13 Fun Kid-Friendly Things to Do in Anaheim, California; From Garden Walk to Disneyland Blog - February 19, 2023
We received a complimentary tickets to Disneyland, Knottsberry Farm and complimentary stay at Peacock Suites Resorts through Wyndham Extra Holidays to facilitate this article. However, all opinions are my own.
We recently took a 7 hour road trip heading to Anaheim to visit Disneyland and Knottsberry Farm for the first time. The kids were super excited! We took our essentials (17 suitcases and 25 duffel bags, just kidding…) and headed out on the road.
While preparing for this trip we scoped out some hotels and timeshares to figure out the best locations to stay so we would be close to everything, including restaurants, shopping, and of course Knottsberry Farm and Disneyland.
Our main concerns were:
How family friendly is it? Is the location near restaurants and shops? Is it close to Disneyland and Knottsberry Farm?
How accessible are the rooms? What about parking? Can I cook in the room? Is there a Disney Shuttle? Is there WiFi?
It is a vibrant city in Orange County, California (Southern California). Anaheim attracts visitors from all over the world, with much of the tourism coming from Disneyland Resort, also known as the “happiest place on Earth.” This iconic vacation destination, which includes both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park, is a truly magical place for children. There are a lot of fun things kids can do there.
Anaheim is a beautiful place that has a lot to offer. Several city districts and shopping centers take advantage of the city’s usually pleasant weather by providing a variety of outdoor dining and entertainment options. These places, such as Anaheim Gardenwalk and Anaheim Packing District, provide a variety of menu options as well as a full dose of Anaheim community flavor.
Our room had a living room complete with a large table, a queen sleeper sofa, and a mini kitchen (microwave, sink & fridge), and a nice flat screen TV. Separated by beautiful French sliding doors was the main bedroom where we had two queen size beds, and another T.V.
The room came also came with complimentary Wi-Fi. which was great. I still had to get on the computer from time to time.
It was so nice to sit down as a family and eat at the dining room table. There were plates and silverware so we could eat like we are civilized, lol. There is everything you need to be comfortable in the room. We stocked the refrigerator with drinks and snacks, which not only saved us money, but also made our life a lot easier.
Valet parking is available for $11 per day plus tax with in and out privileges. No self-parking, but who wants to self-park in California anyway?
The Activity Center at the Peacock Suites Resorts
The Activity Center
Can you say Game Room? The game room saved us. This Activity Center is packed with activities for kids. And since you probably don’t have a pool table, Foosball, or hockey table in your house, they will keep your kids busy for a long time.
Just go to the front desk and they will set you up. Parents can relax and watch T.V or movies while the kids play.
Can you envision taking your children on a holiday only to watch them read? hahah. I can’t!
Amenities at the Peacock Suites Resorts
Pool
The resort amenities include a covered and heated outdoor pool, two hot tubs, a fitness center, complimentary Wi-Fi and a rooftop sun deck.
Pool
There is also a whole relaxation area on the rooftop with a BBQ, chairs, and lounge chairs on the other side. There you can hide from the world and pretend your kids and your husband aren’t in the hotel room waiting for you while you supposedly went to take some pictures…
The pool is a great place to relax, again with the kids. Yes, it is possible to relax while the kids play in the pool! haha. There is a flat screen T.V. and an area to sit and relax with a book or lunch.
You can also take a dip in the Jacuzzi. Some amenities/activities are seasonal and available at an additional charge.
Disneyland
Disneyland, the first Disney theme park, opened its doors on July 17, 1955, under the supervision of Walt Disney. The popular Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is now one of the nine themed lands, but many of the classic rides from your childhood, such as Dumbo and It’s a Small World, are still available at “The Happiest Place on Earth.”
We took the Shuttle Bus to Disneyland from and spent the whole day there. But if you have your own car, it’s an 8 minute drive from the Peacock Suites Resorts.
You can also get your Disney tickets at concierge in the resort.
There was a Woody sighting! and the kids enjoyed the rides. We made sure we got the fast pass for our favorite rides right away. Navigating through Disneyland is easy if you have a plan.
It can be overwhelming but as long as you pack snacks and water containers, you will be set!
Disney’s Downtown Disney District
Downtown Disney District is an outdoor shopping and entertainment complex located just steps away from Disneyland Resort theme parks. While there is plenty of Disney merchandise available, there are also other brand-name stores such as Sephora and non-Disney restaurants such as San Diego’s Ballast Point. Splitsville Luxury Lanes is also a great place to practice your bowling skills. There are plenty of activities to keep the whole family entertained.
Furthermore, the Disneyland Resort Hotels are only a few steps away from Downtown Disney. In fact, you can enter the complex right next to Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.
The Golden Horseshoe was actually our golden ticket to having a sit down, stress free lunch. It looks like a full on restaurant on the outside but is a self serve restaurant inside, serving burgers and tacos and ice cream sundaes. They have a full menu.
They also offer live entertainment. It was perfect. There were places to sit and the line and wait was easy. We walked in and we ate lunch, unlike the past when we roamed around aimlessly while starving.
The Shops at Garden Walk
Having the Shops at Garden Walk within a 5 minute walk was a lifesaver as it saved 3 of the 4 dinners we had there. We were able to get takeout from really nice restaurants without having to drive or use a rideshare service.
Orange, California
Orange, California
We left the hotel a few times to discover California and went to a cute town called Orange where we found the most delicious French Bakery. Orange is full of quaint shops and historical houses too.
I could easily spend a day there, however we only had time to grab our croissants (3 days in a row and some to bring back to Phoenix, lol)
These were the best almond croissants I’ve ever had in my whole life!
Huntington Beach
We also went to Huntington Beach. We miss the beach in Florida so we had to get in some beach time.
The California beaches are different than the Florida beaches. We caught some surfers going out to sea.
The kids loved looking for seashells and the vibe was super cool!
Wahoo’s Fish Taco
Wahoo’s
We also had lunch at Wahoo’s Fish Taco. This location is on Main Street.
The menu is amazing and everything is so fresh, you will find yourself standing in line for as long as it takes. The place is busy!
Surf Museum
There’s other things to do in Huntington Beach, like the Surf Museum on Olive Ave. Admission is $3 but you can also get a membership there.
Knottsberry Farm
Knottsberry Farm is just 15 minutes drive from Peacock Suites Resorts. Knott’s Berry Farm is a world-renowned western style, family theme park.
It was so much fun walking through Knottsberry Farm. The kids enjoyed the old fashioned ICEE’s and we all had the famous fried chicken for lunch.
There are roller coasters and stage shows. Everyone is really friendly and knowledgeable about the history of the farm.
On the other side you can check out Camp Snoopy featuring Snoopy and the Peanuts Gang. When I came to visit 40 years ago, I don’t think they had Camp Snoopy but Knott’sberry Farm theme park has really grown, now including Knott’s Soak City Waterpark and Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel.
If you prefer ice hockey, the Honda Center is located directly across the street from Angel Stadium.
It’s home to the Anaheim Ducks, a team in the National Hockey League.
This fantastic indoor arena not only hosts hockey games, but it also hosts football games, live concerts, and other sporting events.
The City National Grove of Anaheim
Anaheim’s City National Grove is a popular destination in Anaheim. It is a small indoor live music venue with a capacity of only 1,700 people.
Originally, the venue housed Tinseltown, a themed restaurant designed to look like an awards show; however, the restaurant failed, and thus the music venue was born.
Anaheim Brewery
Include Anaheim Brewery in your vacation plans if you enjoy craft beer. It’s a restored and revitalized pre-Prohibition brewery. The atmosphere is mellow and laid back, making it ideal for hanging out with friends.
We had a great time in California and staying at the Peacock Suites Resorts made everything so much easier, from getting to Disneyland and Knottsberry Farm, to having the Activity Center, to having the Shops at Garden Walk at our fingertips, it was a very successful trip!
Peacock Suites Resorts was the best choice for us considering everything we needed.
You’ll appreciate having access to great amenities like lazy rivers, family resort activities, miniature golf and so much more. Better yet, most resort suites are complete with full kitchens, washer/dryers, private bedrooms and separate living/dining areas to make traveling a lot less stressful and a lot more fun.
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