Author Melanie Walsh & “100 Things to Do in Anaheim Before You Die”

ICYMI: Later, with Mo’Kelly Presents – An in-depth conversation with Author Melanie Walsh, who joins the program to introduce her latest book release ‘100 Things to Do in Anaheim Before You Die’ which gives “visitors and locals a comprehensive look at the best the city has to offer, including itineraries and seasonal selections” - on KFI AM 640 – Live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
You're listening to Later with mo Kellyon demand from KFI AM six forty.
I Am six forty. It's Laterwith mo Kelly. We're live everywhere on
the iHeartRadio app A glistening castle,enchanting entertainment, and mouse shaped snacks.
Anaheim, of course emanates magic,but Anaheim isn't just pixie dust these days

(00:22):
at the Disneyland resort, it trulyoffers something for every traveler. One Hundred
Things to Do in Anaheim Before YouDie gives visitors and locals a comprehensive look
at the best the city has tooffer, including itineraries and seasonal selections.
Travel writer behind one hundred Things toDo in Anaheim Before You Die is Melanie

(00:43):
Walsh, and it's my pleasure towelcome her to Later with mo Kelly right
now. How are you doing thisevening, Melanie, I'm doing wonderful.
Thank you so much for having meand for allowing me to talk to you
about all the wonderful things Anaheim hasto offer. What does Anaheim signify to
you? I know to many people'sjust Disneyland and that's about it, or

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that's all they know about the cityof Anaheim. How is it and why
is it? You might have fallenin love with the city of Adaheim.
Well, Anaheim is magic. Wedo have the Disneyland Resort, which is
what attracts so many visitors. ButI always tell people it feels like a
small town. I live in asection of Anaheim that is part of the
early colony here, and it reallydoes feel like a small town. You

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walk around, you see people,you know. Everyone's invested and engaged,
and I just I really cherish theopportunity to live here. I'm a little
older than yourself. I have moredays behind me than in front of me.
Let me say it like that.So if I'm going to get to
all of these wonderful places and sitesand locations within the city of Anaheim,

(01:49):
I need to hurry the hell up. So top line for me, some
of the things that you have todo, have to see, and then
we'll go from there. Well,I think if I are going to make
a top list, of course theDisneyland Resort. Following that, we have
a really cool historic building. It'sa citrus packing plant that they turned into

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a food hall. It's called theAnaheim Packing House, and it is so
incredible. There's a ton of differentfood available to you there, whether you're
going just to roam around or bringinga group, that's a really cool place
to visit. And one thing Ithink people don't know about Anaheim is we
have a vibrant craft brewery scene here. So if you are interested in learning

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about different types of beer, tryingout different things, I think you really
should take yourself on what we calla beer cation in Anaheim. When you
are just writing as a travel writer, I'm quite sure you've been exposed to
any number of places in any numberof destinations, and also the whole process
of travel itself, but you stillcome home, as it were, to

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Anaheim. Explain that for me,you know, I think Anaheim has the
best of everything for a variety oftravelers. We've got the family entertainment,
we've got something for business travelers,we've got something for a younger generation.
So there's just a lot offered here. You know, if I get on
the freeway, it's like an adventurefor me, because I'm like, why
would I leave. Everything's right here. I can get everywhere I want to

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go with Anaheim. So I say, I'm a travel writer, but I
really prefer my little neck of theWoods. As a travel writer, you
understand the influence and importance of tourism, and Anaheim is a tourist destination,
if only because of Disneyland and theDisneyland Resort. But I also know,
and I need not tell you,but I would also want to bring into

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this conversation how tourism can change thefeel of a location because you have a
very transient community of people who arecoming and going, not necessarily living.
How has tourism impacted Anaheim from whereyou sit, because it may be a
very different place than maybe twenty fivethirty years ago. Yeah, you know,

(04:08):
I think that we're lucky that wehave such a thriving tourism industry here
because it gives us so much more. Other cities might not have the same
offerings in the same amount that wedo here, So as a local,
I get to take advantage of thevariety and all of the differences that we
have that other cities might not.Yeah. I just feel really lucky,

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And I know a lot of localsaren't necessarily taking advantage of all the dining
and entertainment. So I really wantto get the word out there about our
small businesses, especially that are hereto host them and to help them make
some magical memories. Something I didwant to talk to you about. And
I don't want this to be aDisney focused conversation, but I think this
is relevant to the larger conversation aboutthe growth and evolution of Anaheim. Disney

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has made it very clear that they'regoing to be expanding its footprint, its
campus, its role in the cityof Anaheim. You just mentioned small businesses.
I wonder how locals feel. Iwonder how small businesses feel at the
prospect of an even larger Disney presencein the city of Anaheim. You know,
I think that's going to be acontentious question for a lot of people,

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and I think it has to bea partnership between the Disneyland resort and
the city. Disneyland does bring ina lot of tourism dollars and a lot
of benefits in that regard, butthere has to be that even you know,
trade off. So what are weas residents here receiving for the benefits
that they accrue? All right?Something else alongside of the tourism. I

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know, just driving through Anaheim,the freeways have changed, the access to
the city has changed. What othernotations would you make about how the city
has changed in a topographical sense.Yeah, We've got some really cool projects
coming up around the Honda Centers,especially, you know, makinging Anaheim Sports

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more of a destination. Like whenyou go to San Diego and you have
Petco Park, there's so much tosee and do that's walkable around there.
So I see Anaheim doing a lotof that, which is really cool,
and I'm excited to see what offeringswe get from that. I always say,
when you live in a city,like I'm born and raised in Los
Angeles, so I'm kind of numbto the things that people may want to

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do when they're visiting Los Angeles.When I have friends or family come in,
they say, oh, we wantto see the Hollywood sor and it's
like, I don't care about Ohwe want to see the you know,
the Hollywood Walk of Fame and thestars on Hollywood Bulevard. I really don't
care. What do you hear fromyour friends and relatives who may come to
town as far as what they wantto experience, And then you may interject
and say, hey, you maybetter enjoy this, that or the other.

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But what do you hear from people? Well, I do think,
of course, the resort is abig draw sports, going to see the
angels, going to see the ducks, that's something that's pretty widely known as
entertainment offerings here the food. Ithink that there's a lot to tap into
there if you're just tuning in.My guest right now is Melanie Walsh.
We're talking about her book one HundredThings to Do in Anaheim Before You Die.

(07:11):
And on the other side of thebreak, we're gonna really get into
this list high and low and findsome of the hidden and not so hidden
gems in the city of Anaheim inOrange County. It's Later with Moe Kelly
can if I am six forty Weare live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app.
You're listening to Later with Moe Kellyon demand from KFI AM six forty.

(07:31):
Wow. We're having a great conversationabout all things Anaheim in Orange County.
Travel writer Melanie Walsh has joined meand we're talking about her book one hundred
Things to Do in Anaheim Before YouDie. And so I'm getting older by
the second, Melanie, so wegot to move this along. I'm kidding,
I'm not gonna rush you, butwhat other special places and things are

(07:57):
there in Anaheim which may be offthe beat path or maybe lesser known.
Okay, well, let's fill upyour bucket list with some things that are
happening in and around Anaheim, becauseAnaheim is a pretty expensive city. But
we also have some activities in theneighboring cities that I think are worth your
time. Happening right now. Ifyou're looking for like a Valentine stay date

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at the Seagerstem Center for the Arts, is that Disney's The Lion King,
So you could tie in that DisneyMagic here in Anaheim. Take it a
little bit outside of town and gocheck that out. If you're looking for
something a little bit more casual.Nearby, there's Arcade Mission Control, so
you could take your friends to apinball competition, which is pretty cool.

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You know, I think that whenyou come to Anaheim you're looking to be
entertained. But there's also some thingsthat you can do to put yourself in
the driver's seat if you will.We have k one go kart racing,
which is pretty cool. There's alsoa flight deck flight simulation if you want
to put yourself in the seat,and it's like you can either be in

(09:01):
a Boeing or in a fighter jet. So that's something fun, something different
that would help make some new memories. We've also got some escape rooms here
in town that would let your friendsand family cheer you on if you're able
to get out in time. Explainthat for those who may not be familiar
with the whole escape room phenomenon.Sure. So, typically you have sixty

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minutes to go into a room thatis locked. There's clues. You work
with your group to try to unlockthose clues. Each one leads to something
else, and you use your wits, your general common knowledge to try to
solve the mystery and get out intime. If you can do it,
you can take a cool photo leteverybody know that you were successful and made

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it out. I've never done that. I actually want to do that,
and that means I'm going to goto Anaheim in which to do I'm sorry,
please continue, No, what's reallyfun. We've got a new one
opening up too that's Tiki themed inthe spring that I'm really looking forward to
two as well other things. Youknow, the quickest way to anyone's heart
is through their stomach, and Anaheimhas a ton to offer you. There

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we talked previously about the Anaheim PackingHouse, which has a ton of great
artisans to check out. You know, food from every area. I love
Urbana, which is upscale Mexican food. There's a hot pop place you can
find crepes. I mean, there'sreally something for everybody there. Other ideas
if you're looking to add to yourbucket list. We have a ton of

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really wonderful rooftop bars for elevated experiences. And what's neat specifically for Anaheim is
when you're at these rooftop bars,like the Fifth across the street from Disneyland,
is you have great viewing of theDisneyland fireworks. So it's a cool
way to like have this unique experiencewith that hint of Anaheim. So that's

(10:52):
pretty fun. We also have somereally nice upscale restaurants here, the Anaheim
White House or the Ranch both wouldmake great Valentine's Day ideas if you're looking
for somewhere to take that someone specialor just to you know, have a
cute photo of your your meal forthe Graham. You got to do it

(11:13):
for the gram. Listeners to KFIare very familiar with Anaheim White House.
They're like our second home. Wedo an annual event with them each year
part of fundraising for Caterina's Club.We love Chef Bruno, so hopefully he's
listening right now. But I getthe sense in listening to you and they
can't my audience can't see you,but you're beaming right now as we talk

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about Anaheim, and I know thatwe all love home. There's no place
like home, as they say home, regardless with all of its warts,
we still love home. But beyondthat, I get the sense that Anaheim
is both big and small. Itstill has that very local feel, you
know your neighbor type feel, youknow the streets, and you know everything

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that's on both sides of the street. Am I wrong to say that Anaheim
has not outgrown itself? You wouldbe correct. I am a fourth generation
Anaheim resident and I feel very connectedto the city. I write a blog
called Clementine County, which is namedafter a street here in Anaheim, because
when I was growing up, thatwas the street that really captured my excitement.

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I tell my kids it's the streetthat had the best Halloween candy.
But it really does feel like home, and I feel very connected here.
I'm grateful for my community and forthe people that you know have helped,
you know, they embraced my family, they have been supporting us, and
I feel very honored to do thesame, whether it be through you know,

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supporting my neighbors, buying Girl Scoutcookies and Boy Scout popcorn, or
cheering on the Anaheim High School sportingevents. I'm really grateful for the opportunity
to be a voice for Anaheim.Before I let you go, I'm curious,
just as a travel writer, andas I alluded to this earlier,

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You've been a lot of places,You've seen a lot of things, you
have done a lot in that process. What to you, and this is
very general, What to you makesa good destination, makes a good place
to visit or stay or even live. That's a great question, and I
think the variety is going to bevery important. I have four kids,

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they range from sixteen to one,and so when we're looking for a travel
destination, you know, there hasto be something for everybody, so that
everybody has something to cling onto,whether it be you know, my oldest
wants there to be a coffee shop, my youngest wants somewhere to run around.
So I think having something that appealsto everyone in your group is really
what makes a difference for travel,Bellie Walsh. I know someone was inspired

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by this conversation wants to either pickup your book one Hundred Things to Do
in Anaheim Before you Die, orpick up this conversation with you more directly.
How can people reach out to youon social media? Wonderful? They
can follow me at Clementine County likeOrange County with a smaller juicy your Orange.
My book's also available for sale onAmazon or at redipress dot com.

(14:07):
She is Melanie Walsh. Be sureto check out one hundred Things to Do
in Anaheim Before you Die. Melanie, thank you for coming on the program
basically short notice and making this happenand also giving us some great Valentine's Day
tips as it approaches. Can't waitto do this again. Let us know
whenever you have anything else to offer, so you are always welcome on this

(14:28):
show. Thank you so much foryour time today. I appreciate it.
It's later with Moe Kelly k IFI am six forty. We're live everywhere
on the iHeartRadio app. Will helpyou figure it out. It's kind of
what we do. KF I'm andKost HD two Los Angeles, Orange County,
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