Much More Than Just a Mickey Mouse Place to Have Fun

For many out-of-town vacationers, the days leading up to New Year’s Eve last month might have seemed like the end of the world: Disneyland, because the park was packed, turned away visitors.

But unlike Clark Griswold, the long-suffering hero of “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” no one forced his way into the park at BB gunpoint.

A crisis was averted because there is much more to Anaheim than Disneyland and Disney’s new California Adventure. Anaheim is home to two professional sports teams, a burgeoning music scene, delicious regional and international cuisine and a lot of alternative attractions as well.

Major Leagues

For more than three decades, Anaheim has been home to major league baseball. The Anaheim Angels play at Edison International Field (2000 Gene Autry Way, [888] 796-4296), formerly Angels Stadium. Although the team has never been to the World Series and has won only three division titles, its roster has carried Hall of Famers Nolan Ryan, Frank Robinson, Reggie Jackson, Rod Carew and Don Sutton. The field underwent a $118-million renovation after the Walt Disney Co. bought the team in 1996. Tickets run between $6 and $22. Within walking distance of Edison Field is the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim (2695 E. Katella Ave., [714] 704-2500), home ice of the Mighty Ducks. With stars such as Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne, the Ducks are exciting to watch . . . even if they are in last place in the Western Conference’s Pacific Division.

Soloists to Spectaculars

Many music fans and musicians refer to anything within the county border as being “behind the Orange Curtain.” But with more than half a dozen venues, plus the addition of the House of Blues, Anaheim easily dispels this myth.

When the Irish rock band U2 swings through Southern California, it stops at Edison Field. Among the dozens of national acts that have played the Arrowhead Pond are the Rolling Stones, No Doubt, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Barbra Streisand, Paul Simon, Tina Turner, Ricky Martin, Limp Bizkit, Eminem, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw. The Pond is also host to shows such as the KROQ’s Almost Acoustic Christmas, the Power 106 Back to School Powerhouse, and Reventon Super Estrella, the country’s largest Spanish-language concert.

The Sun Theatre (2200 E. Katella Ave. [714] 712-2700) also sees its share of national acts, but in a more intimate 1,200-seat, dinner theater venue. Musicians such as Aimee Mann, Randy Travis and Peter Frampton have performed at the Sun, as have premier comedians such as George Carlin and Andrew Dice Clay.

Maybe the most intimate place to see a national act is Linda’s Doll Hut (107 S. Adams St., [714] 533-1286). About the size of a large studio apartment, this club often features performances from bands such as the Offspring, Weezer, Bad Religion, Lit, Everclear, Mike Ness and Brian Setzer. The Hut also specializes in rockabilly music and serves beer on tap. Shows generally start at 9 p.m. and cover charges range from $5 to $10.

Anaheim is also home to two of Orange County’s few all-ages clubs. Chain Reaction (1652 W. Lincoln Ave., [714] 635-6067) and The Boogie (1721 S. Manchester Ave., [714] 956-1410) draw acts of national caliber. Chain Reaction, in particular, is one of the best places in Orange County to see up-and-coming indie bands.

But if rock en espanol is your taste, JC Fandango (1086 N. State College Blvd., [714] 758-1057) is the place to be. Whether it’s Chencha Berenches, an unsigned band from South Gate, or the Argentine group Illya Kuryaki & the Valderramask, the club is always packed and the energy is cranked.

There’s even a venue for hard-core, hard rock and heavy metal fans in Anaheim. The Shack (1160 N. Kraemer Blvd., [714] 630-0121) keeps it cheap, usually under $15, and often packs five or six bands onto the bill. But if you plan to slam in the pit, wear your steel-toed boots.

World of Choice

Anaheim was founded in 1857 by German settlers. So it makes sense that there is a choice for good German restaurants. Start off the day at the Original Pancake House (1418 E. Lincoln Ave., [714] 535-9815), family owned and operated since 1958. There is no breakfast dish in town more decadent than the Dutch Baby ($5.50 or a large for $6.50): an oven-baked pancake served with butter, sugar and lemon.

For lunch and dinner, Gustav’s Jagerhaus (2525 E. Ball Road, [714] 520-9500) specializes in bratwurst, Wiener schnitzel, spaetzle and strudel. The Jagerhaus also has a reputation for wild game, such as venison, rabbit, wild boar and deer flanks.

But if all this seems too heavy, an international yearning can still be satisfied at Thai Porn (1739 W. La Palma Ave., [714] 956-8105). In Thailand, porn (pronounced “pawn”) means a blessing, and this restaurant delivers upon that promise with spicy or sweet, chopped meat and noodle dishes. Even lighter meals can be found at Jhupdi (2751 W. Lincoln Blvd., [714] 527-3800), which specializes in vegetarian cuisine from northwestern India.

On the Fringe

Still within the city, though a little off the beaten path, are even more amusements for folks of all ages. The Camelot Golfland amusement park (3200 Carpenter Ave., [714] 630-3340) has go-carts, batting cages, a maze, water slides, a huge arcade and a pizzeria. RockCity Climbing Center (5100 E. La Palma Ave., Suite 108, [714] 777-4884) is a popular place for kids and adults to scramble up walls without hurting themselves or the furniture. And the Chance Theater (5576 E. La Palma Ave., [714] 777-3033) is a 70-seat playhouse dedicated to the development of original plays, but still knows how to put on a fun Gilbert and Sullivan musical.