Hotel at a Glance: Ayres Hotel Orange

At Anaheim-area theme parks like Disneyland Theme Park and Knott’s Berry Farm, roller coasters zip around and costumed characters entertain kids. But less than 15 minutes away, there’s a more peaceful vibe. Ayres Hotel Orange invites guests to rest up in studio suites, where they can curl up on comfy couches or mahogany beds and stream their favorite shows on free WiFi.

• Free hot breakfast is served daily, and in-suite refrigerators and microwaves let guests prep snacks.
• Bites, brews, and wine are on the house at evening receptions (Monday–Thursday).
• Work up a sweat in the onsite fitness centre.
• Don’t worry about forgetting your toothbrush - buy what you need in the gift shop.
• More entertainment at the nearby Anaheim Convention Center and the Honda Center, home to a pro hockey team

Anaheim, California: Magical Play Land Outside LA

Less than 35 miles from Hollywood, Anaheim is perfectly situated for making the most of a Southern California getaway. But most visitors never make it that far, as Disneyland Park has long dominated the city’s tourism scene. As Walt Disney’s original park, it has a handful of classic attractions that, though upgraded over the years, have been around since the park opened in 1955. You can ride the Mad Tea Party spinning teacups, hop on the King Arthur Carrousel, or sail in the Storybook Land Canal Boats (Walt Disney personally planted the small pine near Geppetto’s home).

Disneyland Park has plenty of modern rides too, including Cars Land, one of the newer additions to Disney California Adventure Park and a life-size re-creation of the town from Disney Pixar’s Cars. The highlight here is the slot-car attraction, which puts you in an automated vehicle that swerves around animatronic characters before engaging another car in a high-speed race.