this is the golden state long enchanting artists poets and those with hollywood ambitions there's
a reason why so many people are enchanted by california with some of the most diversity of
any state in the u.s from the beaches of southern california to the redwood forest of the north
prepare for one of the most incredible adventures of your life as a native californian born and
raised i've explored my home state from top to bottom anytime i'm here i just feel good
because this is where i was born and raised but if i only had two weeks this is what i would do
let's assume you're beginning in los angeles honestly i would skip the hollywood walk of
fame and go enjoy the hike to the hollywood sign instead stay in santa monica or venice beach and
check out some of the best sunsets and local culture from the venice boardwalk and mussel
beach and skate park to the cafes and boutiques of abbot kinney this is easily my favorite la
neighborhood for the funkiness factor if you're looking for something with more of an artsy city
vibe check out silver lake full of hipster vibes street art artisanal coffee shops and vegan cafes
from there drive down the pacific coast highway to the beaches of orange county as someone who used
to live in newport beach i can vouch that it's one of the most beautiful that the state has to offer
there's a reason why our sunsets are so famous if you're there during the summer months enjoy
a swim a possible surf and the sunshine keep in mind california water is surprisingly cold for
a lot of folks so our beaches are best enjoyed in the hot summer months prepare for strong undertow
and sometimes big waves also don't forget disneyland is only 15 minutes away in anaheim
is disneyland still worth it if you're not a kid absolutely as someone who has spent her life going
to disneyland many many times over i can tell you it never gets old while in orange county i highly
recommend checking out balboa island in newport or going for a hike in crystal cove state park
if you're looking for more of an artsy vibe check out laguna beach easily one of the most beautiful
beach areas in orange county keep in mind this entire area is super high end so if you're
staying in eating in or shopping in this area be prepared to open your wallet up a little bit more
if you want something with a little bit more variation and casual options from there we'll
head south to san diego stopping in temecula on the way this little pocket of wine country
has some amazing restaurants of course wine tasting and my favorite part is watching
the hot air balloons in the early morning it's pretty cool mom right yeah it sure is
unexpectedly so i booked a room at the carter estate winery for the best view be sure to ask
them to put you in a room on the balloon rise side now let's head to san diego it is so worth a visit
continue south to some of the best weather and honestly best looking people in the country
give surfing or diving a try and eat some of the best mexican food this side of the border
some favorite spots are coronado island checking out a baseball game at the padres stadium enjoying
the beach and party scene of pacific beach or the more laid-back hippie vibe of ocean beach
from there head inland and a bit north to some of the most unique landscape you'll find in the u.s
what is this this girl is a bona fide desert lover from joshua tree to mojave to anza borrego to
death valley she's a beauty these are some of the most unique rock formations and best stargazing on
earth imagine visiting the lowest part of the us the badwater basin in death valley
and then driving over to the alabama hills to look at the tallest peak in the lower 48 all within a
few hours of each other it's pretty incredible and gives you a true sense of the diversity
of california in every direction it's amazing there are also plenty of unique places to stay
in 29 palms just outside of joshua tree this area has some of the most unique airbnbs you'll
find in california from places with rock pools to dream escapes that will take you back to the 70s
it's like a retro dream this has become a haven for unique getaways
this is also one of few places in the world where you can actually see joshua trees it's not a tree
but it is a pretty cool plant that you will not see in very many other places around the world
it only grows in super specific latitudes and elevations mostly within the american southwest
and if you're looking for the hands down best sunrise in the state of california look no
further than fonts point in anza borrego honestly the best sunrise in california you'll need a four
wheel drive vehicle to access this spot but if you can swing it prepare to see the badlands light up
golden with views all the way to the salton sea i also love the sculptures in this area and the fact
that it's a dark sky town which means that you can stargaze without having to head too far out
remember if you want to do the best possible stargazing be sure to do this part of your
trip during a new moon so that you can have the best possible chance of seeing
as many stars as possible although i love this part of the state i don't recommend this for
summer time visits as death valley regularly records the hottest temperatures on earth
but if you're visiting in the fall winter or early spring months absolutely check out the desert too
many people leave it off of their itineraries and it's a shame and of course there's a lot to see in
the middle of the state especially along the coast but if you've only got two weeks let's head north
for some incredible national parks the tallest and biggest trees in the world and of course
san francisco assuming you're beginning the northern part of your journey in sf taking in
all of the different cultures and their cuisines i recommend checking out chinatown eat some amazing
vietnamese food in the tenderloin check out the hippie vibe of the haight ashbury neighborhood
or take in the musical history of the fillmore district if you're looking for a good place
to view the golden gate bridge check out baker beach if you didn't love los angeles take heart
many people vastly prefer the much easier more accessible even european vibe of san francisco
there's better public transportation the architecture is incredibly unique and the history
is wonderful as well next i'd grab a rental car and head to yosemite one of the most popular
national parks in the u.s but for good reason the glacier carved granite valley boasts the tallest
waterfall in the u.s as well as many hiking trails that you can enjoy year-round whether you're
looking for summer time hikes or winter snow yosemite can offer both i personally love hiking
from glacier point to nevada falls an alternative route from the more popular hike from the valley
floor past vernal falls it's not shorter but it's a bit less elevation gain and vertical ascent
although if vertical is what you're looking for try to score a permit to hike half dome for one
of the best views of yosemite this is not for the faint of heart so if you're looking for something
a bit more accessible bridal veil and yosemite falls both have easy hiking trails that can take
you right to some of the best viewing spots you've also got a couple of other national parks in the
area including sequoia and king's canyon this is where you will find the biggest trees in the world
the sequoias not to be confused with the tallest which is the coastal redwood and since you can't
enjoy the sequoias without seeing the tallest tree in the world too i would absolutely work some
time into your itinerary to check out the coastal redwoods you can find some big ones in santa cruz
or heading a bit north to my personal favorite part of the northern california coast mendocino
here you'll find some of the best romantic and cozy bnbs as well as incredible coastal views
whale watching from the bluffs the glass sand beach in fort bragg the opportunity to watch
seals having their pups in the winter and if you get lucky with the weather some of the best
and most beautiful sunsets the west coast has to offer up north of course if you'd really like to
see some of the most impressive redwoods heading north to redwood national park is your best bet
oh my goodness how freaking tall is this this is a full six hour drive from san francisco so you'll
have to make some difficult choices when planning your itinerary but i love the lost coast area of
california for its misty beaches rocky coastline and you'll start to notice that you've left the
crowds behind i love that this area has so much that i've been back at least six or seven times
and if you're a shellfish aficionado like me be sure to try the famous kumamoto oysters from
the humboldt bay oh yeah that said there's much to see if you choose to head south from san francisco
instead perhaps you've heard of monterey and big sur on your way you'll get to enjoy some of the
best parts of the most famous drive in california the pacific coast highway or highway one
be sure to leave plenty of time for all of the roadside pull-offs and views along the way
there's so much to love about big sur as well from the famous waterfall at the julia pfeiffer burns
state park that looks like it can't be real but it is to the purple sand pfeiffer beach with rock
arches and keyholes out at sea cost 12 big ones to come here they do not take national parks or
state park or any kind of pass keep in mind that there's very little accommodation in this part of
the state so be sure to book your stay far ahead of time as you can camping is very popular here
as the weather is fine almost all year round but campgrounds book out quite far ahead of time too
finally i've got to share what's in my own backyard what must be the most beautiful
lake in the world lake tahoe no matter what time of year you come to visit there is something to
enjoy here from skiing in the winter to hiking in the summer and of course enjoying the beautiful
beaches and the caribbean blues of the water popularity has exploded in this area in recent
years so keep in mind that things book out pretty far in advance here too i hope you love and enjoy
the golden state be sure to treat it as you would want your home treated pack out everything that
you pack in enjoy the nature and leave something for the next generation to love and enjoy as well