Pack Your Bags! Here are Five Ways to See California

Ahh, California. The Golden State. Right next door to the good ‘ol Silver State (i.e. Nevada) where I live. Because it is in such close proximity I often overlook it for a vacation, but California can fill a lot of needs for many different travelers. It’s worth noting that Cali is completely diverse and offers a variety of incredible vacation options.

You can trek through the hills of Big Bear or eat your heart out in LA. From the North to the South there are a lot of California trips that can be made and not overlap each other. I’m laying out five for you, so hopefully, you can put California on your travel list!

The City Break

I love LA and I bet you will too. It has the shops, the restaurants, and even celebs wandering around if you know where to look. It’s not the only city in Cali that provides stunning options for exploring while on vacation either. There’s also San Diego and San Francisco. Both can be a bit pricey but the scenery is SO worth it. San Francisco is particularly great if you’re traveling in the summer months since it is full of cute cafes and rooftop bars! San Diego has the most modern-looking downtown area. Head to the Gaslamp District for all the newness in this city! However, if you do visit Los Angeles, be prepared for a whole other world of luxury and style. This is where gluten-free restaurants are the norm and everything is healthy and wellness orientated. It’s how the other half lives.

The Beach Escape

California is home to hundreds of beaches. You read right. Hundreds. Up and down the coast of Cali is an abundance of seaside experiences. How will you know which one is the right pick for you? Santa Monica is full of lively entertainment, whereas Long Beach is more of a shipping port full of boat tours and aviation museums. Laguna is a great beach to catch some rays in the sun, while Huntington is all about the surfing. GNARLY! Grab a margarita at a nearby tex-mex restaurant and soak in the waves.

The Fine Country

Another idea is exploring the beauty of the forests and landscapes around and away from these cities. A trip to the country will be a different type of vacation, but it can be just as incredible. This is where you will get the chance to relax and enjoy the scenery in a peaceful location without many people around or the smog of the city.

Coming from a city slicker, I actually look forward to California’s country spots because, well, you guessed it, their wine! You can explore vineyards along the coast and taste some of the finest wine that California has to offer. You can explore Sea Ranch vacation rentals as a possible option here if you’re looking for a spot with fantastic views of the ocean. Surrounded by cute little beach towns, this is the best place to wind down.

The Secluded Nature Town

Big Bear is the ultimate nature destination in California. If you’re looking for seclusion, there are so many campsites to look into in this area. However, you have to be comfortable driving up a winding and curving road to get to the mountain towns. The best time to go is right at the beginning of summer or at the end of spring. The water is a crystal clear blue and folks are just starting to make their way toward their cabins! The towns really come alive at night with fun karaoke bars and live entertainment. You can even indulge in a pleasant hike on many of their trails leading towards the top or towards the lake!

The Family Fun

Of course, Cali is also a great spot for sharing time with the family. Why is this? I’ll give you a hint. It's the land of the Happiest Place on Earth. Disneyland is iconic as Walt’s original dream. Need I say more? Disneyland has just completed a bunch of renovations from Star Wars Land to revamping a plethora of rides. The best part is you’ll find many great rides here that don’t exist at the other mirror parks in the rest of the world.

You’ll also find Universal Studios Hollywood here too. Universal Studios is particularly great because it is home to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Absolute magic happens here for all ages. Universal is the place where you can gain a backstage pass and experience actual movie sets. It’s an awesome experience that you don’t want to miss!

These parks are popular so my advice: SPLURGE. And get there early. Get fast passes when possible and stay until late. Sample all of the foods especially the sweets, like Disney’s famous churros and Universal’s Homer’s Doughnuts.

Want some more United States traveling Inspo? Check out my post on Utah, Texas, Florida, and Colorado!

Cali truly is the place to be, and with it being so close, I think I take it for granted. Don’t forget, it’s not just an either-or situation here. There’s no reason why you can’t plan a vacation that’s a combination of all these possibilities. Although California is a hop, skip and a jump away for me, you can really get a lot of different sceneries in California.

Where are your favorite places to visit in Cali? Let me know in the comments below!