There are many locations to select from when visiting California, but when it’s your first time in the Golden State, chances are you’ll wish to begin in Southern California. The area is house to a few of the finest cities, together with Los Angeles, San Diego, and Santa Barbara. And that’s earlier than you even point out its areas of pure magnificence. The sunny state has iconic highway journeys, lovely nature, and well-known landmarks.
The finest method to discover southern California is by renting a automotive so you may pull off to view all its little nooks and crannies. Southern California has outside adventures the place you may go to islands, discover sea caves, and spot seals. Or you may head to abandon scorching springs, take a look at theme parks, and do wine tasting. The area has some critical versatility.
In this information, we’ll cowl the very best issues to do in Southern California that will help you plan your journey.
Having a Southern California bucket record is a should. There’s simply a lot to do and see in the area; you’ll need at the very least every week to even start to understand it. People spend months touring simply the West Coast – and that’s with out even heading inland to spots like Death Valley.
Before you get into the meaty stuff, take a look at our fast information on essentially the most unbelievable issues to do in Southern California.
Best of Southern California: A Quick Guide
Must See: Joshua Tree National Park, Alabama Hills, Santa Cruz Island, LA, and Death Valley. Where to Stay: The Rumi ($), Tarantula Ranch Campground & Vineyard ($$), and Calamigos Guest Ranch and Beach Club ($$$). Also, take a look at these finest all-inclusive resorts in California. Fun To Do: See the ocean lions at La Jolla, go to an amusement park in LA, go wine tasting in Santa Barbara, and go to Newport Beach. Day Trips: Head to Runyon Canyon Park, take a tour of LA and its well-known Hollywood signal, take a day journey to Las Vegas, and take a day journey to Joshua Tree National Park. Must strive Foods: California sushi roll, cobb salad, fish tacos, and something utilizing avocados.
Best Things to Do in Southern California
You now have a short thought of the way to spend your time in Southern California. As you may see, the area affords the right alternative to expertise metropolis life and pure adventures. It has the very best of each worlds.
It is time for a definitive record, although. So, what are the very best issues to do in SoCal? Let’s check out which high 23 made the ultimate minimize.
1. San Diego
First up, now we have San Diego. Visiting this metropolis is well probably the greatest issues to do in Southern California. This main metropolis has a fame for superb climate, with round 252 sunny days a yr. It’s the place to be for espresso walks by way of lovely inexperienced areas like Balboa Park, and loads of seashore days. Here, you may take a look at our information on the finest San Diego seashores.
Downtown San Diego has the enduring Gaslamp Quarter, with all its nightlife and dive bars. While the broader San Diego county has loads of preserves for mountaineering and seashores to take advantage of good climate.
Insider Tip: Take benefit of the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park.
Practical Information: Many points of interest, like Balboa Park and its seashores, are free. We advocate budgeting a mean of $20 on leisure per day.
2. Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park is likely one of the finest nationwide parks in the US. It cash its distinctive identify from the bizarre-looking Joshua Trees – they’ve spindly picket trunks and branches that appear like overgrown cacti. The timber had been named by Mormon immigrants in the mid-Nineteenth century, who named the strange-looking flora after Joshua in the bible.
Visiting this park is well probably the greatest issues to do in Southern California. The novelty of the timber, the variety of mountaineering trails, and the attractive darkish sky make it the right addition to an itinerary.
You’ll love this nationwide park should you love pure magnificence and exploring distant areas. It is simple so as to add to a go to to LA or Laguna Beach, another excuse we needed to embrace it on this record.
Insider Tip: Plan an in a single day journey to take advantage of the unbelievable darkish skies – you might have nearly zero gentle air pollution.
Practical Information: The Visitor Center is open day by day from 8:30 am to five pm. The park has a $15 per particular person entrance charge.
3. Death Valley National Park
We can’t focus on issues to do in Southern California with out mentioning Death Valley National Park. Albeit named fairly morbidly, this park is likely one of the most excessive and interesting locations of pure magnificence to go to in the area.
It has beforehand reached the best temperature recorded on Earth – think about experiencing 134 levels Fahrenheit – and is the US’ hottest, driest, and lowest-elevation nationwide park.
You ought to positively go to Zabriskie Point for dawn. Natural Bridge can be a ravishing hike to plan. There are many issues to do in Death Valley, however this park earned its spot largely from its record-breaking extremities.
Insider Tip: Needless to say, it is best to keep away from visiting in the height of summer time.
Practical Information: The park usually closes primarily based on climate situations and security considerations, so regulate the web site. Entrance is $15 per particular person.
4. Santa Monica Mountains
Mountain lovers, the Santa Monica Mountains are a shocking coastal vary. You may even bag Pacific Ocean views from a few of the summits. There’s no higher location for a set of mountains, and it’s inside a straightforward drive of LA.
There are many scenic mountaineering trails in the Santa Monica Mountains, with over 500 miles of trails. The vary can be important for mountain lion conservation and a captivating place to look at wildlife. Head to Santa Monica Mountains early to take advantage of the paths and beat noon temperatures.
Once you’ve loved your hikes, you may enterprise down into the town after. In the town, there’s Santa Monica Beach and Santa Monica Pier to take pleasure in – you may deal with your self to a day on the coast.
Insider Tip: Bring binoculars so you are able to do some wildlife recognizing on the paths.
Practical Information: Open 24/7 and no entrance charge.
5. Huntington Beach
Just south of LA sits Huntington Beach, aka Surf City, in California’s Orange County. Visiting Huntington Beach is an absolute should for any browsing fanatic. There’s every part from longboard leases to the International Surfing Museum. You might spend a morning ripping waves in the very best surf and a day studying in regards to the metropolis’s browsing historical past and tradition.
Southern California has such a robust browsing tradition, so we had so as to add this goldie to the record. It is a perfect single-day exercise, or for the surfing-obsessed, you possibly can keep for every week or extra, profiting from the wonderful browsing situations.
Insider Tip: Take benefit of the Surfing Walk of Fame.
Practical Information: Budget round $20 for sightseeing and upwards of $10 an hour for board leases.
6. Venice Beach
Visiting Venice Beach is likely one of the most bucket record issues to do in Southern California – particularly should you love bodybuilding. The Venice Beach Gym is the core of this coastal neighborhood and has seen the greats, together with Arnold Schwarzenegger, hit its weights.
Venice Beach can be famed for its boho vibe. Here, you may embrace the salty-hair Californian aesthetic, stopping to select up takeout smoothies and watching the proficient avenue performers.
Venice Beach can be a high contender for budget-friendly issues to do in SoCal. This metropolis affords tons of free actions.
Insider Tip: Book a day move at Venice Beach Gym.
Practical Information: Budget round $15 for a day of leisure in Venice Beach.
7. Pacific Coast Highway
Driving the Pacific Coast Highway is terrific in SoCal if in case you have 4-5 days to spare. This final highway journey covers 575 miles, heading from close to San Francisco all the way in which right down to San Diego. It covers nearly your complete West Coast.
Along the way in which, you may take a look at Big Sur and iconic Californian cities like LA, Santa Barbara, and Laguna Beach. You have beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean and a few of the most dramatic roads you’ll ever drive.
Look for viewpoints, particularly round lovely spots like Bixby Creek Bridge. The Pacific Coast is one thing to take your time with. Take your time and cease for loads of picture alternatives, seashores, and hikes.
Insider Tip: Plan to cease at loads of scenic bridges, particularly close to Carmel Highlands.
Practical Information: Only gasoline and lodging prices.
8. Los Angeles
Of course, LA was at all times assured a spot on this record. It is the house of Hollywood – and with the well-known Hollywood signal, don’t you dare overlook it – and some of the famed cities in the world.
LA has the Walk of Fame, Beverly Hills, and Universal Studios with all its rides and theme park points of interest. You even have Griffith Park and Griffith Observatory. It uniquely blends celeb dwelling and nitty gritty US metropolis tradition. This means you get bucket record points of interest in addition to cultural experiences.
LA is a should when visiting Southern California. It can be the best place to fly into, so we’d counsel beginning your expertise in LA and branching out throughout the area.
Insider Tip: Don’t attempt to see every part in LA in just some days. Pick a few areas and prioritize close by points of interest.
Practical Information: Budget round $100 a day on leisure when visiting LA – there’s simply a lot to do and see.
9. Channel Islands National Park
Fancy pushing the boat out, fairly actually? Check out a few of Southern California’s most lovely islands. The Channel Islands National Park is a shocking archipelago of 5 islands with dramatic ridges and pristine seashores.
In the park, you may camp in a single day seasonally, go to on a tour, or simply take a day journey. If you’re fortunate, you’ll spot dolphins, sea lions, and even whales. On land, there are many bird-watching alternatives and a ravishing fox inhabitants.
You can’t beat this park for an island expertise. It is adventurous to get to and completely overflowing with nature and animal encounters.
Insider Tip: Arrange water actions like kayaking or scuba diving for the very best expertise.
Practical Information: Ferries have variable schedules, so examine particular person operator web sites. There’s no entrance charge, however price range as much as $100 for ferry charges.
10. Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park is beautiful. It is your best option if you need an alternative choice to Redwood National Park in Northern California. Sequoias are large redwoods, and this nationwide park has over 400,000 acres.
You should go to the General Sherman Tree, one of many largest timber in the world. Driving by way of Sequoia National Park’s Tunnel Log can be nice enjoyable. There are loads of trails, just like the Redwood Canyon Trail, you can additionally hike.
Allow at the very least a full day to go to Sequoia National Park. In an excellent world, you’ll give your self at the very least a couple of days. Hiking amongst these gigantic timber is well probably the greatest issues to do in Southern California.
Insider Tip: Plan to drive by way of a few of the tree tunnels for some further enjoyable.
Practical Information: There’s an entrance charge of $20 per particular person.
11. Palm Springs
Palm Springs is finest identified for its setting in Coachella Valley. If you might be heading right here in April, it is best to positively bag Coachella Festival tickets – it’s some of the well-known music festivals in the world.
However, visiting Palm Springs can be ideally suited for getting a style of desert metropolis life. Surrounded by the Sonoran Desert, Palm Springs has loads of scorching springs, mountaineering, and horseback driving trails.
When you aren’t having fun with the desert locale, you may go to its artwork galleries and boutique shops. Palm Springs has an opulent, artistic ambiance.
Insider Tip: Take the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway for the very best views.
Practical Information: Budget $15 a day for leisure.
12. Crystal Cove State Park
Visiting this beautiful state park is likely one of the most enjoyable issues to do in Southern California. Crystal Cove State Park has over 3 miles of seashore to calm down on, plus 2,400 acres of coastal terrain for mountaineering and biking. We love its coastal setting.
Crystal Cove State Park affords the very best combine of out of doors journey and seashore day rest. In the early morning, you may hike to Moro Ridge Lookout. Then, you may spot dolphins and sunbathe in the afternoon. Just bear in mind water and solar cream as a result of each are fairly uncovered.
Insider Tip: Check out the view from the Crystal Cove State Park Tunnel.
Practical Information: $15 per automobile cost per day.
13. Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is a sneaky addition to this information. It is correct on the cusp of being classed as Northern California. Still, it’s so superb that we’ll embrace it as probably the greatest issues to do in Southern California.
Yosemite National Park is the right storm of hanging granite landmarks and scenic mountaineering trails to waterfalls and towering redwoods. Regarding pure landmarks and wonder, Yosemite has it in bucket masses. You can see why it’s so in style.
Allow at the very least a full day to go to Yosemite, if not staying in a single day to hike a couple of totally different trails. Half Dome and Yosemite Falls are the very best hikes in the park. You can take a look at our information on the park’s finest issues to do right here.
Insider Tip: Start early to keep away from the crowds.
Practical Information: $15 per particular person entrance charge.
14. Catalina Island
Catalina Island is a ravishing spot simply 22 miles off the Southern California shoreline. You can simply attain it on a day journey by way of ferry, or you may camp there in a single day and make it an much more adventurous factor to do.
Catalina Island has two tiny resort cities, Two Harbors and Avalon. You can e book scuba diving excursions, rent water tools like kayaks, and go wildlife recognizing on close by mountaineering trails.
Visiting Catalina Island is a ravishing method to embrace SoCal’s islands and get off the mainland. If you go to out-of-season, you’ll even get many trails to your self.
Insider Tip: Don’t miss the Cat Harbor Overlook Trail.
Practical Information: Budget round $100 for return transport by ferry.
15. Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is a beautiful small metropolis on the Southern Californian shoreline. The metropolis is sandwiched between the ocean and Los Padres National Forest, and the broader Santa Barbara County is understood for its wine manufacturing. Visiting this metropolis is likely one of the high issues to do in Southern California, and right here’s why.
Walking round Santa Barbara is a deal with, with Spanish colonial structure all through its downtown space. You’ll wish to enable loads of time to snap pictures of the Mediterranean-style white stucco structure. There’s additionally the Old Mission Santa Barbara, launched in 1786 by Spanish colonizers.
You can hit the seashore whenever you aren’t wandering scenic streets and visiting spiritual and historic points of interest. Santa Barbara has some lovely seashores, together with the centrally positioned West Beach and Leadbetter Beach.
Insider Tip: Check out the structure on the MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration and Innovation
Practical Information: Budget round $30 for leisure per day.
16. Long Beach
Long Beach is a coastal metropolis simply outdoors the metropolis of LA and on the outskirts of Orange County. It is the place to move for sophistication and marinas lined with fancy seafood eating places. It has a superb buying scene and likewise a glitzy coastal ambiance – providing extra yachts and marinas than seashores.
Visiting Long Beach is an excellent method to expertise a extra fancy, city aspect of California’s coastal dwelling. To expertise coastal SoCal modernized, it’s the right place for a time out. Hop between the museums, store, and dine out overlooking the marina and Pacific Ocean views.
Long Beach can be tremendous accessible from LA. You can drive from central LA to Long Beach in simply half-hour or hop on public transport, which takes an hour.
Insider Tip: Book a desk on the oceanfront patio at Parkers’ Lighthouse restaurant.
Practical Information: Budget round $150 on leisure, together with a meal out and buying.
17. La Jolla Cove
La Jolla Cove is technically shut sufficient to San Diego to fall below this metropolis’s class. However, it’s such a well-liked Southern California attraction that we’re giving it its personal part. La Jolla Cove is a tiny bay space most well-known for its tons of of resident sea lions.
If you’ve by no means seen a sea lion in the wild, head to Jolla Cove. There is a lot to {photograph} from a distance and plenty of info boards detailing the animals and the way to safely see them.
If you might be even luckier, you can too spot whales throughout migration seasons. Visiting Jolla Cove is the very best factor for any animal lover or conservation fanatic.
Insider Tip: Bring binoculars and a digital camera with a long-ranging lens to see wildlife from a distance.
Practical Information: Free and open 24/7.
18. Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz may not be one of many well-known trio in California – aka San Fran, LA, and San Diego – however it’s a sensible coastal metropolis to go to for a conventional, enjoyable ambiance. Visiting Santa Cruz is likely one of the most enjoyable issues to do in Southern California.
Santa Cruz has a vintage-style esplanade with an iconic amusement park. You can courageous its Haunted Castle, trip the Giant Dipper, or indulge in basic beachfront treats like ice cream and scorching canine. Who doesn’t need a conventional seashore day when visiting Southern California? Santa Cruz is right if you need extra amusement park than surfer vibes.
You can go to Santa Cruz for a day and luxuriate in its conventional seashore leisure. Or you may keep for a weekend or perhaps a entire week. Either method, a visit to Santa Cruz is likely one of the most enjoyable issues to do in SoCal.
Insider Tip: Sample the seafood on the Santa Cruz Wharf pier.
Practical Information: Budget $30 a day for leisure.
19. San Juan Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano is a historic landmark and museum simply south of LA. It is well probably the greatest issues to do in Southern California, particularly should you’re in spiritual historical past or structure.
The mission constructing was based over 2 hundred years in the past and as soon as tried to transform and promote the Christian religion. Nowadays, this isn’t the case. It now paperwork the multi-cultural historical past of California and the event of religions over time.
San Juan Capistrano isn’t only a spiritual constructing however a time capsule of the spiritual dynamics that created California’s trendy communities. It solely takes a couple of hours to go to, however you’ll acquire a ton of data from the expertise.
Insider Tip: Stop by the close by Laguna Niguel Regional Park after visiting.
Practical Information: It opens from 9 am till 5 pm on Tuesdays to Sundays and prices $18 per grownup.
20. Santa Ynez Valley
If wine tasting is in your Southern California bucket record, go to the Santa Ynez Valley. This beautiful valley is most famed for its grape vines, and there are tons of of alternatives for wine tasting and winery excursions.
The valley is primarily identified for its Pinot Noir, chardonnay, and Syrah wines. And whenever you aren’t sampling these, you may e book horseback driving excursions or scorching air balloon rides. Visiting Santa Ynez Valley is likely one of the most romantic issues to do in Southern California. It is a number one romantic getaway in the US.
Make certain to go to Sunstone Winery. This lovely vineyard has a French-style villa with wine caves and a shocking courtyard stuffed with lavender.
Insider Tip: Santa Ynez Valley can be famed for Danish bakeries – so ensure to pattern some baked items.
Practical Information: Budget round $25-30 for a flight of 5 wines.
21. Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach is just a small metropolis, nevertheless it packs a punch. The metropolis is a serene mixture of artwork galleries and seashores. Visitors can spend their mornings at Laguna Art A Fair or the Laguna Art Museum after which head to the seashore in the afternoon. You are in luck, too, as Laguna Beach has a few of the finest California seashores.
Laguna Beach has an excellent walkable metropolis heart and a splendidly laid-back ambiance. If you wish to expertise Southern Californian coastal tradition, that is the place to take action.
The metropolis is right for these on a price range, with solely meals bills and gallery entrance charges to pay. You can calm down on its seashores and stroll its boulevards the remainder of the time.
Insider Tip: Allow time to stroll the Laguna Boardwalk.
Practical Information: Budget round $20 on leisure when visiting for a day.
22. Alabama Hills
Believe it or not, visiting the Alabama Hills is likely one of the finest issues to do in Southern California. Despite its identify, this lovely mountain vary is about in inland California, subsequent to Sequoia National Park. The panorama is distinct, with sharp granite ridges and alpine meadows crammed with yellow flowers come spring.
If you wish to get off the crushed monitor, mountaineering in the Alabama Hills is ridiculously scenic. There’s the Shark Fin Trailhead and Mobius Arch Loop Trailhead. You are only a quick drive from Lone Pine and its Museum of Western Film History.
Insider Tip: Visit Lone Pine’s museum for fascinating memorabilia.
Practical Information: Budget round $10 per day for leisure.
23. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
If you drive the Pacific Coast – which we talked about earlier – you’ll move the beautiful Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. But actually, it’s price visiting in its personal proper. Visiting Pfeiffer is likely one of the high issues to do in Southern California.
The 1,000-acre state park hugs the Pacific Ocean shoreline, with beautiful seashores, dramatic coastal roads, and exquisite hikes by way of surrounding redwood forests. Make certain to take a look at McWay Falls and Partington Cove.
If you might have time, we’d counsel tenting for the final word expertise. This method, you may catch some dawn viewpoints as effectively.
Insider Tip: Visit out of season to attenuate crowds and get the very best expertise.
Practical Information: No entrance charge.
Where to Stay in Southern California
Once you recognize what you’d love to do and see in Southern California, you may determine the place to remain. There are so many lodging choices. You can discover hostels, luxurious resorts, or mid-range boutique properties throughout the area.
We’d counsel initially basing your self in Los Angeles, because it’s the best place to succeed in by aircraft and is centrally positioned for onward journey round Southern California. You can discover resort lodging in cities like San Diego and Palm Springs. Or you’ll find distant luxurious bases close to the nationwide parks.
Here are a few of the finest accommodations in Southern California for all budgets:
Luxury: Calamigos Guest Ranch and Beach Club: For luxurious lodging in the sleepy celeb spot of Malibu, the 5-star Calamigos Guest Ranch and Beach Club is a high-quality selection. Mid-Range: Tarantula Ranch Campground & Vineyard: Tarantula Ranch Campground & Vineyard is an incredible glamping property with tiny trailer homes outdoors the Death Valley boundaries. Budget: The Rumi: It doesn’t get way more budget-friendly than The Rumi. This hostel is positioned in Koreatown, Los Angeles, and affords low-rate dorm rooms.
Tips and Information For Visiting Southern California
Before you begin ticking off all these high issues to do in Southern California, you should get sensible. It is fabulous realizing which of the area’s well-known points of interest you wish to go to. But this part will make these desires realities.
We’ll cowl all of the important bits of knowledge, like seasonal issues and the way to get round. Get able to make some notes.
Best Time To Visit
We’ll begin by saying that Southern California is gorgeous all yr spherical. You’ll discover enjoyable issues to do and good climate for 12 months of the yr.
Many folks would say that summer time is the very best time to go to, with essentially the most days of sunshine and the best temperatures. However, we recommend selecting the shoulder season, both June or October.
You nonetheless get the excessive temperatures in June or October, however you skip the summer time crowds. Similarly, you may go to the desert areas with out the danger of utmost temperatures. Did you recognize that areas like Death Valley National Park can get so scorching in summer time that there’s a danger to human life? You may deal with strolling Santa Monica Pier in hovering temperatures, however the desert, most likely not. Sticking to-the-shoulder months will make your Southern California expertise way more pleasant from a crowd-avoiding and security perspective.
Getting There
The best method to attain Southern California is by flying into Los Angeles or San Diego’s airports, particularly if touring internationally. From right here, you may simply entry trains, buses, and rental automobiles. You may also fly in after which use the main cities as launchpads to discover the remainder of the area.
If you’re touring domestically, you may equally attain Southern California by prepare. Amtrak connects main cities like Los Angeles with Northern California and close by states. You can e book comfy seats and sleeper compartments, taking the scenic, most sustainable route.
You may also take buses like Greyhound should you’re on a price range when touring domestically. You may also take a highway journey to Southern California – simply take a look at these superb US highway journeys should you want any extra convincing.
Getting Around
Getting round Southern California is equally easy. You can fly internally between many main cities, however we advocate organizing a automotive rental for essentially the most half.
Southern California is simply made to be pushed. For metropolis breaks, you may usually simply stroll about and use inner-city transportation. But in case you are touring extra regionally throughout Southern California, you’ll must suppose once more. If you wish to go to its nationwide parks and distant areas of pure magnificence, you have to to have your personal wheels. Renting a automotive is essentially the most liberating method to get across the area. And this manner, you gained’t miss out on any of its finest points of interest.
If you aren’t heading as remotely because the nationwide parks – or are keen to fork out on some group excursions with transfers included – you possibly can additionally get round utilizing trains and coaches. For occasion, there’s a rail connection between San Diego and Los Angeles.
How Much Time Do You Need
You might simply spend months in Southern California, relying on how intensive your bucket record is. As a basic rule, give your self at the very least two weeks to get the very best expertise potential in the area.
You ideally want at the very least three to 4 days per metropolis, which is every week in San Diego and Los Angeles. Then, enable your self one other week to discover a few of the coastal cities and certainly one of two inland nationwide parks, Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Park.
Of course, if in case you have longer, keep longer. With extra time, you possibly can additionally go to the attractive nationwide forests and enterprise out to extra out-of-the-way spots just like the Channel Islands National Park. The extra time you may spend in the south of California, the higher your expertise might be.
It is simple to see how particular it’s to go to Southern California. Not solely do you might have a few of the most well-known cities in the world to sightsee, however you even have beautiful areas of pure magnificence. Southern California has every part, from cacti and pink rock desert surroundings to iconic boulevards in Los Angeles. It has a few of the most lovely and well-known points of interest in the world.
Why We Love Southern California
Once you’ve embraced all there’s to see in Southern California, head north to San Fran, Redwood National Park, and Yosemite National Park. Or you may cross the border to go to Las Vegas or Utah and its mighty 5 nationwide parks. Southern California has a incredible assortment of issues to do. Still, it’s additionally ideally positioned to enterprise into different areas of the US. Definitely take advantage of your expertise.