Hotel at a Glance: The Anabella Hotel

The Anabella Hotel offers a quiet respite from the bustle of Disney California Adventure Park and the Anaheim Convention Center, which are both located just a short walk from the hotel. The mission-style boutique hotel sits on 7 acres of landscaped grounds. Here you can cool off at one of two pools—the main pool, complete with a hot tub, and the separate quiet pool (for ages 18 or older)—or grab a drink and a snack at the onsite Tangerine Grill & Patio.

• Take a nap on your soft, pillow-top Divine bed; the spacious rooms and suites offer elegant decor, granite bathrooms, and views of the hotel’s grounds.
• What the press says: Fodor’s writes, “this hotel’s Spanish Mission–style exterior and leafy landscaping set it apart from other budget properties.”
• Use your $25 dining credit at Tangerine Grill & Patio — the onsite eatery serves California-fresh cuisine using free-range eggs, meat, and poultry — or at the onsite Gourmet Frozen Yogurt Shop called Bella’s on Katella, named after the adored feline that lives on the property.
• Where to shop: The Downtown Disney District and its lively promenade are just a 15-minute walk away. Here, you can shop for toys at Build-A-Bear Workshop, Disney stores, and the Lego Store.
• Must-see attraction: Disney California Adventure Park, where Disney and Pixar films come to life. There are more than 30 rides and attractions, including Mickey’s Fun Wheel ferris wheel. The hotel is a short walk from the park’s two entrances.

Anaheim, California: Magical Play Land About a Half Hour from Huntington Beach

Less than an hour from Hollywood and Universal Studios, 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.

If you’re in the mood for thrills, climb aboard the roller coasters thundering around Paradise Pier with sweeping views of the park. Alternatively, trade fairy dust for white sand in Huntington Beach, where you’ll find 3.5 miles of free-to-the-public beaches filled with surfing, pickup volleyball games, and countless stalls hawking flip-flops and seashell-themed wares.

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