California is such a large, diverse state that if you wanted to visit each region or climate you’d need at least a month. With cool cities like San Francisco, Los Angels, San Diego and more, California is never boring and always culturally fascinating. I love how inclusive it is, from its amazing immigrant population to the support California shows for the LGBTQ community.
When it comes to travel experiences, you get the best of nature and the outdoors as well as small towns and cities. Palm Springs is always a favorite with its canyons and Joshua Tree National Park, but then you have smaller cities like Eureka, full of Victorian architecture at the edge of Redwoods National Park. California is a mixed bag of awesomeness and you’ll never be bored.
Visiting Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks is a great adventure full of beautiful views, epic hikes and amazing giant sequoia trees. Staying in Visalia makes enjoying both parks easy with the conveniences and delicious restaurants of a city available each day. See what there is to do in the SEKI Parks and how to plan a 1, 2 or 3 day trip.
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Yosemite National Park in one day is doable and totally worth it. Visiting from Oakhurst, CA is the easiest plan and includes giant sequoias, epic views of Half Dome and the Yosemite Valley, and beautiful hikes with Glacier Point. See what else we recommend if you have just one day in Yosemite.
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California is a huge place to explore with 9 National Parks, several great theme parks (including Disneyland) and beautiful beaches and mountains. Our travel guide lays out how to explore California with several road trip plans and ideas for visiting the exciting cities around Cali.
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Palm Springs is known for being THE place to go for sunshine in winter, but it’s more than that, including being one of the most inclusive destinations in the USA. See our top picks for a fun, active trip to Palm Springs including hiking, museums, Joshua Tree National Park and more.
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Travel plan for an inexpensive San Diego family vacation that you’ll love. Free things to do in San Diego, best beaches, and where to stay to keep the costs down and still have an awesome SoCal trip.
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Hiking at Palm Springs is one of the most unique things you can do in Southern California. Tips for the best trails and oases near Palm Springs and Joshua Tree, when to visit, wildlife and more.
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San Diego’s Balboa Park is the cultural and activity center of the city. From the San Diego Zoo to art museums and gardens, everything you need to know to enrich your San Diego trip with Balboa Park.
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The Yosemite Valley Tram Tour is a great way to experience the highlights of Yosemite National Park if you’re short on time or energy. See what to expect, how to book it, and find our why it’s one of the best National Park tours available.
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There is no one destination on Earth that we’ve been to as many times as Disneyland. It’s actually shocking to start calculating how many hours we have spent in both Disneyland and Disney’s California […]
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The Wuksachi Lodge in Sequoia National Park is set in a beautiful location and has (surprisingly) spacious rooms. Find out about staying at the Wuksachi, things to do in Sequoia National Park and planning a trip to the Sierras of California.
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Redwood National Park is a great family destination for getting into nature and learning about the giant coastal forest. Get ideas for things to do and parts of the park to visit on your California Coast road trip.
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This three-day San Diego itinerary is awesome for enjoying the beaches, history, culture and nature of SD. Ideas for planning a long weekend trip to San Diego.
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Disneyland vs Magic Kindom – what’s the similar, which has better attractions, food, and overall better experiences. We break down our favorite elements of the Disney Parks which are ALL OPEN NOW.
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Great road trip plan through the California National Parks, from the Golden Gate Bridge to hot springs at Lassen National Volcanic Park. See Yosemite, Pinnacles Sequoia and more.
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San Diego’s Lafayette Hotel, Swim Club and Bungalows is a great vintage stay close to Balboa Park. See what to expect from this old Hollywood destination hotel, one of the most fun places in San Diego.
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By now you know how much fun we’ve had through the years in Disneyland and Walt Disney World, and now especially with our kids in the Parks. Both Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure are […]
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The most Instagramable spots in Disneyland include everything from the Castle to finding the details in the park. Photography tips and best ways to enjoy Disneyland.
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Mammoth Lakes, California has so much cool geology to experience. From hot springs to bizarre petrified springs, you’ll be amazed and what you’ll find just outside Yosemite.
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Visiting Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego is the perfect mix of nature, history and nautical interest. It’s ideal to add to family travel in SoCal and is a great budget friendly activity.
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The Bodega Bay Lodge is a beautiful property set just off the beach on the Sonoma Coast of Northern California. Review and ideas for things to do in the Bodega Bay area of Sonoma County.
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There are lots of great places to eat in Mammoth Lakes, California. See top picks for unique, healthy spots for breakfast, lunch and dinner before skiing or after hiking. So many choices, but these are guaranteed good.
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There are more than 100 lighthouses in the USA. These picks are beautiful, easy to visit and make for picturesque road trip adventures, from the Florida Keys to the Oregon Coast.
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The Best Western Plus Island Palms Resort Hotel in San Diego is ideal for families. Centrally located, great pools, and delicious restaurant, it’s a perfect San Diego hotel.
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Outside of the National Park there are tons of things to do in Yosemite Country. From hiking in the Sierra National Forest to off-roading and horseback riding, our top picks for adventures outside the National Park.
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Summer in Mammoth Lakes, California is full of fun things to do. While people usually think of Mammoth as a ski destination, it’s also full of summer hiking, kayaking, boating and more. See the best things to do in summertime!
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What could be more perfect any time of year than a California Central Coast road trip? Nothing. Leaving the SoCal area out of Los Angeles and heading north up the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), […]
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We’ve just returned from our first family trip to Disneyland with all four of us and it was incredible. We were so fortunate to get to experience not just Disneyland and California Adventure, but […]
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We get a lot of questions about attending Pride events with kids. This year we flew to California and did the San Diego Pride celebration and had a great time. We’re going to answer […]
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For as much time as we spend in California you’d think that we’d have hit up most of the awesome spots or at least had a good handle on places we feel are awesome […]
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The Evergreen Lodge at Yosemite is ideal for exploring the quiet side of Yosemite National Park. From family cabins to rustic retreat lodging, the Evergreen Lodge has many options and is located very near Hetch Hetchy and Groveland, California.
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