8 Free Things to Do in Anaheim

The coastal city of Huntington Beach is close to Anaheim, making it a good choice if you want to enjoy a day at the beach. It’s often packed with surfers looking to hit the waves on sunny days, but you also get to enjoy snorkeling and swimming, as well as sunbathing on the clean sands. Huntington City Beach’s centerpiece is its 563-meter-long pier, which offers expansive views of the ocean. Huntington Beach is located about 21 miles south of central Anaheim, about 30 minutes away by car.

Anaheim GardenWalk is an outdoor entertainment hub within the Anaheim Resort District, where you can find a variety of dining and nightlife spots, as well as games arcades and a concert venue. Art lovers can take part in the free Art on the Walk program, which features windows displays, art installations, and murals by more than 30 local artists. Live art demonstrations and seasonal exhibits are also held at Anaheim GardenWalk.

The 26-acre Fullerton Arboretum is one of Orange County’s largest botanical gardens. Located on Associated Road, it dates back to 1976 and functions as a natural resource for ecological and horticultural education. It’s divided into 4 main exhibits, with a total of 4,000 unique and rare plant species in the collection. A historical landmark here is the late 19th-century Heritage House, an Eastlake-style cottage which displays the medical practice and life of Dr George C. Clark, Fullerton's pioneer physician.

Yorba Regional Park is a 140-acre landscape that runs along Santa Ana River. There are over 300 picnic tables throughout the park, as well as 4 lakes, playgrounds, volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, and a fitness course. Paved trails connect Yorba Regional Park to the Santa Ana River Trail, which you can cycle for 20 miles to reach the Pacific Ocean. You may need to pay a few dollars to rent a bicycle from the onsite rental shop, but entrance to Yorba Regional Park is free all year round.

Oak Canyon Nature Center is a 234,700 sq m nature reserve with 3 canyons and about 4 miles of trails that are suitable for hiking and jogging. The park is home to a variety of plants, including western poison oak, California buckwheat, and California live oak. Families can enjoy many activities, especially in summertime. The Discover Nature Family Program is an hour-long weekend hike through Oak Canyon Nature Center. It costs $5 per family, and includes a live animal demonstration by the park’s naturalist.

The Anaheim Packing District consists of a farmer’s park and 3 buildings housing a variety of restaurants, cafés, breweries, and wine bars. Here, you can find the Anaheim Packing House, which was once a 2-storey citrus packing warehouse dating back to 1925. Today, it’s a gourmet food hall with 20 eclectic food options, ranging from Indian and Vietnamese to French and Italian. Every weekend, you get to enjoy live bands performing on the Mezzanine Stage at 1pm and 7pm.

Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center features seasonal exhibitions that cost at least $3.50 per entry, but you get to enjoy free admission to the Carnegie Gallery. The historical Carnegie Library hosts the permanent “Anaheim: A Walk through Local History” exhibition, showcases various archeological findings from Anaheim and Orange County, including 19th-century citrus-farming tools, fossils, and ancient Native American jewelry. You also get to see personal items that once belonged to Anaheim’s founders, as well as Disneyland memorabilia.

Pearson Park features 19 acres of green space in North Harbour Boulevard. This family-friendly park is a popular spot for picnics and outdoor activities, such as jogging and cycling. Here, you’ll also find a swimming pool, tennis court, and softball fields. Children get to enjoy climbing facilities and swings at the playground, which is located behind an open-air concert hall. The Pearson Park Amphitheater hosts a series of concerts during the summer, which are free to attend.