Our research was independently published and you may receive commissions for purchases made on our site. From San Diego's beautiful beaches and Hollywood's Sunset Strip to Joshua tree-filled deserts, Southern California provides a variety of stunning places to enjoy.
01. Spend a weekend in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is a perfect vacation spot on weekends to relax and enjoy California's best. Santa Barbara has some of the finest wineries in all the State. Wine tasting is recommended. It's possible to find many tours offering wine tasting, so pick one that meets your budget as well.
Santa Barbara offers a variety of activities to enjoy while catching whales. You can sometimes see whales just off ashore or go on a boat trip for more detail. In addition, Santa Barbara offers a wide choice of hiking paths.
02. Learn about the island's history
Get more information from the Catalina Island Museum. More than 100 years ago gum-smoker Wrigley Jr. bought the island in order to make it a popular holiday destination.
There is a much deeper story that appears beyond your imagination – so prepare for an exploration of the island's fascinating history with over 10000 photographs. Related: What is an enjoyable weekend trip?
03. Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
Presented on behalf of Aleksei Potov Fotolia. You can hike along the network of paths with gentle and challenging walks and strenuous climbs that involve several steps.
This protected nature reserve includes wetlands which are important resting places for migrating birds of the ocean.
04. Wonderland Ocean Pub
Tacos and Guacoles with views can be found at Wonderland Ocean Pub, which is an upstairs restaurant located just off Ocean Beach. OB lives will never be boring to watch.
05. San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Thanks to Captivating Light - Fotolya.com, the San Diego Bay national wildlife refuge protects the remaining remnant of flooded mud and marshes located in south San Diego Bay. You can enjoy bird watching on the 1.5-mile visitor center trail and explore Living Coast Discovery Center.
Cyclists can enjoy amazing wildlife viewing along Coastal Bayside Bikeway and are also able to participate in an annual guided walk through the salt flats throughout the winter.
06. Things to do in Southern California: La Jolla Cove
Courtesy of rabbit75_foot - Fotolias -.com The La Jolla Cove beaches are widely regarded among the most beautiful beaches on California's coast and are the perfect place to enjoy some relaxing time in the sunshine.
The cove has a natural habitat and is part of the San Diego La Jolla underwater habitat and has plenty of life and has a clear view and snorkeling and scuba is incredibly pleasant. The rental of the equipment is cheap and the boat trips are guided through Caves and Coves, including La Jolla Cove.
07. Enjoy a desert weekend getaway in Palm Springs
Imagine an exotic desert retreat. This is Palm Springs. The iconic movie paradise has impressive architecture, pools, upscale restaurants, stunning hiking trails and is the world famous golf resort. It'll make the experience enjoyable if you visit for a few days or just a few nights.
Watch a video from a YouTube page like this on ViaTravelers. Hangs at an elevation of 5000 feet from earth. Do you want an interesting destination to visit in Southern California? How does hanging over mountain peaks sound to me?
08. Spend a weekend exploring Death Valley National Park
Death Valley' s title might give you shivers, though Death Valley's National Park is alive. Several super-lative adjectives are commonly used to describe this Nationalpark although hot, driest or hottest are most prevalent. Death Valley has a unique view of the rugged desert landscapes.
09. Visit Anaheim for entertainment beyond amusement parks
Anaheim is an attractive destination to travel to if you want to enjoy Southern Californias finest. Anaheim lies just a short drive between Los Angeles and San Diego and is the perfect place to travel to explore the region. The Anaheim region houses some of most popular sights throughout California like the Disneyland Park or Knott's Berry Farm.
Guests may also visit the many beaches in the vicinity like Huntington Beach, which is also a famous surf city in the United States. Anaheim also has several museum facilities, including Battleship Iowa Discovery Science Center and MarcoNi Automobile Museum.
10. Stroll along the Venice Beach Boardwalk
Venice Beach is one of Southern California's popular destinations. This 2 mile beachwalk has a renowned location on the beach where you can spend your leisure time shopping and enjoying the outdoors. Guests can rent bike rides and rollerblading for exploring the Venice Beach Boardwalk.
Many cafes and restaurants are located along the boardwalk to give guests an enjoyable lunch while enjoying the sights and sounds of Venice Beach. For a little adventure, you can stroll along the beach and explore several other beaches here, including El Segundo Beach and Manhatten Beach. Hermose beaches are nearby.
11. Drive down the Pacific Coast Highway
The journey is special. This allows you to get free of your mind and just relax. The best way to travel in America is to travel around California. The sunny climate and spectacular scenery in SoCal make it a fantastic destination to travel. It is a very good way to get around SoCal.
The famous stretch along the coast offers incredible views over the Ocean. Along the way the trail passes small towns, state parks and beach towns and villages. Find Related: Fun Activities in Ramona, California.
12. Spend a day at Balboa Park
Balboa Park is an excellent spot in Southern California to visit if you travel with children. Amongst its 1,400 acres are the popular San Diego Zoos, Tony award-winning Old Globe Theaters and Marie Hitchcock puppet theater. It offers many options to do artistic work.
San Francisco Museum of the Art and Museum for Photography and Mingei International Museum also exist there. Balboa Park has plenty for everyone, and your child can easily visit the San Diego Zoo or visit a few other interesting attractions.
13. Places to Visit in Southern California: Orange County
It's a shame you're leaving such a wonderful city as San Diego. You'll have something great in Orange County! It tastes deliciously refreshing and reminds me of a banana.
14. Explore local art
Long Beach has a lot of performances and exhibitions around. Visit the Long Beach Symphony and Long Beach Opera for top-quality performances. Enjoy regular theatre shows in venues including P3 Playhouse, Long Beach Playroom and International City Theatres.
The city has two museums, Long Beach Museum of Latin American Art and the Long Beach Museum of Art. The latter has an incredible 15,000 m2 sculpture garden situated on bluffs that offer stunning views over the Pacific Ocean. Is it possible to understand the information? See these top activities in Long Beach. Do you want some California vacations?
15. Spend a day in Laguna Beach
SoCal has some great beaches but Laguna Beach is a must for tourists. The beaches of Orange County are famous for their clear water, crystal clear rock walls, stunning sunsets and spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean.
Laguna beaches have many nice beaches and are great places to relax and enjoy the sea. It's a lot. Things you should do in the region, including visit the Laguna Art Museum or walk the paved paths through Heisler Park. It's also an excellent trip across the Pacific Ocean.
If your schedule allows make a short trip to Newport Beach to experience a different perspective on that beautiful ocean. See other articles: Best places of interest in San Diego, California.
16. Sip on some wine in Temecula
Good wines do not just exist in Napa or Sonoma. Among the finest California wines come from Temecula - a famed wine area just 1 hour from Los Angeles. Throughout these scenic regions are over 30 vineyards that offer the best place to discover and taste wines of various varieties.
Is it possible to get a balloon flight from a picturesque country? Temecula will please any wine enthusiast. If you want to buy good wines in California, don't forget this secret gem. Find Related: The Best Tourist Spots in USA.
17. Places to Visit in Southern California: Los Angeles
If you want to keep your SoCal beach feel, please move out from the glitzy side of LA, far from the movie signs, and closer to the beach.
You can spend the day in Manhattan and Hermos Beach in the LA area. These two town areas are one of my favourite spots in LA and where I'll go every time I visit the place.
18. Visit the World-Renowned San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo is an important visitor attraction in Southern California. It is a global zoo which houses 4,000 animal species and a large collection of 4,000 animals. The zoo is a popular tourist destination and has a variety of unusual attractions, like the worlds biggest bird sanctuary and a rainforest display with misty waterfalls and tropical wildlife.
San Diego Zoo contains many endangered species including giant pandas. Visitors can take part in educational activities, including behind-the-scene visits and animal encounters.
19. Pacific City Local Artist's Market
On the Pacific coast highway is Pacific City, an exciting modern shopping and entertainment venue with views over the coast. Fridays a local artists market lies below the dock. There's a small but nice international surf museum.
Maybe you'll want to enjoy a beach vacation, swim, or hire a bicycle to cruise around the beaches. Top lunches can be had at Wahoo Fish Taco, Sugarhack Café or Duke.
20. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
The park is the largest state park in California and is a short drive from San Diego and Palm Springs to Anza-Borrego. It's always smart to begin your tour at the Visitors' Center, where you can watch introductory videos, look for maps, and see the Desert Gardens and the pupfish pond.
You are invited to explore the wilderness on a ranger-managed interpretive trail to discover the unique habitat and wildlife in this barren desert.
21. La Jolla Cove, San Diego
La Jolla is an ideal location in southern California for seeing sea-sails. For more information visit the La Jolla Caves and walk through La Jolla Cove. It is possible to walk around the children's pool to observe more seals.
This area has a good tide pool. La Jolla Shores has many beaches for families if they have the time to relax. For coffee fans there are no other places to find the Bird Rock coffee roasters in Bird Rock.
22. Crowne Plaza Hotel on Ventura Beach
The Crown Plaza Hotel Ventura is a short stroll from downtown Ventura. It is the only hotel on Ventura beaches. You can't really find that place anywhere. It really focuses exclusively on beaches. You have the opportunity to surf or enjoy a relaxing cruise around Channel Islands National Park.
Everything is possible here. The hotel has an indoor hot tub with a bar and restaurant. The outdoor terrace also has the fireplace and comfy seating for relaxing while looking towards the ocean. Most rooms are equipped with an oceanview balcony.
23. Visit Santa Monica & the Santa Monica Pier
People looking for an escape from all the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles are advised to go to Santa Monica. Santa Monica's beachside charm has mesmerised many, although the beachside attraction is far from its pier and beach. You have plenty to enjoy while out on vacation from SanMo.
24. Ventura Harbor Village
Ventura Harbor Village has an impressive fishing and retail and dining area. If you want to relax and relax, take a relaxing and tranquil ride at Oxnard Harbor in a Venetian gondola or in Gondola Paradise.
25. North Algodones Dunes Wilderness Area
Algodone Sand Dunes are one of Americas most expansive Sand Dunes systems, around 8 miles wide and 40 miles long. They are situated on southern California's eastern edge. This pristine wilderness area of the dunes system offers intrepid hikers a vast wilderness of complete solitude that can easily be reached on foot.
When you are planning to go dune backpacking and backcountry camping, you need all the necessary supplies. In the wilderness, no motorized vehicle can be parked, but offroad enthusiasts can enjoy the Imperial Sand Dunes and Glamis, north of the wilderness areas.
26. Things to do in Southern California: Heisler Park
The park is perched on an elk-shaped bluff that guards the coastline of the Laguna beaches. Here you can stroll the paths of beautiful gardens while enjoying a breathtaking view of the Atlantic Ocean (some may have huge pods of dolphins and sometimes a whale).
The park offers access to several beaches including Picnic Beach, Rockpile Beach, Main Beach and Divers Cove.
27. Tour a real movie set at Warner Bros Studios or Sony Pictures Studios
Hollywood is located in LA and houses Universal Studios Hollywood which offers an extensive entertainment package for film lovers. The major attraction of this place are the tours in the studios. Narrated by Jimmy Fallon, this tram-riding tour will provide a detailed journey through Hollywood movie studios and set of past films such as "Psycho War of Worlds" and " Jaws ".
Enjoy the parks while on your vacation too. Enjoy a realistic view of classic movie scenes including "The Walking Dead", " Harry Potter ", and " Jurassic Park "! Marriott Hotel La is a very nice hotel.
28. Spend a day at Channel Islands National Park
Channel Islands National Park is a lesser-visited destination due to being hard to find. The park is one of California's most under-valued national parks. These islands provide an ideal location to discover the wildest places in the American Pacific where you can experience the best raw and most unspoiled camping experience in the world.
The Channel Islands provide many activities for visitors, such as hiking and kayaking, whale watching and bird watching. One of the best aspects of the park is its relatively untouched environment meaning the wildlife is plentiful.
Where is the super bloom in California?
Wildflower bloom in the desert of California The quickest time to see California Wildflowers is during an annual bloom in Death Valley National Park — but the event occurs just once in the past ten to 15 years.
What is the coolest city in Southern California?
The best spots to visit Southern California. Santa Monica. Thanks to f8grapher - photos. ... Santa Catalunya. Photo by kenkistler / Photolia. ... Sequoia is a natural reserve. Courtesy: maislamphotosilia.co. ... The beaches. The etiology of a symbiosis of a symbiosis of two species of symbiosis. Santa Barbara. ...
Death Valley National Park. ... San Diego. ... LA. San Francisco. Courtesy of the f8grapher - Fotolia website. .. The Santa Catane Islands. Submitted by kenKISTLER - Photolia.com. ...... Sequia National Forest. Photo credit Mamus - Fotola.com. ... Long Island. . Santa Maria del Sol. ... Death Valley. .. Santa Monica. ... Londa.
What is the number 1 tourist attraction in California?
Yosemite National Park. Yosemite National Park was once considered California's top attraction. The stunning wilderness is located in Sierra Nevada. The granite cliff faces and waterfalls are an incredible sight only found along Americas western shorelines; majestic, breathtakingly magnificent and spectacular.
Where is the Super Bloom in Southern California?
The best spot to see thousands of bright orange flowers can be found in the hills surrounding Antelope Valley, California poppy preserve which is about three 1/2 hours from downtown. This state park is located in the North Los Angeles County in the Mojave Valley 3000-feet above sea level.
What month do flowers bloom in California?
How many wildflowers do bloom in California? In Southern California spring has a very beautiful season. During the summertime air is filled with the intoxicating scents of numerous wildflowers in deserts and coastal regions from February through May, reaching peak in the middle of the month.
What flowers bloom in spring in Southern California?
Top seven spring plantings in Southern California. 1. Lilacs of Californias. Barbaria Ragweed - Geranium Renardi. A. Salvie. Hidalgo Saintachys. 7. California Wildrose. 1. California Lilacs. Barbarian ragweed. Is that right? Gerania Renardii Viviana Nemoras. Hidalgi St. achys. 7. California wild roses.
What is the best month to visit Southern California?
Months: June to September, Southern California has its best summers. It is ideal for a night-time high of around 80% near the beach and the temperature is in the mid-60's. This summer festival will be full of celebrations from all over the world.
Where is the coolest place in Southern California?
List some good places to visit in Southern California. Anaheim ... Joshua Tree National Park. ... Palm Springs. Palm spring ... Ojaisa. Oji Valley, California. ' "... Algonqui, Catalan Islands. Catalina Islands Casinos, Avalon, Catalina Islands. ... Bear Lake. Bear Lake. .. Laguna Beach. Credits: Jon Bilous. . San Diego County, California. Credits: Bigstock. Anhance. ...
Joshua tree National Park. ... Palm Beach. Palm Springs. ... Ojay. Ojay. California. ... Located on the coast of Avalon and Cataluny Islands. Casinos of Catalina Island, Valon, Catalina Island. ... Grand Bear Lake. Bear Lake. . Laguna Beach. Credits: Jonathan Bilous. Sutterstock.org. ... San Diego. Credits - Bigstock.com.
What places are considered Southern California?
Southern California comprises the following counties: Imperial, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, San Fernando Valley, and Riverside.
What is the coolest place in California?
27 places in California in 2023. idyll. Moro Bay. Santa Maria. King Canyon. Historic San Diego City. Redwood National Park Zoo in Los Angeles. Griffith Park. The Wild Idyll. Moro Bay. San Barbaras. Kings Canyon National Park. Old City, San Diego. Parks in redwoods. Zoo in Santa Monica Griffith park.
Where should I go for a week vacation in California?
Some places I suggest you visit during an unfilled trip: San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. San Francisco lies more south of the states and is different from LA and San Diego south. This means different places have different atmospheres and experiences.
What cities are nice to visit in California?
What are some of California's best city visits and what are some of them? The city is in California. Of course, San Francisco is ranked as my most popular city on my list! ... LA. ... San Jose. ... Californians. .. Napali. ' " Palm Springs. ... Santa Cruz. ...
Fresnoso. San Diego ( California. Of course, San Francisco is rated as a great city. = = = Angeles. ... San Juan ... Sacramento. ... / napa ... Palms. ... Santa Cruz. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Frescoes.
Where can I spend a week in Southern California?
Southern California itineraries: best sights to visit for 1 week. San Monica Pier Mission beaches and Mission Bay. Joshua Tree Nationalpark. Falls. Gigantic forests. Pier. Mission Beach & Mission bays. Joshua tree National Park. The. The waterfall at Yosemite. Giant forests.
Where is the coolest area in California?
What's the best place to stay in San Francisco? Catalina Islands. Tahoe. Mammoth lake. Yoemite National Park. Monterey. Sequoia National Parks. SAN DIEGO. City of San Rafael Catalina Islands.. Tahoe Lakes. Lake. Yosemite nationalpark. Monterey Sequoia National Park. San Diego. San Francisco.
What is Southern California best known for?
Southern California has a number of international attractions including Disneyland, the Zoo, San Diego, LegoLAND, etc. ) Disney.. Knotts Berry Farm. 1. Magic Mountains. Disneyland Knotts Berry farm. 6. Flags Magic Mountain.