Travel Guide to California

2024-25 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA 85 KONSTANTIN YOLSHIN/SHUTTERSTOCK ; THE IMAGE PARTY/SHUTTERSTOCK ; GLENN HIGHCOVE/SHUTTERSTOCK . OPPOSITE: JON BILOUS/SHUTTERSTOCK • DISNEYLAND RESORT It's true the big centennial party of Disneyland has concluded but the thrills and magic of the "Happiest Place on Earth" continues. Enjoy nighttime shows like Wondrous Journeys and a water show at Disney California Adventure, World of Color – One, to celebrate the legendary storytelling legacy. Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is the Magic Kingdom's top draw—who could pass up a smuggling operation on the Millennium Falcon or battling the First Order with the Resistance? Pixar, Marvel Comics (see the new Avengers Campus at California Adventure) and Twentieth Century Fox acquisitions may overshadow classic Disney characters, but princesses, witches and cute animals galore still enchant youngsters. • disneyland.disney.go.com • GREAT PARK Marked by the huge orange balloon ride (seats 25 to 30) floating 400 feet overhead, the continually evolving 1,300-acre park is a family favorite offering open space, educational play areas, art galleries and studios, a playground and picnic area, 1.5 miles of walking/biking trails, an outdoor performance plaza and a weekly farmers' market. In addition, there is a 194-acre Sports Complex with a championship soccer stadium, 25 tennis courts and amenities for a wide variety of sports, including a public ice and training facility with one Olympic and three NHL regulation-sized rinks and a gym. • ocgp.org • LOT 579, HUNTINGTON BEACH Just south of "Surf City's" downtown, steps from Huntington Beach Pier and the city's famous sands, the sidewalk cafés and markets of this modern waterfront food hall offer 8 unique restaurants and eateries. Lot 579 is an anchor of Pacific City, a shopping, dining and entertainment complex. The communal space upstairs offers plenty of seating and a killer ocean view. • gopacificcity.com/lot579 • LAGUNA BEACH'S PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS Art literally comes to life in the unique Pageant of the Masters, in which living actors take up positions against painted backdrops to recreate world masterpieces in eerie 3-D fidelity. It's the pièce de résistance among the festivals, workshops, galleries and proliferation of public art in the picturesque beach town that began life in the early 1900s as a small artists' colony. • visitlagunabeach.com • foapom.com • KNOTT'S BERRY FARM What started as a small berry farm grew into a family theme-park destination. With attractions for all ages, the Park has four themed areas. The Old West Ghost Town is the heart and soul with cowboys, shootouts, shows and rides for all. Camp Snoopy is for young ones and features the "Peanuts" gang. Fiesta Village pays tribute to California's Hispanic roots with Mexican-style architecture, food, and eye- catching works of art. Knott's Boardwalk pays tribute to the SoCal beach lifestyle and is home to California's first dive coaster, HangTime. • www.knotts.com DANA POINT FESTIVAL OF WHALES March 1-3, Dana Point festivalofwhales.org SWALLOWS' DAY PARADE AND MERCADO STREET FAIR March 23, San Juan Capistrano swallowsparade.com HUNTINGTON BEACH 4TH OF JULY June 28-July 4, Huntington Beach hb4thofjuly.org SAWDUST ART & CRAFT FESTIVAL June 28-Sept.1, Laguna Beach sawdustartfestival.org PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS July 6-August 30, Laguna Beach foapom.com OCEAN INSTITUTE MARITIME FESTIVAL Sept. 8-10, Dana Point Harbor ocean-institute.org/events/maritime-festival NEWPORT BEACH CHRISTMAS BOAT PARADE Dec. 18-22, Newport Beach christmasboatparade.com LAGUNA BEACH OCEAN VIEW, opposite; Knott's Berry Farm Stagecoach, below; Legendary Disney castle of Sleeping Beauty in Disneyland, right; The Pacific City food hall known as Lot 579, right bottom. SPECIAL EVENTS 2024 MUST DO SEE, Fashion Island in Newport Beach, vie with dozens of local shopping districts. Sports fans cheer the Los Angeles Angels at the Angel Stadium of Anaheim and the Anaheim Ducks hockey team at Honda Center, which doubles as a big-name concert venue. Fifty courses and a temperate climate await golfers, while hotel and day spas stand ready to soothe aches and tone muscles. City & Town By population, Anaheim is the largest of Orange County's 34 cities. None has a typical downtown, though Huntington

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