The Best Things To Do In Anaheim, California Other Than Disneyland

Since 1955, the original Disneyland has called Anaheim, California, its home, but the city was around long before Walt Disney decided to turn its onetime orange groves into a theme park. Anaheim was founded almost a century earlier when it was just a colony of German immigrants along the Santa Ana River (none of whom are known to have worn Mickey Mouse ears). Today, when some tourists are in the Happiest Place on Earth they might feel content to never leave its confines. As you venture outside the park, however, it soon becomes apparent that there's a lot more to see and do in Anaheim than just ride the Matterhorn Bobsleds.

We're not even talking about Disney California Adventure, the other park in this resort (also named Disneyland), where you can ride more Anaheim-only attractions like Radiator Springs Racers. When you hit the road in a googly-eyed car on that ride, you might feel like you've really gone exploring. Ultimately, though, the red rocks and mesas all around you are fake, part of the same fantasy construct as Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Outside the adventure park, there are plenty of real, iconic Disney locations in California, such as the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round, which is said to have inspired Walt's first conception of the park. (You can still go see the merry-go-round, but it is not currently operating.) Yet Anaheim alone holds enough that you could stick close by and still broaden your dining and leisure horizons beyond Mickey. For a California adventure of the non-Disney variety, give these activities in Anaheim a whirl.

Though Anaheim is one of America's most expensive travel destinations, not every one of its sightseeing spots should worry budget travelers. Admittance to the Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center tops out at $10 for visitors 16 and up. The center includes the Carnegie Library, a building from 1908 that's now in the National Register of Historic Places. Inside, the exhibit, "A Walk Through Local History," greets visitors with a "Willkommen," true to the city's German roots.

The history walk begins with marine fossils from the dinosaur age, when the land that would become Anaheim was still submerged in the Pacific Ocean. If you can't make it to the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum in L.A., California's state fossil, the saber-tooth cat, is represented here, too. There are also artifacts from Native Americans, whose population was decimated by the arrival of Spanish missions in the 1700s. By the time you make it to relics of Disneyland's creation in the 1950s, you might have a much deeper appreciation for Anaheim's history.

In addition to being an enriching, budget-friendly SoCal destination, the Muzeo features a revolving slate of seasonal exhibitions. Not all of them are strictly Anaheim-centric, but some might provide a further window into regional history. Past exhibits have covered everything from the Sleepy Hollow legend (including Mary Blair's concept art for Disney's animated retelling) to the legacy of magician Harry Houdini (said to still haunt his Hollywood Hills estate, like a real-life Haunted Mansion).

While you decompress from Disney, there's no shortage of entertainment available in Anaheim. Honda Center isn't just a hockey arena; it's also an illustrious concert venue that can seat over 18,000 people. Gig-tripping, the viral travel trend that Taylor Swift fans helped create, could take on a new dimension if you plan your Disney vacation around a concert here. 2024 brought big names like Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, and Usher to the concert schedule. In 2023, Anaheim native Gwen Stefani headlined the venue's 30th-anniversary show. She's taken the stage many times, both solo and with No Doubt, which started as a local band.

Honda Center is also where Barbara Streisand filmed the highest-rated musical event in HBO history, per the Orange County Register. Other famous rock and pop artists who have performed here include BTS, Bruce Springsteen, the Foo Fighters, Lady Gaga, Paul McCartney, Rihanna, Shakira, and U2. You could even catch a "Disney on Ice" show in the arena if you're going through Mickey withdrawals.

Another option for concertgoing in town is the City National Grove of Anaheim, next to Angel Stadium. With a seating capacity of 1,700, it's a smaller venue that often caters to tribute acts when it's not hosting intimate shows for the likes of Dionne Warwick and Bush (fronted by Stefani's rocker ex-husband, Gavin Rossdale). However, its size makes it a good fit for comedy shows, previously headlined by names like Pete Davidson, Lewis Black, and John Cleese.