, and having a driver who knows the area means you can move freely between destinations without the mental load of navigation or hunting for spaces.
Before You Pack Your Bag: The Things Worth Knowing
- Plan for at least three nights, ideally four. One day for Disneyland (more if you want Disney California Adventure too — it deserves its own day), one for the Packing District and Centre City, one for the coast, and a buffer day for the unexpected.
- Sort your airport transfer before you fly. It is one of those small logistics decisions that pays dividends the moment you land.
- Pack a light layer for evenings. Southern California sunshine is very real, but coastal nights cool down faster.
Image credit – dreamstime
