Top Outdoor Attractions When Your Dreaming of a California Adventure

California is a popular spot for vacations, long weekends and city breaks. If you’re planning a trip to the Golden State, here are some fantastic ideas for your itinerary.

Beach days

California is blessed with over 800 miles of coastline and it is home to some of the most spectacular beaches in the US. Beach days are part and parcel of the Cali lifestyle. There’s a dazzling array of beaches to choose from, which are suitable for surfers and those who enjoy water sports, as well as sun-seekers keen to bask in the warm rays. Santa Monica, Malibu and Laguna Beach offer expanses of unspoiled golden sand and rolling waves with a lively atmosphere, while Pfeiffer Beach and La Jolla are slightly smaller and more rugged. Keep your eyes peeled for hidden coves and seals and sea lions soaking up the sun.

Nightlife

When you think about nightlife in California, you may automatically turn your attention to LA, but there’s a host of great places to visit across the state. San Francisco is known for its eclectic, vibrant bar and club scene while San Diego has an impressive selection of bars, clubs and live music venues. If you’re in Sonoma County enjoying the wine regions and the spectacular views, head to bars like Duke’s Spirited Cocktails Healdsburg to sample the local nightlife. If you’re staying in Los Angeles, you’ll find a host of venues in the center of town, as well as bars and clubs in Venice Beach, Beverly Hills, Hollywood and Koreatown.

Hiking and outdoor pursuits

The Golden State has something to offer everyone and it provides multiple types of vacations within a single trip. Once you’ve ridden the waves, explored the beaches and painted the town red, why not discover California’s awe-inspiring national parks? Yosemite is perhaps the most famous in the US and it’s not hard to see why. A wonderland of imposing, dramatic rock formations, rumbling rivers, vivid green meadows and spectacular waterfalls, this is the ultimate base for hiking and climbing. If you’re lucky, you may even see a bear. Marvel at El Capitan and head to Mariposa Grove to see some of the state’s oldest and tallest sequoia trees. Other incredible places to go hiking in California include Big Sur, Joshua Tree National Park and Wallace Creek.

Whale watching

California is one of the best places in the world to see whales, as well as other marine animals and birds, including sea otters, dolphins, seals, sea lions and cormorants. If you’re a wildlife enthusiast, head to Monterey Bay and join a whale-watching tour. In this area, it’s common to see humpback, gray and blue whales, as well as orcas, bottlenose dolphins and minke whales.

California is a popular destination for beach vacations, city breaks and adventures in the great outdoors. If you’re dreaming of a trip to the Golden State, hopefully, these locations have inspired you. From glistening beaches and cosmopolitan cities to national parks and sweeping bays, there are plenty of reasons to visit California.