7 places in California you MUST visit
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California. The Golden State. Arguably one of the best places on earth. The options and dreamy destinations are endless in California, from San Francisco to Yosemite to Hollywood and Palm Springs, California has something for EVERYONE! Here is my list of places to visit in California that should be on everyone’s bucket list…
RELATED: Ultimate Travel Guide California: Everything you need to know about solo travel in California.
Yosemite
Of all the places to visit in California, Yosemite National Park has to be top of the list. No matter how many times you see that classic Apple screensaver of Yosemite, no photo will EVER do this place justice, it’s incredible! I could have spent hours just staring out at that famous lookout point and days exploring the park. San Francisco is a great city to fly into to make your way out to Yosemite, it’s around a 3-hour drive to the park from downtown SF. I’d definitely recommend staying over at Yosemite – a day trip is doable but you’ll more than likely want to spend more time there than just a few hours.
Monterey
Next up on my list of places to visit in California is Monterey. I fell absolutely in love with Monterey the second I arrived. The world-famous aquarium is AMAZING! I did a behind the scenes tour about the utterly adorable sea otters and it was well worth the $15. Cannery Row is a cute and historic location but what really made me fall in love with this place was watching the sunrise over the bay and seeing the sea otters splashing around in the water below me. Less famous than Napa Valley, Monterey also produces great wine so I highly recommend going wine tasting. Monterey (and the sea otters) have my heart.
Big Sur
No trip to California, or should I say road trip, is complete without a drive through Big Sur. With Vista points every 5 seconds down the road looking out to sea, Big Sur has to be one of the most beautiful drives in the world – you’re gonna want to stop every 5 minutes to admire the views! Some places you shouldn’t miss are Bixby Bridge (you can’t really miss it anyway!), McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and Pfeiffer Beach (PURPLE SAND!). Top Tip: Set off early and make a day of it, you WILL need it!
San Luis Obispo
SLO is a cool place to visit in California. I got major student vibes from walking around San Luis Obispo and get the impression that it would be a great place for a drink and a fun night out! SLO also has one of California’s 21 Spanish missions and is one of the happiest places in the world. It has an incredibly relaxed vibe and again, excellent wine makes this a fabulous place to visit with lots of nearby attractions such as Hearst Castle, Pismo Beach and a really cool (but maybe slightly odd) Bubblegum Alley.
Disneyland Resort
For all the big kids and young at heart, Disneyland is definitely a must-visit place in California! With two incredible parks, every Disney fan is their absolute element at the Happiest Place on Earth. Go wild with your Disney ears, Churros, Mickey Mouse Shaped food, Character Meet and Greets, Parades and fun-filled rides!
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Orange County
Maybe I’m biased because I have a friend that lives here but Orange County, in my opinion, is one of the most beautiful places in California and there are lots of things to do there too! More relaxed than the neighbouring glitz and glamour of Los Angeles, Orange County has 40 miles of stunning coastline and a laid back surfer vibe – Huntington Beach is called Surf City USA after all! Take a drive along the Pacific Coast Highway to really get a feel for the area. Whale Watching, Shopping and Theme Parks are just a few ways to spend your time in Orange County.
Santa Monica
Last up on the list of places to visit in California is Santa Monica (and Venice Beach.) Embrace your inner Baywatch on the beaches of Santa Monica and Venice, have the time of your life on Santa Monica Pier’s Pacific Park, watch the fitness buffs (or join in!) at Muscle Beach gym, stroll around the canals of Venice and watch the sunset over the Pacific Ocean! All of that and you’re only a stone’s throw away from Downtown LA, the best of both worlds!
California Road Trip
The best way to see all the highlights of California is to ROAD TRIP! Starting in the north, San Francisco or even further north and working your way down to Los Angeles, Orange County or even San Diego. Don’t be scared about going it alone and take lots of photos along the way! I promise you, it’ll be one of the best trips of your life! Check out Visit California for more inspiration.
What’s your favourite place in California? Leave a comment below!
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Love California so much. Wish I could live there! I’ve only been to Santa Monica, San Francisco And Buellton. Would love to explore more of this beautiful state. Thanks for sharing this list
I wish I could live there too! So beautiful and I still have so much more to see 🙂
I love California too! Riding down the Pacific Coast Highway is a trip for my bucket list, and I can’t wait to do it.
PCH has to be the best trip I’ve ever done, the views are incredible! You will love it 🙂
I was born in Orange County, CA! I left at 5 years old so I don’t remember much of it except for visiting Disneyland several times. Those were great memories. Our family just went to LA to do some sightseeing and Santa Monica Pier was one of them. California has some beautiful landscapes!
OC is my fave place! So beautiful
I know really a little about California, (from the Pablo Escobar story). Out of the fun and night life it seems having a great nature as well!
California really does have everything!
We love a good road trip! Yosemite is so beautiful and a must see for sure. We haven’t had a chance to go to Santa Monica, I would love to walk the pier.
Santa Monica is so cool! Definitely recommend if you’re ever around LA
I have visited Yosemite and it was an amazing trip. I can only imagine how good the rest of these places will be. I’m going to visit LA soon so Santa Monica is on my list!
Santa Monica is so cool, you’ll love it!
West coast road trip, should be my first trip in the US, awesome nature and places! I would add Sequoia National Park to this list.
I’ve never been to Sequoia National Park but it looks incredible!
Oh no, I’ve only been to two! I need to spend more time in California
Any excuse to visit California!
I live in California so I could give you some recommendations! Santa Cruz is a great little town with a beach amusement park. Half Moon Bay is a lovely place with lots of beaches and beautiful scenery. The Sierra foothills has the Gold Country – lots of little towns with interesting Gold Rush history. And Lake Tahoe is the local favorite – everyone who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area head up to Tahoe for snow and fun in the winter.
Ah this is great – thank you! Santa Cruz completely slipped my mind, but I did only visit for a few hours!
I really like that you talked about visiting Monterey during my trip to California. I love spending time in nature and can’t wait to see what California has to offer. My kids and I plan on going to LA for a few days and then heading up the coast from there.
I LOVE Monterey so much! Have fun in LA and going up the coast, it’s so beautiful!
Thank you for highlighting these 7 must-visit places in California! Each destination you’ve mentioned sounds absolutely incredible and offers such a diverse range of experiences. Whether it’s the majestic beauty of Yosemite National Park, the vibrant culture of San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf, or the serene vineyards of Napa Valley, California truly has something for every traveler.
I’ve been fortunate to visit a couple of these places myself, and they’ve left a lasting impression on me. Your blog post has reignited my excitement to explore more of what California has to offer. It’s also great to know that there are resources like this blog where I can find reliable information and recommendations.
I can’t wait to plan my next adventure and tick off more of these incredible destinations from my bucket list. Thanks again for sharing your insights and inspiring me to embark on new California adventures!