As we approach summertime, many people are looking forward to a well-deserved holiday. One of the most popular destinations is sunny Southern California, which has tons of unique activities for people of any age to enjoy.
Let’s look at just a few of those now.
Visit the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Whether you’re looking to get a picture with a celebrity impersonator or you want to see if Donald Trump’s star still has the mini wall around it, you can do it here.
Visit Disneyland
For over 50 years, Disneyland has been the destination of choice for the young and the young at heart. Whether you want to meet your favourite characters, ride some rollercoasters, or even explore Disney history, there’s something for everyone here.
Attend a TV show taping
Have you ever wanted to see your favourite sitcom, talk show, or game show being filmed? Well you can. It’s free and you might even get to meet your favourite celeb.
Visit Universal Studios Hollywood
Want to travel back to the era of Classic Hollywood or go on a 2D adventure with The Simpsons or enter the Wizarding World of Harry Potter? You can do all that and more at this theme park.
See the ruins of Bombay Beach
Once a thriving holiday resort, the accidentally created “sea” and the Bombay Beach have since become an apocalyptic wasteland of sorts due to pollution. It’s not an ideal location for sunbathing, but you can certainly get some unique holiday snaps.
Take a tourofstars’homes
The avid celeb spotter will love to take a bus tour of the most famous houses in California. Make sure to pack your camera.
Eat at Crazee Burger
For the more adventurous carnivores, you could chow down on some exotic meats (including Kangaroo, Alligator, and Ostrich) at this San Diego restaurant.
Take a picture with the Hollywood sign
Who could go to California without getting a picture with the Hollywood sign? For the best pictures, go to Canyon Lake Drive or Beachwood Canyon Drive.
Get spooked at Whaley House
It’s considered by many to be the most haunted house in the US, but you can see for yourself… unless you’re scared. Even if you don’t believe in ghosts, the museum is a big place for San Diego history. It was built by Thomas Whaley, one of the earliest settlers in San Diego, and has a room that served as a courtroom and another that served as an auditorium during the early days of the city.
Snorkel with Leopard sharks
In August, Leopard sharks come to La Jolla Cove to give birth and you can actually go snorkelling beside them. Remember to take an underwater camera to get some cool shots for Instagram.
Getting ready to visit
If this list has inspired you to take a trip to SoCal, then here’s what you need to arrange before you go.
Passport
If you don’t already have a passport, then you need to apply for one at least six weeks before travelling. Renewing a passport takes at least three weeks.
ESTA visa
If you’re travelling to the USA, you need to ensure that you have a valid ESTA visa. It can be quite complicated to fill out the proper paperwork, but luckily, there are companies like Application ESTA who can help.
Flights
The best tips for booking a great flight are:
- Book as soon as you’ve got your dates as it’ll likely be cheaper
- Choose the vegetarian meal to get served first
- Select the window and aisle seats, if travelling as a pair, to get more leg room
Accommodation
There are many fantastic options for accommodation in Southern California from Hotel Vertigo, as featured in the classic Hitchcock film, to the Fairmont San Francisco, where JFK and Marilyn Monroemet for their illicit trysts.
Now, I’d like to hear from you dear reader. What are your top things to do in SoCal? What item on this list is your favourite? Let me know in the comments.