California is a state brimming with natural beauty. From the beaches to the mountains, California has something for everyone. If you’re planning a trip to this amazing state, we’ve got 10 must-do activities that will make your trip one you’ll never forget! Book your round-trip flight tickets now for the best deals and offers.

Places to Visit in California

Yosemite National Park

If you’re visiting the state of California and have time to squeeze in a little sightseeing, check out Yosemite National Park. The park is located in the western Sierra Nevada of Central California. It’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States.

The park was established on October 1st, 1890 by President Benjamin Harrison as “Yosemite Forest Reserve” and later became “Yosemite National Park”.

It spans across 750 miles² (1,207 km²) and contains over 800 lakes and ponds as well as many waterfalls such as Bridalveil Fall (which drops 2,425 feet [740 m] into Yosemite Valley), Vernal Fall (which drops 317 feet [97 m]), Nevada Falls (which drops 594 feet [181 m]) and Half Dome Falls (which drops 602 feet [183 m]).

The Golden Gate Bridge

• The Golden Gate Bridge is the most photographed bridge in the world and a symbol of San Francisco. It was completed in 1937, and it’s painted orange to match the color of the Golden Gate.
• The bridge was painted orange because it was too expensive to paint it black, which was originally proposed by architect Gertrude Moeller.
• This is not just an ordinary bridge—it’s a toll bridge! If you want to cross into San Francisco from Marin County (or vice versa), you’ll need to pay $7 one way or $12 roundtrip for a regular car or motorcycle.

Big Sur Coastline

The Big Sur coastline is one of the most scenic drives in the country, beginning at Carmel and ending in San Simeon.

The drive along Highway 1 offers a view of craggy cliffs, lush mountains, and crashing waves on one side and rolling hills of grasses on the other. The road itself is narrow with steep drop-offs so slow down when you’re driving through this area!

This section can be extended to include more information about how to get there from places like LAX or SFO airports as well as how long it takes to get there from each airport

Venice Beach

• Address: Ocean Front Walk and Rose Avenue, Venice Beach
• Website: [Venice Beach](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venice_Beach,_Los_Angeles)
• Phone number: +1 323 464-6090
• Hours of operation: 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (but please be aware that the beach closes at sunset)

Santa Monica Pier and Third Street Promenade

The Santa Monica Pier is a popular tourist attraction, but it’s also a great place to people watch. The best part of the pier is that there are plenty of shops, restaurants, and other attractions to keep you busy while you wait for the perfect sunset shot. The promenade itself is another attraction in itself—it’s lined with palm trees and benches where locals congregate during their afternoon strolls. It’s also home to several art galleries and boutiques (including those of many local celebrities) that make for excellent photo opportunities.

Hollywood Walk of Fame

You can get your picture taken with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and see the handprints, footprints, and signatures that stars left behind. The stars are located on both sides of Hollywood Boulevard between La Brea Avenue and Gower Street.

The walkway has been around since 196, when it was first built to honor entertainers who have made an impact in their fields. This includes actors, musicians, directors, producers, and other contributors to the entertainment industry. There are over 2200 stars on the walkway today—and new additions happen all the time!

The most popular stops along this stretch include Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (where you’ll find famous movie posters), Hollywood Forever Cemetery (where Marilyn Monroe is buried), and Dolby Theatre (home base for the Academy Awards).

SeaWorld San Diego

SeaWorld San Diego is a marine mammal park and theme park located in San Diego, California. The park’s aquarium holds more than 100 species and 2 million gallons of water that include Georgia Aquarium, Ocean Voyager (the world’s largest aquarium), Shark Encounter, Dolphin Nursery, and more. There are also numerous shows featuring the animals including one of the most popular animal shows on Earth: Sea Lions at Play!

This is not just any ordinary show; it has over 20 sea lions performing stunts like jumping through hoops or balancing on balls with their flippers while they bark out loud to get your attention as they laugh off all the fun they’re having doing what they love best! There are also many other fun activities to do such as white water rafting rides down an artificial river filled with rapids or even taking a dip into your private pool surrounded by dolphins when there’s no show going on yet!

Disneyland Resort in Anaheim

Disneyland Resort is the first of two theme parks built at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, that opened on July 17, 1955. The park was originally known as “Disneyland Park,” but it was renamed to distinguish between it and the Walt Disney World resort in Florida.

There are seven themed areas: Main Street USA, Adventureland, Fantasyland, Mickey’s Toontown Fair (now closed), New Orleans Square (now closed), Frontierland, and Critter Country. The park is divided into “lands” which include lands based on various Disney franchises such as A Bug’s Land or Cars Land.

Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park is a United States National Park in Southern California. It covers 790,636 acres (344,940 ha), of which 702,622 acres (290,720 ha) are federal and 88,014 acres (36,050 ha) are state. Encompassing a land area larger than Rhode Island,[6] it is the largest national park outside Alaska, making it larger than Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming and Montana combined. Joshua Tree National Park contains many unique plant and animal species because of its location within the Mojave Desert. The park’s name comes from the Joshua trees native to the region.

It was designated a National Monument on October 13, 1994, and changed to a national park on February 12, 2013.

The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in Riverside County, California

If you are looking for a luxurious hotel experience, the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa is the perfect place to stay. The hotel was built in the late 1800s and has been featured in several movies. It has beautiful gardens, an on-site restaurant, spa services, and a pool. The architecture of this historic landmark is stunning and it’s located in downtown Riverside County.

The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa is one of only a few hotels that have been designated as National Historic Landmarks by the United States government. If you enjoy traveling or history then this is a place worth checking out!

Hiking through Redwood National Park, Northern California

If you’re looking for an opportunity to stretch your legs, Northern California’s Redwood National Park is the place to do it. The park offers over 100 miles of hiking trails that lead visitors through old-growth redwoods and other incredible scenery. Many of these trails are boardwalks so that visitors can enjoy the forest without damaging it as much. There are also several campgrounds in the park where hikers can stay overnight after checking out some of its attractions like Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park or Prairie Creek Visitor Center.

If you’re worried about visiting during peak season (May through September), don’t fret; there’s plenty to see and do throughout the year!

Takeaway:

The state of California is a great place to visit for its weather, geography, and diverse attractions. The Golden State has a lot to offer travelers, from beaches and mountains to deserts and cities. There is something for everyone in California.

Conclusion

We hope that these 12 great trips to take in California have inspired you to explore the Golden State. From the stunning Yosemite National Park and Big Sur Coastline to the beautiful Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in Riverside County, there’s no shortage of places here to enjoy. We’ve even included some hiking trails through Redwood National Park so you can see redwoods and giant sequoias up close! So go on now… start planning your next trip out west! Want to rent a car click here for the best car rental deals.