10 Best Places to Visit in California, United States

Visiting best places in California are the dream of most travelers. Exploring cities Golden Bridges, Yosemite national park, San Francisco, and Los Angel are the places worth visiting, once your lifetime.

Places to Visit in California with your Family or Solo both are memorable one. Famous beaches, nightlife’s, mountains, cuisines to taste and national parks are must exploring things in California. It is very important to a traveler choose their next travel destination should be California one after reading below article.

Related Search: Best Places to Visit in America.

Here are some of the Best places to visit in California

1. San Francisco

San Francisco is a charming city located in California, United States of America. Popularly famous for its iconic world-famous landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, and Fisherman’s Wharf. City is recognized for its diverse culture, beautiful architecture, technological innovation, and charming hill streets.  San Francisco considered one of the most identified cities in the World, therefore city considered as the one of the most visiting destination by the Americans. 

1. Golden Gate Bridge: 1.7 miles of Iconic suspension bridge water runs beneath it- Golden Gate Strait. It is considered one of the most beautiful bridges in the world.
2. Alcatraz Island: Former federal prison and national historic landmark. Gardens, tide pools, bird colonies, and the San Francisco Bay area are magnificent travel points on Alcatraz Island.
3. Fisherman’s Wharf: Most crowded waterfront with shops, restaurants, and major tourist attractions. It is famous because of its location to the right of the water of course and enjoy the Wharf.
4. Chinatown:  In China town, you will see a number of Buddhist temples, mosques, and a lot of Hindu temples. Moreover, town is also known for its vibrant culture, shops, and dining.

2. Los Angeles

Los Angeles often known as “Entertainment capital of the world”, known for Hollywood and the center of American movie studios. Such a unique city has a different social economic class of people, culture, religion, and social status.

Venice beach, theme parks, wineries, nightlife, and sunset are incredible things to enjoy in Los Angeles. A city of Angel around the world as a home for uniqueness.

1. Hollywood: Famous for its movie studios and entertainment such as Walk of Fame, and the Hollywood Sign.
2. Santa Monica Pier: Santa Monica Pier is a place is primarily known for its best fishing spot. Coastal entertainment hub with a Ferris wheel and Pacific Park. One of the famous beaches of sunny southern California.
3. Griffith Observatory: Samuel Oschin Planetarium shows telescope views, and exhibits along with views of Los Angel and movie studios.
4. The Getty Centre: An Art Museum Getty Centre shows European paintings, sculptures, artwork, and gardens.

3. San Diego

One of America’s finest cities, San Diego attracting millions of tourists every year from its perfect weather, friendly people, parks, vibrant nightlife, and beaches. No one will miss San Diego cuisine when he tastes it for the first time.

Moreover, its natural beauty, cleanliness, variety of options, and friendly atmosphere will grab the attention of travelers from around the world. That’s why this city is listed as the best city to live in.

1. Balboa Park: Famous San Diego Zoo, contains 17 museums and a garden galore in Balboa Park. Presently this park plays as a cultural organization along with natural vegetation, green belts, gardens, and museums are must-visit places in Balboa Park.
2. Coronado Island: Known for mind-blowing beaches, Picturesque Island with the historic Hotel del Coronado, and a charming downtown area. Coronado Islands is also called “The Crown City”.
3. SeaWorld: Dolphin shows, sea lions, and zoological displays are common at SeaWorld.  Marine theme parks with shows, interactive attractions, and animal encounters are also famous to enjoy in SeaWorld.
4. USS Midway Museum: Place known for Retired aircraft carrier and platform to learn about naval aviation history.

4. Yosemite National Park

Despite of cities, California is home of many national park under that, Yosemite National Park is a world-famous park. Due its waterfalls, and find deep valleys, ancient giants, and grand meadows as well as vast forest covers , making it one of the must visit national park. 

Considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984 with its global recognition of its more than 25 waterfalls, clear streams, giant sequoia, granite cliffs, and biological specialties, National Park was protected since 1864.

1. Yosemite Valley: Glacier Valley comes under Yosemite National Park. The 12.1 Km long valley includes waterfalls, granite cliffs, and picturesque meadows.
2. Half Dome: Famous climbing Rock in Yosemite. Under Half Dome, EI Capitan is the biggest and tallest rock in the world, often known as more challenging but rewarding one. Hiking offers breathtaking panoramic views and Adventure landmark too.
3. Bridalveil Fall: When breezes are blown its fog drifts off. A very curious waterfall is easily accessible to enjoy from Yosemite Valley.
4. Glacier Point: This Glacier point in Yosemite Valley provides mind-blowing and stunning views including Half Dome.

5. Napa Valley

If you are a Wine lover, then Napa Valley is for You. Napa Valley produces the world’s best wines and synonyms with high-standard vino. Popularly known for its varieties of grapes, 3 dozen varieties and mouth watering tastes.

Located in the mountain range and the Pacific Ocean with a dry climate, perfectly suitable for its graph production. Napa Valley is considered one of the most prestigious wine destinations in the world.

1. Wine Tasting: Perfect place for a wide array of wineries and vineyards offering tastings and tours. A good place to enjoy the taste of wine with a supportive climate.
2. Hot Air Balloon Rides: First human-carrying flight technology done in Hot Air Balloon rides. Floating above the vineyards is really a unique experience.
3. Culinary Delights: Culinary delights are places to taste unique cuisines. Enjoy world-class cuisine in the region’s restaurants and farm-to-table restaurants.
4. Calistoga Hot Springs: Active volcanic activities are located in Calistoga Hot Springs, where visitors spot some of the natural mineral hot springs or pamper in a spa treatment.

6. Lake Tahoe

A perfect vacation spot famous for its clear blue water, outdoor activities, and hiking, fishing, boating, and skiing with beautiful views. Lake Tahoe offers more crystal clear water, which is purest clear water in the region as well as the deepest lake in North America.

Lake Tahoe has Beaches where tourists can take some of the crazy water activities during summer seasons and enjoy the sunset views and soaking in white sand beaches during winter seasons.

1. Heavenly Mountain Resort: 4,800 Skiable acres of large resort link between California and Nevada. Heavenly Mountain resort is popular for skiing, snowboarding, and stunning panoramic views.
2. Emerald Bay State Park: A natural landmark with an overview of mountains and glacier-carved granites. Home to the picturesque Emerald Bay and Fannette Island.
3. Sand Harbour Beach: There are a number of different beaches available here, biggest Beach is 2500 feet long and is popularly known for sunbathing and swimming along with other water activities. Since it is sandy beach is known for its crystal-clear waters.
4. Hiking and Water Activities: In Lake Tahoe, visitors can enjoy hiking trails, kayaking, paddle boarding, and boating.

7. Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is known for its Sandy beaches with a long area of coastal lines. If  you are visitors looking to spend a day with a perfect sunset, then Santa Barbara is the best one. Surfing and sunbathing are common activities in Santa Barbara.

Apart from Beaches, Santa Barbara is home to a number of restaurants, museums, and tourist attractions. If you are a photographer, then Santa Barbara will give plenty of picture square spots to capture perfect Instagram Photos.

1. Santa Barbara Mission: Historic Spanish heritage established in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Its beautiful architecture, statue, and gardens are showing Native American occupation, Spanish Colonization, and Mexican Independence.
2. State Street: Lively downtown district is known for its shops, restaurants, and theatres. 10 blocks and leads right onto Stearns Wharf.
3. Butterfly Beach: As the name suggests, this beach is known for its number of beautiful butterflies contains multiple varieties of Butterflies. The scenic beach is popular for its picturesque sunsets views and coastal walks.
4. Santa Barbara Zoo: The coffee and tea estate are turned into a lush greenery zoo with more than 160 species. Giraffes, gibbons, snow leopards, and gorillas are common animals spot under Zoo. A small, charming zoo showcasing a variety of animals.

8. Monterey and Carmel

Marine life and long coastal lines are crucial tourist spots in California’s central coast destinations. Monterey and Carmel’s offers marine reserve, Monterey Bay Aquarium, gives visitors a close feel. Cannery Row boasts tourist friendly shopping’s.

Monetary travel includes hard rocky, windy coast along with golf links, involves  17 miles of journey which  connects the city of Carmel, where visitors spot perfect dining and boutiques.

1. Monterey Bay Aquarium: Frolicking Sea otters, fast-swimming sharks, and waddling penguins attract tourists in huge numbers. Features a rich variety of marine life and educational exhibits.
2. 17-Mile Drive: A scenic road offering stunning coastal views and iconic landmarks. It connects the city, of Carmel.
3. Cannery Row: A waterfront street with shops, restaurants, and historic remnants of the sardine canning industry. Cannery Row is a new Monterey section in California.
4. Point Lobos State Reserve: Often known as Point Lobos is a Sealion, Rich marine habitats and spotting sea lions are common here. Offers breathtaking coastal views, hiking trails, and wildlife sightings.

9. Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park is located in Southern California, known for its distinct trees. Joshua trees are famous in this national park from unique teddy bear cholla cacti to boulders. Due to its unique feature and locations,  national park attracts 3 million tourists every year.

Joshua Tree national park is named after the Joshua tree found here. This distinctive tree is famous for its twisted and gnarled branches and extreme weather conditions.

1. Joshua Trees: This distinctive tree is famous for its twisted and gnarled branches. Despite of that, Iconic twisted and spiky trees dominate the park’s landscape.
2. Keys View: From this overlook, you can see Santa Rosa Mountain, san jacinto mountains, Coachella Valley, and palm springs. A lookout point offering panoramic vistas of the Coachella Valley.
3. Hidden Valley: It is self-guiding and it is one of the most popular scenic hiking trails in this national park. Rock climbing, or hiking trail leading to a hidden valley with beautiful rock formations.
4. Night Skies: Dreaming and awe-inspiring experience provided by the night skies of its dark skies; Joshua Tree is an excellent spot for stargazing.

10. Disneyland Resort

Disneyland Resort includes mainly 2 theme parks. This park was opened in 1985 and was the first theme park opened by the Walt Disney Company. Disney land designed and constructed under the direct supervision of Walt Disney.

1. Disneyland Park: Walt Disney’s original theme park, offering classic attractions and loved characters including children’s and family vacation travelers.
2. Disney California Adventure Park: Features thrilling rides, immersive lands, and entertainment.
3. Downtown Disney: A lively shopping, dining, and entertainment district close to the above 2 theme parks.

Final Thoughts

From stunning coastline to towering mountains California, U.S. gives a stunning tourism feeling to every traveler. Including from Modern cities, National parks, Historic sites, and islands that places will test the adventure level of travelers. So, Don’t wait to choose a perfect place in the United States, choose California. 

Related Search: 10 Beautiful and Cheapest Places to Live in America.

                               Palatki Heritage Site.