Spend a Long Weekend in Anaheim, California: Theme Parks, Global Cuisine and More

Anaheim, California, is a destination for vacationers from around the globe, thanks to theme-park hot spots that lure millions of visitors every year. But Orange County’s largest city also boasts a reinvigorated downtown and lively nightlife scene, making it a vacation haven for everyone from families to foodies.

With easy access to Los Angeles, Newport Beach and San Diego, Anaheim also provides an easy jumping-off point to sample all the different flavors Southern California has to offer. All in all, there’s plenty to discover beyond the borders of the happiest place on Earth.

As always, check for travel restrictions and closures before planning your trip.

Friday: Head to Downtown Anaheim

Start with a smorgasbord brunch in Anaheim’s downtown core, where three historic landmarks — a 1919 Sunkist orange packing house, a 1925 Packard car dealership and a 1917 orange marmalade factory — have been repurposed as the Anaheim Packing District.

The airy renovated warehouse space now houses the Packing House Food Hall, comprising 30-plus food stalls and restaurants selling everything you could possibly want to eat: ramen, açaí bowls, Cajun cuisine, soul food, dim sum, Japanese crepes and gelato on a stick. Outside, Farmers Park’s inviting green space hosts yoga and gardening classes.

While you’re noshing your way through the Packing House, see what’s on the schedule at the city’s stadium. You might be able to score afternoon tickets to watch the local pro baseball team round the bases.

Not into sports? Take a culture trip instead. Little Saigon is one of the largest Vietnamese communities outside of Vietnam, home to almost 200,000 Vietnamese Americans. Get a taste of this fascinating area by browsing the Asian Garden Mall (aka Phuoc Loc Tho), a two-story indoor shopping center.

Sample Vietnamese fare at tantalizing restaurants: Sip perfect brothy pho at Pho 79 or tuck into bánh bèo (steamed rice cakes with shrimp) or bún bò (beef soup) at Quán Hy.

As afternoon wanes, pull on your pointy-toed boots and polish your belt buckle. Sit down to dinner at the Ranch, where grand cedar beams and flagstone floors set the stage for upscale cowboy cuisine: Kobe beef carpaccio, bone-in rib-eye, Castroville artichokes, and a wine cellar stocked with more than 10,000 bottles.

Then sidle over to the Ranch Saloon to work off your dinner by two-stepping and line dancing. If your feet don’t know the quick-quick-slow, take a free dance lesson or watch from the sidelines at the 47-foot-long Longhorn Bar.

Saturday: Hit the Theme Parks

You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy some of America’s most famous theme parks. For more than 60 years, Anaheim has been known as one of the best cities in the world to discover the wonder of fanciful characters, stomach-dropping rides, family fun and fabulous pop-art Americana.

Remember to pack a pair of comfortable shoes and plenty of sunscreen before setting out for the day. Reserve online or buy tickets ahead of time online to avoid a wait at the gates and (this is important), take a photo to remind yourself where your car is parked. Nothing puts a damper at the end of a park-filled day like wandering the many lots looking for your rental.

Surrender to your sense of wonder and prepare for a hearty dose of fairy-tale pixie dust combined with state-of-the-art motion simulators and interactive animatronics.

It’s wise to have a plan of action. Even if you stick to just one theme park, it’s nearly impossible to see and do everything in just one day. Strategize to hit the rides and attractions that you and your family will most enjoy. Remember that the magic factor increases after sundown, so plan to stay after the sun goes down with an advance reservation at a park restaurant.

Nearly every night in Anaheim ends with (literal) fireworks, and with one of the highest rooftops in town, the JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort is one of the best spots to see the show. Order a nightcap and light bites at Parkestry Rooftop Bar and watch the sky erupt in colorful explosions.

Sunday: Choose Between Art and Rollercoasters

Start your day downtown at Okayama Kobo Bakery & Café for a cup of coffee and an almost-too-cute-to-eat pastry. The Japanese bakery makes its bread from Hokkaido wheat flour, sourced directly from Japan. Order a freshly baked character roll, decorated to resemble the face of a rabbit or a baby panda and stuffed with sweet red bean paste.

Spend the morning one of two ways: Adults will enjoy the Muzeo Museum & Cultural Center. Housed in a Carnegie library building dating back to 1908, the museum hosts rotating art exhibits and cultural artifacts in its main gallery, often with interactive video and audio elements, as well as mainstays dedicated to local history.

Spend some time in the breezy courtyard or walk a few blocks to Pearson Park to explore the historic cactus garden and ducks swimming in Pearson Pond.

Families with kids should opt for an afternoon at Knott’s Berry Farm, one of America’s oldest amusement parks, dating back to 1932.

Knott’s stands out for its stomach-flipping roller coasters: Scream your head off on the Silver Bullet’s corkscrew, double spiral and outside loop. Streak 80 miles per hour on the Xcelerator. Or learn the true meaning of “steep” on HangTime’s way-beyond-vertical dive. At 150 feet high, it’s California’s steepest coaster drop.

On hot days, make a beeline for the 750,000-gallon wave pool at Knott’s Soak City.

Looking for a “coaster” you can set a frosty glass upon? Take a self-guided tour of Anaheim’s hopping brewery scene. Noble Ale Works brews an award-winning IPA in a sleek industrial space with stool-and-barrel seating.

Circle back to the Packing District to visit Unsung Brewing Company or the neighboring poolside playground at Leisuretown’s Modern Times. Other sip-worthy stops include Bottle Logic, Karl Strauss, Brewheim Beer Makers, Radiant Beer Co. and Golden Road.

For your last evening in Anaheim, catch a live music show. Check out theCity National Grove of Anaheim, which offers an intimate experience for up to 5,000 concertgoers. For up-and-coming bands, head to Observatory OC, where new names in hip-hop, rock, indie and pop perform.