Happy vacations and the city of Anaheim go hand in hand for many reasons. One of the biggest? The city is home to Disneyland® and Disney California Adventure®. While visitors often dedicate most of their time to the world-famous theme parks, there are many places outside the Disney kingdom that can bring a huge smile to your face. Plus, when you stay at the Cambria Hotel Anaheim Resort Area, you’re just minutes from both the Disney parks and many more magical Anaheim attractions.

A great perk of staying at the Cambria® hotel in Anaheim is its proximity to all things Disney. Located along the Anaheim Resort Transportation (ART) shuttle line, guests can purchase day passes to catch unlimited rides to and from the Disneyland Main Transportation Center, which is only 5-10 minutes from the pick-up point on the street side of the hotel.

Once you arrive on the Disney property, you can easily venture to both Disneyland and California Adventure. For a little retail therapy with a twist of Disney magic, visit the Downtown Disney District. Located between both theme parks along Disneyland Drive, the area offers even more dining, entertainment and shopping options, including one of the world’s largest Disney Stores.

Given California's warm, sunny temperatures, what better way to create a fun-filled vacation in the Golden State than at a waterpark? Whether you’ve had your fill of theme park action or you want to take a break from it all, the Cambria Hotel Anaheim Resort Area has its own exclusive 30,000-square-foot waterpark for registered hotel guests to enjoy. Kids of all ages can make a splash on multiple water slides, pop-up jets and splash pads. There’s a main pool for swimming laps, a second pool for small children and an outdoor Jacuzzi to soak up some relaxation. As if that wasn’t enough, there’s also a putting green, outdoor movie wall, arcade and sports court, and six fast-casual restaurants.

It’s easy to see a world-class music act, an NHL hockey game or an MLB baseball game in the heart of Anaheim. Less than 10 minutes from the hotel is the Honda Center, home of the NHL Anaheim Ducks. During hockey season, the Ducks offer family promotional ticket packs that include food and beverage discounts or Ducks souvenirs.

In addition to hosting the Stanley Cup Finals twice since it opened in 1993, the indoor arena more recently featured music acts like The Backstreet Boys, Tina Turner, Ariana Grande and Barry Manilow. Or take the family to see the Harlem Globetrotters and Stars on Ice. You can purchase tickets online or by visiting the box office.

Across the street from the Honda Center is the Angel Stadium of Anaheim, home of the Los Angeles Angels. Tickets start from $8, and many games offer fun promotions or game highlights, like a family day where kids are selected to run the bases. For an added treat, take your family for a unique behind-the-scenes tour of the stadium. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for kids, veterans and seniors. Included in the tour is a trip to the playing field, the Angels dugout, the Clubhouse press conference room and the broadcast booth. Public tours are available March through September, and private tours are given January through December with a two-week advance reservation.

While Disney can provide the magic, visit the Discovery Cube Orange County and Flightdeck Flight Simulation Center to blast off into the world of science and technology.

Your family will spend hours exploring the STEM-focused exhibitions and interactive learning experiences at the Discovery Cube. Take off on a simulated helicopter tour, where you’ll feel like you’re flying over the rolling hills and lakes of nearby Irvine Ranch. Or, take over Mission Control to send satellites into outer space and land a rover on Mars. There are 12 permanent exhibits, plus themed installations and events throughout the year. Tickets are $19.95 for adults and $14.95 for children ages 3-14.

If you’ve always wanted to know what it would be like to fly a fighter jet or commercial Boeing airliner, you’ll want to seize the day at Flightdeck. With the Fighter Pilot packages, you’ll step into a flight suit and learn exactly what you need to do to fly (and fight!) in a simulated fighter jet experience. The Boeing flight program gives you the opportunity to control an exact replica of a Boeing 737-800. You’ll learn how to take-off, fly at a normal cruising altitude of 33,000 feet with a cruising speed of 464 knots and land the commercial plane at an airport. No prior experience is necessary. The only requirement is that you’re at least 11-years-old and a minimum height of 4’ 11’’. Get ready—you’re about to know the true meaning of the saying, “the sky is the limit.”