Things To Do Near Disneyland

Disneyland Resort is the the Happiest Place on Earth – and there’s plenty to do here. A day or two at the main park, California Adventure, Downtown Disney, and all the exciting amenities at the Disneyland Resort Hotels…why would you need to go anywhere else?

If you’re spending some time at Disneyland and want to make the most of your visit to Southern California, you’ll probably want to explore more of the local destinations and attractions. Not sure where to start or what to add to your itinerary? Here’s a list of things to do near Disneyland.

Best Things To Do Near Disneyland

Have dinner or drinks at a nearby rooftop restaurant or bar and watch the fireworks.

See a concert at the Anaheim House Of Blues

Go shopping at the Anaheim GardenWalk where you can also try out the flight simulators at Flightdeck and play a few games at the arcade

See what’s happening at the Anaheim Convention Center and attend an event

Visit one of the Orange County beaches for swimming, surfing, and soaking up the SoCal sun

Go scuba diving or snorkeling at a local dive spot

Have a beach bonfire

Take a surf lesson in Huntington Beach

Have dinner at a restaurant with a view of the ocean

See a baseball game at Angel Stadium

See a hockey game or live performance at the Honda Center

Try out seasonal brews at a local brewery

Take a hike on one of Orange County’s best hiking trails

Head to Newport Beach or Dana Point for a whale watching or fishing trip

Go Line Dancing at The Ranch, Cowboy Country, or InCahoots

Head to Los Angeles for the day and visit some of the top tourist spots

Visit a celebrity chef restaurant

Have dinner at a themed restaurant like Strong Water or Trader Sam’s

Have cocktails at a hidden speakeasy

Have more theme park fun at Knott’s Berry Farm

Enjoy an evening with Medieval Knights at Medieval Times

Have a swashbuckling good time at Pirate’s Dinner Adventure

Rent a Duffy Boat and take a cruise around Huntington or Newport Harbor

Take a drive down Pacific Coast Highway

Visit an Orange County food hall and try some tasty treats

Visit the Balboa Fun Zone and have a famous Balboa Bar or Frozen Banana

Have a burger and fries animal style at In-N-Out

See a performance at Segerstrom Center for the Arts

Try your luck at a nearby casino

Spend a day winding down from the theme park at a local Day Spa

Visit Long Beach’s Aquarium of the Pacific

Visit one of the local Children’s Museums or an Art Museum

Get up close with the animals at the Santa Ana Zoo or the OC Zoo

Catch a punk show at the Doll Hut

Challenge the family to a round of bowling

Spend a day at some of OCs best shopping destinations like Fashion Island, South Coast Plaza, and Irvine Spectrum

Check out the Asian Garden Mall

Explore a local nature center

Take a train ride at Irvine Regional Park

Hike to Red Rock Canyon at Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park

Have a picnic overlooking the Pacific Ocean

Play a round of golf at one of Orange County’s world-class golf courses

Go on a ghost hunt or learn about some of OCs haunted locations

Take the kids to a local petting zoo or family farm

Hit the local trails for a horseback ride

Take a boat ride to Catalina Island

Take a day trip to Palm Springs

Seasonal Things To Do Near Disneyland

It’s always a good time to visit Disneyland. But keep in mind that during the summer months, it is busier – and hotter – than other times of the year. If you want to experience the magic of Disney at its best, you can visit during the holidays.

The park decorations are so much fun at Halloweentime with tons of pumpkins and not-so-spooky trimmings. Plus you’ll get to see the characters in their best Halloween costumes. Come Winter, the park is full of holiday magic and special events to celebrate the spirit of the season. Bonus that the temps are lower!

If you’re visiting the area during the holidays, here are some local things to explore:

Find somewhere nearby to play in the snow

Spend a day on the slopes and learn to ski or snowboard

Attend a local Fair or Festival

Find a local Halloween Event or Community Haunted House

Spend an evening getting scared at Knott’s Scary Farm

Enjoy some of the local winter holiday festivities

See one of the local holiday boat parades

Take an evening drive to spot the best Christmas Lights in the area

Go Ice Skating at one of the seasonal Ice Skating Rinks

Save on Multiple Local Attractions with a Go City Tourist Pass

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Heidi Deal

Heidi Deal is the author of the Newcomers Handbook to Living In Los Angeles & Orange County, and a children’s book author specializing in history and human rights. When she's not writing you can find her solo hiking and going on new adventures with her kids and pup.