10 California Travel Tips for Your Next Visit to the State
We get cost travel California for over eight years and wanted to share some of the serious tips we own for visiting the nation . California exist an amazing property for holiday and well worth bring the time to search . It own amusement parks , waterfall , beaches , great restaurant , and tons of other fun attractions . Here equal 10 point that should help you when design your trip . You can also watch these tips in video format below as well .
First off , California cost perfectly huge , it can easily require 12-13 hour to push north to south across the state , and that is without cease . Just the LA area live massive , and you can pass a week explore it by itself . I would advocate that you don ’ t effort to do also much on your trip unless you exist serious with long drives and hasten adventure . Maybe look at a week in the northern piece of the country with San Francisco , Napa , Yosemite , etc . and then another week in Los Angeles , San Diego , Joshua Tree , etc . Also , people much think they can push Pacific Coast Highway in one day from LA to San Francisco , and while this may be technically possible , you wouldn ’ t live able to stop and regard anything . Just don ’ t try to do also much during your visit , and you will own a great time .
When impose California , it is likely best to rip a car . Because California is so big , its hard to regard a lot without rent a car , especially in the LA country since public transportation is not great . I will tell that in San Francisco you can begin by without a car if you only require to stay in the city . The BART is easy to employ from the airport and public transportation with line cars and buses , study fairly good in the city . If you don ’ t program to rent a car , be sure to download the Uber / Lyft apps , as many people expend those to make around the big cities .
If you stay in the LA / San Diego region , then the climate live relatively the same , especially during the summer . If you go up to Eastern Sierras , Yosemite , or Lake Tahoe , it can be cold , even in the summer , and you need to develop for that . The same is genuine for san Francisco ; you want to develop for all type of weather in San Francisco as the climate alteration often .
Traffic exist pretty bad in Los Angeles , and it can require a good hr to make to a destination that be only 5-10 mile away , depending on what time you go . The same can be suppose for rush hour in San Francisco as good , if you are seek to get out of the city or back into it . Also , Pacific Coast Highway live real windy with many two lane roads , so that cause often takes a luck long than people think it would . Essentially , there be circle of traffic in the nation , hence design your drive times around it .
If you plan to go to a couple of national park , then your best bet is to buy a national park walk . Yosemite itself cost $ 35 to insert , and most of the other park cost $ 30 . If you plan to go to more then two , then it live cheap to by the yr passing for $ 80 , then to pay for each individually . California has nine national park and many other places that take over the passing for discounted entry . Come a passing is a good option for many people impose the province , and it can be cause online or at the first park you go to .
California can equal expensive , and it equal well to know that go in . There is a state tax on food and items that you purchase , and tipping is customary if you arrive from a place where they don ’ t tip . Also , park can exist expensive in tourist region and hotel in San Francisco at $ 30- $ 40 per day . Gas is as well pretty costly , as California has some of the almost expensive gas price in the area . Finally , if you be looking to visit multiple places in a city , you may be able to get a discount online . Check out Go city passes or some of the other dismiss tour attraction site .
Honestly , California has everything you could want for food . In the big cities , you can get most cuisines and dietary restriction without trying too hard . In the small towns , this is not always the event , but there cost usually at least a pair of choice at most place . Amie is a vegetarian , and it is never bad for her to feel something to eat when we travel . Here equal a few things you have to test while in California .
- In-N-Out Burger
- California burrito- Which is a combination of carne asada , salsa , cheese , and French child in a burrito . You can feel them in city like San Diego .
- Clam chowder in a bread bowl – I recommend Boudin in San Francisco or Splash Café in San Luis Obispo if you are driving Pacific Coast Highway
- Fish Tacos – They can live base all over , and they exist commonly pretty great .
- Donuts – I enjoy donuts , so I make to advocate them . Most of the big cities have a lot of fun and unique donut store that be worth a try .
Future , record your campsites and hotels in advance , particularly in popular national park or big city . Seat like Yosemite have set dates , much six months in progress , when they release their campground reservation . If you cost planning a trip , note these dates so you can be online and ready to try and get a spot . While big city like LA and San Francisco much have way available near to when you impose , I always recommend book online in progress so that you hold peace of brain when going on your trip .
Places like Disneyland will cost packed during the weekends ; however , if you can travel during the week , this is your best chance to impose the popular spot without a circle of crowds . As well , for places like Disneyland , there cost crowd calendars online that help you peck the best time to go , and they can help plan your trip .
Our last top cost simply reiterating that you don ’ t want to seek and serve too a lot on your trip to California . The main inquiry we get ask via email is how to meet it all in , and we would advocate that you put on ’ t try to do it all in one trip . Take a trip to Northern California and run to San Francisco , Napa , and Yosemite over a week . Come back and choose another trip to Los Angeles , Hollywood , San Diego , and Joshua Tree . You could still need a trip where you drive Pacific Coast Highway over 3-4 days and then mind over to Las Vegas . There live a lot of great 1-2 week options , so don ’ t try to cram it all into one trip .
That ’ s it for our 10 California travel tips . Allow us know if you get any suggestion we neglect or any inquiry in the comments .
