Anaheim Convention Center – Area Bucket List

If you love to travel, you probably have a bucket list filled with places to see and things to do. The West Coast, and in particular California, is a destination that often makes an appearance on people’s bucket lists. There are so many cities to see in California, and each one could have its own set of bucket list musts.

With over 24 million annual guests, Anaheim is a city that provides visitors with a great deal to explore. If you find yourself in Anaheim to visit the Anaheim Convention Center, you should have a bucket list of must-see and must-do activities. See how many you can check off your list when you’re visiting this bustling city. If you don’t get them all on your first trip, that’s just one more reason to come back and visit again!

Anaheim Convention Center

Attending a convention at the Anaheim Convention Center will check this right off of your bucket list. As one of the largest convention centers on the West Coast, there’s a lot of square footage to try and cover.

Over the years, the Anaheim Convention Center has had multiple expansions, keeping it up to date and a constant competitor to other convention centers in the state. You’ll want to try and see as much of the venue as possible because the expansions have only made it more impressive.

Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park

It’s hard to talk about Anaheim and not mention Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. The two parks are adjacent to one another, so it is possible to visit both with just a few days in Anaheim. These parks are also located next to the Anaheim Convention Center. Visiting Disney is not like visiting any other theme park. It is an unforgettable experience filled with immersive worlds and activities of your favorite Disney classics.

Disneyland Park is the typical go-to in Anaheim when creating a bucket list. This park is split up into different lands, such as Tomorrowland and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Throughout the entirety of the park, guests can find some of their favorite Disney characters like Minnie and Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, and various Disney Princesses walking around, greeting visitors, and taking pictures.

Attractions at Disneyland Park include Alice in Wonderland, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Goofy’s Playhouse, Haunted Mansion, Mad Tea Party, Peter Pan’s Flight, Pirates of the Caribbean, Snow White’s Scary Adventure, Tarzan’s Treehouse, and much more. You surely won’t run out of things to do, places to shop, and eateries to try.

The Disney California Adventure Park has more focus on amusement park rides. One particularly popular area is Cars Land, which makes you feel like you are in the world of the Cars movies. Throughout the park, guests will also find Marvel superheroes. The attractions and rides in this park include the Games of Pixar Pier, Grizzly River Run, Incredicoaster, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! and Monsters After Dark, Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, and more.

In addition to the two Disney parks, guests can also enjoy Downtown Disney. The Downtown Disney District offers a ton of shopping and dining options. In this area, everything from the eateries to the shops are Disney themed. You can visit this area without buying a ticket to either of the parks. This area could be a place you visit before or after you’re done in the theme parks themselves, allowing you to maximize time.

Knott’s Berry Farm

Another theme park you should add to your list is Knott’s Berry Farm. This was originally just a small berry farm, but in time, it grew into a family theme park. When guests visit, they’ll find Snoopy and the Peanuts Gang eagerly awaiting a chance to meet everyone.

Roller coasters, stage shows, and interactive experiences make Knott’s Berry Farm a popular attraction for all ages. Some of the rides include the Calico Mine Ride and Railroad, Dragon Swing, GhostRider, La Revolucion, Silver Bullet, and much more!

If it’s hot out, you can even hop over to the Knott’s Soak City Water Park. This is Orange County’s largest water park. It has 22 speed, tube, and body slides. There’s also a wave pool and lazy river. You can find Knott’s Berry Farm by taking a 15-minute drive over from the Anaheim Convention Center.

Angel Stadium of Anaheim

Any baseball fan should make an effort to visit the contemporary Angel Stadium of Anaheim, especially since it’s only an eight-minute drive from the Anaheim Convention Center. This ballpark is home to the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball.

There might be a home game happening when you’re in town. If there isn’t one taking place or you don’t have time to stay for an entire ballgame, you can opt for a tour of the stadium instead. The tour takes roughly 75 minutes. It includes stops at the field, dugout, Visitors’ Clubhouse, conference room, and more.

Honda Center

A 13-minute drive from the Anaheim Convention Center is the Honda Center, formerly known as the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim. Today it is home to the National Hockey League’s Anaheim Ducks.

This venue has hosted over 4,000 events from hockey games to concerts and has welcomed more than 39 million visitors over the years. Why not be one of their newest ones? Before you travel to Anaheim, check and see if there is an event happening at the Honda Center.

Flightdeck

Ever wonder what it’s like to fly a military aircraft or commercial airliner? Head on over to Flightdeck, which is 10 minutes from the Anaheim Convention Center.

You don’t need any experience to feel the rush of flying a plane. Make a reservation and show up to have experts teach you how to fly like a pro. Take a stab at flying one of eight fighter jets or a Boeing 737. You’ll feel fully immersed with costumes and mission briefings. When you aren’t taking to the skies, you can head to the Officers Club and watch the aerial maneuvers taking place on LCD screens.

Anaheim Marketplace

If you really enjoy shopping, you have to make a stop at Anaheim Marketplace located two miles from the Anaheim Convention Center. This marketplace has over 200 stores and sells items up to 40% less than retailers.

In addition to specialty shops, there is live entertainment and events offered on weekends. This includes live music, dancing, clowns, and performers dressed as children’s characters there to greet and interact with the kids. Some dance classes are also offered during the weekdays. Anaheim Marketplace is a truly unique shopping experience.

Center Street Promenade

An excellent place to shop till you drop and snap pictures of a quintessentially Californian street lined with palm trees is Center Street Promenade. This area was a hub for commerce at the turn of the century, and it has since been revived. It now brings local businesses and charming little shops to the neighborhood. It is a short 11-minute drive from the Anaheim Convention Center.

Stores to check out while you’re there include J. Mac Jewelers, Pop! Comics & Culture Emporium, and Rare. There are also quite a few eateries to choose from. Some of these restaurants include Cervantes Mexican Kitchen, Healthy Junk, House of Chimney Cakes, Hummos & Pita, K&A Downtown Cafe, and Pour Vida. For activities on Center Street Promenade, stop by The Yoga Mat, The Rinks Anaheim ICE, and SwingIt Trapeze.

Center Street Promenade also hosts events throughout the year. In October, the Halloween Parade takes place and guests can participate in the spooky activities. Healthy Junk takes over the street to run Vegan Faire. You may be lucky enough to be in Anaheim for the one-day Sweet Street event where the street is lined with vendors selling sweet treats. In May, visitors can experience the food, art, and culture of Japan during the Japanese Fair.

Huntington Beach

No, Huntington Beach is not in Anaheim, but it’s only a 30-minute drive from the Anaheim Convention Center. When you have amazing beaches so close by, how could you pass up the chance to spend a day lazing out in the sun?

USA Today voted Huntington Beach the best beach in California. If you enjoy surfing, grab a surfboard because Huntington Beach is a popular surf beach. Besides sunbathing and swimming in the ocean, you could also go whale-watching, which is offered all year long. If you enjoy fishing, you can take part in Davey’s Locker, a deep-sea fishing trip.

The Huntington Beach Pier is also an iconic spot that many visitors enjoy while in the area. After being rebuilt, the pier is now 1,850 feet. It is Huntington’s most famous landmark. Walking down this pier will give you great panoramic views of Catalina Island, Newport Beach, Long Beach, and San Pedro.

Art Crawl Experience

During the months of February, May, August, and November, Center Street Promenade is used for a week-long Art Crawl Experience, or “ACE.” The event spans from Anaheim Boulevard to Harbor Boulevard and along Center Street Promenade.

ACE was started by leaders in the community and artists that wanted to showcase arts and culture downtown. During the event, attendees will see art in public places, street artisans, pop-up galleries, and brick-and-mortar galleries.

This event definitely gets the community and local businesses involved. While ACE is taking place, food trucks gather and local performers come to entertain everyone. Downtown restaurants and shops that want to take part in the event get turned into one-night pop-up galleries. Even the Anaheim Resort Transit, or “ART,” gives complimentary rides around the area so guests can enjoy the event with ease of transport.

Food Trucks

California has some of the best food trucks around, so you should definitely keep an eye out for a food truck or two during your visit to Anaheim. The best thing about having this as a bucket list goal is that it won’t be something that eats up a lot of time or causes you to go out of your way to complete. Many of the above attractions will likely have a food truck parked nearby. There are plenty within both walking and driving distance from the Anaheim Convention Center.

To give you some ideas for possible food truck stops for your trip, here are a few suggestions about where food trucks frequent: As mentioned, ACE will have food trucks lining the streets when the event is taking place. You’ll find Dragon Dog Hot Dogs at every Angels home game. Tri-Tip Man Food Truck can often be found in Downtown Disney. You’ll also find various food trucks around the Anaheim Marketplace, such as Don Churros Gomez and Burger Monster. Without a doubt, you’re bound to find some delicious food at a food truck as you walk through the city of Anaheim.