Most people head to Anaheim for one of two things: a conference or a trip to Disneyland. But if you think you need a theme park ticket to enjoy this corner of Southern California, think again. After a busy few days exploring Los Angeles and a jam-packed schedule at the convention center, I set out to discover Anaheim at a slightly slower pace. From gourmet food halls and walkable strips to an impressive lineup of local craft breweries, here is my guide to staying, eating, and sipping your way through Anaheim.
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Stay
I stayed at the JW Marriott Anaheim, a luxury resort hotel in walking distance to both the Convention Center and Disneyland, featuring multiple dining outlets and a pool. It’s also right on the GardenWalk, a pedestrian strip full of entertainment, restaurants, and shopping. I had a nice, sizable room and a comfy stay.
Getting There and Getting Around
Depending on where you’re coming from, there are a few airport options for getting to Anaheim, the most connected being Los Angeles International (LAX). Since I was spending time in LA on the front end of my trip, this was where I flew in from Philadelphia, and rented a car from National at the airport. I wouldn’t need the car once I got to Anaheim, so I conveniently returned it at a National location in walking distance to my hotel upon arrival into Anaheim. During my stay in Anaheim since I was primarily there for business I was able to get by with a combination of walking and taking Lyft/Uber if there was something further out that I wanted to do in the evening. At the conclusion of my trip, I flew out of the John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Santa Ana, a short ride from Anaheim. While closer to Anaheim than LAX, this is a much smaller airport and did not have a direct to Philly so I connected via Dallas.
Sights, Eats, and Sips
As mentioned, my hotel was located on the Anaheim GardenWalk, a charming multi-level pedestrian street lined with shops, entertainment, and restaurants. On my first night in Anaheim it was a great spot to take a little stroll, grab a bite, and just sit and people-watch for a little bit. I enjoyed some delicious ramen from Rakkan Ramen on the upper level.
I didn’t have any interest in visiting Disneyland to ride any rides or anything like that, but it felt a little weird to visit Anaheim without setting foot in its biggest draw. So after a day at the convention center, I decided to head to Downtown Disney District to grab some dinner. This part of the park is completely free to enter, and is just enough to get that taste of Disney without fully committing to an admission ticket, with restaurants and shops to browse. And better yet, it features a location of Ballast Point Brewing Company, so I landed on that for dinner and a couple of beers. Leaving the park, my feet were tired from the day, so I hopped on one of the park’s complimentary shuttles to a parking lot right across from my hotel.
The next night after work I decided to continue sipping my way through Anaheim with some brewery-hopping. I started with dinner at Karl Strauss Brewing, a brewing chain from San Diego that make a delicious mac and cheese in addition to refreshing beers. From there, I walked 5 minutes up the road to Golden Road Brewing. Their Mango Cart wheat ale is a favorite of mine back home, so I loved trying some unique spins on it in the taproom as well as some other Golden Road beers.
On my last night in Anaheim, I headed into the “downtown” area, which is a pretty lowkey residential area. I wandered Center Street Promenade, a revitalized commercial corridor full of shops and eateries that also often hosts street fairs and farmers markets. From there I continued on to the Anaheim Packing District to grab something to eat, passing Anaheim City Hall along the way. The Packing District is a gourmet food hall located in a former citrus packing warehouse. I had a delicious burger from The Kroft.
After dinner, I headed a few steps away to Monkish Brewing to enjoy a few beers in their beer garden. As the name may imply, this brewery specializes in brews inspired by Belgian monastic styles.
Anaheim is also home to Anaheim Ducks hockey and the Los Angeles Angels baseball team, and plenty of entertainment venues. It’s also an easy day trip from plenty of Southern California beaches.
After a fast-paced trip through LA and long days at the convention center, what I loved most about Anaheim was its ability to help me slow down and enjoy the SoCal pace. Taking in the palm trees, lingering over a great flight of beer, and enjoying the warm evening air was exactly the reset I needed. You don’t need a golden ticket to Disneyland to enjoy Anaheim, just a comfortable pair of shoes, an appetite for good food, and a fine craft brew in hand.
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