“Anaheim for adults” was the pitch from my editor at Let’s Travel magazine and I was up for the challenge. Yes, everyone knows this is the home of Disneyland, but what else is there to do if you’ve booked a family holiday in Anaheim, California? In my case, I’m an adult who unashamedly still loves going to Disneyland, but I love adventures and explorations of all varieties and was intrigued as to the full spectrum of what this corner of Southern California may have to offer.

Over the course of six nights in Anaheim, I saw the beaches and beautiful homes of Newport Beach and Balboa Island (courtesy of a Pedego e-bike), ate tacos and attended a cocktail class overlooking Huntington Beach*, went zip-lining on the very European-feeling Catalina Island**, had a massage treatment at a luxury day spa, watched ice hockey for the first time, visited a craft brewery as well as a trendy wine bar and somehow found myself singing onstage at open mic night at the House Of Blues. And yes, I managed a trip to Disneyland in amongst all of that too.

You can read about my “Anaheim For Adults” exploits from pages 24-41 in a five-article special in the current issue of Let’s Travel. This includes my review of the Hilton Hotel Anaheim (no exaggeration, this was the single biggest hotel suite of my life at over 200 square metres) and my American Airlines 787-9 Auckland to LAX return flight. The flight review includes info on American Airlines’ Five Star Service where you get treated like a bonafide Hollywood star.

Huge thanks to Visit Anaheim, American Airlines, Hilton Anaheim and Karmel Shuttle. Enjoy the photos and subscribe to Let’s Travel (print and digital issues available) at LetsTravelMag.com.

 

*Don’t worry Mum and Dad, that’s not a doobie! Though the sage and oregano of this fake joint did have a similar aroma.

**The main featured image is of Catalina Island.