10 Best Things to Do in Anaheim Besides Disneyland (2026)

10 Things to Do in Anaheim Besides Disneyland

This list moves from food and shopping through sports and nature to local history. Pick two or three stops for a half day, or string several together for a full day away from the parks. In our editorial assessment, the Packing District is the easiest low-effort stop for a group with mixed food preferences, since everyone can order separately.

• Anaheim Packing District
  • This former citrus packing plant now runs as a communal food hall known as the Packing House, with counters from a rotating lineup of local vendors.
  • Check the Packing District's current tenant list before you go, since vendors change often.
  • It works well as a low-effort dinner stop after a full park day, since the group can order separately and share one table.
• Center Street Promenade
  • This pedestrian stretch in the Colony District holds independent boutiques and the Anaheim Farmers Market.
  • It sits close to the Packing District, so the two pair well for an evening walk-and-eat loop.
  • It suits foodies and locals more than a typical tourist strip, with fewer souvenir shops and more everyday local business.
• Anaheim Ice
  • The rink occupies a Frank Gehry-designed building in the Colony District.
  • Public skating sessions run on a rotating schedule, so confirm current times on the rink's site before visiting.
  • Unlike Disneyland's rides, skating here carries no height requirements, so it works for a wider age range in one session.
• Angel Stadium of Anaheim
  • Home of MLB's Los Angeles Angels, known locally as the Big A, with a season that runs spring through fall.
  • Tailgating in the stadium lots is part of the local game-day culture.
  • Check the Angels' published schedule before booking a nearby hotel, since home games spike traffic around the stadium.
• Honda Center
  • This arena hosts the NHL's Anaheim Ducks in season, plus touring concerts year-round.
  • Check Honda Center's event calendar alongside Angel Stadium's if you're routing a sports-heavy trip, since both venues drive local traffic on event nights.
  • It suits sports fans and concertgoers who want a genuine local crowd rather than a park-branded show.
• City National Grove of Anaheim
  • This is an intimate concert venue near the stadiums, built for smaller touring acts than Honda Center books.
  • It's a solid pick for an evening show without arena-scale crowds or arena-scale parking lines.
  • It works well as a backup plan on a night when nothing's scheduled at the bigger venues.
• Pearson Park
  • The park has a public amphitheater and ponds, and it sits within walking distance of Center Street Promenade.
  • It works as a quieter alternative to a full park day for families with young children.
  • If toddlers are part of the trip, pair it with the pacing advice in this Disneyland with toddlers guide.
• Yorba Regional Park
  • This park is built for biking and large group picnics, with more open space than the downtown parks offer.
  • Getting there requires a short drive or rideshare from downtown, so plan it as a half-day trip rather than a walk-over stop.
  • It suits families who want room to spread out after several days of theme-park crowds.
• Oak Canyon Nature Center
  • This nature preserve holds hiking trails and local wildlife away from the city grid.
  • It's a half-day commitment rather than a quick stop, so plan for a few hours if you go.
  • It suits families and locals who want a break from pavement and crowds.
• Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center
  • Muzeo runs rotating art and history exhibits inside a historic Carnegie Library building.
  • Founders' Park preserves 19th-century homes, including the Woelke-Stoffel House, adding a compact dose of Anaheim's citrus-era history.
  • Both stops suit a one- to two-hour culture break between meals or sports events.

Getting Around Anaheim Without a Car

Anaheim is more spread out than the resort's walkable core, and most downtown stops aren't within walking range of a Disneyland-area hotel. Building a non-Disney day into the trip is also one of the simplest ways to stretch a Disneyland budget strategy, since most of these stops cost less than a full park day. Three transit options cover most non-park days.

• ART (Anaheim Regional Transportation)
  • This shuttle system connects resort-area hotels to stops like the Packing District and the stadium district.
  • Confirm current routes and stops before your trip, since transit lines get adjusted between seasons.
• Fran (Free Ride Around Neighborhood)
  • This micro-transit app offers free rides inside the downtown area.
  • Service availability can change, so check the app's current coverage zone before relying on it for a full evening.
• Parking
  • The Packing House runs paid parking near the food hall.
  • Residential streets around the Colony District often have free parking within a short walk of the main strip.

Best For: Matching the Activity to Your Non-Disney Day

Use this table to match the mood of the day to the right stop. Expect stadium events and concerts to cost more than a park stroll or museum visit; check each venue's official site for current ticket pricing.

A Sample No-Park Day in Anaheim

This order works well for a single rest day, moving from a quiet morning to a louder evening. Swap stops based on the season and on what's scheduled at the stadium or arena that week.

• Morning: Pearson Park or Oak Canyon Nature Center
  • Start with the amphitheater and ponds at Pearson Park for a low-key morning.
  • Or drive to Oak Canyon Nature Center for a longer hike if the group wants more distance.
• Midday: Center Street Promenade and the Packing District
  • Walk the promenade and browse the Farmers Market if it's running.
  • Head to the Packing House for lunch or an early dinner afterward.
• Evening: Angel Stadium, Honda Center, or City National Grove
  • Check the Angels' or Ducks' schedule, since both are season-dependent, and catch a game if one's on.
  • If nothing's scheduled at the stadium or arena, pick a smaller show at City National Grove of Anaheim instead.

Mistakes to Avoid on a Non-Disney Day in Anaheim

A few planning missteps show up often for visitors staying near the resort. Each one is easy to avoid with a short check before the day starts.

• Assuming everything is walkable
  • Anaheim is spread out beyond the Colony District core.
  • Budget drive or rideshare time between the stadium district, Yorba Regional Park, and Oak Canyon Nature Center.
• Skipping the stadium schedule check
  • Angel Stadium and Honda Center home games spike local traffic.
  • Check both venues' schedules before booking a hotel or planning drive times nearby.
• Overlooking the brewery circuit
  • Anaheim is often cited as having one of the highest concentrations of craft breweries in Orange County.
  • It's worth a stop if craft beer is part of the plan, and several sit close to the stadium district.
• Underestimating the scale difference with Disney World
  • Anaheim's non-Disney footprint is compact compared to Orlando's spread-out resort corridor.
  • If you're weighing trip length against Florida, see this Disneyland versus Disney World comparison before planning a multi-day non-park itinerary.

Anaheim Brewery Circuit

Anaheim's brewery circuit is the clearest adult-focused option for a non-Disney day. It works best as an evening plan after the Packing District, a game, or a convention day. The scene is spread across La Palma Avenue, downtown, and the stadium district, so pick one cluster instead of trying to cross the city.

• Bottle Logic Brewing has a taproom at 1072 N. Armando St., useful for beer fans who want a focused tasting-room stop.
• Brewery X sits on the La Palma Beer Trail and fits a more social patio-style outing.
• Golden Road Brewing is across from Angel Stadium, making it practical before or after an Angels game.
• Radiant Beer Co. is near Disneyland, the Colony District, and the Packing House area.

Use ART, rideshare, or a designated driver if you are linking multiple stops.