Anaheim & Disneyland

Once swathed with orange groves, Anaheim sprawls east and south of Los Angeles. In the 1950s, cartoonist Walt Disney bought 180 acres and built a theme park named Disneyland. The largest of southern California's theme parks, Disneyland bills itself as "The Happiest Place on Earth." Home to Cinderella, Snow White, Mickey and Minnie Mouse and other fantasy characters, it has more than 60 major attractions in eight distinct sections. Younger kids love the perilous jungle cruise through Adventureland, as well as Sleeping Beauty Castle, which leads into Fantasyland, full of all their favorite childhood characters. When you're in the mood to have ...

Once swathed with orange groves, Anaheim sprawls east and south of Los Angeles. In the 1950s, cartoonist Walt Disney bought 180 acres and built a theme park named Disneyland. The largest of southern California's theme parks, Disneyland bills itself as "The Happiest Place on Earth." Home to Cinderella, Snow White, Mickey and Minnie Mouse and other fantasy characters, it has more than 60 major attractions in eight distinct sections. Younger kids love the perilous jungle cruise through Adventureland, as well as Sleeping Beauty Castle, which leads into Fantasyland, full of all their favorite childhood characters. When you're in the mood to have the daylights scared out of you, Space Mountain will whisk you into space on an out-of-control roller-coaster rocket adventure. Beyond Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm is a reality park with heart-stopping thrill rides - 165 at last count! Hold onto your stomach for a ride on WaveSwinger, a twisting, turning, upside down flywheel ride. And you can take off like a shot on the twisting Silver Bullet - the theme park's newest, most thrilling addition.

About the Expert

Christopher P. Baker has authored guidebooks to Costa Rica, California, and various Caribbean islands for Frommer's, Lonely Planet, and National Geographic, among others.