Top 5 Most Attractive Destinations in California You Must Travel
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It's difficult to give a convincing ranking of the Top 5 Most Attractive Destinations in California because it seems that every place has its own magic. KnowInsiders.com relies on criteria such as number of visitors, history, popularity and other criteria to make this list.
1. The San Francisco Bay Area
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| The San Francisco Bay Area. Photo: Planet Ware |
This eclectic city has a mystical beauty when the afternoon sun illuminates the hills or when fog rolls in from the Pacific Ocean over the Golden Gate Bridge. From the winding lanes of Lombard Street to the stately Victorians, San Francisco's landscape is nothing short of breathtaking. San Francisco's historic neighborhoods, including Chinatown, with its many shops and authentic Chinese restaurants, North Beach (Little Italy), and Fisherman's Wharf (the city's most touristy area), and walkable (albeit steep) streets delight visitors.
Planet Ware describes modern San Francisco as "California's most sophisticated city," a destination for high-caliber opera and ballet, a diverse selection of theatrical productions, and exquisite cuisine. There is a wide variety of highly regarded eateries in the city, serving up both traditional fare and cutting-edge menu options from around the world. The trendy Mission district is the best place to find ethnic restaurants, independent coffee shops, and cool boutiques. The trendy Hayes Valley area is well-known for its many excellent dining options and high-end shopping boutiques.
Half Moon Bay is a beautiful coastal destination just 30 miles south of San Francisco, accessible via the scenic Highway One. The wild and rugged Pacific coast is visible from this town, which is hidden behind a backdrop of rolling hills. You can go for a stroll on the beach, go on a hike, play some golf, fish, and watch some birds, or eat some fresh seafood by the harbor. Pescadero is a rural community located about 17 miles further south, and it is home to many small farms, the Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve, and Harley Farms, a goat dairy that hosts candlelit dinners in a restored Victorian hayloft.
2. Disneyland
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| Disneyland. Photo: Planet Ware |
For generations, California has looked to Anaheim and its Disneyland theme park as the best place to take the kids. This enormous theme park features numerous dining and lodging options in addition to its many rides, games, and shows.
This amusement park features both themed rides and re-created environments and cultures. There are shows and other forms of entertainment available that are appropriate for both kids and their parents. The invention of passes, which grant you a "return time" to various attractions, has helped cut down on waiting times. However, the park is bound to be crowded when children have time off from school for the summer, Christmas, spring break, or any other holiday.
Don't forget that your Disneyland experience isn't limited to the theme parks. Hotels, restaurants, the Downtown Disney shopping district, and Disney's Adventure Park make up the Disneyland resort as a whole. The parks are the main attraction, but there's fun for the whole family to enjoy.
3. National Park: Yosemite
Yosemite National Park in Northern California is one of the most stunning and well-known national parks in the United States. For decades, this region's stunning scenery has drawn sightseers, creatives, and athletes in search of inspiration. Yosemite Valley is home to the vast majority of the park's must-see landmarks. Glaciers during the last ice age sculpted the park's most striking features, including the granite walls and enormous waterfalls. Half Dome and El Capitan, two of Yosemite's most recognizable peaks, can be found here.
Both the Tioga Road and the Glacier Point Road continue on past the Valley, leading travelers to the mountains and other destinations. Even though many tourists overlook them, the giant sequoias are definitely worth seeing. The park's largest stand can be found in Mariposa Grove, which is located in its southern region.
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| Yosemite National Park. Photo: Planet Ware |
Yosemite's incredible hiking trails provide some of the best opportunities to experience the park's natural beauty up close and personal. These can be leisurely strolls along scenic waterways, or strenuous hikes to remote summits and historic sites. Yosemite and the surrounding area are home to a number of excellent campgrounds if you plan on making a longer stay than a day or two.
 Top 20 Best & Most-Visited U.S National Parks For Upcoming Trips |
4. Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Pasadena
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| Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Pasadena. Photo: Planet Ware |
With its wide, palm-lined boulevards, exclusive designer boutiques, and see-and-be-seen beaches, Los Angeles is the embodiment of the enticing image of sunny Southern California. The city was established in 1781, but it really took off during the silent film era of the 1920s and 1930s. Hollywood, a famous neighborhood full of iconic sights and tinged with Tinseltown glitz, is still practically synonymous with Los Angeles. You can also enjoy people- and celebrity-watching in Hollywood.
Rodeo Drive, with its high-end boutiques, the Beverly Hills and Bel Air areas, the Chateau Marmont hotel on Sunset Boulevard, and Hollywood's Franklin Village are all popular places for star-spotting tourists. On Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street, you'll find the Walk of Fame, which is lined with star plaques honoring famous filmmakers, actors, and musicians.
Santa Monica State Beach, at 3.5 miles long, is another popular destination due to its iconic pier, which features a Ferris wheel and a beachfront path for walking and cycling, and its proximity to Los Angeles (15 miles away, reachable via the Expo Metro line). The trendy beach town of Santa Monica is home to an abundance of independently owned shops, high-end boutiques, and chic eateries. Near the pier and along Ocean Avenue, many of Santa Monica's restaurants provide breathtaking views of the beach.
Top cultural destinations in Los Angeles include the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Walt Disney Concert Hall (for classical music) and the Hollywood Bowl (for pop music). The Huntington Botanic Gardens are located near the charming little town of Pasadena, just 11 miles outside of Los Angeles. The gardens feature 16 unique themed gardens, such as a Desert Garden, an authentic Japanese Garden, and a Shakespeare Garden with plants from Renaissance England. The Huntington Library, located on this remarkable property, houses a number of priceless works, such as a handwritten version of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales and a copy of the Magna Carta from the 13th century.
5. San Diego: Sunshine, Beaches, and Spanish Architecture
San Diego's mild weather all through the year makes it the perfect place to enjoy the California way of life, complete with beachgoing and other outdoor activities. Balboa Park is a beautiful green space with distinctive gardens and several museums; the historic Gaslamp Quarter is full of boutiques, art galleries, and good restaurants; and Old Town San Diego State Historic Park is home to museums, retail shops, and restaurants in the original adobe buildings from the city's founding.
The city's kid-friendly attractions, as well as the resorts that are tailored to families, make it an ideal vacation destination. San Diego Zoo, home to panda bears and other exotic animals, SeaWorld's dolphin and whale shows, Balboa Park's playgrounds, Birch Aquarium in La Jolla's vibrant sea life, and the New Children's Museum are among the best things to do in San Diego with kids.
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| San Diego: Sunshine, Beaches, and Spanish Architecture. Photo: Planet Ware |
San Diego, the state's second-oldest city, is home to the state's first Spanish mission. Christianity in California can be traced back to the founding of the Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá in 1769. The mission buildings, designed in a quadrangle and given a striking white paint job, are a registered National Historic Landmark. The Mission Church's cbell wall, located on the building's left side, and the flowering meditation garden are two defining characteristics. The Mission Church is open for tours Monday through Friday and hosts Mass every day of the week.
From San Diego, you can easily reach a number of nearby destinations. La Jolla (14 miles north of downtown San Diego) is a popular tourist destination thanks to its beautiful beaches and charming downtown that is home to fine dining establishments, museums, and boutiques selling everything from designer clothes to rare antiques. 66 miles north of San Diego, in a peaceful setting, is the Mission San Juan Capistrano. Tijuana, Mexico, is just 20 miles south of San Diego, and offers visitors a taste of a different culture.
The dreamy Catalina Island and the mountain resort of Idyllwild are just two of the many wonderful weekend getaway destinations within two hours of San Diego.
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