10 Best Places To Travel In California For Your Next Getaway

There is so much more to California than just Disneyland and movie stars! Leisure is going to cover just that! 

 

California is a state that boasts a wide variety of incredible attractions and the best places to travel. From beaches, deserts to majestic mountains, Cali has you sorted! California is also home to a selection of some amazing cities, with charming towns and some of the best wineries in the world. 

 

This is Leisure’s overview of the best places to travel in California this year! 

 

1. Big Sur 

 

 

Big Sur is not just your typical Mac OS update; it is the vast, rocky stretch of California’s coastline. The space is located right between San Simeon and Carmel Highlands. Although there are no specific boundaries yet, the region spans almost 70 miles of Highway One. 

 

Big Sur is a giant tourist magnet, especially the ones on their dream road trips, attracted by towers of redwood trees, breathtaking landscapes, and beaches along this route. Apart from the scenery and landscapes, they also offer fascinating opportunities to hike through different state parks encompassing the Big Sur. 

 

2. Catalina Islands 

 

Another one, not just a Mac OS update, guys! It’s one of the best places to travel in California. 

 

This charming tiny island is just 22 miles across the Pacific Ocean from Los Angeles. Catalina islands have a different vibe as it is one of the most sought-after day trips for all kinds of visitors in and around LA. The island is also an excellent, underrated spot for honeymooners. Santa Catalina is another small island with two centers of population - Two Harbors and Avalon. 

 

Most travelers coming to the island mass stay mainly in Avalon. It comes as a surprise that Catalina also boasts a tiny population of American bison, brought to the landmass during a movie’s filming. You can reach here by private boat, ferries, small planes, and helicopters. Once you get to the island, transportation will be limited to bicycles, golf carts, and taxis. 

 

3. Lake Tahoe 

 

 

An impressively deep lake in the United States, this lake’s wide length is what sets it apart from others in our country. Lake Tahoe offers you fantastic views of the natural vistas. This freshwater lake is not just a Cali resident but also is a neighbor to Nevada. Lake Tahoe is a fan-favorite all around the year. In fact, it is so popular that the lake was a winter sporting destination after the 1960s World Olympics games in Squaw Valley, North Shore. 

 

Summer brings in a lot of hikers to this region, along with boat trip enthusiasts. Most who love visiting this area are found lazing around the shores, swimming, and barbequing all day long. 

 

4. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 

 

Sequoia and Kings Canyon parks are next to each other, located in the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains. The two parks are famous for their gigantic sequoia trees. The trees are known to grow over 300 feet in height, and the trunk tends to grow out as much as 100 feet wide. 

 

The Sequoia National Park was established first in 1890, which is today home to Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous US. Kings Canyon interestingly boasts the deepest canyon in all of America. Both the national parks are home to different wildlife species, including bobcats, bears, gray foxes, and mule deer. 

 

If you are lucky, you might get to spot a mountain lion or a bighorn sheep too! The primary reason hikers and backpackers love the national parks is that 14 different campgrounds are easily available. 

 

5. Napa Valley 

 

 

One of the most sought-after destinations for wine lovers in the US, Napa Valley serves the best wines in the world. To accommodate all vino connoisseurs traveling to Napa, the Valley has opened its gateway to a wide variety of bed and breakfasts, boutique hotels, and multiple chain hotels. 

 

There are beautiful options to set up camps if you are a budget traveler. Apart from multiple accommodations options, Napa Valley also boasts world-class spas, where you can easily get pampered. You can even indulge in fun activities, biking wine tours, and even hot air balloon rides. 

 

6. San Diego 

 

Perfect climate, fantastic beaches, and incredible attractions for all kinds of travelers, this is San Diego for you! It is no wonder that San Diego is one of the best places to travel in California! San Diego is your classic city with an extensive coastal line, that perfect small-town vibe, just north of the Mexican border. One of the most popular attractions in San Diego is the Premier zoo, located in Balboa Park. The park features Spanish architecture and flowering gardens. 

 

This beautiful city is also home to different family attractions like the Birch Aquarium, SeaWorld San Diego, etc. But, what captures the most attention by tourists in San Diego is its stunning coastline. Miles and miles of fantastic beaches, including La Jolla, are upscale. 

 

7. Death Valley 

 

 

Located right in the heart of the Mojave Desert, Death Valley comprises most of the Death Valley National Park. Despite Death Valley being the lowest and driest region in the whole of North America, it still offers a wide variety of historical sites, natural wonders for viewing, and a range of outdoor activities. You will see snow-capped mountains, colorful dunes, an incredibly unique desert landscape, like nothing else across California. 

 

You can visit various locations of interest when you are in Death Valley. Some of them include Scotty’s Castle, Wildrose Charcoal Kilns, scenic vistas of Zabriskie Point, and the ruins of the Ghost Town. 

 

8. Los Angeles 

 

The second largest of all cities in the United States, Los Angeles is surrounded by mountains, valleys, and the grand Pacific Coast. This southern California city is also known as the City of Angels, which offers a vast range of beaches and attractions, including the most popular - Malibu beach and the Venice beach. Both of them are everyone’s favorite sandy playgrounds. 

 

Traveling to Los Angeles, you will find incredible amusement parks, including Universal Studios, Hollywood, and Disneyland. The city is one of the best places to visit in all of California, especially for those in search of some celebrity sightings. Tourists can look for different celebrity houses and shop at some of the most uber-posh designer stores in Beverly Hills catering to our favorite stars. 

 

And, while you are in LA, you can also visit and dine in at some of the most famous restaurants where all of our favorite rich and famous people break bread at.

 

9. Yosemite National Park

 

 

Located right in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Central-Easter California, Yosemite National Park is celebrated for its incredible-looking granite cliffs, stunning Sequoia groves, impressive waterfalls, and a diverse species of plants and animals. It is one of the best places to travel since visitors can easily hike 800 miles of the trails or drive around these scenic routes just to experience the beautiful landscapes and wildlife. 

 

Other attractions include Glacier Point, which offers you some of the most incredible views of the entire valley, the Yosemite Museum, Nature Center, the LeConte Memorial Lodge, and the Ahwahnee Hotel. 

 

10. San Francisco

 

Saving the best for the last, San Francisco is one of the most exciting and fun cities in North California. Situated right on the top of a peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area, this city is undoubtedly among the best places in the United States. Golden Gate Bridge is the number one attraction here, where one can quickly drive, bike, or even walk to admire all of its stunning photographic views. 

 

Apart from this, San Francisco also offers its visitors all of the great action at Lombard Street, famous for the tight curves, or a trip down the Chinatown section, the largest outside of Asia itself! 

 

Of course, there are multiple other tourist locations like the prison of Alcatraz Island or the Fisherman’s Wharf. 

 

So, there you go! These were the top ten best places to travel in all of California. Get in touch with Leisure travel experts today to create your perfect itinerary and vacation plans to see the Golden Gate up close and personal!

 

Happy vacationing to you. 

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