From exploring foggy forests to enjoying a sunny day surfing at the beach, there are many things to do in California.
From hidden treasure spots, golden skies at beautiful locations to celebrity appearances, this state promises to keep its residents and tourists entertained.
The best part of this place is it has something to offer for everybody. Whether you are a foodie, an adventure seeker, a sports enthusiast, or a nature lover, California has multiple things to make sure you gather an amazing experience.
Listed below are our top picks of things to do in California. If you want to make a bucket list of all the things you must do once you visit The Golden State, you have just landed on the right page.
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Things to do in California
Read on to know a list of places that you must visit when in California:
Alcatraz Island
Built-in the 1850s, the penitentiary Alcatraz Island once housed the most horrifying and notorious criminals of the Golden State of California.
However, in current times, it serves as one of the main tourist spots that you would want to add to your to-do list in California.
Situated just beside San Francisco Bay, each area of this place narrates its history and stories of American justice.
The first thing you would have to do to get on a ferry to go to the place. Once you reach the island, you can roam around anywhere at your own will. There are audio tours in multiple languages available for you to know the history attached to the place.
Apart from the island’s main attraction, which is the prison, there are also multiple other things to see and enjoy here. Some of these are the military fortresses, the lighthouse, and the numerous rare birds that migrate here.
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is hands down one of the prettiest lakes that sit in California. Surrounded by gigantic mountains and rivers, the lake’s clear blue waters are an absolute treat for all nature lovers. Apart from its scenic beauty, Lake Tahoe also offers multiple fun activities to its visitors all year round.
If you visit the lake in the summers, there wouldn’t be anything even near to taking a dip in the waters of the lake.
You can also go fishing, hiking, scuba diving, kayaking, and boating and soak in the beauty of the place. You can enjoy a fun day out in the snow during the winter months if you visit the site.
From snowboarding, snowmobiling to skiing, it remains an unparalleled experience to witness. (If you were wondering what things to do in California in December, you could add this to your list).
If you think that this is all that Lake Tahoe has to offer, you might just be proved wrong. This place also stores several museums and mansions that might be a treat for art and culture lovers. A natural wonder, isn’t it?
Winchester Mystery House
Among the things to do in northern California, this one has great importance!
Are you a fan of all things spooky and mysterious? Then it would be a sin not to include the Winchester Mystery House on your to-do list when you visit California.
History says Sarah Winchester made this huge mansion in the 1800s after the death of her child and husband. It is believed that the house was made to ease the anger of their spirits. Others say that this house was made to puzzle the spirits of all the people killed by the Winchesters.
Rightly thought so since the house has no particular design or pattern. With over 150 rooms, his huge mansion is an architectural wonder that has no explanation for its design pattern. With a staircase that abruptly ends and corridors that look more like a labyrinth, this house is sure to make you wonder.
Tip: Do a little study about Sarah Winchester and her inheritance before you visit the place. We are sure the experience would be a whole lot better.
Glass Beach
No words, descriptions, pictures, or videos can describe the beauty that Glass Beach carries.
With thousands and thousands of colorful stones present on the beach’s shores, it is easily one of the best places to visit in California.
However, would you believe us if we told you that this beautiful beach was formed because it was once a dumping ground for garbage? Yeah, you heard that right!
This beach was used to dump garbage after the earthquake that struck in the year 1906. The glass from the garbages got polished, smoothened, and showed up years later on the shore, making the beach unbelievably beautiful.
These stones were termed ‘sea glass.’ Each wave carries numerous rocks to the shore, which is an absolute delight to witness.
Needless to say, taking a stroll on the beach in the evening as the sun sets is one of the best things to do in California for couples.
The Hollywood Sign
The primary thing to do in things to do in Los Angeles, California, is this!
Thinking of some amazing things to do in California in October? Here is just what you need.
Standing grandly on Mt. Lee overlooking the movie industry of California and Los Angeles, the Hollywood sign is one of the most popular things to do in California.
We have the Hollywood sign in numerous movies, and it would be a lie if anyone says they didn’t want to get a picture clicked standing there. But unlike what they show in movies, upon reaching there some strict restrictions would bind you.
And why not, the Hollywood sign is one of the unique things in California that it can boast about. However, the funny part is that this huge 50 meters in height, each white alphabet sign was made for an advertisement gimmick.
There are a couple of ways in which you can travel to the place. For all the hikers, it would be easier for you to hike to a nice point. And for others, just hop-in to an elevator and witness the sign from a little far but in air-conditioned elevators. Amazing, isn’t it?
Death Valley National Park
Here’s a head’s up, if you think you are faint-hearted, then Death Valley National Park is not for you. But it is one of the best things to do in California if you have an extreme adrenaline rush.
The Death Valley National Park has one of the craziest landscapes that the United States has to offer. It has an oddly surreal beauty, due to which, despite the drawbacks that this place might have, it is considered one of the best tourist spots in California. What are the drawbacks, you must be wondering?
The Death Valley National Park is one of the hottest areas in the world. With rugged mountains and dunes that might have rattlesnakes hidden at some not-so-traveled places, this place gives all the adventures you seek. It is also 280 feet below sea level, which makes it the lowest point of California.
However, if you are there, you might enjoy the beauty of the fun. Coupled with it are some really fun activities that you can do. To mention a few of them, they are camping, climbing, biking, hiking, and many more. The best thing to do here is camping and stargazing. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city and in a completely pollution-free space, star gazing seems like the deal for sure.
The Golden Gate Bridge
The beautiful Golden Gate Bridge that stands gorgeously in San Francisco is one of the main spots to visit when in California. With its orangish red tone, this bridge runs across a mile and attracts a huge number of tourists from both the United States and around the world.
You would come across a huge number of pictures of this bridge everywhere. And why not? There are various ways in which you can witness the beauty of this bridge.
You can either drive through the place, cycle or walk through the bridge. On the contrary, you can also ride on a ferry and enjoy the bridge from a low angle.
What’s more? There is a little history of the city attached to this place. If you wish, you can also opt to take a guided tour and know it all.
Things to do in California for kids
Below are some places you must take your kids to in California.
Disneyland
Looking for things to do in Southern California? Come to Disneyland!
Disney Land is one the best entertainment parks in the whole world, and we can’t even argue on that, can we? We better not. Hands down, it is one of the best things to do in California.
It would be missed if you did not take your kids and, of course, to have a day of absolutely crazy fun at this remarkable place. It would be a walk down memory lane for you and a day to remember forever for your child.
The huge park contains everything the child in us can wish to have. The park has Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Toon land, Sleeping Beauty Castle, and many more places where you can enjoy numerous rides and relive your childhood to the fullest.
Apart from this, you can also make your child get autographs of all their Walt Disney favorite characters. From Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy to everyone, you can witness them performing live. Extremely exciting, isn’t it?
Universal Studios
Are you a fan of Hollywood movies or movies in general? Then you cannot afford to miss a visit to Universal Studios when in California. This studio has given amazing blockbusters from King Kong, Harry Potter, to many many more.
But the Universal Studios that stands in Hollywood is much more than just a set the makes crazy good films. There are some crazy fun things to do in California for adults, and Universal Studios is one of them. Be ready for a day filled with fun and lots of happy memories once you purchase the ticket and enter the place.
This studio has numerous rides which are based on many of its record-breaking movies. Apart from there are plenty of choices of restaurants and pubs to keep you entertained. There is also plenty of fun stuff. This studio promises a day of laughter, starting from stimulators, mazes, slides, rides, and many more.
You can do whatever your heart wishes, from clicking selfies with pandas to hugging zombies or dinosaurs. You can also book a room and stay here since there is too much to see in one day!
Monterey Bay Aquarium
You cannot miss coming to this aquarium with your kids, among the fun things to do in California!
If you want to take your child for a day of fun and learning, then Monterey Bay Aquarium is perfect. Founded in 1984, this aquarium is one of the best that the state has to offer.
With many marine fishes, mammals, birds, and invertebrates, you sign up for an amazing day here. The museum also runs a couple of research projects for the conservation of birds, fishes, and others which is also extremely insightful for everyone.
The museum also offers an exciting sleepover for children in a place called Kelp Forest. You are sure you don’t want them to miss out while exploring fun things to do in California for adults. It is undeniably one of the best things to do in California in January.
Final thoughts
Without a doubt, there are some amazing things to do in California. However, with the current scenario in mind, we have a question about things to do during covid-19.
The list above contains a few things to do to collect amazing memories with proper safety. In case you were thinking twice before booking the ticket, think no more.
