North Anaheim - Anaheim, CA Area Guide

Officially incorporated in 1876 with an initial population of 881, the small agricultural community grew steadily over the next several decades. After World War II, the economic and industrial boom caused for outward expansion from downtown Los Angeles.

Disneyland opened in 1955; Anaheim was the chosen place for the park because of its ready access to downtown Los Angeles, where the park's tourist base was located, thanks to the newly built Interstate 5. By the end of the 1950s, Anaheim had quickly expanded into an entrepreneurial city as other industries began sweeping into the town by droves.

Fullerton Museum Center remains a great educational space featuring diverse exhibitions and programs in history, science, art and the humanities. Furthermore, Western Trails Museum in Knott's Berry Farm takes you back in time to the wild, wild West.

A large variety of quality restaurants reside in the area. For those who enjoy exotic cuisines, try Tana Ethiopian Restaurant and Market, offering large portioned home-style Ethiopian dishes at affordable prices. For an entertaining dining experience, head to Pirate's Dinner Adventure, where patrons enjoy dinner and a show that features an 18th-century ship replica as the stage.

Cham Soot Gol is the neighborhood's go-to place for Korean BBQ. Great banchan (side dishes) arrive quickly to satisfy diners as they decide between dishes of brisket, beef belly and spicy pork. Self-serve ice cream provides a nice way to satisfy the after-dinner sweet tooth. For the best of Chicago, Portillo's Hot Dogs offers must-try, award-winning Italian beef sandwiches and hot dogs.

There's something for everyone in North Anaheim; the nightlife consists of cocktail and hookah lounges, dive and sports bars, karaoke spots, and adult entertainment establishments. Lemon Twist Lounge has been a hit ever since new owners took over the joint. The dive bar with style now has comedy nights twice a month and DJs on Friday and Saturday nights.

Love to dance the salsa or want to learn? If so, El Calor Night Club is your ticket to a hotspot for dancing, offering a rotating roster of DJs spinning salsa, cumbia, merengue and rock en español. It features live music events on occasion.

Living next to Knott's Berry Farm has its advantages, as the Anaheim Public Transportation System remains quite extensive, although generally locals opt to drive their cars. Residents and visitors have their choice of bus, train, Metrolink or the Anaheim Resort Transportation System for travel. Hailing a cab is not common, although one can be at your door within minutes of a phone call; Uber is an option as well.

You can find an abundance of free public parking in and around North Anaheim. Accessing highways remains a breeze, as Interstate 5 and Highway 91 can easily connect you to most other highways in the area. The neighborhood is walkable and bike riders can often be found, given there are pedestrian walkways and bike lanes throughout the city.

The neighborhood offers a variety of parks for residents and visitors alike. The home of the Summer Concert Series, Buena Park Downtown hosts many community events and is surrounded by a variety of restaurants and shops.

Henry Boisseranc Park features lighted ball diamonds, handball courts and an open grassy space. Furthermore, it offers huge jungle gyms, a massive swimming pool, two tennis courts, a basketball court and even a barbecue party area.

The small neighborhood park, Peter Marshall Park, offers a playset and a big open grassy field for sports. Brookhurst Community Park provides beautiful shady trees and picnic tables for lunch on a nice afternoon. William Peak Park has a skate park, baseball fields, basketball courts, an open field, a playground and a pool. North of Highway 91 resides Fullerton Pooch Park for when your furry friends need some exercise.

The cost of living in North Anaheim remains lower than the city average; the median rent for a one-bedroom residence runs around $1,146 per month.

A much more affordable option to downtown, North Anaheim is a place where you can expect to pay around $5.50 for a pint of beer at a local pub. The price of gas in Buena Park is 13.1% higher than the national average, while the cost to get to city center via public transportation is about $1.50.

The major shopping areas include Buena Park Downtown for fun little boutiques and restaurants to visit. For the ultimate craft store, be sure to visit the speciality store Sugar Plum. ZYNYA Boutique is also a great find selling woman's clothing.

Offering the best values in town, The Outlets at Orange is a one-stop shop for discount shopping and fabulous entertainment. With stores such as Neiman Marcus Last Call, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH, Nike Factory Store, Levi's Outlet Store and Nordstrom Rack, name brands at unbelievable prices are at you fingertips. Don't forget to swing by Dave & Buster's, Vans Skate Park, Lucky Strike Lanes and the massive AMC 30 theater. Also, be sure to get your season passes to Knott's Berry Farm for some more amazing boutiques and speciality stores that you can't find anywhere else.

There are many small specialty grocery stores all over the neighborhood and you can also choose from Stater Bros.and Albertsons. If you enjoy farmer's markets, then you are in luck because they are all over the area; you can come across them almost every day of the week.