
Must-See Attractions in Santa Barbara, CA
Explore some of the most popular and interesting activities in Santa Barbara, perfect for your next visit. This guide offers unique experiences for both day trips and weekend getaways.
A Fresh Perspective on Travel Every Day
Explore some of the most popular and interesting activities in Santa Barbara, perfect for your next visit. This guide offers unique experiences for both day trips and weekend getaways.
The California coastline takes a turn from its normal north-south orientation near Santa Barbara, running east-west for about 100 miles. This unique geography creates a “banana belt” climate, making the Santa Barbara area one of the most pleasant destinations in the state throughout the year.
How to Spend a Weekend in San Diego
If you’re looking for the best place to stay in lovely La Jolla and want to be sure you don’t make a mistake, you’re in the right place. This guide is different than others, but don’t go away just because you don’t see a list of hotels right away.
Don’t be misled by the name. The San Francisco Ferry Building is not merely a transit hub; it encompasses a vibrant marketplace brimming with culinary delights. It is more than just a place for the weekly farmers market—it’s a haven for food enthusiasts. Inside, open-fronted shops showcase Northern California’s boutique specialty food makers. You can find local treasures such as Rancho Gordo dried beans, Boccolone Salumeria charcuterie, and Frog Hollow Farms stone fruits and jams.
San Francisco’s Chinatown is a vibrant neighborhood rich in culture and history. With an abundance of self-guided tour options, you can explore at your own pace, discovering unique sights and local specialties. This self-guided tour allows you to:
Gain insight from the San Francisco Vacation Planner:This resource provides more tips than can be covered in a single article.
Japantown San Francisco is a vibrant enclave bustling with Japanese culture, providing an array of shops and restaurants for visitors to explore.
The Exploratorium is a hands-on destination for exploring and enjoying science. It offers a unique experience as it embraces simple, interactive exhibits rather than relying heavily on modern technology or elaborate displays. This straightforward approach makes it accessible and enjoyable for visitors of all ages, establishing it as a top contender among California’s science museums.
For the purpose of this list, a “bus tour” is defined as a tour in vehicles that seat 30 or more passengers, where the tour routes are fixed, and you will be touring with other people you don’t know.
June Lake’s surroundings are the epitome of high mountain beauty with granite mountains that wear snow caps in winter, clear blue lakes, and — best of all — not as many people as Lake Tahoe or Yosemite.
Plan a Getaway to Mono County, California
Summer is the most popular time of year in Yosemite National Park. As the wildflowers fade and the waterfalls start to slacken, vacationers arrive by the thousands.
Long-time Yosemite naturalist Carl Sharsmith was once asked what he would do if he only had a day to see Yosemite. “Madam,” he replied, “I’d sit by the Merced River and cry.” However, instead of weeping by the waterside, there are many exciting activities to enrich your experience in this iconic national park.
1. Plan Your Trip Like a Pro
Tuolumne Meadows is perhaps Yosemite Valley’s best-kept secret, overshadowed in size and popularity by the nearby famous valley. Many Yosemite visitors spend all their time in the Valley, neglecting to explore Tuolumne Meadows.
Mirror Lake is a shallow, seasonal pool that fills with water in the spring and early summer. The rest of the year, it can be completely dry. However, it remains a favorite place to hike, especially for families, providing a close-up view of the iconic Half Dome.
Yosemite National Park is vast, but a short visit can be centered around Yosemite Valley and its nearby attractions. This stunning national park is an ideal destination for nature lovers, photographers, and hikers. Moreover, families can enjoy camping during their visit, and off-season guests can partake in delightful food and wine events.
Most Yosemite visitors want to camp inside the national park. This is a good idea, and camping in the national park campgrounds saves time on driving around. However, the sad truth is that Yosemite doesn’t have enough campgrounds to accommodate everyone who wants to stay there.
Bears can pose significant challenges for campers in Yosemite National Park and Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park, where these animals frequently break into parked cars. In fact, over 1,300 vehicles were damaged by bears in Yosemite in 1998. Although incidents have decreased to only a few dozen each year, following safety precautions remains essential for a safe camping experience.