The Golden State
Sun, Sand, Mountains, and Thrills make this a state full of adventure. You can visit so many times and the trips will never be identical.
Visiting California
There are several reasons to visit California. I feel like we often associate a state with its politics, but there is no room for that when it comes to travel, and especially no room for that when the imagination takes over. From even before California was identified as the 31st state in 1850, California has been a dream. It was an intangible destiny that was worth it for the few that would make it.
California was named after a fictional island paradise from a popular Spanish love story, which is fitting because that is how people still dream of this eccentric land. The dream of a gold rush brought so many people here, and century after century, it is still a place of richness, opportunity, and innovation. Hollywood provided an outlet for creativity and intelligence to merge.
My favorite places in California are obviously Disneyland because Walt Disney chose Anaheim as his very own playground. It holds a special place in my heart because it held a special place in his. I also love what they have been able to create at Universal Studios Hollywood, but San Diego is my favorite city. It is very clean, and we encountered the nicest people here. The San Diego Zoo is arguably the best zoo I have ever been to, and we have been to quite a few. I also loved driving Highway 1 and seeing city on one side and beach on the other side. The beaches really are different, so it is worth it to check all of them out! There are mountains and state and national parks. I loved the Redwoods. I know they are just trees, but it is truly a majestic sight to see.
Click through each city, figure out what you want to feel, and let’s explore which one speaks to you!
Know Before You Go
- The most important thing to know before you go to California is that you absolutely will not get everything done in one trip. We went for 9 days and felt like we barely scratched the surface! I am always up for seeing it all, so I will not tell you to take it easy. If you want to see it, go see it!! Just know, it can take months to see it all, and it is worth seeing it all.
- The state has a little bit of everything, so you can drive a couple hours in one direction and feel temperature changes, as well as geography changes, so pack accordingly. If you go North, it can be cold in any month, and San Francisco is known for frequent climate changes.
- Renting a car is the easiest way to get around because public transportation is not great, and everything is so spread out. If you try ride share too much, you will spend a lot more money.
- Traffic can be pretty bad in bigger cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco, so give yourself extra time. Also, most restaurants take reservations, so try to plan ahead and maximize your time.
- California is very expensive compared to other states, so this is not going to be a cheap trip. Even the state parks alone all have fees (you can buy a National Parks Pass for those to do them in a bundle so you do not have to pay per park). Parking all over California and at hotels is pricey as well, and gas prices are definitely higher than we are used to in the South!
- Pay attention to what food is recommended in each city. San Diego is big on Mexican (especially burritos). In-N-Out Burger is a big hit here (I thought it was just okay). San Francisco is good for clam chowder. Seafood is a big winner in most cities, and there is plenty of it.
- California is a big tourist city, so weekends are the busiest times at popular attractions. Try to visit on weekdays if time allows.
When to Visit
Comfortable Weather: Spring (March to early May) brings beautiful flowers and has comfortable temperatures throughout the days with cooler nights. Of course, it gets cooler the further you go north.
Cold weather: December to February will bring cool and rainy weather. Inland will still have some warm, sunny days.
Crowds: Avoid Summer months (June, July, and August) because that is peak season for tourists.
Wine Regions: Fall (September to November) when the harvests are the best and the northern regions are most sunny.
Snow: November to March usually bodes well for enough snow to ski or enjoy with the family!
National Parks: April and May because the snow is melted, and the days are warm with less humidity.
