Southern California presents a world of attractions. A short drive in any direction offers entertainment, fun in the warm sunny outdoors and a full range of arts and culture.

A major player to the north is Universal Studios Hollywood Theme Park in Los Angeles. A thrilling behind-the-scenes tour brings E.T., Jurassic Park, Spiderman and other great movie and TV moments to life along with plenty of wild rides.

The Queen Mary is berthed in the waters of Long Beach less than a ½ hour drive from Anaheim. History, ghosts, tours for every taste plus the chance to roam this magnificent ship- the Queen Mary offers a treat for all ages (kids love to explore this giant ocean liner).

Go to http://www.visitorangecounty.net/history.html for info on Orange County parks, hiking trails and wilderness areas- there are abundant opportunities to enjoy the outdoors in this land of sunshine. This website also lists historic sites. Of special note are the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and birthplace and Mission San Juan Capistrano. We enjoy taking Amtrak from the Anaheim station to San Juan Capistrano- it makes for a fun excursion for half a day or less.

Check out http://www.ocartsource.org/index.html for the many art, music and drama attractions in Orange County; go to " What’s Hot This Month" to see what coincides with your visit. This is an area of well-known playhouses as well as venues for ballet, folk music, music festivals and classical music.

For rock concerts, comedy, and much more click http://www.thegroveofanaheim.com/calendar/calendar.asp for one of Anaheim’s hotspots The Grove of Anaheim.

If time permits we suggest a day (or two) trip to San Diego, a two-hour drive south of Anaheim. The world famous San Diego Zoo is the star attraction and a sure bet to fascinate all ages. An after-Zoo stroll in beautiful Balboa Park makes for a perfect day. SeaWorld on Mission Bay is easy to reach via I-5 and is a great favorite. Another possibility is LegoLand about 1.5 hours south of Anaheim. The drive along the coast from San Clemente to Carlsbad, location of LegoLand, is stunning. For more San Diego entertainment possibilities go to http://san-diego-attractions.10-best.info/ .