Anaheim: Your invitation to sun, surf, and West Coast ease

Once known as the strawberry-growing capital of the United States, the area is cultivating a new field as a vacation destination, with something for every age and every interest, from scuba and baseball, to shopping and wine tours, to amusement parks, theater, and concerts, all within Anaheim proper or a short drive from the city.

Key Points

Sure, it's is the birthplace of the Disney empire-but Anaheim/Orange County is so much more! Once known as the strawberry-growing capital of the United States, the area is cultivating a new field as a vacation destination, with something for every age and every interest, from scuba and baseball, to shopping and wine tours, to amusement parks, theater, and concerts, all within Anaheim proper or a short drive from the city.

We offer a snapshot of diversions offered during the AUA annual meeting, but consider coming early and staying on to sample more Anaheim/Orange County fun.

The sporting life

Other championship-caliber venues in Anaheim are Anaheim Hills (714-998-3041), where green fees are $23 to $53 (par: 71; cart fees included), Black Gold Golf Club (714-961-0060) in Yorba Linda, with par at 72 and green fees ranging from $50 to $100 (cart fees included) or Coyote Hills in Fullerton (714-672-6800), designed by PGA stars Carol Olson and Payne Stewart, where par is 70, and green fees-with cart fees included-range from $31 to $106.

You don't have to be an athlete to have fun in Anaheim/Orange County; bleacher potatoes can get their kicks at 44,000-seat Angel Stadium of Anaheim (714-634-2000), where the Angels host the Los Angeles Dodgers May 18 (with fireworks), 19, and 20. Advance tickets and a seating chart are at http://www.angelsbaseball.com/.

If net gains means something other than investments to you, catch a practice session by the U.S. Men's National Volleyball Team, who call the 150,000 square foot American Sports Centers (714-917-3602; http://www.americansportscenters.com/) home. Better yet, why not bring a few friends for a game of H-O-R-S-E on one of the Sports Center's 16 basketball courts or form up teams and work out on one of the 22 volleyball courts or nine indoor soccer courts? Call for hours, fees, and scheduling.

Speaking of H-O-R-S-E, take a lesson or a trail ride on the real thing at the Anaheim Equestrian Center and Rancho del Rio Stables (714-535-3510), a full-service boarding facility that offers both ( http://www.ranchodelriostable.com/). It's just 3 miles from Disneyland. Call for hours, fees, and programs. Or, if horsepower takes a different shape in your mind, cruise over to Dromo One (714-744-4779; http://www.dromo1.com/) for high-speed indoor Stratos kart racing on a 1,000-foot track. Check the calendar, book time, and download waivers on the web site.