Whenever people talk about Sequoia National Park they mention the Sequoia trees that made the park famous. But Sequoia National Park is home to many other natural attractions. Yes it’s true that the big trees are the main attraction and they will produce awe in everyone looking at them, but when you combine these amazing trees with the spectacular views and incredible hiking trails you get…an amazingly spectacular and incredible place ! That’s Sequoia National Park.
Yosemite National Park is a great travel destination both for the backpacker and the entire family. Weather you love to backpack for days or you just enjoy day hikes with your family, Yosemite National Park has something for everyone. I have visited Yosemite many times and each time I have done something completely different and fun. However, if you’re visiting for the first time there are some things you must see.
Hearst Castle is one of the few buildings in America that bears the name “Castle”. We just don’t have castles here like they have in Europe. Castles are a thing of the past and especially in California we don’t have old buildings except for the few old missions that are scattered along the coast. I know I am exaggerating a little but not too much. So, just the name Hearst Castle becomes interesting almost immediately to the tourist.
We took advantage of the 2Fer ticket for Southern California residents when we visited Disneyland on Easter weekend. So, two weeks after visiting Disneyland during Spring Break, we came back to visit California Adventure for FREE ! This was a great deal indeed. The simple fact that we came after Spring Break made our experience a lot better than what we went through when visiting Disneyland.
Disneyland is called the “happiest place on earth”…at least that’s how the Disney company calls it. A place of magic and wonder where Mickey Mouse is the king. I usually visit Disneyland only when relatives or friends out of town come and visit California. Disneyland is a must see attraction for Southern California, so we’ve got to take our friends when they come to visit. This time however, was very special because I took my wife and my daughter to visit and it was their first time visiting Disneyland. I think it’s pretty cool to take people to Disneyland especially if they’ve never been there before. I wouldn’t say that this place was very happy…especially because of the crowds…but it was very nice and entertaining for sure.
Solvang is a quiet little town, with an European reputation even though it is located in the heart of California. There are many small towns scattered all over California, but Solvang is much different than all other small towns. Danish and Dutch early settlers in California were determined to maintain their heritage in everything they did and most of all in everything they built. From shops and restaurants to office building have all been built in Danish style.
Point Dume in Malibu, California is a very small place. It doesn’t really come up in conversations about California except for those who live in Southern California. Point Dume is a favorite place for locals especially in the winter months because it is right on the migration path for gray and blue whales as they travel north to Alaska. Between January and April, Point Dume is one of the few spots on the land where you can actually get to see some whales in addition to dolphins and other sea creatures.
The Getty Center in Los Angeles is an amazing place. We were finally able to visit this place and be transported for a few hours in the heart of Europe. This was not because of the architecture of the buildings because they are very American and very modern. But the art on display at the Getty Center was amazing. We got to see Manet, Money, Renoir and even a very rare sketch by Da Vinci. Read more to see some pictures from the Getty Center.
La Purisima Mission is one of the 27 California missions that line up the California coast from south to north. Located in Lompoc, La Purisima is actually a state park and it has been extensively reconstructed to better capture the feel of the Mission times. With lots of things to offer for the entire family, La Purisima Mission Park is a great tourist stop for the California traveler. Read on to find out what is worth seeing at La Purisima.
The mountains around San Luis Obispo Bay area hide Avila Beach very well. But if you’re willing to get off the beaten path and get off the freeway you will be rewarded greatly with stunning views of the ocean and a relaxed atmosphere in one of the little known California beach towns. Avila Beach, California is the perfect beach town. It’s small, clean and simply beautiful!
Pismo Beach is one of those hidden tourist jewels that is within easy reach but bypassed many times by tourists. The California coast is just beautiful off the 101 freeway in the Pismo Beach area. The fact that many larger tourist attractions like San Luis Obisbo and Hearst Castle are so close, most tourists just pass by Pismo Beach on their way up north. What a mistake! Pismo Beach is just an amazing stop even if you have only few hours to spare. Pretty soon I’ll post my detailed Pismo Beach travel guide, but for now enjoy more pictures from Pismo Beach.
We visited San Francisco a few times and we loved it every time. This time however it was in December and it was raining hard and the San Francisco Bay was covered in thick fog. We ended up mostly driving around but we were still able to walk around Fisherman Wharf area and enjoy the sites. San Francisco is spectacular despite the rain. Read on to find out the main tourist attractions in downtown San Francisco.
Lots to see in Palm Springs and the surrounding areas. If you make sure you don’t visit Palm Springs after middle of May and before middle of September, you will have a great time in the Palm Springs area. If you come during the summer, you will be confined inside your hotel where the air conditioner will make the temperature bearable.
Lake Tahoe is one of the most popular attractions in California. It is mostly known as one of the best winter resorts in the world. However, Lake Tahoe is a great family vacation spot in the summer as well. We found Lake Tahoe to be very relaxing and family friendly. My family found great things to see and we enjoyed the beautiful views and places to visit. This article contains our favorite places to visit in Lake Tahoe.
Every year the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California puts on the best show. Entitled the Tournament of Roses, this amazing parade is all about flowers and in particular about roses. We always wanted to go to the Rose Parade, but with two small children coming out in the very early hours of the morning just to get a somewhat decent seat, is out of the question. So, we opted to come see the floats in what is called the Post Parade event where you come admire the floats that have been parked on a couple of wide streets. Is it really worth it? Well, read on to find out.
Sometimes when traveling you get to witness amazing things that you were not planning to see at all. This is what happened to me when going to the beach again at Point Mugu State Beach in California. I have brought some relatives of ours to the beach since they have not been in this part of the state. When we got there, we noticed that the waves were pretty rough and very loud (about 10 feet high). The water was breaking very close to shore, which made it pretty hard for us to enjoy the water. Eventually we decided to head back home since we couldn’t really play in the water much.
