By Tina Chaffin
The varied sights and sounds of Southern California will greet APCO International’s Annual Conference & Expo participants.
The APCO Annual Conference & Expo will be held August 7-10 in Anaheim, California, about 30 miles southeast of Los Angeles in beautiful Orange County. Anaheim is popular with tourists and is the home to almost 350,000 people, making it the most populous city in Orange County. Anaheim hosts up to 25 million visitors each year, thanks to one notable resident, Disney.
HOME BY THE RIVER
In 1857 a group of German-American farmers settled in Anaheim. “Ana” refers to the Santa Ana River, which flows through Orange County. “Heim” is the German word for home. Colonists called the area “home by the river.” Long before citrus fruit, Anaheim was best known for wine. For over two decades, the city produced more wine than any other city in California. After losing the grape crops to disease, the colonists decided to plant citrus trees. In the early 1900s, oranges were the area’s biggest crop and by 1950 the area was home to over 5 million Valencia orange trees. Then in 1953, Walt Disney purchased 160 acres to build Disneyland. On July 15, 1955, Mickey Mouse welcomed his first visitors, ultimately changing the Anaheim landscape. Today the sprawling orange groves have disappeared, and the city is a top tourist destination for visitors worldwide.
DISNEYLAND FAST FACTS
- Disneyland is the second most visited theme park globally, behind Disney World.
- When the park first opened in 1955, admission was $1.
- The top floor of the Main Street fire department was Walt Disney’s onsite apartment while the park was being built.
- The park collects over 400 lost items every day.
Anaheim is home to two Disney parks, Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. Disneyland is more nostalgic, while Disney California Adventure has rides based on more current themes, such as Pixar and Marvel. Spin around in a giant teacup at Disneyland or head to Radiator Springs at Disney California Adventure to race your friends on a “Cars” themed ride. Can’t decide which sounds more fun? Multi-day tickets allow visitors to visit both parks. If the Disney parks are on your agenda, purchase tickets in advance as the parks currently only allow entry to those with reservations. Visit apco2022.org/disney/ for discounted tickets.
WHAT TO DO
For those wanting to experience a little Disney magic without going to the parks, Downtown Disney is about 1.5 miles from the conference venue. Downtown Disney has a variety of restaurants, shopping and treats. It is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat and buy souvenirs.
For a one-of-a-kind thrill, Anaheim has the Flightdeck Flight Simulation Center. Visitors can step into the cockpit of a Boeing 737 or an F/A-18C Hornet supersonic fighter jet. Pilots don a flight suit and attend a short briefing before being cleared for take-off. Reservations are recommended, as this popular activity fills up fast.
Anaheim is also home to the Major League Baseball team, the Angels. The team is on the road until Friday, August 12, when they’ll host the Minnesota Twins for a 3-game series. Sunday is Family Day, which includes many events for the kids like running the bases.
The Honda Center, Anaheim’s event arena, will host the PBR Team Series, a bullriding league, on Friday, August 12, and Saturday, August 13.
FOOD
Food options near the conference venue and scattered around Anaheim include rooftop bars or comfortable patios to enjoy the beautiful weather. It won’t be hard to find something everyone can enjoy, from casual eateries to fine dining.
For tasty and eclectic options, visit the Packing District. Start with some southern seafood, fish and chips, or dim sum. For dessert, choose from crepes, homemade ice cream, French pastries, Hungarian chimney cake or a piece of cereal killer cheesecake. End the night with a drink at a speakeasy, grab a Boba Tea or sip a specialty coffee. The venues have different hours and days of operation so research before planning your trip.
TRANSPORTATION
Uber and Lyft are available in Anaheim. There will likely be surges when the theme parks open and close so plan your travel accordingly. Anaheim also has a bus service, Anaheim Regional Transportation. The buses run to Garden Grove, Buena Park, Costa Mesa and Orange. Multiple car rental businesses are available near the conference venue.
WEATHER
The average August high temperature in Anaheim is 85 degrees, and the low is 65 degrees. During the day, the sun can be hot, with few clouds. Rain is unlikely. It would be best to pack a light jacket or sweater for early mornings and evenings.
WHAT’S NEARBY?
Another amusement park, Knott’s Berry Farm, is just outside Anaheim in Buena Vista. Knott’s Berry Farm has rides for all ages, including several thrill coasters. Water park enthusiasts will find Knott’s Soak City across the street.
Are you looking for something a little more relaxing? Orange County’s western border consists of 42-miles of beautiful shoreline between the historic Pacific Coast Highway and the Pacific Ocean. The three closest beaches to Anaheim are Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and Laguna Beach, each with an eclectic vibe.
Huntington Beach, also known as Surf City USA, is best known for the 10-mile Ocean Strand filled with cyclists, runners and skateboarders. Main Street has unique gift shops, eateries and beachwear. The Huntington Surf Museum boasts the world’s largest surfboard.
Newport Beach is known for nightlife, shopping, whale-watching tours and deep-sea fishing. One highlight of Newport Beach is Balboa Island, a quaint island full of picturesque cottages and charming shops. After a fun-filled day, head to Corona Del Mar State Beach in Newport to set up a bonfire in one of the many fire rings.
Laguna Beach has seven miles of beaches mixed with coves, tide pools, rock formations and bluffs. Outdoors enthusiasts will appreciate over 7,000 acres of wilderness, which is popular with hikers. There are also plenty of shops and restaurants to peruse. Laguna Beach is a favorite destination for art lovers.
If visiting one of the beaches, don’t leave too early. Watching the sun slowly disappear into the Pacific Ocean is a must for any traveler or photographer.
Fans of the TV show “Emergency!” can head west of Anaheim about 30 minutes to the Los Angeles County Fire Museum. Located in Bellflower, the museum has a showroom of antique fire apparatus, including the famous “Emergency!” fire apparatus. Display cases showcase fire artifacts and photograph exhibits, many of historical significance. After touring the museum, guests can stop by the gift shop to grab a T-shirt, challenge coin or “Emergency!” souvenir.
About an hour south of Anaheim, LEGO enthusiasts can visit LEGOLAND in Carlsbad. The park features rides for younger kids, shows, exhibits, LEGO characters, Sea Life Aquarium and, of course, LEGOS. The park currently requires reservations.
Meanwhile, San Diego hosts the San Diego Zoo where visitors can see polar bears and several animals that are found in no other U.S. zoo. Sea World San Diego has animal shows, rides and exhibits for all ages. Head to La Jolla Cove for sea life in its natural habitat — you are likely to find dozens of sea lions and seals basking in the sun. While it’s best not to get too close, some can be extremely photogenic and will pose in the background of your selfie.
BEFORE OR AFTER THE CONFERENCE
For conference attendees hoping to see a little more of California before or after the conference, Anaheim is about an hour from Los Angeles and an hour and a half from San Diego.
Los Angeles is home to many sights. Pop culture fans can visit Hollywood and snap a picture of the iconic Hollywood sign, take a walk with the “stars” down Hollywood Boulevard and compare their handprints to the handprints of their favorite actors and actresses at the TCL Chinese Theater (formerly Grauman’s Chinese Theatre).
The Los Angeles Police Museum is about an hour north of Anaheim. The museum has a variety of exhibits showcasing the evolution of equipment, uniforms and other police memorabilia. Currently, there is an exhibit related to the 1963 events that inspired the book “The Onion Field” by Joseph Wambaugh, a former LAPD officer. There is also an exhibit highlighting the North Hollywood Bank Robbery, in which two heavily armed robbery suspects exchanged gunfire with officers for 44 minutes. During the incident, almost 2,000 rounds were fired, most by the suspects. The museum also has the suspects’ getaway vehicle and a heavily damaged squad car. The museum is not open on Mondays and at the time of this writing, it requires visitors to be vaccinated and show proof before entering the museum.
For the ultimate weekend getaway after the conference, head to Newport Beach and hop on the ferry for the hour ride to Catalina Island. Whether you want to participate in water activities, experience an Eco Adventure Tour or relax by the beach, Catalina Island has a little bit of everything. The island’s raw beauty is enough to de-stress even the most overworked person in public safety!
Tina Chaffin is a Trainer and Part-Time Police/Fire Public Safety Telecommunicator at the Castle Hills (Texas) Police Department. She has been a telecommunicator for over 25 years.
