Beyond the undeniable dazzle of Disneyland, the Orange County city of Anaheim rewards the explorer with a slew of surprising experiences and eye-opening cultural encounters. With the 2024 White House race top of mind, get your fill of presidential prestige, by taking a jaunt through the Richard Nixon Presidential Library. History-hounds will love it. Nestled beneath the Anaheim Hills in Yorba Linda, the Nixon Library would rank as one of the most enjoyable and illuminating presidential libraries I have experienced. The Watergate scandal, which ultimately forced him out of office, is given its due attention with a comprehensive gallery unpacking the entire unedifying saga.  

But as much as Watergate overshadowed his legacy, the library does a sterling job showcasing his manifold triumphs and achievements, from opening up relations with China and withdrawing from the Vietnam War to passing the Clean Air Act and initiating the war on cancer – which is still credited for paving the way for today’s breakthrough treatments. I gleaned so many insights on this tenacious, complex and consequential character at the library, from his unwavering pursuit of civil rights to his abiding passion for nature and conservation. The replica Oval Office within the library is magnificently designed, while another huge highlight is stand on the steps of the Sikorsky “Sea King" helicopter, which is where Nixon famously farewelled the nation, from the South Lawn of the White House.  

Displays in the Nixon Presidential Library. Photo / Mike Yardley 

The helicopter is on permanent display at the library, after being restored eight years ago. It previously flew presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford before being retired from service. Another truly remarkable encounter is to walk through Nixon’s childhood home, which remains in situ, on the presidential library grounds – and immaculately maintained. Built over 110 years ago on family ranchland, it’s another prize draw to accentuate your visit. Under the golden balm of the late afternoon Anaheim sun, after enjoying my walk through Nixon’s life, I paid my respects to the former President and his First Lady at their gravesite, as a glamourous wedding ceremony took place alongside the library’s glorious reflecting pond and rose garden. Only in Anaheim. 

Mike Yardley on Nixon's helicopter. Photo / Mike Yardley 

For a complete change of scenery, check out Anaheim’s swanky sports arenas. The LA Dodgers are riding high at present, but the ‘other’ Los Angeles baseball team, is the Angels. They last won the World Series in 2002. Founded by country crooner Gene Autry in 1961, of Here Comes Santa Claus fame, he moved the Angels to Anaheim five years later. Even if it’s the off-season, take a behind-the-scenes ballpark tour, beyond the bleachers, of this sparkling 45,000-seater stadium. Affectionately known as the Big A, I was gobsmacked at the luxurious fit-out to the clubhouses, where no expenses spared. It makes our stadium changing rooms look like Super 8 motels, compared to this Ritz-Carlton offering.  

You’ll see the Gene Autry Suite, where the Angels owner would entertain his guests, including a just-deposed and depressed Richard Nixon. Autry encouraged him to head outside into the stand, the crowd soon recognised him and gave him a standing ovation. We also toured the broadcast booth, sat in the players dugout, and ventured onto the playing field. Autry owned the Angels until 1997, a year before he died, after which Disney took control of the team and set about renovating the stadium from tip to toe. The footprint of the Disney imagineers is unmistakable, from the enormous red baseball hat sculptures adorning the main entrance, to the gigantic water feature, inside the stadium. “California Spectacular" is pure Disney - in which geysers erupt and a waterfall cascades down a mountainside, covered with real trees and artificial rocks. Fireworks shoot out of the display, at the start of play and when the Angels hit a home run. It’s a ballpark with wow-factor. 

Angels Stadium overview. Photo / Visit Anaheim 

Disney also gave birth to the Anaheim Ducks ice hockey team, better known as the Mighty Ducks, which took its name from the 1992 Disney film and cartoon series. I recall taking my young brother to a Ducks game 30 years ago, which remains a wildly popular sporting pastime in Anaheim. Disney later sold the franchise to the multi-billionaire Samulei family who made their money as chipmakers and powered the Anaheim Ducks to Stanley Cup success. Check out the Ducks in action at the Honda Center, over the winter months. The Samueli family are currently funding a mega-project adjacent to the Honda Center, called OC Vibe.  Spanning over 100 acres, OC Vibe is so much more than just a glitzy new entertainment precinct, but an entire new downtown district for Anaheim and Orange County. Costing over NZ$ 6 billion, the five year-long project will give rise to new theatres, shopping centres, apartment buildings, hotels, transit and urban parks. It will be fascinating to see it unfold, with much of it opening in time for the 2028 LA Olympics. 

The historic heart of the city is known as Anaheim Colony, in deference to the original German settlement that took root in 1867, developing Anaheim as a wine production settlement. Anaheim takes its name from the Santa Ana river and the German word for home, ‘heim.” The area’s wine industry was a swift success until disaster struck in 1884, with a plague sweeping through the vineyards and destroying the crop. Unbowed, the residents replanted Anaheim with variety of new crops, headlined by the iconic citrus groves. You can glean so many fascinating insights into Anaheim’s backstory at Muzeo, which is housed in the century-old Carnegie Library building. Muzeo provides a storehouse of artifacts that highlights the city’s story. Across the road, the Anaheim Packing District is repurposed living history. An upscale food court always pull a crowd in the refurbished, historic 1919 citrus-packing house, in the heart of Anaheim.  

Muzeo Museum in Anaheim. Photo / Mike Yardley 

Just south of Anaheim, I ventured to the neighbouring city of Costa Mesa, where the statement architecture reaffirms Orange County’s serious wealth. This arts and culture hot-spot is crowned by two daringly-designed venues, the Segerstrom Center for the Arts and the Orange County Museum of Art. OCMA is a recently-opened art gallery designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect, Thom Mayne. The building’s eye-catching architecture, with all its dramatic curves and dips looks like origami writ large. Boasting over 4500 works of art, devotees of modernism, minimalism and pop art are in for a treat. Thanks to a multi-million dollar grant by an anonymous donor, admission is free until 2032! 

Henry Segerstrom was a local developer who made his billions building one of the country’s most profitable shopping malls nearby, South Coast Plaza, in what were the family’s butter bean fields.  Prior to his death, de donated the plot of land for OCMA, which neighbours the dazzling Segerstrom Center for the Arts. The gigantic pink granite opera house and its mighty stone arch looks like something out of Dubai.  The concert hall and theatre, a vision of rippling, wave-like glass, is a sublime piece of architecture, designed by César Pelli. If you’re up for a night of opera, symphony, ballet or theatre, Segerstrom delivers in spades. And if retail therapy is on your checklist, right across, sweetly surrender to the luxurious bounty of 250 boutiques at South Coast Plaza - if your wallet can handle the beating!  www.visitanaheim.org  

Costa Mesa's striking architecture. Photo / Visit Anaheim 

Dreaming of a California getaway? I flew from Auckland to Los Angeles with Delta Air Lines. As the airport’s number one global carrier, Delta Air Lines offers nearly 160 peak-day departures out of LAX to nearly 60 domestic and international locations. For extra-comfort, take the step up to Delta Premium Select. With more room to stretch out and premium amenities designed with your wellbeing in mind, I arrived into LA from my overnight flight feeling refreshed and relaxed.  

The memory-foam pillow, a plush blanket, and noise-cancelling headphones all lulled me to sleep. The additional legroom, adjustable leg rest and footrest certainly make a difference. Best of all, the elevated dining experience is a real highlight, with an exclusively designed menu for Delta Premium Select guests. You can also pre-order your meal selection up to 24 hours before your flight departure. For dinner, I plumped for the garlic butter roasted chicken with baby potatoes, green beans and sundried tomato. It was delightful. And when flying in Premium Select, you’ll also enjoy accelerated check-in, security and baggage service, plus priority boarding. For best flights, fares and seats to suit, head to www.delta.com  

Delta Premium Select. Photo / Delta

Airport transfers? Karmel Shuttle provide excellent and affordable transfers to and from LAX. Their reservation-based service ensures a higher level of service and guaranteed pick-up times, with kerbside pick-up at LAX. Karmel also offers point-to-point transfers plus a curated range of day tours encompassing all of Southern California’s leading attractions. www.karmel.com  

Mike Yardley is our resident traveller on Jack Tame Saturday Mornings.