Orange County, CA

Anaheim is home to the world-famous Disneyland Resort complex, which today includes the original Disneyland Park, Disney's California Adventure Park and the Downtown Disney District. Disneyland Park features eight spectacular themed lands that

Anaheim is home to the world-famous Disneyland Resort complex, which today includes the original Disneyland Park, Disney's California Adventure Park and the Downtown Disney District. Disneyland Park features eight spectacular themed lands that encompass over 60 rides. Main Street USA, patterned after an early 20th century Midwest town, welcomes guests to the park with a train station, town square and city hall. The 19th century-inspired New Orleans Square is home to two of the most popular Disneyland attractions, the Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion rides. Splash Mountain in Critter Country and Mickey's Toontown, a 1930s cartoon come to life, are also crowd-pleasers.

Directly across from Disneyland Park, Disney's California Adventure Park is a place of shows, parades and attractions that celebrate California's past and future. Attraction highlights include the Twilight Tower of Terror, where guests plunge 13 stories down the vacant Hollywood Tower Hotel and Soarin' Over California, a simulated hang glider that gives guests an aerial view of California. Guests can also try their hand at the park's Games of the Boardwalk area, or have a taste of California heritage at the Mission Tortilla Factory, which features cooking and tasting demonstrations.

Just a short Disney monorail ride away, the Downtown Disney District is a lively promenade leading to the park entrance. Here, visitors explore blocks of unique shopping, dining and entertainment, including a movie theater, bowling alley and several nightlife hotspots.

The Disneyland Resort is a one-of-a-kind meeting destination. Its parks offer an endless array of themed event opportunities, from dinner in the Haunted Mansion or a picnic on one of the hotel lawn areas. Downtown Disney also boasts various flexible event areas, including the House of Blues and ESPN Zone. Disney offers 2,413 guest rooms among three hotels and over 180,000 square feet of meeting space.

The Disneyland Resort is open daily with hours varying based on season. Admission varies based on guest age and attraction. Passes that include access to each of the Disney Resort regions and parks are available in one- to six-day increments.

Located within walking distance from the Anaheim Convention Center and the Disneyland Resort, the Anaheim GardenWalk is a unique outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment center. Complete with manicured gardens and cascading waterfalls, the center

Located within walking distance from the Anaheim Convention Center and the Disneyland Resort, the Anaheim GardenWalk is a unique outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment center. Complete with manicured gardens and cascading waterfalls, the center is home to 440,000 square feet of retail and dining locales, as well as an upscale bowling lounge and state-of-the-art movie theaters.

As the largest museum in Orange County, the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana is dedicated to its mission to enrich lives through the world's finest arts and cultures. Extremely popular and ever-growing (the museum has grown from 7,000 square feet to 93,000

As the largest museum in Orange County, the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana is dedicated to its mission to enrich lives through the world's finest arts and cultures. Extremely popular and ever-growing (the museum has grown from 7,000 square feet to 93,000 square feet in the past 15 years), the museum houses more than 100,000 objects within its 30,000 square feet of gallery space.

The 30,000-object Orange County History collection showcases newspapers, magazines, publications, photographs and artwork depicting the county's early days. Meanwhile, the renowned Art of the Pacific collection offers 2,400 pre-historic to contemporary objects from such locations as Papau New Guinea, Irian Jaya, Melanesia, Polynesia and Australia. Objects on display include basketry, pottery, feather work, weapons, wooden sculptures, food bowls, utensils, jewelry and costumes.

The Bowers Museum is also home to the Bowers Kidseum, a hands-on space geared towards children ages one to 10. Here, kids can try on international clothing and ethnic masks, play tribal instruments or learn about various foreign languages.

The Bowers Museum offers several first-class spaces for private rentals, including the state-of-the-art Norma Kershaw Auditorium for 300 people and the John M. Lee Court for 500 people. Also available is the outdoor Margaret and Cleo Key Courtyard for 1,000 guests, gallery space for up to 100 guests, the outdoor covered Historic Balcony for 100 guests, and the Tangata Restaurant for 200 guests.

The Bowers Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM. The Kidseum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM. Admission to the Bowers Museum is $9 for students and children ages 6-17 and $12 for adults. Admission to the Bowers Museum for children under 6 is free. Admission to the Kidseum is $6 for guests ages 2 and older; hours vary.  Group rates are available.

Once an actual berry farm – and the birthplace of the boysenberry – Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park is heralded as America's first theme park. Today, the 160-acre park's world-class rides, family-friendly shows and attractions that pay tribute to

Once an actual berry farm – and the birthplace of the boysenberry – Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park is heralded as America's first theme park. Today, the 160-acre park's world-class rides, family-friendly shows and attractions that pay tribute to Southern California culture and heritage make it the 12th most-visited amusement park in the country.

Knott's Berry Farm's attractions include the colorful Boardwalk area, which features the popular Perilous Plunge, a world-record 115-foot water chute set at a 75 degree angle. Camp Snoopy, geared towards younger guests, features kid-sized versions of other Knott's Berry Farm rides, while Fiesta Village is home to the state's longest man-made white water river. As the heart and soul of the park, Ghost Town is an 1880s-themed California Boom Town complete with cowboys, gunfight stunt shows, stage coaches, a steam train and the world's first log flume ride.

Adjacent to Knott's Berry Farm theme park is the Knott's Berry Farm Soak City water park. Here, guests find 13 acres of 17 tube slides, a wave pool, a lazy river ride and the trademark Pacific Spin slide, which drops riders into a six-story-tall funnel.

Knott's Berry Farm has several meeting rooms, including the Boardwalk Ballroom for up to 550 guests and the Wilderness Dance Hall for up to 400 guests. Its largest reception setting can accommodate 5,000 people.

Knott's Berry Farm is open daily with hours varying based on season. Soak City is open daily, June to September, with operating hours by month. Groups sales are available.

Regarded as the birthplace of Orange County and as the "Jewel of the Missions," Mission San Juan Capistrano was founded in 1776 as the 7th of 21 missions statewide. Originally built as a self-sufficient community by the Spanish Padres and Native

Regarded as the birthplace of Orange County and as the "Jewel of the Missions," Mission San Juan Capistrano was founded in 1776 as the 7th of 21 missions statewide. Originally built as a self-sufficient community by the Spanish Padres and Native Americans, the mission was a center for agriculture, industry, education and religion.

Today, the historic landmark is a monument to California's multicultural history, celebrating its Native American, Spanish, Mexican and European heritage. Guests are welcome to explore the mission's beautiful Serra Chapel, the Padres Quarters, Industrial Area, Soldiers Barracks, Cemetery and Great Stone Church. Visitors can also take part in free garden tours and watch loom weaving and spinning demonstrations, as well as Native American basket weaving seminars.

Each spring, starting on March 19, the mission holds its annual Return of the Swallows Celebration. This event welcomes the migratory cliff swallows that have traveled from Argentina to roost in the mission's adobe walls for centuries.

Facility rental is available for up to 1,000 guests. Mission San Juan Capistrano is open daily from 8:30 AM to 5 PM; open 8:30 AM to 12 PM Good Friday and New Year's Eve; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Admission, which includes audio tours, is $5 for children ages 4-11 and $9 for adults. Admission for children under 4 is free. Group rates are available.

A renowned center for modern and contemporary art, the Orange County Museum of Art in Newport Beach hosts more than 60,000 visitors every year. The museum's collection includes 3,000 objects the concentrate on California art from the early 20th

A renowned center for modern and contemporary art, the Orange County Museum of Art in Newport Beach hosts more than 60,000 visitors every year. The museum's collection includes 3,000 objects the concentrate on California art from the early 20th century to the present. Movements highlighted at the museum include California Scene Painting, Early and Mid-Century Modernism, Bay Area Figuration, Assemblage, California Light and Space, Pop Art, Minimalism and Installation Art.

Facility rentals are available. The Orange County Museum of Art is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM, with extended hours every Thursday until 8 PM. Admission is $12 for adults and $10 for students. Admission for children under 12 is free. All guests may visit the museum for free on the second Sunday of each month. Public tours, offered every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 1 PM, are free with admission.

Situated in Yorba Linda, just 15 miles from Anaheim, the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum features many exhibitions on Nixon's presidency, his pre- and post-Presidential materials, and even his birthplace, a home built by his father in 1912.

Situated in Yorba Linda, just 15 miles from Anaheim, the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum features many exhibitions on Nixon's presidency, his pre- and post-Presidential materials, and even his birthplace, a home built by his father in 1912. Guests start the museum tour in the auditorium where they view vintage campaign films, news footage and Nixon television appearances. Exhibits include a replica of the White House Lincoln Sitting Room, as decorated during Nixon's presidency and the 1967 Lincoln Continental limousine used by former Presidents Johnson, Nixon and Ford.

An exhibit on the space program examines the program under Nixon and includes such objects as a moon rock, space suit and the telephone Nixon used to call Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldridge on the moon. A cornerstone of the museum collection, the Army One helicopter used by Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford, also sits on the museum grounds.

The Nixon Presidential Library & Museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM. Museum admission is $4.75 for children ages 7-11, $11.95 for adults. $6.95 for active military and $5.95 for college students. Admission for children under 7 is free.

The spectacular 21 Oceanfront Restaurant, located in Newport Beach just 19 miles away from downtown Anaheim, is an upscale dining locale specializing in fresh seafood delivered daily. Graced with a breathtaking 180-degree ocean view, the restaurant's

The spectacular 21 Oceanfront Restaurant, located in Newport Beach just 19 miles away from downtown Anaheim, is an upscale dining locale specializing in fresh seafood delivered daily. Graced with a breathtaking 180-degree ocean view, the restaurant's elegant interior is accented by white linens, dark woods, brass chandeliers and low lighting. Menu choices include pistachio-crusted halibut with passion fruit and mango butter sauce; New Zealand rack of lamb marinated in olive oil, red wine, onions and rosemary; and jumbo prawns wrapped in Pacific salmon with a balsamic reduction.

The restaurant is an ideal place for large parties and group functions. It offers three plush dining rooms for up to 90 guests, the Wine Cellar room for 60 guests, and the Cellar Patio for 30 guests. 21 Oceanfront even offers complimentary round-trip transportation from many Anaheim locations.

21 Oceanfront serves dinner nightly at 4 PM. Entrees range from $25 to $130.

The recipient of international acclaim for its Cucina Nostalgica Italiana, or new Italian cuisine, Santa Ana's Antonella Ristorante has been an Orange County staple since its 1979 opening. The elegantly rustic restaurant features large murals, white

The recipient of international acclaim for its Cucina Nostalgica Italiana, or new Italian cuisine, Santa Ana's Antonella Ristorante has been an Orange County staple since its 1979 opening. The elegantly rustic restaurant features large murals, white linens, ceiling rafters and golden hues, all of which create the perfectly relaxed ambiance for sipping one of its more than 700 global wine selections. Entrees include such selections as the homemade gnocchi in creamy fontina cheese and truffle oil sauce and the linguine with fresh crab, scallops, sun-dried tomatoes and pesto.

The restaurant features eight private dining rooms accommodating eight to 85 guests. Antonello Ristorante serves lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 AM to 2 PM and dinner Monday through Friday from 5 to 9:30 PM and Saturday from 5 to 10 PM. Entrees range from $16 to $38.

Perched on a secluded hilltop just nine miles outside of Anaheim, Orange Hill Restaurant offers some of the best views and cuisine in all of Orange County. Diners flock to the restaurant for its sophisticated contemporary American menu and sprawling

Perched on a secluded hilltop just nine miles outside of Anaheim, Orange Hill Restaurant offers some of the best views and cuisine in all of Orange County. Diners flock to the restaurant for its sophisticated contemporary American menu and sprawling views of Los Angeles, Newport, Orange County and even the Catalina Island.

The restaurant's tranquil grounds feature cascading waterfalls, koi ponds and an outside patio with six fire pits. Inside, guests dine among picture windows and graceful white linens. Orange Hill's menu features such choices as seared Hawaiian ahi over black Thai rice; Portobello mushroom ravioli with roasted eggplant; and free range chicken breast with whole grain mustard foie gras emulsion.

Known for its private dining options, Orange Hill features the Fireside Room for 50 guests, Starlight Room for 120 guests and Evening Star Room for 190 guests. Orange Hill Restaurant serves dinner Monday through Friday and Sunday, beginning at 5 PM; on Saturday, 4:30 PM to 11 PM. Open for brunch Saturday at 10 AM to 3 PM and on Sunday 9AM to 3 PM. Entrees range from $19 to $49.

The Big Easy meets Orange County at Anaheim's vibrant Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen. Located in the Anaheim Resort District, the French Quarter-style restaurant serves up Louisiana Creole cuisine and nightly jazz entertainment. The restaurant is known

The Big Easy meets Orange County at Anaheim's vibrant Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen. Located in the Anaheim Resort District, the French Quarter-style restaurant serves up Louisiana Creole cuisine and nightly jazz entertainment. The restaurant is known for its whimsical setting, including the open-air fountain courtyard, artwork by New Orleans artists and bright colors.

Menu specialties include filet medallions with crawfish mashed potatoes and bacon- and pecan-crusted green beans; cornmeal-crusted catfish with dirty rice-stuffed cabbage; and gulf shrimp-crusted yellowtail with chipotle red pepper cream sauce.

The restaurant features several private dining spaces. Among them, the Flambeaux Room can host 96 guests; the Queen's Room, 66 guests; the Parlor/Wine Room, 130 guests; and the outdoor Jazz Balcony, 70 guests.

Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen serves lunch Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 4 PM and dinner Sunday through Thursday from 4:30 to 10 PM and Friday and Saturday from 4:30 to 11 PM. Entrees range from $18 to $33.

Designed for kid-friendly family fun, Anaheim's whimsical Adventure City features 10 exciting rides, interactive kids' shows and a collection of small town buildings open for exploration. A mini roller coaster, Ferris wheel and vintage 1946 20-horse

Designed for kid-friendly family fun, Anaheim's whimsical Adventure City features 10 exciting rides, interactive kids' shows and a collection of small town buildings open for exploration. A mini roller coaster, Ferris wheel and vintage 1946 20-horse carousel are among the popular attractions. Adventure City is also home to a large arcade, petting farm and 24-foot-tall rock climbing wall.

Adventure City's hours of operations vary by season. Admission is $14.95 per person. Admission is free for children under 12 months. Group rates are available.

Re-opened in 1998 after a $100-millionrenovation, Angel Stadium of Anaheim has been the home of the Angels Major League Baseball team since its move from Los Angeles after the 1965 season. The cutting edge ballpark features a seating capacity of

Re-opened in 1998 after a $100-millionrenovation, Angel Stadium of Anaheim has been the home of the Angels Major League Baseball team since its move from Los Angeles after the 1965 season. The cutting edge ballpark features a seating capacity of 45,050 people, as well as such unique features as terraced bullpens in the outfield, family-oriented seating sections, luxurious club-level and dugout-level suites, landscaped courtyards, three full-service restaurants and the Pepsi Perfect Game Pavilion, a youth-oriented interactive game area.

Guests can explore all the stadium has to offer on an hour-long behind-the-scenes tour. Tour guests are led throughout the press box, press conference room, clubhouse and dugout.

Angel Stadium is the perfect locale for meetings and group events. Rental areas include the field-level upscale Diamond Club for up to 500 guests; the Knothole Club, which features aerial views of the park, for 250 guests; the indoor Homeplate Club for 800 guests; and the Centerfield Waterfall Patio for 300 guests. The outdoor Music Garden features an entertainment stage, built-in bar and overhead twinkle lights and can accommodate 800 guests.

Located directly below Centerfield, the 29,000-square-foot Exhibition Hall can accommodate 5,000 guests. Finally, the Right Field Deck North offers ample space for dancing and dining for up to 700 guests, as well as unrivaled views of the field.

Tours of Angel Stadium can be booked by groups as large as 40 people with advance reservations required. During the Angels off-season, tours run Tuesday at 9:30 AM, 11 AM and 1 PM. During the season, tours run Tuesday and Wednesday at 9:30 AM, 11 AM and 1 PM when the team is out of town. Tours are not offered on dates when the Angels have a home game. The tour is $2 for children and $3 for adults.

The Angels season generally runs February to October. General admission tickets start at $5 for children and $14 for adults.

The largest aquarium in Southern California and the 5th largest in the nation, Long Beach's Aquarium of the Pacific showcases the Pacific Ocean's inhabitants and ecosystems to over 1.4 million visitors every year. The aquarium is known for its

The largest aquarium in Southern California and the 5th largest in the nation, Long Beach's Aquarium of the Pacific showcases the Pacific Ocean's inhabitants and ecosystems to over 1.4 million visitors every year. The aquarium is known for its interactive exhibits, daily presentations and high level of involvement in numerous conservation efforts.

Founded in 1998, the Aquarium of the Pacific is home to more than 500 species and 12,500 ocean animals. Its 19 major exhibits and 32 focus exhibits focus on the Pacific Ocean's three regions: Southern California/Baja, the Tropical Pacific and the Northern Pacific. Highlight exhibits include Shark Lagoon, an expansive exhibit of more than 150 sharks and rays where guests can touch zebra, bamboo and epaulette sharks.

The aquarium's Tropical Pacific Gallery explores the ecosystem found off the coast of Palau in the Micronesian Islands. Here, the 350,000-gallon Topical Reef Habitat Exhibit houses more than a thousand colorful fish and coral, sea turtles, zebra and blacktip reef sharks and porcupine puffers. Meanwhile, the Lorikeet Forest transports visitors to the coastal lowlands of Australia. The 3,200-square-foot aviary is home to more than 100 colorful lorikeets that can be fed by aquarium visitors.

The Aquarium of the Pacific can accommodate private functions in spaces such as the captivating Great Hall and outdoor Harbor Terrace. It also offers two special event package pricing and menus: the Scuba Package invites 50 to 150 guests to the second level of the aquarium; and the Coral Reef Package offers access to the first floor for up to 3,000 guests.

The Aquarium of the Pacific is open daily from 9 AM to 6 PM. Admission, which includes access to all galleries, hands-on laboratories and presentations, is $13.95 for children ages 3-11 and $24.95 for adults. Admission for children under 3 is free. The aquarium also sponsors harbor cruises for an additional price.

The extremely popular Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana is dedicated to increasing public understanding of science, math and technology through its 120 interactive exhibits and programs. Ranking in the top 10 science centers for education

The extremely popular Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana is dedicated to increasing public understanding of science, math and technology through its 120 interactive exhibits and programs. Ranking in the top 10 science centers for education outreach across the United States, the Discovery Science Center features 59,000 square feet of exhibit space and the unique, easily-recognizable 10-story-high solar cube – dubbed “The Cube” – that sits atop one of its exterior corners.

The center's exciting exhibits are organized by themes, which include Perception, Dynamic Earth, Quake Zone, Techno Arts, Air & Space, Discovery and the KidStation, for those guests ages 5 and under. Stand-out exhibits include the outdoor Dino Quest, the world's first interactive dinosaur adventure, where guests can observe life-sized dinosaurs or walk inside a two-story-tall Argentinosaurus. The Quake Zone Exhibit features the Shake Shack, where visitors can hold on tight and experience historic earthquakes, such as the 1933 Long Beach earthquake.

The center welcomes private events for 80 to 1,500 guests throughout its exhibits and galleries. Its 130-seat, four-dimensional Discovery Theater can also accommodate group functions.

The Discovery Science Center is open daily; hours vary. Admission is $12.95 for children ages 3-17 and $14.95 for adults. Admission for children under 3 is free.

Located on the northern end of the California State University's Fullerton campus, the 26-acre Fullerton Arboretum is the largest botanical garden in Orange County. The tranquil arboretum features is home to more than 4,000 unique plant species from

Located on the northern end of the California State University's Fullerton campus, the 26-acre Fullerton Arboretum is the largest botanical garden in Orange County. The tranquil arboretum features is home to more than 4,000 unique plant species from around the world, laid out in four main collections: Mediterranean, Woodland, Desert and Cultivated.

In this one place guests can explore a redwood forest, walk through a palm grove, relax in a desert oasis or stop and smell the roses of the 20-year-old Rose Garden and Gazebo. Highlight gardens include the Rare Fruit Grove of kiwi, papaya and guava and the Succulent Garden of agaves, crassulas, euphorbs, cacti, aloes and mesembs.

The Fullerton Arboretum is also home to the new Orange County Agricultural and Nikkei Heritage Museum, which details the history, development and impact of agriculture in Orange County. The attraction's Victorian Heritage House serves as a museum of 1890s family life and medicinal practice. It is surrounded by an 1880s outhouse and 1895 pump house and windmill.

The arboretum is a great locale for private events for up to 350 guests. Popular gathering spots include South Lake, the Arbor, Orchard Lawn and the pavilion. Various classroom facilities are located in the Nikkei Museum.

Fullerton Arboretum is open daily; hours vary by season. Admission is free.

Located in Buena Park, Pirate's Dinner Adventure brings a whole new meaning to dinner theater. This interactive dinner show puts the spotlight on a replica 46-foot-long, 18th-century Spanish galleon, which is anchored in a spectacular 250,000-gallon

Located in Buena Park, Pirate's Dinner Adventure brings a whole new meaning to dinner theater. This interactive dinner show puts the spotlight on a replica 46-foot-long, 18th-century Spanish galleon, which is anchored in a spectacular 250,000-gallon indoor lagoon. Guests can enjoy a pre-show buffet then savor an a la carte dinner from the comfort of their own replica ships.

During dinner, diners watch the classic story of good versus evil with a family-friendly mix of action, adventure, comedy and romance. Aerial artistry, special effects and swordplay captivate diners. Interaction is highly encouraged, if not mandated, as more than 150 guests have the chance to play a role in each show.

Group bookings are more than welcome. Pirate's Dinner Adventure offers nightly shows, with show times varying based on the season. Admission varies; groups rates are available.