The Colony - Anaheim, CA

The boundaries of The Colony stand equivalent to those of the original German colony that was founded in 1857. In 1999, the city approved the construction of the Anaheim Colony Monument, composed of four markers located at each entrance of the neighborhood. Constructed from redwoods and built in the 1850s, the Mother Colony House was one of the first homes in Anaheim. The home has been preserved and added to the National Register of Historic Places, and visitors enjoy tours on the first Saturday of each month.

A neighborhood museum, MUZEO, features three different art exhibits each year. Each exhibit showcases something unique to see, always providing an educational experience. Each May, Anaheim hosts the Cinco De Mayo Festival and Carnival, a fun fiesta for the whole family. With rides, live mariachi bands, food and vendors, this festival makes a great place to spend a spring weekend.

Located in an area known as the Packing District, this neighborhood houses some of the best restaurants in Anaheim. For some of the best India food in Orange County visit Punjabi Tandoor on South Anaheim Blvd. This local favorite is a cut above your local Indian carry-out/eat-in restaurant as every dish is made to order in it's own saucepan in front of you while you wait. Make sure you try the chicken tikka masala with a side of their famous garlic naan bread.

The Ranch Restaurant and Saloon offers the perfect atmosphere to celebrate a holiday or special occasion. One of the swankiest restaurants in town, The Ranch exudes class and charm. You won't find a better steak anywhere around, especially with a 36-ounce cowboy ribeye on the menu. The excitement goes far beyond the five-star cuisine with the attached saloon that features live country music and dancing.

While there aren't many nightlife options in the neighborhood, the Anaheim Brewery serves as the local watering hole for residents of The Colony. With an emphasis on quality and freshness, Anaheim brews a list of beers to satisfy any taste or craving. The tasting room and beer garden provide an authentic feel with a vintage wooden bar and German beer garden tables.

Abundant public transportation options in Anaheim provide The Colony with easy access to the entire area. The Orange County Transit Authority operates 77 bus routes throughout the local community and surrounding areas. The Anaheim Resort Transportation, or ART, features additional routes and services to residents, employees and guests of Anaheim.

Six large public parking lots located in downtown Anaheim, five of which give drivers free two-hour parking, make it simple to stow your car and explore the area on foot.

Several of the main roads surrounding the neighborhood feature designated bike lanes, allowing residents to choose green transportation. With many restaurants and businesses nearby, many residents of The Colony opt to walk to their destinations.

With a few of the area's major highways located not far away, you can enjoy direct access to surrounding communities, Disneyland and the beach. Hailing a cab in Anaheim proves difficult, but you can call to prearrange cab or Uber services.

Residents of The Colony flock to Pearson Park, the neighborhood recreational area. This comprehensive park features tennis courts, ball fields, a playground and a pubic pool. Kids especially love feeding the ducks on the park pond.

While it sits a short drive to the east, Carbon Canyon Regional Park provides enough outdoor entertainment to keep you busy. This 124-acre park proffers grassy hills for picnics, sports fields and a 4-acre lake, perfect for fishing. A meandering nature trail takes you through 10 acres of majestic redwoods, the only grove in the county. The park caters to families, so bring your dog along with you.

For over 90 years, the Anaheim Fall Festival and Halloween Parade has provided entertainment for the people of Anaheim. Taking place downtown, the event features craft booths, games and food vendors. Kids love to take part in the costume contest and visit the pumpkin patch. The bigger kids like to take on the terrifying haunted motel attraction. The Anaheim Fall Festival creates a fun-for-the-whole-family experience.

You can't talk about parks and family fun in Anaheim without mentioning Disneyland, one of the areas most popular attractions. Visitors can meet their favorite Disney characters, hop on exciting rides and attend shows and performances.

The cost of living in The Colony compares equally to that of the city average. The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment sits at $1,376. When heading to a pub to enjoy a drink with friends, locals expect to pay up to $9 for a beer. Gas prices in the neighborhood stay on par with the city average, rising higher than the national average.

Sitting in the heart of Anaheim, The Colony enjoys premier access to some of the best shopping in the city. Just down the street, find Center Street Promenade. This revitalized and renovated business district honors the area's history and provides a place for community members to dine and shop. Featuring a mix of boutique clothing stores, the Promenade attracts shoppers with a unique and eclectic style. Visit RSSA Home improvement for everything from appliances to bathroom tile and other items required to spiff up your home.

Let award-winning Visser's Florist and Greenhouses provide the flower arrangements for your next special occasion. The largest single flower shop and greenhouse in Orange County, Visser's has two fully stocked greenhouses with thousands of flowers and plants, as well as a fleet of vehicles to deliver thousands of beautiful flower arrangements throughout the county. Visser's Florist also specializes in gorgeous and tasty custom fruit and gourmet baskets and offers plant maintenance service too.

Residents of The Colony take their pick from a number of available neighborhood grocery stores. For basic grocery shopping needs, most people choose to visit Stater Bros. Market and Albertsons.

Every Sunday, Farmers Park hosts a farmers' market to residents and visitors of the Packing District. Two acres of grassy hills, a community garden and a redwood boardwalk compose Farmers Park. Vendors sell high-quality agricultural goods from local farmers and ranchers, creating the perfect atmosphere to gather with family and friends.