Ask most Australians what they know about Anaheim, and you’ll get one answer: Disneyland. Fair enough, it’s magic. But there’s a whole Orange County city humming around those castle spires, and Viva Holidays has partnered with Visit The USA and Visit Anaheim to prove it.
From rooftop bars to a hockey rink, craft breweries to a coastline 30 minutes away, here’s why the Southern California city deserves more than a two-day park stopover, and the Viva Holidays packages that make the case.
Anaheim calls itself a destination “Made to Play”, and it’s not just a campaign line. Built on imagination since Walt Disney chose the city for his first theme park in 1955, Anaheim has spent seven decades adding reasons to stick around once the gates close.
That’s the pitch Viva Holidays, Visit The USA, and Visit Anaheim want travel advisors to make this year: Disneyland Resort as the anchor, but not the whole itinerary, as there’s so much to see, do, taste and experience beyond the House of Mouse.
For starters, there’s an inspired food and craft brewery scene, pro baseball and hockey teams to get your sports on, shopping – from designer to discount (and we know Aussies love an outlet mall), and year-round outdoor experiences to get around – no matter when your clients visit.
Centrally located in Orange County between Los Angeles and San Diego, Anaheim is an ideal base for exploring Southern California, whether your clients are chasing thrills, food, sport or coastal downtime.
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A food scene built for grazing, not just fast passes
The diverse dining scene invites visitors to linger longer, from international street food to local culinary favourites.
Rooftop dining, elevated. Anaheim’s rooftop venues pair panoramic views with dining and handcrafted cocktails, exactly the kind of “we found this ourselves” moment clients love to share. Cheers to the 360-degree vistas at The Top of the V, Parkestry and The Fifth.
A craft beer scene with real depth. Taprooms across the city pour local brews – several award-winning – for clients who’d rather sample a beer flight than queue for a ride. There’s also urban wineries for the urbane: Pali Wine Co. and California Vintage Wine Bistro for Cali-grown drops.
Food halls and chef-driven kitchens. From international street food to sweet treats and everything in between, this dining scene rewards an extra night or two in town to sample it all. The Anaheim Packing District alone has more than 30 individual vendors!
Themed bars and secret speakeasies. Fantasy isn’t confined to theme parks. Anaheim has a raft of cocktail lounges worth seeking out, like the nautical-themed Strong Water and The Blind Rabbit, a low-key speakeasy dripping with cool cachet.
Farmers markets and foodie finds. Go straight to the source. Downtown Anaheim’s Farmers Markets and the Historic Main Street Market in Garden Grove have both local produce and providores with tasty artisan treats weekly on Thursdays and Sundays, respectively. For more fresh-from-the-farm goodness, steer your clients towards the farmers markets at Old Towne Orange, Irvine, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach and more.
Cheer on the home teams
Live sport is just one of the many experiences that make Anaheim worth extending your stay for.
Sports fans get their own winning reason to extend the stay. Two pro teams call Anaheim home – Anaheim Ducks for the National Hockey League, and Los Angeles Angels for Major League Baseball.
Pro Tip: We have it on very good authority that your clients have a much better chance of catching a game in Anaheim over LA.
Catch the Anaheim Ducks take to the ice at Honda Center, or watch the Los Angeles Angels hit a home run at Angel Stadium, both a short drive from wherever your clients are based for the quintessential and unmissable US live sporting experience.
Shop, then hit the coast
Premium outlets, shopping centres and boutique strips give Anaheim its retail therapy credentials. Anaheim GardenWalk and Downtown Anaheim offer that classic Southern California outdoor shopping mall experience, while your clients can also shop ’til they drop and snap up a bargain at Citadel Outlets and The Outlets at Orange or splurge on designer gear at South Coast Plaza.
You can’t visit the real OC without hitting the beaches. From Huntington Beach to Laguna and from Newport Beach to San Clemente, there’s a stretch of SoCal shore with your client’s name on it, whether they’re into surfing, sunning or checking out the classic pier at Huntington Beach.
There’s also parks and gardens, coastal hiking and walking trails and golf courses galore, so your clients have ample opportunity to soak up the mild temps all year round.
With Southern California’s beaches close by and Los Angeles and San Diego within easy reach, the city works as a home base for a longer Southern California loop, not just a theme-park layover.
The Viva Holidays packages to know
Left: Family-friendly attractions make Anaheim a great choice for travellers of all ages. Right: The vibrant dining, bars and nightlife give couples and adult travellers plenty of reasons to extend their Southern California stay.
Viva Holidays has new ways to sell Anaheim, whether as a springboard for wider USA discovery or as a family-first theme park base.
6 Day Anaheim Family Magic Escape
Family-friendly accommodation and experiences make Anaheim an easy destination for holidays that everyone can enjoy.
Designed for families, this value-packed escape combines comfortable accommodation with plenty of Disney magic and bonus experiences.
Five nights at 3-star Desert Palms Hotel and Suites (One-bedroom suite with bunk beds)
Full breakfast daily
5-Day Disneyland Resort 1-Park Per Day Ticket
4-hour Pirates Dinner Adventure, including transfers
Return shared van transfer from Los Angeles airport to the hotel^
Starts from $5,899 per family quad-share* (two adults, two children aged three to nine), saving $505 per family*
Learn more
6 Day Magical Moments in Anaheim
Shopping, dining and local experiences add even more value to an Anaheim getaway.
A classic city stay with added value, shopping perks and bonus inclusions, all within easy reach of Disneyland Resort.
Five nights at the 3-star Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel and Water Playground (Deluxe Room)
Full breakfast daily
Bonus USD$50 Disney gift card per booking~
Bonus welcome amenity kit
Bonus late check out to 2pm
5-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Ticket†
Citadel Outlets Shop ’til you drop off at LAX transfer, with VIP lounge access and connecting airport transfer
One-way shared van transfer from Los Angeles airport to the hotel^
Starts from $1,949 per person twin share*, saving $259 per person*
Discover more
12-day Golden California Self Drive
Links San Francisco, Monterey, Pismo Beach, Anaheim, Las Vegas, San Diego and Los Angeles, taking in the Golden Gate Bridge, the 17 Mile Drive, Highway 1’s Central Coast scenery and Hollywood’s TCL Chinese Theatre along the way.
3 nights at 4-star The Cliff Royal Sonesta Hotel, San Francisco (Deluxe Room)
1 night at 4-star Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa on Del Monte Golf Course (Standard Room)
1 night at 3-star Cottage Inn by the Sea, California Coast (Deluxe Ocean View Room)
2 nights at 3.5-star Hyatt Regency Orange County (Queen Room)
2-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Ticket†
2 nights at 5-star Caesars Palace, Las Vegas (Julius Room)
2 nights at 4-star Margaritaville Hotel San Diego Gaslamp Quarter (Deluxe Room)
13 days Avis car hire, Toyota Corolla or similar
From $4,679 per person twin share*
Find out more here
Learn more
Anaheim’s award-winning food scene is another reason to linger, from chef-led restaurants to vibrant local favourites.
Direct clients to Viva Holidays’ Anaheim “Made to Play” packages, and point them to Visit Anaheim and Visit The USA for destination inspiration beyond the parks.
Find marketing assets and sales support on Viva Holidays’ dedicated agent platform. To book, head to the online reservation system, Mango.
Visit Anaheim is also active on Instagram, Facebook, X, Threads and TikTok, with hashtag #VisitAnaheim, worth following for content to share with clients.
This article is brought to you by Viva Holidays, Visit The USA and Visit Anaheim.
