Summary
Sunny Downtown Fullerton, adorned with its palm tree-lined streets and historic low-rise buildings, radiates California style and charm. Founded in the late 1880s, the district is characterized by flat terrain, facilitating easy exploration on foot. With the region’s favorable climate, umbrella packing is unnecessary as Downtown Fullerton sees rain only about twenty days each year.
While Downtown Fullerton may not rival Nashville, it boasts numerous vibrant live music venues that have significantly contributed to the music landscape. You can unearth the captivating story of this legacy by reading about the Fullerton Museum Center below.
In Downtown Fullerton, there’s always something engaging for everyone, irrespective of their interests. From entertaining escape rooms and ghostly encounters to artistic evenings and a vintage-style brewery, the variety of activities available is remarkable. Explore these top fifteen attractions to enhance your visit to the district.
1. Heritage Walking Tour
Participate in a guided Heritage Walking Tour of Downtown Fullerton and learn about the district’s past and present while wandering through its broad boulevards.
The tours commence at the Fullerton Museum Center and involve a two-hour journey filled with insightful information provided by a knowledgeable docent. It is advisable to apply sunscreen, wear a sun hat, and opt for suitable footwear during the walking tour.
For those seeking an added thrill, consider the Haunted Fullerton Walking Tour, guaranteed to send chills down your spine.
2. Villa del Sol
Visit the Villa del Sol, a Spanish Colonial-style shopping complex and event venue located on North Harbor Boulevard, ideal for dining or specialized shopping.
This restored 1920s hotel features a lovely open-air courtyard with a central fountain, surrounded by cafes and restaurants. At Villa del Sol, you can discover vintage items at Gild the Lily or sports memorabilia at Past Times, and savor English delicacies from the British Grocer.
Enjoy a Mexican-inspired lunch on the courtyard terrace of Cafe Hidalgo or descend to the basement for dinner in the nostalgic ambiance of The Cellar. The mall offers a wonderful opportunity for a relaxed afternoon of retail exploration.
3. Muckenthaler Cultural Center
Explore the Muckenthaler Cultural Center to gain insight into the historical lifestyle of Downtown Fullerton while enjoying a jazz concert or an art exhibition simultaneously.
This unique site, part museum and part cultural venue, is housed within an eighteen-room mansion built in the 1920s, set amidst eight and a half acres of landscaped gardens including a gazebo and auditorium.
Previously a family residence, many rooms feature period furnishings relevant to the original occupants, while others are converted into galleries hosting temporary art exhibitions throughout the year.
4. Fox In A Box
Challenge your nerves and problem-solving abilities at the Fox In A Box escape rooms located on West Amerige Avenue.
Inside the room, you will have sixty minutes to decipher clues and complete objectives, such as executing a bank vault heist, averting a calamity, or discovering the antidote during a zombie outbreak.
Each escape experience is supervised by a gamemaster who provides hints and support as necessary.
5. Downtown Fullerton Market
Visit the Downtown Fullerton Market to experience the local atmosphere. Located on East Wilshire Avenue, the market features a diverse range of stalls offering fresh produce and unique goods, including palm reading.
The market includes a spacious beer garden, providing an ideal setting to unwind with a refreshing beverage after browsing the various stalls. Live music performances further enhance the lively ambiance, and when hunger arises, there is a variety of street food vendors offering delectable treats.
6. Stubrik’s Steakhouse
Experience an enjoyable evening at Stubrik’s Steakhouse and Bar, located on East Commonwealth Avenue.
With a two-decade reputation for exceptional dining paired with live entertainment, Stubrik’s offers comfort food prepared with refined culinary skill. Signature menu items include New England-style crab cakes and Stubrik’s wings, followed by Porterhouse steak or Mahi Mahi accompanied by mango relish.
Live music performances take place on Fridays and Saturdays, ensuring a memorable visit when in Downtown Fullerton.
7. Fullerton Train Museum
The Fullerton Train Museum, situated on Santa Fe Avenue, preserves the rich railway heritage of California.
This outdoor museum features a collection of vintage rail cars and cabooses dating from 1929 to 1961. Step back in time by exploring a Union Pacific dormitory-lounge car or meandering through a 1949 lunch counter and diner car, attempting to envision the experience of dining while the train was in motion. It creates a surreal journey through history.
The museum is located within the Fullerton Transportation Center and is open on the first and third Saturdays monthly.
8. Bootlegger’s Brewery
Stop by Bootlegger’s Brewery on South Highland Avenue for a craft beer tasting experience.
As Fullerton’s first brewery, Bootlegger’s has been brewing signature beers, including Knuckle Sandwich and Golden Chaos, for a decade, in addition to offering a selection of other brews on seasonal rotations.
The brewery features a tasting room with an outdoor patio and operates seven days a week. For a visit, advance reservations via their website are recommended.
9. Art Studio B Creative
Discover your creative talents at Art Studio B Creative. Select a day or evening session with a captivating artistic prompt that inspires you, and arrive at the studio on South Raymond Avenue prepared to express your creativity on the designated theme.
Art Studio B Creative supplies all necessary equipment to create your personal masterpiece, including brushes, paints, and a large blank canvas, along with professional guidance and support as needed.
10. Hi-Tech Archery
Enhance your aim with an archery lesson at the Hi-Tech Archery shooting range located on West Commonwealth Avenue.
Under the careful supervision of a qualified instructor, draw back the string on a recurve bow, release the arrow, and aim for the bullseye.
Various lesson slots are available throughout the day on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. As spaces are limited, it is advisable to secure your spot in advance. All necessary equipment is provided.
11. The Night Owl
When venturing out in Downtown Fullerton, experiences extend beyond typical pubs and cocktail lounges. The Night Owl, located on North Harbor Boulevard, is a specialty tea and coffee shop that also features live music.
With its stylish decor centered on an owl theme, this cafe boasts an outdoor terrace complete with rustic wooden furniture. The menu includes an extensive range of coffees, including an Elvis Latte featuring peanut butter, banana, and honey, and for tea enthusiasts, options like the Blueberry Muffin Latte or the spiced Dirty Hippie are available.
12. Fullerton Museum Center
The Fullerton Museum Center serves as a compact museum and event space located on North Pomona Avenue.
This venue hosts various exhibitions centered around pop culture, including a dedicated gallery for Leo Fender, a notable Fullerton resident and creator of the iconic Fender guitar, utilized by many esteemed musicians worldwide.
The museum regularly holds open mic nights, performances by live musicians, and numerous festivals, including the Fullerton Taco Festival, which occurs every August.
13. Hillcrest Park
Hillcrest Park, a spacious green area situated on North Harbor Boulevard, offers the finest panoramic views of Downtown Fullerton.
The park is adorned with a picturesque fountain that lights up in various colors during the evening, along with several walking trails that deliver stunning vistas; however, to truly appreciate the entirety of Downtown Fullerton, you may need to exert a little more energy than just walking around the park’s border.
Climbing the stairs within the park rewards visitors with breathtaking views of the city, making the effort worthwhile.
14. 17th Door
Encounter supernatural entities at the 17th Door haunted house located on West Orangethorpe Avenue.
Step into the narrative chambers of the 17th Door, prepared for a fully immersive five-dimensional experience. The unpredictability of what you might encounter around the next corner adds to the suspense.
Navigating through the entire haunted experience typically takes approximately thirty-five minutes. All participants are provided with a safe word, ensuring they can exit the haunted house if the intensity becomes overwhelming. Remember it!
15. Slidebar Rock-N-Roll Kitchen
When nightlife calls, everyone converges at the Slidebar Rock-N-Roll Kitchen, located on East Commonwealth Avenue.
This venue features rock-themed decor comprised of exposed brick, bar stools fashioned from recycled drums, and atmospheric neon lighting. The culinary offerings are also rock-n-roll themed, with barbecue brunches occurring each weekend accompanied by live performances from local musicians.
Both Slidebar Rock-N-Roll Kitchen and Downtown Fullerton are sure to invigorate the scene in Orange County.
