One of the top ski resorts on the West Coast, Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley) was the host of the 1960 Winter Olympics. With 3,600 acres (1,457 hectares) of terrain, over 170 trails, and a village boasting over 50 restaurants and 40 shops, as well as a multitude of activities and festivals in the summer, there’s plenty to keep visitors occupied year-round.
A Los Angeles institution, the renowned Greek Theatre is located in Griffith Park, and has hosted some of the most legendary performers in American music, from Frank Sinatra to Aretha Franklin. Today, the outdoor theater holds a range of events, including concerts from big-name artists, comedy shows, cultural events, and more, making it a worthy stop during a cultural tour of Los Angeles.
The oldest continually operating winery in the Napa Valley wine region, Beringer Vineyards was established in 1876 in St. Helena and sits on a regal estate listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Head to a tasting room to explore a flavorful selection of winery-exclusive wines and special reserve vintages produced by the winery’s prized vineyards.
The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden (SBBG) is a beautiful natural conservatory featuring over 78 acres (31.5 hectares) of lush greenery, with over 1,000 species of rare and indigenous plants. Guided tours are free, and a walk among the oaks, boulders, and dusty trails makes for an enjoyable dive into California flora.
Knott’s Berry Farm, a 160-acre (65-hectare) amusement park in Buena Park, California, is one of the most-visited theme parks in the United States. The attractions—from dizzying roller coasters to scream-inducing thrill rides—and water park make Knott’s a popular option for family fun in Southern California.
Operating from its sizable lot on Melrose Avenue since 1926, Paramount Pictures Studio is a symbol of the golden age of cinema and the only major film studio still running in Hollywood proper. It’s also one of a handful of LA studios offering guided tours, affording you a look past the palm tree–lined gates to its 65 acres (26 hectares) of soundstages, backlots, and other facilities where movies and TV series are made.
Home to a host of Disney®-, Pixar-, and Marvel-themed attractions across eight distinct lands—including Pixar Pier, Hollywood Land, and Buena Vista Street—Disney California Adventure® Park is ideal for younger kids, superhero fans, and adults alike. Meet famous faces such as Elsa and Anna, Black Panther, and Groot; catch the after-dark World of Colors spectacular; and tuck into a Ghirardelli hot fudge sundae.
Built in 1952, CBS Television City in Los Angeles was one of the first and largest buildings dedicated solely to TV production and broadcasting, helping LA claim its fame as the home of American television creation. Its historic, cultural, and fun studios still film popular shows such as Dancing with the Stars, American Idol, and Real Time with Bill Maher.
Home to the renowned University of California, Berkeley, this free-thinking college community across the bay from San Francisco is known for its liberal attitude, campus culture, and role in 1960s politics. Today, students and visitors alike are drawn to Berkeley’s bohemian shops, cultural festivals, and eclectic dining scene.
Made up of three islands in Alamitos Bay, the Italian-inspired neighborhood of Naples is one of Long Beach’s most charming. Attractive homes line narrow canals that provide opportunities for water activities such as kayaking and gondola rides. The largest bay island is bisected by 2nd Street, the main drag home to restaurants and shops.
Board a replica 18th-century Spanish galleon in Buena Park for the Pirates Dinner Adventure, a family-friendly evening that includes a swashbuckling show and buffet dinner. Enjoy a night of action, comedy, adventure, and romance, complete with dramatic sword play, gravity-defying stunts and acrobatics, fiery pyrotechnics, and dazzling special effects.
In the heart of Sonoma Wine Country, Williamson Winery is one of downtown Healdsburg's top tasting rooms. Visit the winery to pair award-winning wines from sustainably farmed vineyards along the famed Dry Creek Valley with small artisanal bites—usually, cheeses and tapas selected for each varietal. Tastings are available at two downtown tasting rooms and a vineyard outside of town.
At the San Diego Model Railroad Museum (SDMRM), America’s love affair with train travel comes alive. Part of Balboa Park, this 27,000-square-foot facility details the routes that once crossed—or almost crossed—the American West in highly accurate and detailed scale models. Visitors will also learn about the history of US train travel in permanent and temporary exhibits.
The first museum in the United States of its kind, this Smithsonian-affiliated museum is dedicated to the Japanese American experience. Topics range from early issei immigrants to World War II internment camps and modern Japanese art movements.
Every winter, tens of thousands of monarch butterflies stop in Pismo Beach during their mass migration to a warmer climate. The bright-orange-and-black monarchs cluster together among the branches in a protected eucalyptus grove, creating a stunning natural display that attracts visitors from up and down the California coast.
The Sherman Library & Gardens is a Newport Beach oasis, ideal for relaxing, viewing seasonal flowers, and discovering diverse plants. Visitors find flora from near and far, including deserts and tropical forests—flanked by fountains, walking paths, and sculptures. Don't miss the library, where you can learn about the Pacific Southwest.
Get up-close and personal with California’s native wildlife, including seals, sea lions, sea otters, and elephant seals, at the Marine Mammal Center. Known for its rescue and treatment work, the center offers a range of tours. While entry is free, booking a tour is encouraged, as proceeds go towards helping sick and injured creatures.
Discover the past, present, and future of the automobile at the San Diego Automotive Museum, and see a collection of Harley Davidson motorcycles and the famous 1947 Louie Mattar Cadillac that drove 6,300 miles (10,139 kilometers) without stopping. Learn about the history of the automobile and view a collection of classic cars.
Spanning more than 60 miles (95 kilometers) in and around San Francisco, Golden Gate National Recreation Area is home to beaches, former military posts, hiking trails, and historic landmarks—including the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Outdoor enthusiasts, history buffs, and architecture lovers will all find something to delight them at the various sites.
Founded in 1984 and supported by a grant from Charles Schultz, San Francisco’s Cartoon Art Museum is the only museum on the West Coast devoted solely to this art form. With more than 7,000 original pieces, the museum’s collection includes everything from editorials and comic books to graphic novels and Anime.
Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust brings visitors an objective, impactful presentation of one of the darkest chapters of 20th-century history. Find original artifacts, survivor stories, and a carefully-curated architectural space, all befitting the subject matter's gravity. Located along Pan Pacific Park, the museum is free to visit.
One of the most famous sporting venues in history, the Rose Bowl Stadium is best known for hosting the annual Rose Bowl Game for college football on New Year’s Day. It has also hosted several Super Bowl games, FIFA World Cup finals, and Olympic Games events. Besides its noteworthy sporting celebrations, the stadium serves as the home for the UCLA Bruins football team.
Long Beach’s Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) is the self-proclaimed only museum in the United States dedicated to modern and contemporary Latin American art. Through its paintings, photographs, sculptures, video projects, and other pieces, the museum aims to help the public understand and appreciate works by Latin American artists.
The Tech Interactive in San Jose, California, encourages kids and adults alike to find their inner innovator. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, this STEAM museum redefines the traditional museum experience by prioritizing touching and participating over reading and looking. Families will want to return again and again.
San Diego County is home to more than 90 museums, but the New Children’s Museum downtown is a top choice for families. With three floors of hands-on activities, craft projects, and play areas, the venue provides many opportunities to encourage creativity in kids.
While it's a public beach, Paradise Cove is best associated with the eponymous café located right off the Pacific Coast Highway. Both the beach and eatery draw visitors to this idyllic setting with the allure of a quiet meal where you can quite literally put your toes in the sand, as well as the opportunity to camp out at the shore all day.
The Museum of Tolerance (MOT is an immersive LA museum designed to help visitors unpack human rights. Exhibitions engage diverse topics, from the Holocaust to terrorism to genocide. The standout Anne Frank exhibit tells the story of a girl in hiding during World War II, and its rich interactives bring this important history to the fore.
Opened in 1980, Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall is the home of the San Francisco Symphony. The hall features more than 200 days a year of musical performances, from classical to contemporary.
The Roman Catholic Saints Peter and Paul Church dates back to 1924, and its cathedral-like façade and twin spires tower over the north side of Washington Square Park. Located in San Francisco’s North Beach district, or Little Italy, the church still holds daily mass, but it’s best known for a photo op—Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe posed here after getting married.
A crescent of white and golden sand next to Santa Barbara Harbor, Leadbetter is one of the most popular beaches in Santa Barbara and among the most beautiful in California. The surf makes the beach popular with windsurfers, catamaran sailors, and low-key surfers. Facilities include public showers, grassy picnic areas, barbecue sites, and lifeguard stations.
