It’s no wonder why Fashion Island got its name—this outdoor retail experience mixes Newport Beach style with a selection of curated shops and boutiques from top luxury brands. Plus, it boasts views of the Pacific Ocean and offers mall-style food options, high-class restaurants, a hairstyling blowout shop, and even a movie theater for shoppers who need a break during their spending spree.
One of America's favorite dinner attractions, Medieval Times Buena Park puts on an evening spectacular filled with pageantry, dramatic horsemanship, breathtaking swordplay, and romance. Guests feast on a 4-course banquet served without silverware in a mock 11th-century Spanish palace, complete with red tile roofs and palm trees.
Home to the Anaheim Ducks—a National Hockey League team—the Honda Center is best known for its sporting events, although the 18,000-seat venue hosts all sorts of festivities, from family shows to concerts, local fairs, and more. Opened in 1993, the Honda Center is the anchor of Anaheim’s brand-new entertainment district.
This trendy beach town spanning 2 miles (3 kilometers) of Pacific Ocean shoreline bears no resemblance to the borough of Manhattan. Manhattan Beach attracts visitors with its wide ribbon of soft, white sand, consistent waves that draw local surfers, a commercial village of boutiques and restaurants, and some of the county’s priciest real estate.
A family favorite on hot summer days, San Diego's Aquatica water park features splashy attractions for all ages. Twisting waterslides and a 500,000-gallon (2.3-million liter wave pool offer adrenaline-packed thrills, while a lazy river and kids play area are ideal for younger swimmers.
The ritziest of San Diego’s seaside suburbs, with a Tudor aesthetic that somehow doesn’t feel out of place, Del Mar boasts restaurants, galleries, high-end boutiques, and a horse-racing track where locals and visitors gather in the summer for races and other events.
An artistic neighborhood with Mexican roots, Barrio Logan in San Diego is home to former warehouses that have now been turned into galleries, taco shops, and craft breweries. Its centerpiece, Chicano Park, boasts nearly 100 murals depicting the community’s activism efforts, alongside images of notable figures like Frida Kahlo. The area is known for its culinary arts as well—specifically homestyle Mexican food.
Marking the central area of one of California’s premier wine cities, Healdsburg Plaza is an inviting place to gather, with its gazebo surrounded by grassy areas and benches. Its small-town atmosphere provides a quiet, relaxing stop among the bustle of shops, restaurants, and wine-tasting rooms just a few blocks away. Visitors to the plaza can enjoy a nighttime visit, too, with the plaza lit up magically any time of year.
Nestled in Southern California’s wine country, Vindemia Estate Winery in Temecula produces premium red wine varietals from estate-grown grapes. This family-operated winery offers tastings, plenty of beautiful space to picnic or relax in, and even hot-air balloon rides over Temecula. Many visitors enjoy a stop here before taking on other wineries or exploring Old Town Temecula.
If you’re a golfer, you know the community of Pebble Beach, California, for its idyllic golf courses peering over the Pacific. If you have a soft spot for coastal scenery, you know it for the 17-Mile Drive, an iconic route with postcard-perfect views at every turn. Perched on a peninsula between Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea, Pebble Beach is a worthy stopover for anyone in search of California’s renowned natural beauty.
Located in Balboa Park, the San Diego History Center (not to be confused with the nearby San Diego Natural History Museum details the city of San Diego from past to present. Founded in 1928, the center is housed in the beautiful Casa de Balboa, which is also home to the Museum of Photographic Arts and the San Diego Model Railroad Museum.
Known as Napa Valley’s Main Street, the buzzing city of St. Helena is one of the most popular hubs for wine country visitors, and for good reason: it has its own American Viticultural Area (AVA designation, which comprises over 400 wineries. Beyond the vines, the city’s Michelin-starred eateries and appealing shops add to its charm.
Located a quick and easy 15 minutes north of Napa, the little city of Yountville is a fun addition to any wine country vacation must-do list. It’s the type of place where you don’t necessarily need to have a plan. Simply wander down Washington Street, which boasts plenty of award-winning tasting rooms and top-rated restaurants to consider.
Every Thursday, the Downtown Anaheim Farmers Market offers a vibrant, community-driven smorgasbord of flavor. Located on Center Street Promenade, the market pairs fresh, local produce, artisanal goods, and food vendors with live music and family-friendly activities, making this a spot to shop and hang out. It’s a great way to support local farmers and enjoy the diverse flavors of Anaheim.
Stretching over two blocks of West Hollywood’s famed Sunset Strip, Sunset Plaza is a see-and-be-seen shopping center with around 50 businesses. Some come for designer shopping, hot Pilates, or Botox and a blowout, while others prefer to people-watch at one of several sidewalk cafés. Stick around for a bit, and you’ll likely see a star from Selling Sunset—or at least some very flashy cars.
Part of the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation, Tahquitz Canyon is known for its rock art and 60-foot (18-meter) waterfall at the end of a hiking trail. It’s a popular activity for those looking for an outdoor attraction that’s not too far from Palm Springs.
LA traffic feels a world away at the Hollywood Reservoir, an artificial lake with an easy walking trail and a unique view of the Hollywood Sign across the water. When you’ve seen your fill of celebrity mansions, movie studios, and stars on the Walk of Fame, head to this lesser-known park for a peaceful walk, run, or bike ride in the Hollywood Hills.
Located north of beautiful Lake Tahoe, ski resort Northstar has 3,170 acres (1,283 hectares) of terrain, 100 trails, and a base village with 35 shops and restaurants, a giant ice-skating rink, and a movie theater. With lift-accessed mountain biking and more in the summer, Northstar offers year-round fun for all ages.
Located north of Los Angeles, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor is a high-octane water park that attracts thrill seekers to families alike. Spanning 25 acres (10 hectares), the park offers more than 20 rides and activities, including body slides, speed slides, tube slides, wave pools, play pools, and lazy rivers.
Yep, rocks come in every shade of the rainbow—and every shade of the rainbow is present at Artist’s Palette. A highlight of Death Valley National Park’s Artists Drive Scenic Loop, this site has two small looping trails and an overlook, bringing visitors closer to the color. If anything, this spot proves Death Valley isn’t as stark as it seems.
Can’t decide on the amusement park or zoo? Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo finds a middle ground, with more than 40 rides and attractions spanning 135 acres (55 hectares), including roller coasters and water rides. There are also mellow options, like bumper buggies and a giant swing—plus elephants, tigers, giraffes, and more.
Head into the Oakland Hills to visit the Chabot Space & Science Center, dedicated to educating the public about Earth and the universe. Visitors get access to several telescopes and an observation deck in a natural setting full of redwood trees. Don’t miss the chance for a night viewing or a laser light show in the planetarium.
The continental United States’ only museum dedicated to the Pacific Islands, the Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum showcases the diverse cultures that have left their marks on Long Beach and Southern California. Covering communities across Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia, the museum (PIEAM) has an impressively eclectic collection—and an impressive following—since its opening in 2010.
Visitors looking for an unusual way to taste their way through California’s wine country can ride through the beautiful Sonoma Valley on an authentic replica of a late 1890s San Francisco cable car. No need for a designated driver or clambering in and out of a limousine; everyone has a window seat aboard the vintage, open-air Sonoma Valley Wine Trolley.
Whether you’re a Peanuts fan or just want to see original comic-strip artwork by the famous cartoonist, the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa features exhibits starring Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and all their friends. The museums is also home to a theater where you can watch—what else—Peanuts.
Lake Shasta is a relaxing summer destination where you can camp near the shore, rent a houseboat, or drive in for a day trip. Located in Northern California, this man-made reservoir is surrounded by hiking trails and thick forest, making it a peaceful wilderness escape from San Francisco and other Bay Area locations.
You’ve certainly seen museums dedicated to music, artists, and entertainers, but this is an entire showcase dedicated to the making of music—aka musical instruments, musical trends, musical discoveries, and more. Visitors will explore 500-plus musical instruments (some hands-on), learning all about the evolution and creation of sound. Concerts and live performances fill the museum calendar, too.
Part of Donner Memorial State Park, the Emigrant Trail Museum recounts stories of the pioneers who traveled through this part of the sierra Nevada in the mid-1800s, including the infamous Donner Party. The small museum, also known as the park’s Visitor Center, also features historical artifacts related to the native people of this land as well as the later railroad construction.
With a prime location between the Pacific coast and Northern California wine country, the Sonoma County town of Sebastopol offers culinary and outdoor activities that represent the best of the region. Visitors enjoy the laid-back vibe of the town, which isn’t typically as crowded as wine country hotspots like Healdsburg and Sonoma.
Test your driving skills at the Speed Circuit Family Fun Center in Chula Vista. Along with a go-kart track, this entertainment complex offers a Thrill Park with a zip line and other challenges, plus a ropes course, shuffleboard, and an arcade.
