Anaheim GardenWalk is a delightful shopping/dining area within walking distance of Disneyland. Popular restaurants include the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., California Pizza Kitchen, Johnny Rockets, McCormick & Schmicks Grille, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, FiRE + iCE Grill + Bar, The Cheesecake Factory, and several more eateries. You’ll also find about a dozen shops and boutiques, including LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics, Harley-Davidson, Skechers, and O'Neill. If you’re looking for something different to do, check out Bowlmor Lanes, Houdini's Hideaway (offering magic shows dinner-theater style), Encounters: U.F.O. Experience (an exhibition of alien encounters and UFO sightings), and Billy Beez indoor play area for the kiddos. You’ll also experience live performances on the Gala Garden Stage. Admission is free; parking is also free for the first hour and $3 per hour after that. Valet parking rates start at $12/hour, but Bowlmor Lanes offers three free hours of valet parking with validation. Shops are open from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm daily, but closed on Easter, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. We often eat at a restaurant here on our way home from the park! 321 W. Katella Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92802. Phone: 714-635-7410.

Great Wolf Lodge (2 miles south of Disneyland) isa brand-new $250 million indoor water park and hotel, similar to the 13 other Great Wolf Lodges around the country. The 105,000 square foot water park is exclusively for hotel guests and houses 16 different slides and water play areas, with everything from big drops for the thrill-seekers to spray parks for the youngest visitors. Guests can also enjoy a water basketball pool, indoor surfing/bodyboarding experience, mini-golf, a kids' spa, interactive scavenger hunt, arcade, and seven different eateries. Rooms range from $250-$600/night, and packages are available that also include Disneyland admission. Scouts should inquire about possible discounts. 12681 Harbor Blvd., Garden Grove, CA 92840. Phone: 888-960-9653.

Pirate’s Dinner Adventure is a dinner show in Buena Park along the same lines as Medieval Times (previous page). Prices are $59.95/adults and $36.95/kids ages 3–11. 7600 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, CA 90620.

Beaches and Pacific Coast Highway (from North to South)

Malibu has a road sign that reads, “Malibu, 27 miles of scenic beauty.” Wide, sandy beaches and rugged rural beauty are reasons why Malibu is a favorite location for the film industry. A great place to view spectacular sunsets is at Paradise Cove. There is a parking fee of $40, but you can get it down to $6 if you eat and validate your ticket at the Paradise Cove Beach Café on Paradise Cove Pier at 28128 Pacific Coast Highway. Malibu’s colorful history is on display at the Malibu Lagoon Museum. The museum contains photographs and artifacts from the Chumash Indian era through the Spanish California culture—it’s located at 23200 Pacific Coast Highway. Next door you can visit the Adamson house, decorated with Malibu tiles that were produced by Malibu Potteries (1926–1932). It contains the original 1929 furnishings. From the house and grounds, you can view Malibu Beach, Lagoon, and Pier, affording one of the most beautiful beach locations around. The guided house tour schedule is Friday and Saturday, 11:00 am–3:00 pm. Admission for both the house and museum is $6/ages 17 & up, $2/ages 6–16, and under 5 free.