Top Five Sights to See in California this Summer

California is beautiful, and you’re going to have a great time on your trip. Here’s a California travel tip, take a road trip down the coast from San Francisco to Laguna Beach. Below are some of the sights you won’t want to miss along the way.

San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf

There’s a lot to see in San Francisco, but if you want to be in the center of the action, park yourself around Fisherman’s Wharf. There are many fun sights and things to do in the area, and it caters to tourists, so restaurants and hotels are plentiful. Among our favorite California travel tips, we recommend taking a walk along the waterfront. You will not only see crazy street performers on just about every corner, you may also come across an enormous mob of sea lions lounging on floating barges in the marina. No need to go to an aquarium! Just beware, the sea lions are stinky.

From Fisherman’s Wharf you can catch a boat to Alcatraz, the infamous abandoned prison that sits on an isolated island surrounded by sharks in the middle of the bay. On your boat ride, you can see a panoramic view of the Golden Gate Bridge, which is also nearby. If you really like the bridge, you can walk across it using the pedestrian pathway that runs beneath the roadway, take another boat trip that runs below the bridge, or drive across if you happen to have a van rental when you visit  California Over the bridge, you’ll find scenic Sausalito.

Yosemit

If you enjoy nature, this national park is for you. Yosemite is home to giant sequoias that are between 1,000 - 3,000 years old. Here’s another great California travel tip: explore the Mariposa Grove, a bunch of trees near the southern entrance to Yosemite National Park. Here, you’ll find the Washington tree, the largest in the park, as well as the nearby Grizzly Giant, which is the oldest. But trees are not everything Yosemite has to offer. Make sure to also check out Yosemite Falls, a set of waterfalls that cascade down the face of a mountain. Since this area tends to be a little remote, we recommend investing in a van rental when you visit this part of California.

Pismo Beach

California is world famous for its abundance of beautiful beaches, so it’s impossible to choose the best one, but Pismo Beach is among the most scenic. Plus, if you’re traveling up or down the coast between Los Angeles and San Francisco, Pismo Beach is a great place to stop along the way. It’s a great beach, but here’s another California travel tip: Check out the adjoining Oceano Sand Dunes that are directly south of the main beach. As a California state park, you will need transportation, like a California van rental, to enter and explore, but it’s definitely worth the journey!

Los Angeles and Hollywood

Los Angeles is a sprawling city filled with fun, food, and entertainment. There are a lot of museums and parks and other great things to see and do, but two iconic sights to see are Hollywood Boulevard and the Sunset Strip. Here’s another great California travel tip: Walk around these streets and see lots of crazy characters and costumed entertainers ready to entertain you.

After you’ve taken in all the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, you might be hungry. Luckily you’re in Los Angeles, a city that’s becoming more and more popular for its bustling food scene. Whether you’re after cheap, delicious street food, ethnic cuisine from all across the world, or more gourmet fare, you’re sure to find just what you’re looking for in LA. Among our most vital California travel tips, we recommend finding affordable, but comprehensive eateries and restaurants that’ll satisfy all your tastes, like the Farmers Market and the Grove, two shopping areas that share a parking lot. The Grove has more upscale, notable restaurants while Farmers Market offers a wide variety of authentic, unforgettable street food. After dinner, if you love the nightlife, the easiest place to go is Sunset Boulevard, west of La Cienega, where you will find lots of bars and music clubs all along the street.

If you have time, there are many other fun places to visit around Los Angeles. If you’re up for walking around a relaxed, yet entertaining neighborhood by the ocean, Venice Beach offers lots to see and do.

Los Angeles also has an abundance of great shopping options, from the iconic Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, to a number of upstart independent boutiques scattered across the city, and more affordable department stores as well. The city is also home to many museums, from art galleries, fun and engaging museums for kids, and even an ice cream museum! However, many sights and attractions are spread out all across the city, and LA is famously prone to heavy traffic, so plan well and account for the time spent between destinations. Here’s a great Southern California travel tip: avoid driving in LA as much as possible between 3:30 pm and 7 pm as rush hour traffic will turn most major roads and highways into massive parking lots, and being stuck in traffic is no way to have a good time.

Disneyland and Surrounding Area

Congratulations, you made it to Disneyland! For kids, this will probably be the highlight of the trip. Disneyland is self-explanatory, and we’re certain that anything you see or do will be fun and memorable for the whole family.

If there’s still room in your vacation schedule after Disneyland, then pick up a California van rental and head to the beaches about 15 miles west of Disneyland to relax. While Orange County is a largely suburban area, this region is also home to some of California’s best beaches.

Explore California

Whether you’re traveling with the kids and you’re looking for convenient and affordable destinations or you’re looking to explore some of the state’s majestic, remote natural wonders, California has something for everyone.

At Airport Van Rental, we provide great van rentals in California and beyond, and we’re always ready to share our best California travel tips with travelers looking to explore the best the Golden State has to offer.

If you’d like to learn more about what to see and do in one of the most scenic and exciting parts of the country, or if you’d like to book a rental, contact us today.