California is certainly probably the greatest locations in the world for a trip! But whereas there are just a few locations like Los Angeles and San Francisco that instantly pop into thoughts whenever you first consider California, this state is definitely big with all types of fantastic landscapes and cities to expertise and so many wonderful issues to do in California as effectively. So when you’re questioning the place to go in your California trip or are simply in search of some inspiration to plan your subsequent journey, then that is the listing for you!
As a California native, I’ve determined to share 20 epic trip spots that I contemplate to be one of the best locations to go to in California. From iconic cities like San Diego to one of the best nature we have now to supply in locations like Sequoia National Park and Lake Tahoe, these California areas may have you planning your subsequent California trip proper now!
1. San Diego
When you’re in search of one of the best locations to trip in California, San Diego is unquestionably a metropolis it’s best to add to your listing. This place is without doubt one of the prime trip spots in California, and for good motive—it’s attractive and is virtually paradise!
While in San Diego, you possibly can get pleasure from quite a lot of basic California actions from exploring one of many many seashores, to going whale watching, to seeing seals and sea lions up shut, watching beautiful sunsets, and extra. Your listing of issues to do in San Diego will certainly be very full!
Of course, you also needs to spend a while exploring town and visiting locations like Old Town San Diego and Balboa Park. There’s a enjoyable Old Town Food Tour to take when you’d like to go to some good native eating places and check out scrumptious tacos, or when you like you might even take a tour of San Diego City or a scenic tour of town to get pleasure from probably the most lovely locations in San Diego.
Regardless of what you determine to do whereas right here and whether or not you solely have a short while in San Diego, this is without doubt one of the finest cities to go to in California and makes a wonderful place to go in California for trip. With the climate nearly all the time good and sunny right here as effectively, you gained’t remorse including this to your California itinerary!
2. San Luis Obispo
Another of one of the best locations to go on trip in California is a metropolis on the central coast known as San Luis Obispo (SLO). This cute metropolis is without doubt one of the finest trip areas in California because it gives up a laid again and stress-free environment that locals name “the SLO life,” plus it has loads of enjoyable open air and seaside actions close by.
There are so many enjoyable issues to do in SLO, from having fun with the lovable downtown heart stuffed with eating places and boutiques, to mountaineering the long-lasting Bishop Peak, to visiting one of the vital distinctive motels in the world. The sizzling pink Madonna Inn is a landmark of the world and a spot you gained’t quickly overlook!
But with a number of wonderful seashores close by as effectively, this little metropolis is reworked into probably the greatest locations to journey in California for a basic California trip. You can benefit from the beachside cities, going kayaking, browsing, or extra! No matter what fashion of trip you’re in search of, SLO is the proper place to go.
3. Los Angeles
When pondering of well-liked trip spots in California, Los Angeles is without doubt one of the prime locations that comes to thoughts. Especially when you love cities and Hollywood, then Los Angeles ought to positively be in your prime ten locations to go to in California.
There are all types of issues to do and see in LA, and you might spend a lifetime exploring right here and nonetheless discover new and enjoyable issues to do! You could get pleasure from taking a Hollywood tour and seeing superstar properties, visiting Universal Studios, and even taking surf classes at Venice Beach.
There are additionally loads of different sights to get pleasure from together with Griffith Observatory, The Getty Museum, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. This barely scratches the floor of all there’s to see in Los Angeles, and also you actually gained’t be uninterested in all of the sights to see right here that makes this probably the greatest locations to journey to in California!
4. Joshua Tree National Park
If you’re contemplating California trip concepts, you gained’t need to miss including a number of the finest out of doors locations to go to in California to your listing. The Golden State has so many wonderful nationwide parks, and Joshua Tree National Park is unquestionably one of the vital distinctive and is without doubt one of the California vacation spot spots it’s best to positively go to!
Joshua Tree is a particular park because it comprises a diversified desert panorama with a number of crops you actually can’t discover wherever else in the world. But past the distinctive ecosystem, there are many different wonderful issues to see in Joshua Tree.
At this nationwide park, you possibly can go mountaineering, bouldering, or mountain climbing. You can wander via cactus gardens, get pleasure from driving round and seeing a number of the park’s sights from the highway, or go stargazing at night time. While you possibly can simply go to Joshua Tree on a day journey from Los Angeles or San Diego, that is nonetheless probably the greatest out of doors locations to go to in California so it’s definitely worth the day journey over to see it! And after you’ve visited, you’ll actually end up wanting to return to this particular place repeatedly.
Read subsequent: California National Parks to Visit and Explore
5. San Francisco
San Francisco is without doubt one of the prime California locations to go to, and positively makes it into the listing of 10 finest locations to go to in California for vacationers. There are so many iconic sights just like the Golden Gate Bridge, but in addition loads of different enjoyable actions to get pleasure from and locations to discover!
You’ll after all need to see the Golden Gate Bridge, however you’ll additionally need to discover different points of interest close by like Golden Gate Park, Lands End, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Muir Woods. You can also like to take a tour of Alcatraz Island or take a brief cruise to see the Golden Gate bridge from the water!
While these are all enjoyable actions, when you’re in search of a bit extra journey you could get pleasure from watching sundown from a catamaran or taking a helicopter trip over the Golden Gate Bridge. What an unforgettable method to get pleasure from this iconic metropolis!
Whether you go to for a short while or for per week or extra, San Francisco is actually one of many prime journey locations in California and can hold you busy exploring the entire time you’re there!
6. Big Sur
When you’re questioning the place to go in California for trip, you possibly can’t go mistaken with one of many prime California coast trip spots—Big Sur! This is without doubt one of the most lovely trip spots in California and is a superb addition to a California highway journey or as a vacation spot in its personal proper.
You can go to Big Sur by yourself in case you have a automotive, or as a someday tour from San Francisco or two day tour from San Francisco. Regardless of which technique you select, you’ll need to make certain to see a number of the most lovely areas alongside this stretch of the coast together with beautiful waterfalls like McWay Falls, the long-lasting Bixby Creek Bridge, Pfeiffer Beach, and extra. This a part of California is sort of a little slice of paradise, which makes it one of the vital superior locations to go to in California!
7. Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park is without doubt one of the most wonderful locations in California and is my private favourite of California’s nationwide parks. Not solely is it one of the vital lovely locations in California to go to, however it is usually an awe-inspiring place with its gigantic bushes that you simply gained’t see wherever else in the world!
A number of of the sights you gained’t need to miss in Sequoia embrace mountaineering alongside the Big Trees Trail, climbing inside an outdated burnt sequoia tree, seeing the most important tree in the world, and in addition visiting a museum the place you possibly can see sequoia seedlings and be taught extra about how to defend these distinctive bushes. And when you go to in the colder months, you could even give you the chance to go snowshoeing right here in the winter!
The entire park is beautiful and stuffed with issues to uncover, so that is positively probably the greatest locations to go to in California! As far as California journey spots go, it actually doesn’t get significantly better than this.
8. Kings Canyon National Park
Kings Canyon National Park is one other of the nice locations to trip in California, and it’s really situated adjoining to Sequoia National Park. That means you possibly can simply go to each parks on the similar time and also you solely have to pay one entrance charge as a substitute of two!
While many individuals skip exploring Kings Canyon in favor of spending extra time in Sequoia, I really suppose that Kings Canyon is price a go to as it is usually one of the vital lovely locations to go in California. And there are many wonderful sights to see right here as effectively!
Sequoia could have extra large sequoias, however Kings Canyon additionally has one of many largest bushes in the world (known as General Grant) and also you gained’t need to miss seeing it as it’s a fairly well-known tree as you possibly can be taught right here! Overall, nonetheless, this park focuses extra on attractive canyons and waterfalls and backcountry exploration. I extremely advocate taking the Mist Falls Trail as it’s is one in all my favorites right here, however there are many different cool hikes to take as effectively.
So when you’ve added Sequoia to your listing of one of the best locations to go in California, then make certain to add Kings Canyon in addition to it is usually probably the greatest California trip locations and it’s so shut you would possibly as effectively cease by. A mixed go to to Sequoia/Kings Canyon is the proper concept in your California journey!
9. Newport Beach
The listing of finest locations in California to go to wouldn’t be full with out Newport Beach, one other enjoyable coastal city and probably the greatest California cities to go to. This cute place has a enjoyable waterfront to discover, full with a tiny Ferris wheel, in addition to loads of alternatives to exit on the water.
Newport Beach can be a very good place to go to in California if you would like to go whale watching. I went whale watching with Davey’s Locker right here and it was probably the greatest whale watching experiences I’ve been on! Or, when you want merely glorious views, a contact of romance, and good meals, then you could want to go on a dinner cruise right here as a substitute.
A visit to Newport Beach makes a very good day journey from LA, however in case you have a bit of longer to spend right here then you might also need to take a look at points of interest like Balboa Island or the close by Crystal Cove State Park. Whether you are feeling like going out on the water, exploring town, or experiencing nature, there’s loads to see and do right here to assist you’ve gotten probably the greatest holidays in California!
10. Catalina Island
Santa Catalina Island tops the listing of cool locations to go in California, as this island vacation spot is attractive and stuffed with vacation-worthy actions! This can be probably the greatest trip spots in California for {couples}, as it’s excellent for a romantic USA getaway.
If you’re keen on water actions like swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and many others. then you’ll love Catalina. Plus, it’s additionally the proper place for mountaineering and biking! If you’re in search of journey, you might additionally go on an underwater cruise to see the native marine life, go zip lining, and even go on an expedition to see the island’s bison inhabitants. And when you occur to be visiting between May and September, you gained’t need to miss taking a ship out to see the flying fish!
But when you’re the kind of one that loves procuring and consuming and simply stress-free and having fun with island life, then Catalina Island can be excellent for you. Taking a meals tour of the island is an ideal laid-back (and scrumptious!) exercise to get pleasure from when you’re right here. This isn’t solely probably the greatest trip locations in California for many who get pleasure from journey, but it surely’s additionally one of the vital stress-free locations to go to in California when you determine to sit again and benefit from the island life!
11. Avila Beach
Some of one of the best locations to go in California for trip are lesser-known spots, corresponding to Avila Beach. Although not as effectively generally known as different cities on this listing, Avila remains to be probably the greatest trip cities in California for a household trip, romantic journey, or trip with pals!
This metropolis is on the central coast of California (close to San Luis Obispo) and is without doubt one of the finest locations in California to trip a minimum of partially due to its proximity to the ocean. After all, what’s a California journey with out having fun with the seaside? But moreover the seaside itself, there are additionally loads of different issues to do in Avila Beach…from visiting an aquarium, to biking, to having fun with a bonfire in the night.
If you’re in cool locations in California to go to that even have some journey to them, then Avila also needs to be in your listing for that reason! There’s a sea cave and secret seaside close by that takes you a bit of off-the-beaten-path to discover and expertise.
So whether or not you’re in search of that excellent relax-on-the-beach trip the place you laze round and work in your tan or when you’re in search of an thrilling journey, this city is without doubt one of the finest California locations with each California vacationer spots and native favorites to get pleasure from!
12. Death Valley National Park
The environments of the highest locations to trip in California range drastically, simply because the panorama of California can be diversified, however one other of one of the best journey spots in California is Death Valley National Park in the desert. Despite the forbidding title, Death Valley is definitely a unprecedented place to go to!
There is such an unlimited number of surroundings to discover even simply inside this park, however a number of the highlights embrace seeing the tough salt-covered rocks of Devil’s Golf Course, experiencing the otherworldly panorama of Badwater Basin, and viewing a spectacular mountain vary from Zabriskie Point.
This simply barely scratches the floor of all you possibly can see! But if you’re in seeing one other aspect to California’s panorama, then it is a good place to go to in California to get a style of the desert. There are surprisingly pleasant landscapes at each flip, so a go to right here will certainly depart you in awe.
13. Riverside
As far as good trip spots in California go, Riverside can be an excellent selection of California locations to trip. This metropolis is beautiful to go to at any time of the 12 months when you like procuring, consuming good meals, visiting museums, and mountaineering. But whereas it’s good all 12 months spherical, it positively tops my listing of California trip spots when the winter rolls round.
Why do I find it irresistible in winter? Riverside is house to the spectacular Mission Inn, a wonderful resort in the Spanish mission fashion of structure. And this resort is all the time decked out in over 5 million lights round Christmas for the Mission Inn Festival of Lights!
The entire metropolis of Riverside additionally will get in on the pageant spirit to create a spectacular show that has now grow to be custom for Southern California residents and for folks all over the world. The pageant itself is finest skilled when staying on the Mission Inn, as you get particular entry to all of the lights and to the entire resort…however whether or not you keep there or not, this is without doubt one of the most iconic Christmas traditions in Southern California and is price a go to.
But whether or not you go to Riverside in the winter for the Festival of Lights or throughout one other a part of the 12 months, this is without doubt one of the most enjoyable cities to go to in California and might be an excellent cease in your California trip.
14. Yosemite National Park
When deciding on one of the best California trip spots, you gained’t need to overlook the favored California trip spots corresponding to Yosemite National Park. In reality, that is most likely probably the most well-known and beloved nationwide park in California and the final word California vacation spot!
Some enjoyable actions embrace viewing or mountaineering the long-lasting Half Dome, having fun with lovely waterfalls like Bridalveil, or relishing in the placing panorama of mountains and meadows. Yosemite brings collectively a number of the finest pure landscapes that California has to supply, which helps make it one of the vital well-liked locations to go to in California.
If you get pleasure from images, you may additionally have enjoyable happening an Ansel Adams Photography Class in Yosemite, the place you get the prospect to observe in the footsteps of Adams as you uncover the areas that helped make his images well-known. It is so cool to see these areas in actual life after seeing his iconic images!
Once you’re right here, you’ll see that Yosemite is the kind of place that you might simply spend your entire trip and by no means get bored. However, in case you have restricted time in your California journey and aren’t certain when you can match Yosemite into your itinerary, I like to recommend a minimum of taking a day journey to Yosemite from San Francisco or close by so you possibly can expertise this unimaginable place.
Yosemite is a good place for mountaineering and tenting and having fun with the recent mountain air, so if that is the kind of trip you want then this nationwide park is a must-see place that you simply gained’t need to miss! I’m certain you’ll quickly be including it to your all-time finest locations to go to in California listing as effectively!
15. Pismo Beach
Nice locations to trip in California are a dime a dozen, however one which stands out above the others is Pismo Beach. This coastal metropolis has all of the beachy issues you might hope for, whereas nonetheless being a sufficiently small metropolis that it instantly looks like house from the second you arrive.
Some of my favourite issues to do in Pismo embrace going browsing or physique boarding, mountaineering alongside the coast, and consuming scrumptious meals (together with one of the best cinnamon rolls ever!). You can even have a enjoyable journey renting a dune buggy to take out on the one seaside in the state the place automobiles are allowed.
There are additionally a lot of kitschy beachside retailers in the world the place you should purchase all of the California seaside souvenirs you’ll ever want. All in all, this metropolis may be one of the best place to trip in California when you’re in search of a stability of journey and leisure that encapsulates what California dwelling is all about!
16. Santa Barbara
The enjoyable trip spots in California simply proceed with Santa Barbara, one other lovely California metropolis with a lot of white buildings and pink tile roofs that mirror town’s Spanish colonial historical past and heritage. If you’re in search of good locations to journey in California, it is a excellent place to contemplate.
There are loads of cool points of interest right here, together with the Mission Santa Barbara (based in 1786), the Santa Barbara Courthouse (which has glorious views over town), and the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.
You may additionally get pleasure from going kayaking and browsing right here, exploring boutiques and eating places, or going wine tasting, in addition to some extra-fun actions like going up in a sizzling air balloon! With so many enjoyable issues to do on land, on water, and in the air, you’re certain to contemplate this one of many prime spots in California!
17. Solvang
Another of one of the best cities to go to in California, Solvang is an lovable Danish-style city and is the proper place to calm down! Of all of the locations to see in California, that is maybe one of the vital distinctive.
With all of the Danish-style structure, strolling round Solvang actually feels such as you’ve stepped into Europe as a substitute of California! While you’re right here, you possibly can strive Danish pastries and æbleskiver, go wine tasting at one of many many downtown tasting rooms or close by wineries, get pleasure from wandering the boutique retailers, or discover museums about Danish tradition. There’s additionally a enjoyable meals and picture tour you possibly can take with a neighborhood if you need!
This is the proper place when you’re in search of some tradition but in addition a soothing getaway…as all the things right here is calm and slow-paced and all of the retailers even shut early in the day! You’ll be left with loads of time to benefit from the small-town appeal and the tranquility, which makes this probably the greatest trip locations in California.
18. Laguna Beach
If you’re in search of nice locations to go to in California, Laguna Beach is a superb cease to add to your listing! This small coastal metropolis in Orange County is well-known for its pleasant seashores and artwork galleries and is a stunning place to trip.
Some of the issues you possibly can get pleasure from right here embrace tide swimming pools and boardwalks alongside the seaside and going browsing, get up paddleboarding, or kayaking with sea lions.
One of the most well-liked points of interest, nonetheless, is the “castle” on the seaside (aka the Pirate Tower) that is without doubt one of the most mysterious and iconic options of Laguna Beach. This tower is saved underneath lock and key, however makes a really picturesque view and is a enjoyable place to discover!
So whether or not you want mountaineering, taking part in in the water, or just having fun with the ocean views, it is a excellent place to go to in California!
19. Big Bear
Big Bear is one other of one of the best journey locations in California and is an ideal place to go to any time of 12 months. It gives a number of the finest mountain surroundings round, so that you gained’t need to miss it!
The metropolis of Big Bear sits close to Big Bear Lake, the place you possibly can get pleasure from swimming and all types of water actions. But that is additionally a wonderful place for a getaway in the winter, as it’s a well-known ski resort as effectively! So you possibly can get pleasure from snowboarding or snowboarding and even snowshoeing through the winter.
There are additionally a lot of enjoyable retailers and boutiques alongside the streets of Big Bear Lake Village…or you possibly can enterprise out into the forest for some attractive mountain trails. There’s a bit of little bit of all the things that you might presumably need right here, which makes it probably the greatest journey locations in California!
20. Lake Tahoe
Last on the listing of locations you’ve gotten to go to in California is Lake Tahoe. This is without doubt one of the prime locations for out of doors lovers in the state, so I extremely advocate this as one in all your spots to go to in California!
Some of the highest points of interest right here embrace seeing the attractive Emerald Bay, going mountaineering, kayaking, or snowboarding close by in the winter. But probably the greatest issues to do is unquestionably get up paddleboarding! You can take a paddleboarding tour if you would like some steerage, or you possibly can hire a paddleboard and exit by yourself…however both method, it’s positively price it.
And when you’re in search of much more thrilling journey alternatives, you would possibly like renting a jet ski, going parasailing, and even splurging on a helicopter tour to see wonderful views of Lake Tahoe. You gained’t discover a higher view wherever else!
There are many locations to go to round California, however Tahoe is unquestionably a favourite and a very good place to get pleasure from your trip. Even although it’s tough to select only one finest trip place in California, this one is unquestionably up there with one of the best of one of the best!
Want to have one of the best California trip? Be certain to take a look at my article on how to plan a visit to California!
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