Experience the Golden State's top adventures and hidden gems with our list of the best things to do in California
With perfect weather, trendsetting culture and restaurants and a gorgeous landscape that just won’t quit, California doesn’t lack for fun diversions. It’s not just the San Andreas Fault that’s shaking things up. The Golden State has generated innumerable cultural shifts, from the Gold Rush to gangsta rap. Plus, its diversity of landscapes—from beaches to mountains, vineyards to deserts—allow the ambitious pull off a surf and ski session in the same day.
Below, we’ve gathered the destinations and activities that capture the best of California in all its iterations—past and present, highbrow and kitschy—from sipping tiki drinks at Disneyland to exploring a redwood forest featured in Star Wars. As Tupac and Dr. Dre proclaimed, it’s all good from Diego to the Bay, because California knows how to party.
The Broad
Where: Los Angeles
If you think trendy social media phenomena such as sprinkle tubs have bested traditional art museums, you haven’t been to the Broad in Downtown LA. The admission-free venue sports an eye-candy building designed by the starchitect firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro, and a treasure trove of contemporary art from household names such as Cindy Sherman, Jeff Koons, and Jean-Michel Basquiat. The museum also features some primo Instagram opportunities including a Star Trek-worthy elevator, Robert Therrien’s giant dining room table, and Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Mirror Room.
Early Bird
Where: Willow Creek
That famous image of Bigfoot—mid stride, tossing a casual glance over his (her?) shoulder—is taken from an infamous 1967 home movie shot near Willow Creek, California. Today, the Humboldt County town teems with Sasquatch-fueled tourism including a dedicated museum, parade, and the must-try Bigfoot Burger at Early Bird restaurant. The hulking sandwich features a gargantuan, foot-shaped bun stuffed with two cheese-topped patties, bacon and all the fixings. If you manage to get back on your own feet after devouring one, you can search for the big guy yourself in the nearby forest.
Golden Gate Bridge
Where: San Francisco
On a nice day, there’s no better way to experience San Francisco than on this scenic bike-and-ferry journey, beginning in Fisherman’s Wharf—where you can easily find rental bikes and directions—and leading past SF’s big-ticket attractions including the Palace of Fine Arts, Crissy Field, and Alcatraz. After cycling across the famed bridge—245 feet above the chilly waters below—you’ll soon arrive in the cutesy, sunny town of Sausalito where you can board a ferry, crack open a beer on the bay and arrive back via the Ferry Building where some of the city’s best eats await.
Palm Springs’ Mid-Century Modern architecture
Where: Palm Springs
California is home to the largest collection of mid-century modern architecture in the world, and Palm Springs is its epicenter. During the 1940s and ‘50s, architects such as Richard Neutra, John Lautner, and Albert Frey used the desert as a blank canvas for their sleek, low-slung pads. To seek out Palm Springs’ mid-century classics, download the Palm Springs Modern Committee’s app, or pop into the Palm Springs Official Visitor Center—housed in a striking former Tramway Gas Station designed by Albert Frey and Robson Chambers—where you can pick up a map to the city’s mid-century landmarks.
Disneyland’s Enchanted Tiki Bar
Where: Anaheim
If all tiki bars flaunt a little Disney, then you know Disneyland’s tiki bar is something special. Hidden behind the Disneyland Hotel—and free to the public—Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar is a cozy tropical den packed with fun details including an erupting volcano, blinking tiki masks and shrunken head mugs filled with potent grogs. Order the Shipwreck cocktail and you’ll cause a bar-top, model schooner to sink amidst a dramatic blast of thunder and lightning.
Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Where: Los Angeles
Skip the lackluster stars of the Hollywood Walk of Fame and head straight to the source. At the final resting place of Hollywood’s finest, you can mingle with celebs such as Cecil B. DeMille, Jayne Mansfield, and Johnny Ramone. Don’t miss the summertime movie series from Cinespia which screens classic films such as Casablanca and Raiders of the Lost Ark on lawns below—and above—the stars.
Yosemite’s Half Dome
Where: Yosemite National Park
To complete this 10-12 hour, bucket list trek, you’ll need to rise before the sun, invest in real hiking boots (that old pair of tennies isn’t going to cut it), and conquer any fear of heights. Yet, nothing cements your Cali cred like a photo of you standing 4,737 feet above the valley floor, without any guardrails but with plenty of butterflies in your stomach.
San Francisco’s Chinatown
Where: San Francisco
Lantern-strung streets, secret alleyways, and chinoiserie-embellished buildings are all worthy hallmarks of San Francisco’s historic Chinatown. Yet, the real draw is the food. Where to begin? Here’s a quick cheat sheet to the neighborhood’s prized edibles: dim sum dumplings at Good Mong Kok Bakery, exotic fruit smoothies at Juicy Fruit, poke bowls at Katsu House, Asian-influenced scotch cocktails at Cold Drinks, and Michelin-starred dishes at Mister Jiu’s.
Burney Falls
Where: Shasta County
Hidden in the Northern California forests of Shasta County, Burney Falls is likely the most impressive waterfall in the state. At 129-feet, it’s neither the highest nor largest, but its massive wall of cascading streams—primarily spring-fed which guarantees year-round splendor—will leave you gobsmacked. It also makes for a hell of selfie backdrop. Post a photo, and friends will think you’ve just returned from somewhere deep within a South American jungle.
Hearst Castle
Where: San Simeon
Visiting the opulent home of a wealthy, loudmouth businessman-turned-politician who bullied people and filled newspapers with falsehoods may not sound appealing these days, yet it’s the dazzling architecture of Julia Morgan—the first licensed female architect in California—that still draws us to the former hilltop estate of William Randolph Hearst. A series of daily tours cover different areas of the extravagant mansion, with specialized tours such as the Upstairs Suites and Cottages lending a more intimate experience. Note that all guests can visit the visually stunning Roman Pool—sheathed in vivid tile and ringed by Roman deities—which is worth the price of admission alone.