With near-perfect weather, stunning landscapes, charming towns and cities, and an enviable laid-back attitude across the state, you’ll soon discover the tourist places in California state has been home to everyone from Alfred Hitchcock to Jack Kerouac to pop star Katy Perry. Did everyone celebrate? But don’t let Hollywood fool you: the state is much more than beaches and palm trees. From the Museum of Art and History in San Diego’s Balboa Park to the lush redwoods of San Francisco’s Moir Woods, California has hundreds of unique places to visit.
Below are some interesting tourist places in california state and attractions:
US Midway Museum, San Diego
Visit San Diego Harbor to explore the decks of the USS Midway, a former Navy aircraft carrier in 1992. The giant ship was used in both the Vietnam War and the Gulf War before being assigned to its permanent home in the southern California.
From flight simulators and a program for young pilots to displays of naval aircraft and the opportunity to see what life was like for sailors, the more than 1,000-foot-long floating museum offers hours of entertainment and education.
Tourist spots in California, Avalon Canyon, Catalina Island
If you love spending time outdoors but don’t like the idea of a strenuous hike, you’re in luck at Avalon Canyon on Catalina Island. Located near the city of Avalon, the valley is home to the Wrigley Mansion, built by former Chicago Cubs owner William Wrigley. The mansion is built in the Georgian Revival style and is home to the Wrigley Memorial Botanical Garden, home to many endangered plant species.
Also in the Catalina Island canyon is Lover’s Cove Marine Reserve, where you can snorkel, kayak, or paddleboard, and the Hermit Gulch trailhead, which serves as the starting point for the popular Lone Tree Point hike. This place is perfect for couples on their honeymoon in California. If you’re willing to climb the nearly 1,500 feet to the top, you’ll be able to see almost the entire island.
Tourist sites in California Homes and haunts of celebrities, Los Angeles
Anyone who’s in Hollywood probably has a house in the Hollywood Hills, and if you don’t have a house there, you at least have a favorite bar or restaurant not far from the studios.
There’s no place more exclusive than a celebrity’s home in California, and there are plenty of ways to increase your chances of seeing your favorite actor or TV host during your visit to Los Angeles.
Booking a seat on a Hollywood tour will give you an up-close look at the Hollywood Walk of Fame and celebrity hotspots on the Sunset Strip and Beverly Hills. You’ll also pass by more than three dozen mega-mansions where the stars live (when they’re not on set, of course).
Tourist attractions in California Pebble Beach, Monterey
Arguably the most famous place to golf in the United States, Pebble Beach in Monterey is home to four golf courses: Del Monte Golf Course; Lynx in the Spanish Gulf; Spyglass Hill Golf Course; and Pebble Beach Golf Links. The last three have views of the Pacific Ocean.
The eighth hole fairway at Pebble Beach Golf Links sits on a peninsula surrounded by cliffs and sea foam, so be sure to snap some photos as you drive around the popular beach course. While it’s not difficult to find a golf course while on vacation, it’s impossible to find a golf course with the views that Pebble Beach’s four courses offer. Playing golf here is definitely one of the most unique things to do in California (and possibly the entire West Coast!).
Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara
Napa may be California’s most famous wine region, but visiting the wineries of the Santa Ynez Valley is one of the most unique things to do in California.
The Santa Ynez American Viticultural Area (AVA) is home to more wineries than anywhere else in Santa Barbara. Because temperatures are cooler near the coast and increase as you approach the mountains, many red and white varieties can be grown here, from buttery Chardonnays to deep Cabs and Merlots.
The Santa Ynez Valley is truly spectacular, with rolling hills, roadside fruit and vegetable stands, and colorful sunsets reflecting off the nearby mountains.
La Brea Tar Pits, Los Angeles
Sure, a tar pit may not seem like the most exciting place to visit, but it is one of the most unique places to visit in California.
About 40,000 years ago, L.A. The city seemed a little more prehistoric than it does today, and mammoths and saber-toothed tigers often became trapped in the sticky natural tar that bubbled up from beneath the earth.
Scientists began digging tar pits about 100 years ago and are still exploring today. In this great museum you can see the fossils found in the L.A. graves. You can learn about its wild past and even walk through an excavated tar pit. It is incredibly interesting for both children and adults.
Muir Woods, San Francisco
Even if you don’t recognize the name John Mayer, you’ve probably heard his most famous quote: “The mountains are calling and I must go.” While you’re in San Francisco, you can literally follow in his footsteps by heading to Muir Woods.
Here you can do one of the most unique things you can do in California: see a giant sequoia tree. Some of the redwoods at Muir Woods are over 250 feet tall and over 1,000 years old, and can be seen with a roughly 30-minute walk through the park. Be sure to bring a wide-angle camera lens to get the best shot.
Balboa Park, San Diego
Balboa Park is arguably San Diego’s most popular tourist attraction, and with good reason. It is home to 17 museums, 10 theaters and performance spaces, an antique carousel, an arts community, and nearly 20 gardens, including a Japanese tea garden and a botanical park.
It’s one of the Golden State’s greatest cultural treasures, so whether you visit all the museums or just spend 30 minutes exploring the grounds, you’ll find it worth a visit.
Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles
Look skyward with a visit to the famous Griffith Observatory, where you can study the stars even in the middle of the day. The observatory’s large planetarium features several shows a day led by a live narrator, and visitors can sit through a 15-minute presentation about how researchers study and understand light, each day as the sun reaches its deepest point. high.
The exhibits are for both kids and adults, so kids can practice with a Tesla coil or study Los Angeles through a telescope while adults learn more about the possibilities of exploring the universe.
Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey
You can see glow-in-the-dark sea otters, penguins, sharks, and jellyfish without even getting on a boat at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Located on the city’s famous Cannery Row, a visit here is one of the best things to do in Monterey with kids, as the aquarium showcases marine life from around the state.
Kids will marvel at the two-story kelp forest and 90-foot viewing window in the “Open Sea” exhibit, while adults will enjoy learning about the marine research and conservation programs the aquarium conducts.
Visitors of all ages will love catching a glimpse of the quirky color-changing giant Pacific octopus.
Haight Ashbury neighborhood, San Francisco
You haven’t seen the true spirit of the city until you’ve strolled the streets of Haight Ashbury, which still retains much of its 1960s charm (except for the expensive apartments of the future).
This area of town was the birthplace of the state’s hippie countercultural movement and, while it’s not as quiet as it might have been during the “Summer of Love,” it’s still packed with independent coffee shops, craft shops and more. Apothecaries and magnificent murals on every corner.
It is one of the most unique places to visit in California and certainly different from any other neighborhood in the city.
Trans Catalina Trail, Catalina Island
This challenging trail covers over 38 miles and gains almost 10,000 feet of elevation, but don’t worry if you’re not in top hiking shape as there are more manageable sections of the trail available for day hikers.
The trail ends at Starlight Beach, a great place to start if you only have one day to hike the trail. Starting at the terminus of the Trans-Catalina Trail, you can walk the trail as much as you want and retrace your steps if you get tired. You will be rewarded with spectacular views from the first minutes.
San Diego Zoo, San Diego
What makes the San Diego Zoo one of the most unique places to visit in California? The answer is simple: more than 4,000 species of animals from all over the world inhabit this enormous zoo and conservation center. From koalas to leopards and reindeer, the park’s eight different “ecosystems” are home to animals from all seven continents.
In addition to conservation and wildlife programs, the zoo also offers sunrise walks, assisted tram tours, animal feeding demonstrations, and plenty of photography and play areas to ensure everyone has a good time.