Anaheim, California, has plenty worth escaping the Australian winter for. Enjoy beer and BBQ in a newly opened villain themed brewery (a nod to the characters in surrounding theme parks), splash about at myriad waterparks, and be among the first to stay in the USA’s only fully Pixar themed hotel.
Openings
Smoke & Fire’s Isaias Hernandez is expanding his local empire and adding to Anaheim’s growing beer scene with Villains Brewing Company, which opened last week. Villains Brewing Co. boasts a wide range of beer selections with a food menu from rotating restaurants on the ‘Villain’s Layer’ patio, as well as quick bite options from Villains Food Hall, home to Birdhaus, Hotbox Burgers and BBQ, and One.Dope.Pizza. Visitors can cool down with a list of 10+ craft beer and seltzer options to sip by the onsite pool.
Knott’s Soak City Waterpark has opened its gates for another wet and wild summer during its longest season yet, until 10 September. Soak City boasts 23 speed, tube and body slides including Shore Break featuring 6 different waterslide experiences and a thrilling family raft ride, The Wedge; the 750,000-gallon Tidal Wave Bay wave pool; an over 500m long Sunset River; and the three‑story Beach House, featuring 200 water guns, nozzles, sprayers and other interactive surprises.
Also at Knott’s Berry Farm, the reopened Fiesta themed area comes alive both day and night to celebrate the Hispanic influences in Southern California. In Fiesta Village, guests can enjoy the sounds of Mariachi music, encounter a storyteller spinning whimsical tales of the alebrijes, experience performances of the traditional dance Folklorico and be entertained by the interactive puppets with their playful antics.
The Adventure Lagoon in Anaheim has one of the largest connectable aqua parks in the United States. The obstacle course floats on top of 6,000 acre-feet of crystal-clear water that stays near 24 degrees Celsius year-round. The Adventure Lagoon re-opened in May, with water activities for everyone including kayaking, paddle boarding, water volleyball, and float tubes.
Events
VidCon is returning to the Anaheim Convention Center, with YouTube as its official sponsor on 21 – 24 June, where the world’s leading digital creators, platform innovators, and fans converge in one place. VidCon brings creators, fans and brands all together to experience the online magic. The list of featured creators this year include The Merrell Twins, Aaron Burriss, Brent Rivera, Matt Slays and Rebecca Zamolo, Alyson Stoner, Sofie Dossi and many more.
The Orange County Sports Commission is kicking off the road to the 2028 Olympics with the Volleyball Nations League, making its way to the Anaheim Convention Center for the first time on 4 – 9 July. This international sporting tournament will launch a 5-year campaign for the Olympics, setting the stage for these athletes who will be playing in the Olympics in Paris in 2024, and then in Anaheim in 2028.
Upcoming Hotel Development
Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel at the Disneyland Resort is being reimagined this year as Pixar Place Hotel, with renderings just released. The property continues to welcome guests during this transition, with the full transformation due to be finished around the end of the year. As guests enter the hotel lobby, they will be greeted by the Pixar Lamp – Luxo Jr. – playfully balancing atop its ball, with iconic Pixar images around the front desk and framed artwork of some of Pixar’s biggest characters adorning the walls. Later this summer, overnight guests can splish and splash at an all-new water play area inspired by Finding Nemo where the fan-favourite fish and his friends frolic alongside families. Guests can see Crush the sea turtle atop a 56-metre-long waterslide, Hank hanging out at the pop-jet splash pad and more!
When complete, Pixar Place Hotel will be the only fully Pixar-themed hotel in the United States!
For more information about Anaheim, see www.visitanaheim.org.
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