4 Free things to do in Anaheim

Photo Credit: Dave Cooper/Yorba Regional Park/Flickr

When you’re on vacation, sometimes you just need to slow it down a bit and enjoy a few local activities that give your wallet a break. With this in mind, we’ve compiled a list of 4 free things to do in Anaheim during your stay.

1. Yorba Regional Park

Yorba Regional Park in Santa Ana Valley in Anaheim is a great place to spend an afternoon with the family. Yorba Regional Park was once part of an expansive cattle ranch owned by Bernardo Yorba. The park first opened to the public in 1976.

The park spans 140 acres and offers bicycle trails, six playgrounds, a series of four lakes for fishing or model boat sailing, as well as more than 400 picnic tables and 200 barbecue stations.

Play a few games of volleyball or horseshoe, bike or walk the trails, rent a paddle boat and explore the lake, or simply relax in a peaceful, family-friendly setting that is framed by rolling hills. 

2. Art Crawl Experience

The Art Crawl Experience is held the second Saturday of February, May, August and November from 6-10 p.m. Admission is free. This unique art walk stretches from Anaheim Boulevard to Harbor Boulevard and along Center Street Promenade. Explore galleries, enjoy an indie craft fair, engage with artisans, enjoy live entertainment and taste local fare from trendy food trucks.

Art lovers can meander on foot or climb aboard the Anaheim Resort Transit (ART) for complimentary rides throughout Anaheim’s Art Crawl Experience.

Also known as ACE, the art crawl started in 2010 as a way to bring arts and culture to downtown Anaheim by showcasing art in public places with street artisans and pop-up galleries, as well as brick-and-mortar galleries. 

3. First Sundays at Bowers Museum

The Bowers Museum in nearby Santa Ana offers free admission, thanks to the Target Corporation, the first Sunday of each month from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Bowers Museum has more than 120,000 works of art in its permanent collection representing regions and cultures from around the world. Its largest collections include Native American art, Pre-Columbian art, Asian art, art of the Pacific, art of Africa and Orange County history. The Native American art collection, for example, features more than 24,000 objects ranging from basketry, pottery, beadwork, stone and shell tools, weapons and jewelry.

In addition, the museum rotates exhibits on a regular basis. Please visit the website for a description of current and upcoming exhibitions, as well as special events.

Bowers Museum also offers fun for kids. Visit Kidseum, located just south of the main Bowers Museum. This newly renovated area just for kids offers a high-tech, interactive experience with a focus on “Igniting imagination through exploration."

4. Downtown Disney

First-timers to Disneyland may not know that Downtown Disney offers free admission and free parking. Located outside of Disneyland Park, this entertainment district is a great place to visit on your first evening in town to get your bearings and get excited about visiting the park itself.

While admission and parking are free (up to 5 hours), there are opportunities to dine and shop. To make this evening as free as possible, consider making dinner in the well-equipped kitchen at your Castle House before arriving. Then, stroll around Downtown Disney and enjoy window shopping and outdoor entertainment.

My Castle House

With so many free things to do in Anaheim, enjoy a fun-packed day or evening and then head back to relax in your beautiful Disneyland vacation rental home by My Castle House. We offer 14 wonderful properties in the Anaheim, Ca., area, all convenient to area attractions. All of our Disneyland vacation rentals are well-appointed offering the comforts of home and the ability to prepare your own meals in fully equipped kitchens. Relax in the pool – all of our castles have one – and get a good night’s rest in any one of our incredible themed rooms.