Top places to visit in California

I have a confession to make: I haven’t gone on a vacation outside of California in, oh . . .

Years.

At least since we moved here 13 years ago. But even longer.

Oh, sure, we’ve been out of state — to visit family and friends. But those weren’t vacations to see other places; it was just returning to places we’d already seen. And it’s not that we don’t want to see other places — there’s just so much to see here in California.

After re-visiting Yosemite last week, I started thinking about some of my favorite places to visit in Calfornia. Now, of course, there are some gaps. I haven’t been to the far northen part of the state. And I haven’t been to Lake Tahoe. So this isn’t a perfect list. But here’s my top ten:

10.) Los Angeles. Of course, there’s all the museums and Hollywood and everything else. But sometimes it’s just fun to walk the pier at Santa Monica. Or visit the Hollywood Forever Cemetery to see where famous pelple are buried. Whatever you choose, there are plenty of options in the country’s second largest city.
9.) Sequia/Kings Canyon. While it has the tranquility and natural splendor of Yosemite, these great parks to the south are much less crowded. And this is your best place to see giant sequoia trees.
8.) Malibu. Technically, I could include this in the L.A. entry, but it’s unique enough to warrant its own entry — and, frankly, I needed one more entry to make this a top ten list. Of course, for surfers, Malibu is a bit of a mecca. But it’s also a place for stunning beaches set against the hills of Southern California.
7.) San Luis Obispo. I always promote the virtues of the staycation because, hey — this is a pretty great place. And if you want to feel you’ve gotten away, take a day trip to Ragged Point.
6.) San Diego. One of the most accessible big cities in America — and great weather. If you’re a baseball fan, there’s no problem getting tickets for the Padres.
5.) Monterey. Not as much to do here as some of the others on this list, but it’s just a great place to hang out, especially if you’ve read Steinbeck and are into California history. The aqaurium is, of course, terrific, but you can also just walk along Cannery Row for a relaxing good time. Also, plenty of whale watching opportunities here, whether on a boat or from shore.
4.) San Clemente. This is another surf entry. But I love how it’s located in busy Southern California, yet it feels like a small town. Old Man’s beach is as classic as it was in the 30s.
3.) Santa Barbara. This place can feel a little like L.A. — and it feels bigger than San Clemente — but it still has a laid back feel. The zoo is a great place to take the kids.
2.) Yosemite. Sure, Sequoia and Kings Canyon parks are great, but let’s face it — Yosemite is spectacular. The valley is Nature’s finest piece of art. Travel north of the park to visit some of the towns created by the Gold Rush.
1.) San Francisco. There’s the beauty of the Golden Gate Bridge, the touristy wharf, the art scene and more. The Giants park is a great place to watch a game, but there are also some great beaches here.

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