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California

travel guide for California

Hope you find value in our California Travel Guide! We will never forget our journey through California to visit all nine of the incredible National Parks in this state.

Travel Guides for California:

John and Bev inside Amtrak train car

Is the Cross-Country Amtrak Sleeper Train Worth it?

world cruise stop at a traditional African village with local residents standing in a row

12 Best World Cruises for 2025 and 2026

Wine Vineyard in Sonoma Valley

The 7 Best Sonoma Restaurants to Try Now (map included)

The 7 Best Monterey Restaurants for Retirement Travel (includes map)

drone view of water skiing at sunset

Villa Lagos is the Best California Water Ski Lakes

John eating at the Gilroy Taco Trail

The Amazing Gilroy Taco Trail (24 Tacos in One Day)

dolphins jumping out of water near Santa Barbara in the channel islands

Santa Barbara | Unique Channel Islands National Park

National Parks in California

California’s parks were some of our very favorites! We would suggest starting here if trying to see many on one trip.

Channel Islands

Death Valley

Joshua Tree

Kings Canyon

Lassen Volcanic

Pinnacles

Redwood

Sequoia

Yosemite

Explore!

Major Attractions

Disneyland

Disneyland is the prime vacation destination for families in California. The amusement park in Anaheim has many rides, games, shows, and restaurants. You will find theme rides for both children and adults. The park is filled with tourists, especially during the holiday season, as families from across the country and abroad come to unwind and relax. Disneyland remains one of the top California attractions.

Death Valley National Park

Death Valley National Park consists of some of the most inhospitable regions in the United States. You will find dunes, salt fields, mountains, dry, arid land, and unique rock formations inside the valley. The valley also has a lake that lies below sea level and creates a unique landscape. If you want to head out to the remote areas in the desert, you will need a 4×4 vehicle. A day trip can be planned to the valley from Las Vegas. However, a day trip will not be enough if you want to explore the valley properly.

Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe is located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range and is a popular tourist spot all year round. The lake is filled with deep blue water and is surrounded by mountains. It is also a summer’s favorite picnic spot for beach lovers and campers. Popular points around Lake Tahoe include Kings Beach State Recreation Area and D.H. Bliss State Park. During winter, skiers also visit the area for its various ski resorts.

Channel Islands National Park

The park consists of five individual islands located off the Southern California coast. It is an ideal place to visit if you love wildlife and nature. Here, you can explore nature in its authentic form, as the park is isolated from the mainland and is also home to many endemic animals. However, access to the park is not easy as visitors need to book park concessionaire boats or a plane to get there.

Universal Studios Hollywood

Universal Studios Hollywood is especially famous among movie lovers as some rides and sets are based on favorite films. You get a chance to explore huge sets and will have the most memorable experiences in parks, including Jurassic World, Fast and Furious – Supercharged, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and The Walking Dead. Various cinema-related events are also held here throughout the year.

Some other notable places and attractions:

Golden Gate Bridge
The Getty Center Los Angeles
Santa Catalina Island
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
Hearst Castle

Best Time to Visit California

We have linked a great website to this button showing the weather for this location by the month. Clicking the below link will take you to Weather-and-Climate.com.

Click here!

Journey to another state!


“Travel not to find yourself, but to remember who you’ve been all along!”

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