California offers something for every interest imaginable—film and TV fans, outdoors enthusiasts, and foodies alike can all find something they enjoy in California. From iconic theme parks to sprawling national parks, California offers something different!
Take in breathtaking nature views during a sunrise or sunset hot air balloon ride. You’ll experience magnificent vistas over mountains, valleys, and beaches that remain relatively untouched by human presence.
San Francisco Bay Boat Tour
Tour San Francisco Bay aboard a boat and experience its iconic skyline and waterfront landmarks first-hand from the water. This popular cruise passes Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate Bridge while featuring an audio tour in multiple languages on board. You can even go swimming with dolphins.
Blue & Gold Fleet’s one-hour Bay cruise offers the ideal perspective of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, sailing past marina districts and passing beneath its famed bridge while passing Coit Tower and other landmarks along your journey.
Add an extra dose of adrenaline with Bay Voyager’s Rigid Inflatable Boat Tour. This fast-paced tour explores San Francisco Bay while passing Alcatraz Island and other landmarks en route, featuring an experienced captain renowned among reviewers as a highlight for reviewers.
Napa Valley Day Trip
Napa Valley is an idyllic wine lover’s haven, filled with vineyards and tasting rooms at every turn. Spring is the ideal time to visit Napa when flowers bloom along with warm temperatures; summer provides hiking and biking opportunities, while autumn heralds in its harvest of exquisite vintage wines.
Visit the Napa Valley Welcome Center in downtown Napa to plan and customize your trip, collect maps, and discover special offers from wineries. Arriving during the week or on weekends may reduce crowding significantly.
Baseball
As soon as you step onto a baseball field, the energy and passion radiating off it are immediately palpable. California offers something special, from California’s legendary Dodgers and Giants to Oakland Athletics’ analytics revolution and Padres/Angels’ cross-over appeal.
Even if a game isn’t being held during your visit, you can still get into the spirit by taking one of the behind-the-scenes stadium tours each team offers. As these forms are used for player registration and medical consent purposes, they must be filled out correctly to ensure timely registration and approval processes.
Redwood Parks
Redwood National and State Parks offer an exciting, underrated slice of California nature, from towering coastal redwoods to lush canyons teeming with fern-draped canyons. Situated near Oregon, these parks conserve old-growth coast redwood forests containing some of the tallest living trees on Earth—ancient coast redwoods that stand up to 366 years.
Hikers flock here for an awe-inspiring giant experience, with trails ranging from easy to difficult. Climb one of the tallest trees in the world at Cathedral Tree Grove, or secure a permit and visit Fern Canyon and its prehistoric-looking ferns.
Big Sur
Califonia’s Highway 1, commonly called Big Sur, boasts spectacular cliffs, lush mountains, and breathtaking beaches that lure travelers. Visitors also find attractive hiking trails, idyllic camping opportunities, historic state parks, and breathtaking state park facilities.
Visitors drawn by the region’s breathtaking views and rugged beauty often become entranced. However, it is best to avoid visiting during its high season (June-August) when crowds and fog accumulate for maximum impact. Instead, plan a spring or autumn trip and fall in love with its scenery instead.
Visit Big Sur River Inn and dine at Nepenthe for ocean-view tables with chairs; alternatively, Sierra Mar in Post Ranch Inn offers breathtaking ocean vistas through its floor-to-ceiling windows.
Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park boasts magnificent trees, mountain ranges, and caves that provide breathtaking scenery for visitors. Big mountains, rushing rivers, shady groves, and rugged foothills define this Sierra Nevada landscape, which also includes several giant sequoia groves, such as General Grant Grove and Muir Grove.
Visit the Giant Forest Museum and Big Trees Trail to learn how these majestic trees grow to such great size. Also, take note of Tharps Log, a charming rustic cabin built into the hollow trunk of a fallen sequoia tree. Follow hiking trails leading to remote groves to climb Mount Whitney—the highest peak in the contiguous 48 states!
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park’s breathtaking granite cliffs, deep valleys and lush forests have earned it star status among environmentalists and outdoor enthusiasts. Yosemite’s legendary hikes have become household names; climber Alex Honnold and hiker Cheryl Strayed have even become household names due to them.
Planning can ensure a less-crowded experience when visiting a park, such as early summer or spring (when melting snow revives waterfalls). Check park conditions and trail updates at the visitor center in advance to ensure your adventure won’t be cut short by weather, landslides, or other hazards.
