Summer is in full swing and the holiday crowd is back at Disneyland®, with many enlisting to join The Mandalorian & Grogu's new mission and others looking forward to an updated Soarin' Across America, opening a few days before July 4th in tribute to the United States. While most of our guests are in town for Anaheim's main destination, those traveling from afar often want to explore a few more stops while they're around, and the options are as vast and spectacular as the Golden State. California is the "ultimate playground," and we have something for everyone.
In case you weren't aware (many of us Americans might be locked in to the NBA finals), the 2026 FIFA World Cup is about to be underway, with Team USA practicing in Orange County's Great Park and slated to compete in a few upcoming matches at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. A cursory search estimates the cheapest tickets going for $700 or more, so this might not be everyone's cup of tea, although it could be a once in a lifetime sort of thing. As a good number of our guests are budget-minded families traveling with littles, we often try to recognize affordable family-friendly outings among the paralysis of choices. We can't help but recommend road-tripping up and down the coast, exploring one of California's nine national parks, or hitting the glorious beach.
After long days at Disneyland® Resort, you might prefer to go easy, but still need an outlet for the kids. Parks are a natural go to for families, but with the summer heat, we'd like to suggest a cooler alternative. Nestled at the end of Center Street Promenade, an easy 15 minute drive from the Alamo Inn and Suites, The Rinks offers year round public ice skating. General admission is currently $18 and skate rentals an additional $8. Parking at the nearby Metropolis parking garage on186 S. Clementine Street is free with validation at the time of writing. With food and drink places lining the promenade, there's plenty to try within walking distance before or after skating. We literally found out today that a local favorite – Ake'Larry – just opened up their 2nd location on Center Street.
What is neat about The Rinks is that it has connections to the Anaheim Ducks and the Honda Center, cornerstones in Anaheim's skyline. Speaking of the Honda Center AND ice-skating, we hope you paid attention to our blog earlier this year, because the Stars on Ice tour was a showing for the ages.