Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [201]
House of Blues ( 714-778-2583; www.hob.com; Downtown Disney) The best place for rock and blues, HOB occasionally gets some heavy-hitters; call or check online for show times and tickets. Johnny Lang, Lindsey Buckingham and American Idol’s Elliott Yamin are a few recent names on the lineup. On Sunday there’s a fun gospel brunch; make reservations. Come for the music, not the food.
Outside Disneyland
Grove of Anaheim ( 714-712-2700; www.thegroveofanaheim.com; 2200 E Katella Ave; ) At this moderately small venue, headliners range from Alice Cooper to UB40 to Shawn Colvin; call for current schedules. Sight lines are great. Parking costs $8.
Angel Stadium ( 714-940-2000, 888-796-4256; www.angelsbaseball.com; 2000 Gene Autry Way, Anaheim; tickets $9-60;) The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim play major-league baseball from May to October. Parking costs $8.
Honda Center ( 877-945-3946; www.mightyducks.com; 2695 E Katella Ave, Anaheim; ) 2007 Stanley Cup winners the Anaheim Ducks play hockey from September to May at this venue, formerly known as Arrowhead Pond. Parking costs $12.
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SHOPPING
Each ‘land’ has its own shopping, appropriate to its theme.
Disneyland Park
Emporium ( 714-781-7290; Main St) The biggest store in Disneyland has the largest variety of souvenirs, clothing and Disneyana, from T-shirts to mouse ears.
China Closet ( 714-781-7290; Main St) This shop sells porcelain Disney figurines and snow globes.
Downtown Disney
Most shops in Downtown Disney open and close with the parks.
Compass Books & Cafe ( 714-502-9999) Decorated in the style of an old-school Explorers’ Club, high adventure feels nigh at Compass Books. If it would just add a few comfy couches, the store would be perfect. In the meantime, peruse bestsellers, manga paperbacks and local travel tomes.
Island Charter ( 714-635-9499) Images of Earhart and Lindbergh come to mind wandering this travel-minded store complete with Tilly hats, bomber jackets, Tommy Bahama shirts and model planes.
Club Libby Lu ( 714-772-3793) Have daughters? If so, the sparkly, pop-infused charms of Club Libby Lu will throw off your schedule. From ‘I love Troy’ messenger bags and sassy bracelet charms to a style studio and minispa, it’s all, like, totally cute – and precisely marketed to entrap your tweens. Resistance is futile.
Starabilias ( 714-284-0155) Autograph hounds, start here. From jeans signed by Jimi Hendrix to a poster from The Graduate signed by Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft, there’s an eclectic mix of stars and memorabilia plus trading cards and retro lunchboxes.
Vault 28 ( 714-300-7004) There’s a chance this store is actually an illusion. From distressed T-shirts with edgy Cinderella prints to black tank tops patterned with white skulls, the hip inventory is disconcerting. There’s even an artsy photo of a ruffled, morning-after Mickey looking to dash across the street in his cleanest dirty shirt. The store stocks a few familiar brands like Chip & Pepper, but it’s the Disney lines – Kingdom Couture and Disney Vintage – that are most intriguing.
World of Disney ( 714-300-7919) Pirates and princesses are hot at this massive mecca of mouse-related merchandising. Grab last-minute must-haves here.
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GETTING THERE & AWAY
Air
Click here for information on air connections. Southern California Gray Line/Coach America ( 714-978-8855, 800-828-6699; www.graylineanaheim.com) runs the Disneyland Resort Express between LAX and Disneyland-area hotels at least hourly ($19/28 one way/round-trip to LAX, $14/24 to SNA).
Bus
Greyhound ( 714-999-1256; www.greyhound.com; 100 W Winston Rd) has frequent departures to/from Downtown Los Angeles ($9.50, 1½ hours) and San Diego ($17, 2¼ to 3 hours).
Car
The Anaheim Resort is just off I-5 on Harbor Blvd, about 30