Best vacation places in california
Best vacation places in california – In the present times, with working and professional pressure building on people, vacations have become that much more important. A vacation is not just a time to relax or get away from the daily grind – it is also a time to rejuvenate yourself and be happy. You must be wondering which are the best vacation places in california, don’t you?
Best vacation places in california – In the present times, with working and professional pressure building on people, vacations have become that much more important. A vacation is not just a time to relax or get away from the daily grind – it is also a time to rejuvenate yourself and be happy. You must be wondering which are the best vacation places in california, don’t you?
California offers many vacation destinations for tourists and residents alike. Furthermore, California has a lot to offer everyone located there, from great weather to historical sites to entertainment venues.
California is a huge state, and there are so many things to do in California. We’ve listed our favorite vacation spots in California.
- Los Angeles, California
LA is a great place to visit for vacations. It has many attractions like Hollywood sign, Rodeo Drive, Santa Monica Pier, Griffith Observatory and more. You can also go shopping at the world’s most famous shopping mall: The Grove.
- San Diego, California
San Diego is also a great place to visit for vacations with its beautiful beaches and colorful fish tacos! There are many attractions like Coronado Beach, Balboa Park and more. You can also go kayaking or sailing on Mission Bay or take a ride on the world’s longest wooden roller coaster: The Giant Dipper at Belmont Park amusement park. You can also enjoy watching dolphins at Sea World or Sea Life Aquariums of San Diego during your stay here!
- Yosemite National Park, California
Yosemite National Park is a beautiful place to visit if you’re looking for some peace in nature as well as hiking trails that will take you through stunning landscapes such as Half Dome (which is one of the most popular hikes), Bridalveil Fall and others; plus it has plenty of camping
California is a great place to go on vacation. There are many places that you can choose to visit and many things to do while you’re there. One of the most popular places in California is Disneyland. It’s a theme park where you can ride rides, play games, and meet characters like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. You can also go to Knott’s Berry Farm, another theme park that has a ghost town, haunted mansion, and water park.
Another popular place in California is San Diego. It has beautiful beaches and great weather all year round. You can visit Legoland California Resort or SeaWorld San Diego which are both fun for kids but also adults will enjoy them too! It’s also very easy to get around because buses run all over town so there’s no need for a car rental or taxis if you don’t want one!
1. San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge
One of the most beautiful cities in America, San Francisco should be on everyone’s must-see list. The ocean and hills provide a stunning natural setting, but the quaint neighborhoods, historic sites, green spaces, inspiring cultural institutions, and relaxed attitude are what truly make this city special.
The iconic Golden Gate Bridge is one of the key sights and what many people call to mind when they think of the San Francisco, and even California. The orange frame against the blue water of San Francisco Bay, or rising out of the fog that often covers the area is an unforgettable sight. You can appreciate the bridge from afar or, for a more personal experience, drive over it, walk on it, or even bike across it.
Other popular tourist attractions include Fisherman’s Wharf and the infamous Alcatraz Island. This former jail is now a national park and well worth a visit. Ferries leave for the island from Pier 33 near Fisherman’s Wharf.
If you have time to explore the city and are up for a little exercise, see some of the sights on foot. Families traveling with children will find a world of activities to entertain youngsters and even older children with our article on things to do with kids in San Francisco.
Accommodation: Where to Stay in San Francisco: Best Areas & Hotels
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- Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in San Francisco
- 1-Day, 2-Day, & 3-Day San Francisco Itineraries
- Top Day Trips from San Francisco
2. Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park in Northern California is one of the United States’ most scenic and most visited national parks. The mountains, valleys, rivers, and spectacular waterfalls have drawn tourists, artists, and athletes here for decades. For nature lovers, a visit here is one of the best things to do in California.
Most of the key sights and things to do in Yosemite National Park are in Yosemite Valley. Carved by glaciers during the last ice age, the granite walls and huge waterfalls are some of the most outstanding features in the park. This is where you’ll find the big name attractions, like Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, and El Capitan.
Beyond the Valley are the Tioga Road and the Glacier Point Road, both of which offer access to alpine areas, lookout points, and incredible views. Sometimes overlooked by tourists but also definitely worth seeing are the giant sequoias. The largest stand is located in Mariposa Grove, in the southern part of the park.
One of the best ways to explore Yosemite is to get out into the landscape on some of the incredible hiking trails. These range from easy walks along streams and lakes to life-altering trails that will take you to the tops of mountain peaks and to famous landmark sites. If you are spending a few nights and want to set up here for a while, you’ll also find a number of outstanding campgrounds in Yosemite and the surrounding area.
Accommodation: Where to Stay in Yosemite National Park
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- From San Francisco to Yosemite: Best Ways to Get There
- From Los Angeles to Yosemite: Best Ways to Get There
3. Disneyland
Disneyland, located in Anaheim, is California’s premier family destination and one of the top family vacation destinations in the US. This massive amusement park is home to all kinds of rides, games, shows, and entertainment, complete with restaurants and hotels. The park is a combination of theme rides and recreated worlds and cultures. You can find shows and other entertainment designed for both children and adults.
Long line ups and wait times have been reduced somewhat by the invention of FastPass+, which gives you the ability to book specific ride times, a hug with a character, and entertainment events. However, when kids are out of school, either for the summer, Christmas, spring break, or any other holiday, you can be sure that the park will be very busy.
Keep in mind there is more to Disneyland than just the parks. The entire Disneyland resort experience features hotels, dining, shopping at the Downtown Disney District, and the Disney Adventure Park. Although the parks are definitely what your children are here to see, you’ll find something fun for everyone in the family.
Official site: https://disneyland.disney.go.com/
Accommodation: Where to Stay near Disneyland
4. Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park contains some of California’s most inhospitable terrain, with extreme heat that has left this desert area strangely beautiful. Salt fields, dry parched land, sand dunes, mountains, unique rock formations, and a lake that lies below sea level create a unique landscape in this remote valley.
Some of the easiest to reach highlights in Death Valley are the sand dunes near Stove Pipe Wells, Badwater Basin, Zabriskie Point, and Dantes View. These and others are all easy to reach with a regular vehicle. If you have a 4WD vehicle, you can head out to more remote places like The Race Track.
Death Valley can be done as a day trip from Las Vegas, Nevada, but there is so much to do here, you may want to plan on spending more time. You can drive through the park and stop at lookouts; hike short trails; see the ruins of the valley’s former industry; and even paddle in the shallow Badwater Lake, if there is any water in the lake at that time.
Accommodation: Where to Stay near Death Valley
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5. Big Sur
This beautiful stretch along the Central Coast of California offers a chance to get back to nature. Camping and hiking at Garrapata State Park and Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park are some of the best places for these pursuits.
Big Sur begins about four miles south of Carmel in Yankee Point and stretches along the Highway No. 1 as far as Salmon Cove, some 17 miles north of San Simeon. This scenic road offers splendid views over the picturesque coastline. To the east stretches a true wilderness – the Santa Lucia Mountains and Ventana Forests, with more than 220 miles of trails.
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is a great place for hikers, sunbathers, and those looking for a nature escape. The park has camping facilities and, for anyone looking for a little more comfort, the Big Sur Lodge offers a peaceful retreat in a superb location. One of the highlights in the park is Pfeiffer Falls, which is reached by the Valley View Trail. A branch off this trail leads to the Valley Overlook with views that extend to the ocean and the Big Sur River Valley.
Garrapata State Park is another popular area of Big Sur. The main attraction here is Garrapata Beach, a long, wide, crescent-shaped stretch of golden sand. Waves here can be big, and it may not be the best for swimming but it’s great for taking a stroll and soaking up the sun. For those looking to get a little exercise, there are also day hiking trails in the park providing fabulous views of the coastline, mountains, and redwoods.
Accommodation: Best Hotels in Big Sur
6. Lake Tahoe
Stunning Lake Tahoe lies high in the Sierra Nevada mountain range and is a popular year-round vacation destination in California. Lake Tahoe is about more than just the lake, it’s the forests and mountains, small towns, and multitude of activities the area offers.
The blue lake, with its turquoise coves and surrounding mountains, is a summer playground for boaters, beach goers, campers, and nature lovers. The beautiful beaches and shallow coves are some of the main draws for families visiting the area in summer. Places like D.H. Bliss State Park and Kings Beach State Recreation Area are popular beaching destinations around Lake Tahoe.
You’ll find outstanding hiking trails for all abilities in the mountains and along the shoreline. Campgrounds in the area are also excellent, with many in beachfront locations or wooded areas. Much of the summertime action is centered around the beaches. In winter, the focus shifts to the ski resorts.
Lake Tahoe is also California’s premiere skiing destination, with several popular ski resorts. During the winter, skiers from across the United States descend on the area to take advantage of the incredible terrain and great snow conditions.
Accommodation: Where to Stay in Lake Tahoe: Best Areas & Hotels
- Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions at Lake Tahoe
7. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Home to the largest trees on Earth, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are bucket-list destinations. The sequoias here are the largest living things in the world, and many of them are more than 2,000 years old, with some even more than 3,000 years old.
These adjacent parks cover an area of mountains with majestic granite peaks, deep gorges, lakes, rivers, and forests, but they are quite different from each other. If you are planning on visiting both parks, you will need at least a couple of days.
Although both parks are home to the giant sequoias, Sequoia National Park is arguably the best place to visit these ancient wonders. Easy walking trails, many of them paved, meander through the trees and provide easy access to the major sites. This park is also home to Mt. Whitney, which at 14,495 feet is the highest mountain in the US (apart from Alaska).
You can find some beautiful campgrounds in Sequoia National Park, many of which are well positioned for visiting the trees and other attractions, like Moro Rock, and the famous giant sequoia known as General Sherman Tree.
Kings Canyon National Park is more rugged and wild, with jagged peaks, roaring rivers, and remote sections where you can escape the crowds and enjoy nature. This is a popular park for hiking. You’ll also find some incredible campgrounds in Kings Canyon, both close to the trees, in the Grant Grove area, and in the Cedar Grove area at the far end of the 26-mile Kings Canyon Scenic Byway.
Accommodation: Where to Stay near Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park
8. Redwood National and State Parks
Walking through a forest of giant redwoods, towering more than 300 feet above you, feels like entering another era. Descendants of trees from the Jurassic Period, these are the tallest trees on the planet, and they are truly one of California’s greatest treasures.
These jointly managed parks, which include Redwood National Park, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Del Norte Redwoods State Park, and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, stretch out along a spectacular portion of Northern California Coast. Each offers something a little different, but in all of them you can find great hiking trails and beautiful campgrounds.
Accommodation: Where to Stay near Redwood National Park
9. Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua trees bring a type of magic to this otherwise lunar-like landscape, where giant boulders and rock formations create wild shapes that capture the imagination. The park covers 800,000 acres and offers a range of diverse sites that include much more than just the Joshua trees.
The Cholla Cactus Garden, where chollas stretch out endlessly along the hillside to the mountains beyond, the ruins of the historic Keys Ranch, the giant palms of the Lost Palms Oasis, and the vista from over 5,000 feet at Keys View are just some of the highlights. Also don’t miss Skull Rock; a huge rock resembling an alien skull.
If you are going to stay awhile, you may want to consider spending a night under the stars and trees at one of the fabulous campgrounds in Joshua Tree National Park.
Joshua Tree National Park is less than a three-hour drive from Los Angeles and less than an hour from Palm Springs.