Fun in the Sun, Even in January

By Daniel Grace

You can turn your extra time into vacation time by visiting the area’s parks, beaches, and hotspots

In Anaheim and the surrounding Orange County area, there is always something new under the sun—and something for everyone. Click on the links below to obtain more information about specific things to do during your stay in Anaheim.

 

MPMN welcomes you to MD&M West, but take a hike all the same! Orange County is a great place for trail hiking and exploring the outdoors. Featherly Regional Park Canyon RV (www.ocparks.com/featherly) is conveniently located in Anaheim and offers a large playground and open turf areas for recreational activities, in addition to hiking trails. Yorba Regional Park (www.ocparks.com/yorbapark) is home to an abundance of picnic areas, as well as four lakes where visitors can partake in fishing and boating. For information about many more parks in the surrounding area, go to: www.ocparks.com.

 

Southern California is known for its beaches, and Orange County is a large part of the reason for that reputation. Drive out to Dana Point, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, Seal Beach, or San Clemente Beach to see what everyone’s talking about. The Orange Country Register offers a helpful beach blog where visitors can find maps, directions, and calendar listings; visit: www.beach.freedomblogging.com.

 

For the golfer, Orange County is a prime destination. In 2007 alone, there were eight professional events in Orange Country, and there are too many golf courses in the area to list here. In Anaheim, try Anaheim Hills Golf Course or Dad Miller Golf Course. You can learn more about both of them at www.anaheim.net/golf.

 

The epicenter of shopping in Anaheim is The Block at Orange (www.theblockatorange.com). The mall includes a huge number of familiar stores, among them a Borders Books, a Saks 5^th Avenue outlet, an Old Navy, a Burke Williams Day Spa, and a Virgin Megastore.

 

What trip to Anaheim is complete without a stop at Disneyland? The Magic Kingdom awaits you. Pirates of the Caribbean, Peter Pan, and Space Mountain are among this editor’s favorite rides. Visit the official site at http://disneyland.disney.go.com.