Places to see in California
A single trip, unless it is six months, is not enough to cover the United States in full.
Gigantic and diverse, each return tells aspects of the country that rarely have anything in common with the already seen. When you ask me what to see in California I always answer that it depends on the time you have available, because there are so many places to visit.
California is the most populous state in the United States and the third largest, a strip of land that stretches along the Pacific Ocean enclosed between deserts and snow-capped mountains in winter, incredibly diverse, full of beautiful national parks, scenic roads among the most popular in the United States and vibrant and intriguing metropolises. Sydney can be another option
With a coastline more than 1300km long, California is home to the Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) – which stretches from the north to the south of the state – considered one of the most beautiful roads in the world and the most popular among road-trippers.
When I decided to write a post about what to see in California I clashed with the number of beautiful places that far exceed the 10 I had set out to cover.
Having to make sacrifices I chose the places that I recommend you visit in California to enjoy the best of its incredible national parks, its metropolises and its coast really not to be missed I managed to choose my 12 favorites (but there would really be many more!).
You can visit these places if you have 2 weeks available, if you want to include Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon I suggest you consider at least 3 weeks.
If you have chosen this state as your travel destination but do not know where to start and want to find out what to see in California, what are the parks and cities not to be missed, this post is for you! ATV Rental in Los Angeles
What to see in California in 15 and 10 days:
In the United States there is a lot of driving, this also applies to California, the third largest state in the country and also the most populous.
If you have a few days it is good to prepare to get up very early in the morning and return in the evening, that time is running out and there are many things to do and see.
Not all the places mentioned on maybe will be part of the itinerary, but to help you plan I thought of some ideas that I hope will be useful to you.
Clearly you can modify it as you like, but, especially if you have little time, consider landing on one city and leaving another.
If you are planning a trip between the parks of the West of the United States read the West Parks and Route 66 travel itinerary
What to see in California in 15 days – From/to San Francisco (with Las Vegas):
This is a short itinerary that will take you from San Diego to San Francisco, the minimum of the days I recommend are 15 but if you have two more days you can spend more time at some destinations or include the Grand Canyon that you can reach from Las Vegas which is about 2 hours from the West Rim and 4 from the South Rim.
- San Francisco – Arrival and first walk in the city
- Visit of San Francisco – Read What to see in San Francisco
- Bay and Alcatraz Island Tour
- Yosemite National Park driving along the Tioga Pass and activities to Yosemite Valley
- Sequoia National Park
- Death Valley – Read How to visit Death Valley
- Las Vegas – Read What to see in Las Vegas in two days
- Las Vegas
- Mojave Desert – Twenty nine Palms
- Joshua Tree – Palm Springs
- Los Angeles – Read What to see in Los Angeles in three days
- Los Angeles
- San Louis Obispo – Big Sur – Carmel-by-the-sea
- Monterey for whale watching
- San Francisco
What to see in California in 10 days – From San Francisco to Los Angeles (or vice versa)
This is a great Classic in California, a road trip that starts in San Francisco and ends in Los Angeles (or vice versa) and focuses on the coast and metropolises with a foray into Yosemite National Park.
- San Francisco – Read What to see in San Francisco
- San Francisco
- Sausalito – Napa Valley
- Yosemite National Park
- Monterey
- Excursion to Carmel or whale watching excursion
- Big Sur – San Simeon – San Luis Obisbo – Solvang
- Santa Barbara – Los Angeles
- Los Angeles – Read What to see in Los Angeles in three days
- Los Angeles
Tour of California for those who don’t have a Car:
As you will realize continuing with the reading to travel to California you need a car. If you don’t feel like driving, because for example you travel alone or simply because you prefer company, you can consider the possibility of participating in ATV tours of California.
I have selected for you some very good tours of California and at great prices (considering that California is very expensive!):
- California National Parks – 5-Day Tour from San Francisco (Monterey, Yosemite, Tahoe and Savor California wine valley)
- San Francisco to Vegas (Pachi, Valleys and Deserts) – 9-day tour that begins in San Francisco and ends in Las
- Vegas that includes Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, Death Valley and Vegas
- Natural Highlights of California – A 9-day National Geographic tour that starts in San Francisco and ends in Las
- Vegas and includes Death Valley, Yosemite National Park, Sequoia, Kings Canyon and San Francisco
- California Classic – 10-Day San Francisco to Los Angeles Tour Including Yosemite, Big Sur, and Los Angeles
