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Storybook Villa (Anaheim, CA) is centrally located to many, many fun things to do and experience. We made this list for you and had your family in mind. We added our opinion too 😉 All of these things to do are in “The Big Green Binder” which will be waiting for you inside Storybook Villa. It will also include nearby organic markets, pharmacies, Target & Walmart, shopping malls, & the nearest hospital. Directions (from Storybook Villa) to each place are printed and available for your use inside the binder. The places listed below are just to wet your “adventure appetite”. Start planning your trip today and get excited — Enjoy!

* COVID 19 / Coronavirus Update *

Please note that due to the unprecedented nature of this pandemic, information is fluid and can change at any time. We are doing our best to update the information contained here as best we can, but cannot be responsible for rapid changes at the state, local or federal levels or misinformation that may be contained.

For beach, parks, and trail information, please check out the updates on the following links:

Updates:  OCParks.com

List of OC Beaches & descriptions – click here

Map of Parks and Trails – click here

Brochure of all OC Regional Trails – click here

* For all points of interest below, please call for updated status before visiting *

The “OO” = The Owner’s Opinion

Balboa Island
Who: Any member of the family (0-100)
What: A charming island lined with beautiful homes. There is a path that circles the island (1.7 miles). The Beach. Marine Ave: Specialty shops, Art galleries, Restaurants, and the world famous Balboa Bar (ice cream).
When: Daily
Where: Marine Avenue, Balboa Island
Why: Walk the Island. Take the ferry to the fun zone. Shop. Eat at Wilma’s Patio and have a Balboa bar

The “OO”: We love to go down there and walk the island. We usually park on the Newport Beach side and take the ferry across, walking or biking around the island. We then make our way up Marine Ave. We love to have lunch at Wilma’s Patio. You have to try the cottage fries. We finish off our day with a Balboa Bar from Dad’s Donut Shop & Bakery. They also offer their famous hippo cookies.

28 mins / 19.55 miles
www.balboa-island.com

Knott’s Berry Farm
Who: Any member of the family, geared towards older kids
What: an amusement park filled with roller coasters
When: Daily
Where: 8039 Beach Blvd. Buena Park
Why: Older kids love the rides and there is Camp Snoopy

The “OO”: We have 3 small kids so we enjoy Camp Snoopy. Our kids love to go on the log ride and Joe Cool’s Gr8 Sk8. Our favorite “adult” ride is xcelerator… talk about an intense ride. The kids like to finish the day with chicken strips from Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant (known for its chicken).

13 mins / 8.05 miles
www.knotts.com

Also in the area (Buena Park):
* Knott’s Soak City Waterparks www.knotts.com/public/park/soakcity/index.cfm
* Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament www.medievaltimes.com/buenapark.aspx
* Pirate’s Dinner Adventure www.piratesdinneradventure.com/index.php?page=Pirates-Dinner-Adventure-Buena_Park-California

The “OO”:
Medieval Times is fun for the whole family. The food is not so kid friendly. We found the Pirate’s Dinner Adventure is more appropriate for adults.

Discovery Science Center
Who: Any member of the family (0-100)
What: Interactive and engaging science exhibits
When: Daily
Where: 2500 N. Main Street, Santa Ana, CA 92705 (714) 542-2823
Why: a family day at the museum

The “OO”: A great place to spend half a day. The kids will love exploring the museum and checking out the “touring” exhibit. My kids like the earthquake exhibit.

11 mins / 6.10 miles
www.discoverycube.org

Downtown Fullerton Market
Who: Any member of the family (Ages 0-100)
What: An open air market with live music, arts and crafts, kid rides & bounce house, flowers, fresh fruits & veggies, and food for dinner
When: April-October; Thursdays from 4-8:30pm
Where: in the Downtown Plaza on Wilshire Avenue, between Harbor Boulevard and Pomona Avenue, adjacent to the Fullerton Museum Center
Why: To experience the local cultural and have fun as a family

The “OO”: We love the Fullerton Market. You can usually find us down there on a Thursday evening. In the summer the kids wear their swimsuits and play in the fountain. We enjoy the crepes, homemade ice cream sandwiches, corn on the cob and fresh breads, fruits and flowers. The kids also like the bounce house and train ride.

14 mins / 5.87 miles
www.cityoffullerton.com/residents/…/fullerton_market.asp

Downtown Disney
Who: Any member of the family (0-100)
What: outdoor area with shops, live entertainment, restaurants and movie theater
When: Daily
Where: South West Street Anaheim, California – (714) 300-7800
Open Daily 7am-2am (*across the street*)
Why: To watch the live entertainment and eat

View Path to Disneyland in a larger map. Click back arrow to return.

The “OO”: We enjoying walking around with a Jamba Juice and Wetzel’s pretzels. We like to listen to and watch the kids dance to all of the live music.

5 mins walking
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/downtown-disney/

Irvine Park: Zoo & Railroad
Who: Any member of the family (Ages 0-100)
What: A large rolling park: playgrounds, kids train, pony rides, paddle boats on a small lake, O.C. Zoo (small), trails, horseshoe pits, volleyball courts, barbecues, and snack bars
When: Year Round: weekdays 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., weekends and holidays 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Pony rides are offered year round, daily except Mondays. Zoo is open daily.
Where: in the city of Orange. 1 Irvine Park Road Orange, CA 92869
Why: Outdoor Activities

The “OO”: The BEST park ever! It truly has it all. You could spend a day here but most likely a half day. We like to go with our lunch. We usually start off with a train ride or pony ride. Then we walk to the lakes to enjoy the ducks and ride the paddle boats. We usually see the wild peacocks walking around the lakes. The kids always get a slurpee from the snack shack. From there we play at one of the many playgrounds on the walk to the OC Zoo. This is a great zoo for $1.00. They like to watch the bears and mountain lion.

Tip: This park is not in the City of Irvine it is in the City of Orange.

21 mins / 12.73 miles
www.ocparks.com/irvinepark/

La Mirada Splash
Who: Any member of the family, geared towards 10 and younger
What: Pools and a water park: lazy river, water slides, and water spray areas. They offer free life jackets.
When: Weekends: May 30- September 26. Daily: June 21- September 6. Hours: 10:30am- 5:30 pm.
Where: 13806 La Mirada Blvd. La Mirada, CA 90638
Why: Water Park made for young children without the crowds.

The “OO”: We love this water park with small kids. This water park is not filled with the crowds of older kids you find at the larger water parks. We like to go for half a day. The kids enjoy the couple of waterslides, the dumping bucket, and lazy river. You cannot bring in outside food but can “picnic” in the parking lot. I like to shower and change the kids there.

18 mins / 10.63 miles
www.cityoflamirada.org/index.aspx?page=9

Sea World
Who: Any member of the family (0-100)
What: an amusement park filled with shows and some rides
When: Daily, check for hours
Where: 500 Sea World Dr., San Diego, CA 92109
Why: To watch the shows and see Shamu

The “OO”: The kids love the Shamu Show, The Pets Rule Show, and Blue Horizons. Our oldest didn’t stop talking about the Blue Horizons Show for days. They also like to run around and climb in the Sesame Street Bay of Play. They offer a AAA discount.

1 hour 38 mins / 91.74 miles
www.seaworld.com

Also in the area (San Diego/Carlsbad):
* San Diego Zoo/San Diego Wild Animal Park
www.sandiegozoo.org
* LegoLand
www.legoland.com
* Gas Lamp District
www.gaslamp.org

The “OO”: The zoo is very large. It is hard to walk the whole thing. The Wild Animal Park is very hilly. The kids like to feed the giraffes there.
+Legoland is also fun. The kids like the coastersaurus, Lost Kingdom Adventure, and building with legos in the playground area. I like the organic foods they offer, the “mother’s” room, and how non-crowded it is compared to other parks.
+Gas Lamp District is nice for eating and shopping.

Huntington Beach
+ Huntington City Beach is directly across Pacific Coast Highway and extends north from Beach Boulevard to Seapoint Street
+ Surf Report recording at (714) 536-9303
+ multiple parking lots ranging from $1/hr – $15/day
+ beach: pier with a restaurant, main street, surfing, dog park, boardwalk

The “OO”: We enjoy walking down the boardwalk when they have the vendors set up. This is the best beach for surfing, laying out, and enjoying the waves. The BEST pedicure ever is offered at Top HB Nail on 5th street. You need to ask to see the books of pictures and have David put a true masterpiece on your toe nails. It is always good to have an appointment 714) 374-4040.

28 mins / 16.25 miles
www.ci.huntington-beach.ca.us

Newport Beach
+ Newport Beach is directly south on Pacific Coast Highway from Huntington Beach (right on Newport Blvd.)
+ multiple parking lots ranging from $1/hr – $15/day
+ beach: fun zone, body boarding, boardwalk

The “OO”: This is a great beach for the kids to play in the water. Less wave then Huntington Beach. We enjoy riding bikes on the boardwalk and playing at the school playground right there on the beach.

28 mins / 19.37 miles
www.visitnewportbeach.com

Laguna Beach
+ Laguna Beach is directly south on Pacific Coast Highway from Newport Beach
+ Administrative Services (949) 497-3311
+ multiple parking lots ranging from $1/hr – $15/day
+ beach: PCH lined with shops & restaurants, Art Galleries

The “OO”: This is not really the kind of beach you hang out on. This is more of an artsy town. This town is fun to walk around and eat.

34 mins / 25.02 miles
www.lagunabeachinfo.com

Santa Monica Beach & Pier
+ Stretching 3.5 miles along Santa Monica Bay from Venice to Malibu
+ 380 Santa Monica Pier Santa Monica, CA 90401
+ multiple parking lots ranging from $1/hr – $15/day
+ City of Santa Monica(310) 458-8411
+ beach: Pier with restaurants and rides, body boarding, surfing, boardwalk, Third Street Prominade… walk down to Venice beach (skate park, local/flea market)

The “OO”: This is a really really FUN beach. Here you can surf, lay out, ride rides on the pier, and walk, shop, watch street performers and eat on Third Street Prominade. We also like to go down to Venice Beach and shop from the local vendors and watch Muscle Beach and the skate park.

This is a full day trip. You really need to be mindful of traffic. Which there is LOTS in LA. I would leave late morning to head up there and return after evening traffic

Note: The Santa Monica area does have a high number of homeless and Venice Beach has a high number of medical marijuana shops.

51 mins / 41.82 miles
www.santamonica.com/visitors/what-to-do/beach/
www.santamonicapier.org
www.venicebeach.com/

Universal Studios Hollywood
Who: Any member of the family (0-100)
What: An amusement park unlike any other. You can ride rides and take a tour of the backlots seeing where movies are filmed. You may even watch a taping live and see a movie star?
When: Daily
Where: just north of downtown LA, 1000 Universal Center Dr
Why: To get a glimps of movie making, ride some rides, and walk City Walk.

The “OO”: This is a fun trip. This amusement park takes all day with a tour and then riding all the rides. On the tour we like seeing Jaws and King Kong (little scary for the young ones a few times – maybe cover their eyes for the subway scene, Jaws, and King Kong). Our favorite ride is Jurassic Park.

This is a full day trip. You really need to be mindful of traffic. Which there is LOTS in LA. I would leave late morning to head up there and return after evening traffic.

46 mins / 36.38 miles
www.universalstudioshollywood.com

Also in the area:
* Rodeo Drive
www.rodeodrive-bh.com
* The Grove (LOVE this place)
www.thegrovela.com
* Natural History Museum (USC Campus)
www.nhm.org

The “OO”: We have gone to Rodeo Drive but there is not much to do except look at the small street of very expensive stores. But it is famous.
+The Grove is so much fun. It is a giant outdoor shopping area with a trolley that runs down the middle. At the north end of the Grove is a farmers market. The Grove also has The American Girl Place. Also great restaurants.
+The Natural History Museum is great. It is like many other Natural History Museums. They have a fun butterfly exhibit once a year.

The “OO” = the Owner’s Opinion