Anaheim Convention Center – Experiences

So, you’re headed to the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California? Congratulations! You’re bound to have a great time at this world-class facility. In addition to being one of the largest and most state-of-the-art convention centers on the West Coast, the Anaheim Convention Center is also located in the heart of the Anaheim Resort district.

The Anaheim Resort district is an entertainment hotspot home to destinations like Anaheim GardenWalk and Disneyland Resort, both of which are located within walking distance of the Anaheim Convention Center. You’re never far from a good time at the Anaheim Convention Center, that’s for sure.

Hopefully you’re planning to spend an extra day or two in Anaheim. With so much to see and do right nearby, you’ll be glad you did. Though if you aren’t, that’s fine too. The Anaheim Convention Center’s central location, paired with the cheap fares and prompt service provided by Anaheim Resort Transportation, or ART for short, it’s possible to experience much of what Anaheim has to offer in not a lot of time.

Here are some of our recommendations on what you should do whenever you’ve got some downtime during your visit to the Anaheim Convention Center. From incredible dining experiences and shopping opportunities to one-of-a-kind attractions and local landmarks, Anaheim is the place to go for fun in the sun!

 

Morning

Noon

Night

 

Morning

The first item on your Anaheim itinerary should be to get breakfast. You’ve got a big day ahead of you, whether you’re spending much of it at the Anaheim Convention Center or out seeing the sights, so don’t even think about skipping breakfast!

Breakfast options around the Anaheim Convention Center are plentiful, ranging from a quick-service coffee shop located in the lobby of the nearby Anaheim Marriott to a variety of sit-down joints well within walking distance.

The nearby Downtown Disney District is home to a lot of breakfast spots, for instance. Some standouts include Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen Express and La Brea Bakery Cafe. Both of these eateries offer quick-service dining, so you can get your food to-go and get back to exploring Anaheim without wasting any time.

Ralph Brennan’s is a Louisiana-themed eatery that brings all the big flavors of the Big Easy to the West Coast with dishes like a breakfast burrito filled with creole-seasoned scrambled eggs, potatoes, Cheddar, bacon, and house-made salsa. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, their beignets are a must. They make these French-style donuts fresh throughout the day, then douse them with powdered sugar to order.

La Brea is another great choice for breakfast in Downtown Disney. Unlike Ralph Brennan’s, La Brea also offers table service for those who aren’t in as much of a hurry. If you do decide to opt for their quick-service breakfast instead however, your options include a flaky butter croissant sandwich, a bacon and egg panini, and brioche French toast, among others.

Anaheim Convention Center

After breakfast, it’s a wise idea to take care of some souvenir shopping for your friends and family back home while you’re still in Downtown Disney. The shopping opportunities there are practically endless, as you could imagine. This is Disney we’re talking about, after all.

The World of Disney is a good place to start your souvenir search. This massive emporium is billed as “the biggest selection of Disney wares on the West Coast,” so they’re bound to have that special something you’re looking for. From a giant wall of T-shirts to a treasure trove of toys and collectibles, this store certainly lives up to its lofty name.

Another store worth checking out while you’re in Downtown Disney is Disney Home. Full of seasonally curated home furnishings, Disney Home has everything you need to make every room in your house a little more magical. Some of the products you can expect to find lining the shelves of Disney Home include decorative accessories, kitchen gadgets, and festive Christmas ornaments.

 

Noon

By now you’ve probably had your fill of Disney magic. And that’s okay! There’s still plenty more for you to do in Anaheim, including a taste bud-tantalizing lunch at the up-and-coming Anaheim Packing District.

The Anaheim Packing District is located almost three miles from the Anaheim Convention Center, so walking’s not really an option. ART will get you there quick though, and for less than you’d pay taking a taxi or Uber. A one-day pass costs just $5.50.

Anaheim Convention Center

This trendy food hall, occupying what was once a Sunkist packaging facility from the early 1900s, is home to over two dozen vendors. Sweetbird specializes in crispy fried chicken sandwiches while fish and chips are the name of the game at the aptly named Chippy Fish & Grill. Ecco Pizza Shoppe cooks authentic Neapolitan pies in wood-fired ovens just like Orange Tei sticks to tradition when it comes to ramen.

If you’re in the mood for a burger, head next door to the Packard Building instead. Built in 1925, this restored luxury car showroom is now home to Umami Burger, a local foodie favorite. With toppings like caramelized onions, roasted tomatoes, and crispy Parmesan fricos, each of their creative burger creations packs a serious umami, a.k.a. savory, punch.

Once you’ve discovered your new culinary obsession at the Anaheim Packing District, spend a couple hours at Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center. At only a five-minute walk from the Anaheim Packing District, getting there is quick and easy. Simply head north down Anaheim Boulevard and you’ll be there in no time.

You never know what you’ll find at this new and exciting museum, mainly because they don’t have a permanent collection of their own. Instead, Muzeo hosts a variety of traveling exhibitions on topics ranging from Asian calligraphy to the tomb of King Tut. If you’re there during the holidays, be sure to check out their annual model train display. No matter what you find there, a visit to Muzeo is a fun, laidback way to spend the latter half of your afternoon.

 

Night

When the sun begins to set over Anaheim, take the bus over to Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles for your soul food fix. First opened in 1975, this iconic chain has become a Californian institution praised by everyone from Snoop Dogg to The New York Times.

Although the Roscoe’s in Anaheim isn’t the original, it’s certainly a lot more convenient to get to. Their first location is over in Long Beach, almost 20 miles away from Anaheim. While that might not sound far now, it will once you’re stuck in California’s infamous bumper-to-bumper traffic. Avoid the gridlock entirely and go to the Roscoe’s that’s located only a five-minute drive from the Anaheim Convention Center instead.

If you’re wondering what to order at Roscoe’s, just take a look at their name. The combination of their crispy fried chicken and fluffy waffles can’t be missed. If you’ve never had this curious pairing before, you’re in for a treat to say the least. The salty, savory flavor of the chicken plays perfectly off the sweetness of waffles doused in a melding of melted butter and warm maple syrup.

For less adventurous eaters, Roscoe’s also serves a variety of other soul food staples, such as biscuits and gravy, collard greens, corn bread, chili, and more. If you’ve still got room for some down-home dessert afterwards, try their velvety sweet potato pie.

Hopefully your meal at Roscoe’s hasn’t put you into a food coma, since there’s still one more stop left on our list. It’s Anaheim GardenWalk, an outdoor entertainment and shopping center with 460,000 square feet of boutique stores, eclectic restaurants, and more. At just under one mile from Roscoe’s, getting to Anaheim GardenWalk on foot should only take about 15 minutes.

Besides shopping and dining, there are plenty of other ways to make the most of your visit to Anaheim GardenWalk. If you’re someone who loves live music, check in advance to see if your favorite band is playing at the House of Blues Restaurant & Bar. This lively venue has hosted everyone from Maroon 5 and Boyz II Men to Jet and Stone Temple Pilots.

Bowlmor Lanes is another popular Anaheim GardenWalk attraction. It features 41 lanes of psychedelic blacklight bowling along with upscale amenities and menu full of fun, inventive dishes like Buffalo cauliflower bites and something called a Nacho Avalanche.

If you happen to be visiting Anaheim GardenWalk any time after summer 2019, you can also catch a late-night flick at the brand new GardenWalk AMC 6. The opening of this state-of-the-art theater was prompted by the closing of another nearby AMC location in Downtown Disney. Back and better than ever, GardenWalk AMC 6 features plush reclining leather seats, innovative sight and sound technology, and full-service dining.

There you have it, folks: our picks for a perfect day in Anaheim. From sunrise to sunset you’ll enjoy fun attractions, unforgettable food experiences, and of course, that incredible southern California weather. Something tells us you’ll be back again real soon, whether or not there’s anything going on at the Anaheim Convention Center.