Grownup Sophistication Near Theme-Park Thrills

With Goofy ears dangling from their hats and Mickey Mouse smiling from their sweatshirts, the middle-aged English couple stepping off the elevator exudes anticipation. "I simply. Cannot. Wait," the woman says, elbowing her husband. "I simply can't! Ooh Gerald, isn't this so exciting!" They are only several hundred yards from The Happiest Place on Earth, yet here amid the lobby of the Hotel Menage—accented by black marble floors, a sleek bar, and trickling fountains—they are among the only indicators of Disneyland's proximity. Catering to both families and business travelers, the hotel cultivates a boutique ambiance that sneaks sophistication into an Anaheim getaway.

Each of the hotel's studio king rooms ensconces guests in a warm-toned, modern space outfitted with a king-size bed and a padded leather headboard reaching almost to the ceiling. A sunshine-hued couch unfolds into a queen-size bed, ideal space for extra sleepers or cumbersome wax statues of Grover Cleveland. Downstairs, rows of bottles stand at attention behind the lobby bar, and a vertical waterfall lures diners to K'ya Street Fare, a popular, casual eatery where chefs grill up street cuisine favorites from around the globe. Stationed at red-leather booths, patrons can nosh on flavorful, creative fare inspired by such disparate locales as Tokyo, Venice, Bangkok, and Boston.

The tropically decorated outdoor pool, open 24 hours a day, glints in the California sun. In early evening, bathing-suit-clad vacationers sip fruity cocktails under the tiki-themed outdoor bar's thatched roof. By 9:30 p.m., the space has filled with happy revelers lounging on deck chairs and treading the pool's warm water as they await Disneyland's nightly fireworks show. Exploding directly over the heads of dazzled guests, the pyrotechnics boom and sparkle in the night sky, eliciting a multitude of oohs and aahs.

Anaheim, California: Magical Playland Close to the Beach

Although the Hotel Menage sits an eminently walkable quarter of a mile from Disneyland, the concierge offers all-day shuttle tickets ($4/day for adults; $1/day for children under 10) for those who'd rather log leg miles exploring the park. The shuttle picks up riders every 20 minutes.

Inside the park, families smile for snapshots in front of Sleeping Beauty's Castle, then hop on the rides that made Disneyland famous—the Mad Tea Party spinning teacups, the spooky Haunted Mansion, and the It's a Small World cruise with its cheerful animatronic choir of children from around the globe. The adjacent Disney California Adventure Park offers equally magical attractions, such as the Soarin' Over California flight simulator, which launches riders on a personal hang-gliding adventure so lifelike it includes mists of pine scent when flying over mountains. Thrill-seekers can ascend the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror before dropping in a heart-stopping free fall, or clamber aboard the roller coasters thundering around Paradise Pier, home to sweeping views of the park, carnival street fare, and the rare chance to imbibe alcoholic beverages on Disneyland property.

Travelers can trade fairy dust for white sand at Huntington Beach, where they'll find 3.5 miles of free-to-the-public beaches filled with surfing, pickup volleyball games, and stall upon stall hawking flip-flops and seashell-themed wares. Nearby, at Slater's 50/50 Burgers by Design—an upscale burger joint that also has a location in Anaheim—a largely male crowd of business-attired eaters relishes California's best-kept secret: a burger composed of 50% ground beef and 50% ground bacon.