| When it comes
to family-friendly attractions, Anaheim is almost without equal. There are the
obvious ones, like Disneyland and the beaches, but there are also seasonal or
localized attractions that offer just as much fun. You don't even have to spend
that much money to have a good time, believe it or not. A barbecue at the beach
can be just as much fun as a trip to an amusement park and lunch at a pricey themed
restaurant. You'll never be able to see all of Anaheim
during one visit, so here are a few of our top picks. If you make it to even half
of them, you'll have enough memories to fill a couple scrapbooks. Disneyland
Clichéd as it is by now, that old slogan the “ Happiest
Place on Earth” still has some validity. Just look at the grin on your children's
faces the first time they see the fairy-tale spires of Sleeping Beauty's Castle,
or enter through the park's majestic front gates, or get a hug from Minnie Mouse
for the very first time. Chances are, no matter how old you are, you'll crack
a smile yourself when you buckle the seatbelt before plunging into Space Mountain
or splash backward down a waterfall in Pirates of the Caribbean or zoom through
Indiana Jones' Temple of the Forbidden Eye. As far as the live shows, fireworks
displays and parades go, Disney is still the best. And it's still the main reason
that Anaheim 's on the map. All Anaheim hotels, from the Sheraton to the Holiday
Inn At the Park to the Villager Lodge, either are within walking distance of the
entrance or offer free shuttle service to and from the park. Disney
California Adventure Admittedly, this new park never achieved
the kind of success that its sister resort did—or that its creators had hoped
for—but it's still a neat park with amazing visuals and unique attractions. The
newest one is the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, a thrill ride housed in a very
realistic replica of an old-fashioned luxury hotel. Other must-sees include the
Hollywood Pictures Backlot and, especially if you've got little ones, A Bug's
Land. Grizzly River Run and California Screamin' are better for big kids. When
it comes to dining, California Adventure has more to offer than Disney, going
beyond the traditional fast food offerings with fine dining at the Vineyard Room
and decent seafood at Avalon Cove. Disney's Grand Californian Hotel is actually
within the park gates, while Paradise Pier affords views of the boardwalk and
the waterfront. Downtown Disney These
days, you can still get a bit of the Disney magic without even investing in a
ticket. How? Just pay a visit to Downtown Disney, the 300,000-square-foot shop-tainment
destination between the Disneyland Hotel and the park itself. Take in a live music
show at Ralph Brennan's. Check out the famous Gospel Brunch at House of Blues.
Treat the kids to an afternoon at the Build-A-Bear Workshop. See the latest Disney
pictures at the multi-plex theater. Buy souvenirs for everyone on your list, and
when you finish, enjoy a meal or a drink at one of the various dining establishments.
The restaurant scene here is excellent, by the way, and getting better all the
time. See ‘Dining' for more information. Knott's
Berry Farm Though it's struggled fruitlessly to lose its
‘also-ran' status practically ever since it opened, this park has a lot of loyal
fans, both local and tourist. Sure, certain attractions are a bit scuffed around
the edges, and maybe the sidewalks aren't clean enough to eat off of. But coasters
like the Silver Bullet, Xcelerator and the RipTide keep the thrill seekers coming
back, while Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant does the trick for everyone
else—just like it always has. Halloween, Christmas and Easter celebrations here
are over-the-top and lots of fun. Most Anaheim hotels can help you arrange transportation
to Buena Park , where Knott's is located, but if you want to be closer, just book
a room at the Radisson Knott's Berry Farm. Beaches
When the weather gets unbearably hot, tourists and locals
alike forsake the suburbs for the beaches. You'll have to drive at least a half
hour to get to a good one, but it's well worth the trip. Huntington Beach is a
surfer hangout complete with volleyball courts, a pedestrians-only pier and a
boardwalk. Two other beaches border it: Huntington State Beach and Bolsa Chica.
To the south, there's Newport Beach and Laguna's Thousand Steps Beach . There
are beautiful beaches along the Balboa Peninsula as well. Islands
A trip to one of the tiny islands off the coast can be
one of the best ways to spend a summer day. Not only is the boat ride over an
adventure for people who haven't experienced it before, but the islands themselves
offer plenty of shopping, sightseeing and dining, all with authentic California
flavor. Catalina Island has two towns: Avalon, a tourist-friendly place where
people use golf carts to get around, and Two Harbours , a much smaller settlement
that's popular with day sailors and divers. Then there's Balboa Island , just
a short ferry ride away from Balboa Pier. Rollerblade or cycle around the island
on the boardwalk built specifically for that purpose, or browse the art galleries
and cute shops on Marine avenue . | 
