Things to do with kids in Anaheim

Anaheim Coves

A paved nature walk along a series of reservoirs that draws a surprising amount of waterbirds herons, egrets, ducks, coots, the occasional pelican. Flat and fully accessible so strollers and bikes do great here. Under-the-radar spot most people outside Anaheim don't know about. Good for a slow morning when you want to be outside but not exert yourself.

Canyon Rim Park

Fully renovated and reopened in May 2025 one of the newer playgrounds in Anaheim Hills. The toddler section has musical instruments. The big-kid structure has some very tall slides with shallow sides good for brave kids, worth a preview for cautious ones.

Featherly Regional Park

A quiet, shaded riverside park tucked along the Santa Ana River in Anaheim Hills no zoo, no railroad, just good old-fashioned picnic-and-play. Massive oak and sycamore trees make it genuinely cool even in summer. Great for fishing, casual nature walks along the river, or a do-nothing afternoon with a blanket and snacks. Less crowded than the bigger regional parks because there's less to 'do' which is exactly the point.

Imperial Park

Bright, colorful playground in Anaheim with a hot-air-balloon-style spinning structure that feels genuinely novel. Good climbing variety. Not the biggest park but the equipment is well-designed and the colors make it appealing for younger kids.

Mira Loma Park

Good neighborhood park with solid play equipment beyond the water play. Less crowded than the bigger destination parks so you can actually find a parking spot.

Oak Canyon Nature Center

One of OC's last oak woodland preserves four miles of trails, a stream kids can splash in, and a small interpretive center with live animals. Total hidden gem 20 min from Disneyland. The John J.

Peralta Canyon Park

Canyon-adjacent Anaheim park with a good toddler structure and a large separate playground for bigger kids. The canyon location gives it more natural surroundings than a typical flat city park.

Ponderosa Park

Good for a simple water morning without driving far.

Ronald Reagan Park

Has one of the smoothest zip tracks in OC a legit rope-swing disc version kids actually complete. Multiple play structures with good shade.

Santa Ana River Lakes

The kid-friendly highlight is Huckleberry Pond, a smaller enclosed pond where catches are basically guaranteed catfish or trout depending on season. Closed Thursdays. Gear rentals available on-site.

Santa Ana River Trail (Anaheim/Yorba Linda stretch)

Wide paved trail from mountains to ocean the North OC stretch is flat, scenic, and popular with families on bikes and strollers. Rent bikes at Yorba Regional Park's Wheel Fun Rentals for an easy hour-long cruise.

Yorba Regional Park

Four lakes, a bike path linking to the Santa Ana River Trail, volleyball, and shaded picnic areas massive enough to spread out even on a busy Sunday. Arrive early on weekends; the lakeside picnic spots go fast.

Yorba Regional Park Lake Fishing

Four connected lakes inside Yorba Regional Park offer shore fishing for catfish, carp, and bass easy bank access means no boat needed.

Miraloma Park Splash Pad

45 in-ground spray nozzles plus a shower tower with a foot-button activator solid coverage and a good mix of pressure levels for littles. Restrooms, skate park, and a family resource center all on site.

Ponderosa Park Splash Pad

Flower-shaped water showers, pop-up ground fountains, and water spray rings make this one of the more visually fun setups in north OC. Opens Memorial Day weekend; the adjacent family resource center has restrooms. Full sun on the pad itself, so pack a hat and plan for a morning visit.

Creative Collective Studio

Open Wed-Fri afternoons and evenings. Also does mobile ceramic painting parties if you want them to come to you. 2223 1/2 W Ball Rd.

Mission: Renaissance Fine Art Classes

Serves Anaheim Hills, Brea, Yorba Linda, and surrounding cities. Weekday afternoon sessions plus Saturdays. Summer art camps available. 5761 Santa Ana Canyon Blvd, Anaheim Hills.

My Gym Anaheim Hills

My Gym's structured parent-child classes in a padded gym with balance beams, bars, mats, a ball pit, and small climbing structures the 1–3 age range is this franchise's sweet spot. Classes are 45 minutes with themes that keep toddlers engaged without overwhelming them. The Anaheim Hills location off Santa Ana Canyon Rd is easy to reach from east Anaheim, Yorba Linda, and Placentia.

Sender One Climbing Sender City Kids Section

The Sender City kids section is a legit destination interactive climbing structures scaled for kids, a giant slide, and staff great with families.

Anaheim Central Library

Anaheim Haskett Library

Anaheim Sunkist Library

Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center

Two-building complex in downtown Anaheim the 1908 Carnegie Library building plus a modern gallery wing. Exhibits rotate between history, science, and art with a genuine effort at family programming. The historic building alone is worth the trip with kids who haven't seen what a real Carnegie library looks like.

Oak Canyon Nature Center Live Animal Exhibits

Oak Canyon Nature Center's John J. Collier Interpretive Center has live native animals on display including snakes, lizards, and small mammals not just taxidermy. 6700 E Walnut Canyon Rd, Anaheim. Check OC Parks calendar for Ranger Programs they run critter presentations most Saturdays.

Anaheim Ballet

They also run family-focused performances and special programming throughout the year. The Nutcracker is the anchor event but they do spring productions too. A real ballet performance, not a school recital.

Anaheim Packing District

One of the last original citrus packing warehouses in OC, converted into a two-story market hall with restaurants, artisan vendors, and a cool industrial-vintage vibe not a tourist trap. Go for lunch on a weekend; the building alone is worth the trip.

Camelot Golfland

A multi-attraction outdoor park at 3200 E Carpenter Ave four mini golf courses, outdoor laser tag, go-karts (single and double-seat), bumper boats, and a large arcade with pizza. Mini golf is the entry point but most families end up doing two or three attractions. No reservations needed. Weather-dependent for the outdoor activities.

Chance Theater

Anaheim's official professional resident theater at 5522 E La Palma Ave runs 2–3 Theatre for Young Audiences productions each season (typically spring and holiday). These are real professional productions, not school recitals: polished adult actors performing children's shows in an intimate black-box setting.

House of Chimney Cakes

Hungarian chimney cake cones stuffed with ice cream kids go absolutely feral for these. Easy add-on to an Anaheim day. The Nutella version is the consensus best.

Angel Stadium

MLB's Angels play in one of the most family-friendly ballparks in the league the right field Family Zone has a kids play area, face painting, and carnival-style games so little ones stay engaged between innings. Kids Run the Bases happens after most Sunday home games worth checking the schedule and planning around it. April through June is the sweet spot: mild weather, pre-tourist-summer crowds, and games that actually matter in the standings.

Home Run Park Batting Cages

Outdoor batting cage facility at 711 S Beach Blvd operating since 1961 20 pitching machines covering baseball and softball at multiple speeds. Walk-in, no reservations. A legitimate local institution that's accessible for kids who've never hit a ball and useful for those practicing.

Honda Center (Anaheim Ducks)

NHL hockey is one of the best live sports experiences for families who have never tried it fast, loud, physical, and the cold arena air keeps tired kids weirdly alert. The in-arena energy on a rivalry matchup is genuinely thrilling even for first-timers. Season runs October-April, making it the best cold-weather family outing in OC.

K1 Speed Indoor Go-Karts

Indoor electric go-kart racing at 1000 N Edward Ct the track has tunnels and hairpin turns and the karts are fast enough to be genuinely thrilling. No reservation needed for arrive-and-drive; waiver required (parent signs for minors). Weekends have lines go morning or weekday if possible.

Kids Empire Anaheim

A large soft-play indoor adventure playground at 2078 E Lincoln Ave climbing walls, slides, ball pits, and structured play structures in a clean, well-maintained environment. Bigger and more varied than a typical gym play space. Walk-in OK but can get crowded on school holidays.

Sky Zone Anaheim

Indoor trampoline park with foam pits, 3D dodgeball, slam dunk courts, and a candy zone good for burning off unreasonable amounts of energy. Toddler Time sessions exist for littles; socks required.

Ultimate Ninjas Anaheim Hills

Ninja Warrior-style obstacle course gym with age-appropriate sections for little and bigger kids staff is good with children and the facility is well-run. Check for open play times vs structured sessions; open play is the move for drop-in.

Anaheim Certified Farmers Market

Small enough to do in under an hour, big enough to find dinner ingredients and a treat for the kids. Easy street parking in the Packing District area.

Anaheim Packing District Food Hall

The vendor mix rotates but the format stays: everyone picks what they want, you share tables, no one has to agree on one restaurant. Casual and family-friendly by design. Also home to the Anaheim Brewery and Popbar gelato.

Anaheim Packing House Popbar

The Anaheim Packing District is the right answer to 'where do families eat in Anaheim that isn't Disney.' The renovated 1919 citrus packing house has two floors of food stalls, communal seating, and enough variety that every kid and adult finds something. Popbar gelato on a stick, dipped in chocolate and rolled in toppings is the crowd anchor for kids. Get there, wander, let everyone pick their own thing. Validated parking in the structure next door.

Catal Restaurant

Reservations recommended on weekends.

Ding Tea Anaheim Hills

Boba shop in Anaheim Hills that goes beyond drinks handcrafted bubble tea and coffee alongside Hong Kong-style bubble egg waffles, macarons, and fluffy steamed bao buns. Kids can get a waffle and a fruity milk tea; parents can get a real coffee drink. Mellow modern vibe that's actually comfortable to sit in. 5620 E Santa Ana Canyon Rd.

El Torito Kids $1 on Wednesdays (North OC)

Anaheim location at 2020 E. Ball Rd.

Golden Corral Kids Under 3 Eat Free (Anaheim)

Golden Corral in Anaheim (2190 E. Lincoln Ave) is the only buffet of this scale in OC and a genuinely useful option for families with picky eaters kids can pile their plate however they want.

Lola Gaspar

Downtown Anaheim Mexican restaurant in a vintage building near the Packing District lively atmosphere, strong tacos and enchiladas, and an outdoor patio that's spacious enough that you can have a real conversation. Good for lunch or an early dinner before kids hit the wall. The food has more personality than a chain and the space is relaxed enough to bring the whole crew.

Mariscos El Lequeitiano

Local Anaheim seafood joint loved by the neighborhood not on the tourist radar. Excellent fish tacos and ceviche tostadas, the kind of place where locals eat. Order the shrimp tostadas.

Popbar Anaheim

Handcrafted gelato, sorbetto, and yogurt frozen on sticks at the Anaheim Packing District kids choose a flavor, then pick a chocolate dip and toppings. Interactive and Instagram-worthy without being over the top. Seasonal flavors rotate. Good anchor treat when you're already visiting the Packing District. 440 S Anaheim Blvd.

Puesto at the Packing House

Sit-down Mexican restaurant inside the Anaheim Packing District with crispy cheese-skirt tacos that locals are genuinely obsessed with. The Birria tacos are excellent and the kids menu is real food, not just quesadillas. Patio seating opens to the Packing District courtyard. Good for a proper family lunch before or after exploring the food hall. Reservations recommended on weekends.

Randy's Donuts Anaheim

The iconic LA donut brand opened in the Anaheim Packing District in January 2025 same fluffy glazed rings, maple bars, and specialty donuts, now in north OC. The giant donut sign alone is a photo op. Great grab-and-go treat when visiting the Packing District, or a standalone morning donut run. 440 S Anaheim Blvd #105.

Slater's 50/50

The original location of this SoCal craft burger mini-chain 50% beef, 50% bacon patties and absurdly loaded burgers. Kids love customizing their order and the milkshakes are legitimately good. Comfortable booths, loud enough that a noisy table blends right in. Not a chain in the boring sense the Anaheim location has the original energy.

Taqueria Los Primos

No-frills Anaheim taqueria that locals will fight you over carne asada burritos, al pastor tacos, and horchata that actually tastes like horchata. The kind of spot where the tortillas are fresh and the portions are generous. Kids who eat tacos will be happy; kids who don't are easy to feed with a bean and cheese burrito. Cash-friendly, fast, and cheap for a family.

Tasty Dim Sum House

Traditional cart-service dim sum in Anaheim shrimp rice rolls, BBQ pork buns, fried sesame balls. The cart format is the whole experience for kids: watch the cart, point at things, eat. Affordable even for a big family, and it moves fast enough to keep impatient kids engaged.

Thank You Coffee

Thank You does Hojicha lattes and lapsang souchong - sounds fancy but tastes like coming home. If you're tired of the same old vanilla latte, this is the pivot.