What else is around BlizzCon?
by Amanda Rivera 
Jul 28th 2007 at 11:04AM
If you're coming along to BlizzCon, you might want to do more than simply come to the con. There is plenty to do in and around the area, and I thought that I might, as a former Southern Californian, point to some of the alternatives around town. Yes, we know there's a mouse who lives in Anaheim, but if you're not in the mood to visit the Temple of Disney across the street from the Anaheim Convention Center, there are other options.
Food at the convention center will be basic, so if you get the chance to slip away for a meal elsewhere, I recommend it. My favorite place to eat, for instance, during the last BlizzCon was actually a little Red Robin just down the street, where I sipped my chocolate shake and listened to Warcraft-related conversations at the tables around me. If you don't mind a little walk, there is Storyteller's Cafe, one of my favorite restaurants at Downtown Disney, located at the Disney's Grand Californian Hotel. The prices are fairly reasonable, and the food is of good quality, with high class service. The one place I have been meaning to go ti but never have is Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament, where they have a Renaissance-esque meal served during a jousting show.
If you are in town for a couple of days and like theme parks, you are definitely in luck. I am not a huge fan of Knott's Berry Farm, but I did spend my formative years at the Six Flags Magic Mountain north of Los Angeles and can highly recommend the Riddler. South of Anaheim along the Interstate is Legoland in Carlsbad, and further south in San Diego are three attractions perfect for the animal lover in the group: The San Diego Zoo, The Wild Animal Park, and Sea World. The weather should be nice next weekend, so why not take a drive down to Dana Point and enjoy some sea air? It's just down the Interstate 5 from Anaheim, and the area is dotted with shops and restaurants surrounding a lovely marina.
These are just a couple of suggestions, and there's an excellent thread on the forums that details plenty of other options for dining and entertainment around BlizzCon. For those who are going, what are you planning on doing besides going to the con?
Filed under: BlizzCon
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ian ORourke Jul 28th 2007 11:18AM
Well, I wouldn't visit the Magic Kingdom park - it's a bit of a dive :)
Phil Jul 28th 2007 11:55AM
If your in Southern California and you don't stop at In N Out then you really didn't goto California
Sheldrake Jul 28th 2007 12:23PM
@2 I about fell out of my chair at your In N Out comment... Thats all my significant other can talk about. "blah blah blah In N Out blah blah blah eat there every meal, etc"
It crazy talk. Its JUST A BURGER JOINT. :D
Finnicks Daerkhiv Jul 28th 2007 2:13PM
#2 is hereby quoted for Truth! In'n'Out has tbe best burger anywhere! #3, that's like calling... uh... well... *can't find a good analogy*... you're a poopy head if you don't think In'n'Out is the best!!! There!
Anywho, Six Flags Magic Mountain happens to be the best place on earth, and if you're in town for BlizzCon and have an extra hundred bucks or so, I'd highly advise visiting for a day. It's probably an hour and a half to two hours north from Anaheim (No busses go there that I'm aware of, so you'll need a car). I've personally never been on Riddler, because I'm a nasty combination of rotund and ridiculously tall (so the restraints don't fit, d'oh!). For the same reason I've also never been on Batman, either. But Scream has a special seat with longer straps (Yes, I need a special seat. I'm fat, get over it...), and that's my favorite ride at the park. It's incredibly smooth, like FLYING!
So yeah... tickets are about $60 for general admission, and like all theme parks food is outrageously overpriced, so $100 should cover you for an all-day excusion to Six Flags Magic Mountain.
landser Jul 28th 2007 4:48PM
Way hot at 6 Flags, you may die. Sunstroke while waiting in line not uncommon there. Go to the beach.
baxmaniac Jul 28th 2007 5:45PM
Dana Point is a sleepy town but there are some good restaurants in the harbor. Look for The Brig(great breakfast) and Harpoon Henry's(great seafood. Or there is an El Torito for some mexican food. They should have kayak and small sailboat rentals right now as well. ;) Just some tips from a local.
Druid dude Jul 29th 2007 1:44AM
Don't forget that you will be a short drive from Orange County beaches. OC beaches in the summer, good stuff! Well, if you can find a place to park that is.
Eh? Jul 29th 2007 5:04AM
@Sheldrake:
"Those who say such things about In-n-Out have never eaten there, or, as some people have said above, are a poopyhead."
In addition to In-n-Out, there is also other fast food places that are great to eat at: Tommy's burger joint for great chili(dogs, burgers, fries, etc.), Pinks near the corner of Melrose and La Brea in LA for the best hot dogs in the world! (IMO), Del Taco (OMG those fries!!!!) Green Burrito...
Other little traveled restaurants would be Polly's Pies (the BEST Chocolate Silk pie EVAR!!), Elephant Bar, Hof's Hut, CLAIM JUMPER!!!!! and etc....
For stuff to do and look at, near the Anaheim Convention Center, down I5 is the Block at Orange - great to stroll through for an evening, have dinner, and catch a quick movie, Downtown Disney for the same reason. There's also the Anaheim Pond and the stadium but i don't know if anything is happening there during that time.
A bit farther away south and west there is the Irvine Spectrum, same reason as Block at Orange, and for the beaches, there is Balboa Peninsula in Newport beach and Corona Del Mar for a great beach near cliffs also in Newport Beach. Also there is huntington Beach and for a bit of nature, the Bolsa Chica Wetlands. Laguna Beach has a great artsy community and the beach isn't half bad either.
To the North you have Long Beach with Belmont Shore and the Pike for dining and shopping as well as the Queen Mary and the Aquarium of the Pacific. Also there you have El Dorado regional park with it's nature center. Farther still you have in Sen Pedro - Cabrillo Beach with it's own Marine Museum and at night they host grunion runs. If you don't know what a grunion run is, I definitely suggest checking it out.
North after that you have the Santa Monica pier and Malibu for more great beach and scenery along with the Ghetty art museum on top of the hills above Santa Monica.
Inland from that you have Griffith Park and the Griffith Ovservatory along with the LA Zoo. Then you can take a driving tour of the different studios: Disney Studios in Burbank, and the paramunt, Warner Bros, etc. along with Universal Studis and it's City Walk. City Walk is much much better than either Downtown Disney or the Irvine Spectrum, but it is much farther as well. Great for visiting if you are coming back from Magic Mountain.
And don't forget the old standby's of the Walk of Fame, the Chinese Theater, and Hollywood in general.
Im sure there is MUCH I have left out, but that's what guidebooks are for!
Eh? Jul 29th 2007 5:08AM
quick additional comment about the grunion runs....I don't know what the season limits of them are, but I'm afraid they might be over for the year. Cabrillo is still nice to visit for the museum alone, it's a nice hour or two spent.