Tour Disneyland

Knott's Berry Farm

DISNEYLAND TOUR: DAY 3

After two days, you may need a vacation from The Disney Resort. Plus, Orange County is a getaway destination in and of itself. The area's consistently mild climate means mostly glorious days await you as you explore the county's shoreline, as well as its many cultural, historical and entertainment attractions.

Get some much-needed salt air in your lungs by taking a drive down famed Pacific Coast Highway. These 40 miles of scenic coastline from Seal Beach in the north to Dana Point in the south are renowned for car culture, multimillion-dollar mansions, picturesque harbors, boutique shopping, fine dining and soaring ocean views.

Orange County may be best known for its beaches. Each beach city along the coastline here has its own personality as well as cultural, recreational, dining and shopping offerings. Huntington Beach is a surfer's paradise and is also one of the best beaches to bring the family for a fun day in the sun. Newport Beach is full of glitz and glamour with its dazzling Newport Harbor, quaint Balboa Island and hip Balboa Peninsula. Love art? Laguna Beach started as an artist's village by the sea and is now full of multi-million dollar homes, casual eateries, trendy boutiques and dozens of galleries. Art aficionados will want to spend some time in Laguna Beach, where dozens of eclectically-themed galleries seamlessly co-mingle with trendy boutiques and casual eateries.

The Hermes wing at South Coast Plaza

Shopping in Orange County is almost a spiritual experience. The surf wear design industry started here and still plays a big role in inspiring fashion trends all over the world. About 30 minutes south of Anaheim in Costa Mesa is South Coast Plaza. This is OC's biggest and best shopping mall with such luxe designer shops as Michael Kors, Valentino and Roberto Cavalli. There's also Teavana, NapaStyle wine country shop from chef Michael Chiarello, Assouline and Brunello Cucinelli, as well as department stores Nordstrom, Macy's, Bloomingdale's and a seemingly endless array in fine dining choices both within and nearby, including Marché Moderne, Charlie Palmer at Bloomingdale's, AnQi, Pizzeria Ortica, Pinot Provence and Scott's Seafood. Other OC entertainment and shopping centers include Downtown Laguna, Fashion Island, Irvine Spectrum Center and The District at Tustin.

MUZEO is Anaheim's newest museum. Located just a 5-minute drive from the Disneyland Resort, this interactive museum caters to adults and kids alike. MUZEO hosts world-class traveling exhibits in its two hip downtown Anaheim buildings. The museum encourages the community to celebrate and explore the wide-ranging exhibits with added events such as film screenings, local art collections, historic battle re-enactments, food and wine tastings and lots of activities for kids of every age. 

Bowers Museum, which is located a few miles south of Disneyland in Santa Ana, holds this region's premier cultural collections. Originally opened in 1936, Bowers Museum has permanent exhibits focused on California history and plein air painting as well as world-class traveling collections from around the globe. For a first-class meal, eat lunch at the museum's Tangata restaurant, which is run by super chef Joachim Splichal's Patina Group.

Orange County is also home to one of California's most popular attractions, Mission San Juan Capistrano. Millions of visitors come here to experience early California history in the historic chapel, quaint outbuildings and flower-filled Spanish-style courtyards. Located a 30-minute drive south of Disneyland in the coastal village of San Juan Capistrano, the mission is surrounded by the Camino Capistrano and Los Rios districts for charming shopping and dining.

Aquaterra Spa

Are you into sports? Nearby Angel Stadium is home to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim baseball team and The Honda Center is home to the Anaheim Ducks hockey franchise.

If you are a theme park junkie or a roller coaster fanatic, schedule this day to visit Knott's Berry Farm. Located about a 20-minute drive north of Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm is actually this nation's original theme park, predating Walt Disney's amusement center by about 15 years. Originally built by Walter Knott to give patrons something to do while they waited for open tables at wife Cordelia's Chicken Dinner Restaurant, Knott's is just as popular with locals as Disneyland, its more crowded and more expensive cousin.

Would you rather spend the day hitting the links? Just drive about 35 minutes from Anaheim to Newport Coast and Pelican Hill Golf Club, which is part of the luxurious The Resort at Pelican Hill. Pelican Hill is OC's premier golf destination with two world-class courses, an upscale clubhouse, lounge and fine dining at Pelican Grill.

Located along OC's coastline are first-class ocean resorts, providing some of the world's finest spas. A few of the best are Aquaterra Spa at Surf & Sand Resort, The Spa at The Resort at Pelican Hill, Spa Montage at Montage Laguna Beach, Spa Gaucin at St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach, Pacific Waters Spa at Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa and Pure Blu Spa at Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa.

Golf Course at Pelican Hill

When you return to the Disneyland Resort after the third day on your feet, you may want to just collapse in your comfy hotel bed. Think again. One of the best times to visit Disneyland and just stroll down the street or do some window shopping is at night. The crowds are gone, the place is quiet and it seems like ol' Walt is around every corner, humming "When You Wish Upon A Star" in your ear for some pure childlike hope and inspiration.

Disneyland holds a special magic place in the hearts of kids and adults alike. With today's Disney Resort and the growth of Orange County as a tourist attraction, there's even more to do and see for fun in the Southern California sun.

For more information, visit Disneyland's official website, www.disneyland.com.