48 Hours in Anaheim

A two-day escape to Anaheim, California, is just what you need to unwind from the real world. Stay for just for a day or two and rediscover that feeling of being young at heart.

Day 1

Image via Flickr by atmtx

Morning: Fly into LAX, rent a car, and drive the 30-mile stretch to Anaheim. Once you arrive in Anaheim, have breakfast at the Scratch Room, a brunch house serving up breakfast burgers on brioche, pancakes bigger than your head, and fresh-squeezed orange juice. You’ll need the fuel for your day at Disneyland.

Afternoon: Prove to yourself that you’re still a kid at heart with a visit to Disneyland, Walt Disney’s original theme park. Start with the Indiana Jones Adventure, followed by a tour through the Haunted Mansion. Take a spin on the magic teacups, and leave time for a cruise through the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Be sure to stick around for the evening fireworks outside Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, and let the magic happen.

Evening: All that Disneyland activity will surely work up your appetite. After you indulge in some theme park food, treat yourself to a glass of wine and dinner at Calivino Wine Pub. The late-night happy hour goes from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. and offers $2 off select glasses of wine. You’ll also find a host of appetizer specials, such as boneless wings, bacon-wrapped dates, spinach wontons, and pork belly sliders.

Check into your room at the Anaheim Camelot Inn & Suites and enjoy a king-size bed, an outdoor heated pool, and close proximity to Disneyland. The added perk of free breakfast takes the guesswork out of your morning so you can enjoy more of Anaheim.

Day 2

Morning: Luckily, Orange County is home to some of the prettiest beaches in the world. Take a drive to Huntington Beach, also known as Surf City, USA. Enjoy a quiet morning roaming the white sands and watching surfers catch their waves.

Afternoon: Spend a lazy afternoon exploring Center Street Anaheim, a place chock-full of funky shops, restaurants, and the city’s farmers market. Looking for eco-friendly home goods? Check out the aptly named Home Eco:Nomics, a place to pick up candles, jewelry, and more. For lunch, spice things up and dine at Pour Vida Latin Flavor. Try the blackened fish taco on top of handmade black squid ink tortillas.

Evening: Have some good, old-fashioned fun at Bowlmor Lanes at the Anaheim Garden Walk. This modern bowling alley boasts 41 backlit lanes for your enjoyment. Have dinner at the bowling alley, and order the Party Pretzel, a gigantic soft pretzel served with mustard and queso.

Check into your room at the Hilton Anaheim, where you’ll sleep like a baby in your king-size bed. You’ll dream of all the fun you had during the last 48 hours in Anaheim as well as the complimentary breakfast that awaits the next morning.

From Disneyland to great restaurants to close proximity to the beach, all of Anaheim’s fun offerings make this 48-hour foray worth every minute.