California, the 31st state to join the union on September 9, 1850. It is nicknamed The Golden State for its discovery of gold in 1848 and the golden poppies that bloom every spring.
This is a large state with so much to do so hang on! There are three main cities to base your travels. Las Angeles and the LAX airport is where most people will begin. Here you can visit Hollywood but don’t forget that you can venture outside of the city to the Mojave Desert. San Francisco in the north is home of many iconic tourist destinations like the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz but it can also be your base to head east to Lake Tahoe or further north to see the Giant Redwoods or Wine Country. San Diego in the south has its famous Zoo and famous theme parks in the area.
If city life is not for you, then you will want to visit YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK and its memorable waterfalls. There’s also Yosemite Village with a museum about the national park and the Ansel Adams Gallery where you can view the famous photographer’s black and white pictures. More of a beach person? Head to Laguna Beach and bring your surf board and your hiking shoes because there are plenty of trails in the protected land to explore as well. Or go North to the Mendocino. You get the best of California in this charming area where you can hike among the redwoods, tour vineyards, or relax by the coast. Take Highway One north from San Francisco for the most scenic route.
Need something for the kids? There are over dozens of theme parks to choose from including Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood, Legoland, Knots Berry Farms, and more. But if theme parks are not your thing, how about a Fortune Cookie Factory? Fortune Cookies were actually invented in San Francisco and you can see them being made at a local factory. Or go to the La Brea Tar Pits— a gateway to the Ice Age in the middle of LA where they have dug up over 3.5 million fossils right next to Wilshire Blvd… and are still doing so today!
There is so much food here where to begin? How about at Sotto Mare where they serve the classic San Francisco Seafood Stew Cioppino with of course sourdough. Or head to Clementes located in Val’s Liquors for ravioli Unless you think Lawlor’s makes them better. They have a classic feud over who does. Find out which team you are on—but trust me you are the winner either way. Looking for something unique? How about dinner on a train through the Napa Valley on resorted Pullman rail cars. For wonderful views, go during lunch. But if you want more romance, go at night. Speaking of romance, secluded in the Santa Monica Mountains is the Saddle Peak Lodge where they offer fine cuisine with spectacular views.
And if you want even more romance, then look no further than the Auberge du Soleil, a popular destination for couples. Views of Napa Valley’s vineyards and the Mayacamas Mountains will take your breath away. It is also a top destination for people looking for wine country cuisine. With 13 consecutive Micheline Star Wars and a 15,000-bottle cellar onsite it cannot get any better.
I could go on and on so contact me if you want to learn more about this great destination. Or you can let me know your favorite places to visit below. Also subscribe to my YouTube channel for ideas on vacations to other destinations. https://youtu.be/59tqhFKMZ_k