~ Top 10 Places not to miss in California, USA ~

[MysteRy]

Top 10 Places not to miss in California, USA

California, the home of Hollywood, wine and scenes straight from Bay Watch and that is literally as the set was on a California beach. The state has it all in actuality and some of the biggest, well-known and influential people live in the state. There are many sights to see in the state and tons of the best beaches in all the United States. Throughout the course of American history California has become the top state on the west coast in terms of work, partying, beauty and style. The destinations and sites in this top 10 list are some of the best places to see while in California and some of them are very popular with everyone some you have heard such as Hollywood and some may be new to even those living in the state.


1. Big Sur   



Big Sur, California is a place in California that is not very populated and this is one of its great aspects, aside from the miraculous lands that are found in Big Sur. The lands of the small city bring in many of the tourists that come every year; you can find mountainous regions, cliffs on the ocean edge and even some wilderness areas that are national reserves. One of the early attractions that helped draw in tourism and even the 1,000 person population is the Bixby Creek Bridge. The bridge was actually built back in the early 1930s. The bridge opened the doors for travel during the winter as the early inhabitants were virtually cut off from the world in the winter months. Before the bridge the only road was an 11 mile road that has some dangerous downhill twists and turns. Today the area is home to many historic sites that are worth visiting.

[MysteRy]

2. Hollywood, Los Angeles   



Now we get to a district in Los Angeles, California that almost everyone in the world knows or at least they should know about it if they have seen any American movie production as Hollywood is the magical place where many of the biggest movie hits are produced and shot on the green screen. The film industry that used to only be positioned in Hollywood has now spread out more into the surrounding regions but much of the editing and some of the other major effects still take place in the famous district. The world Hollywood due to its world fame is now synonymous with the American movie productions throughout the world. The district is the historical place of the film industry of the United States. There are many things to do in the state such as driving around to see all the celebrity homes, movie sets, the banging nightlife and a great selection of some of the most famous restaurants in the state.

[MysteRy]

3. Yosemite National Park   



Covering 761,000 acres of central California lands the Yosemite National Park has some of the regions most beautiful lands and it is one of Californias well recognized parks, if not the most well-known park in the state. Yosemite is located in the Sierra Nevada and it is one of the most unspoiled expanses of land in the state. The glacially carved valleys of Yosemite are some of the most unique in the world and the granite bedrock that was ripped apart by the ancient glaciers is where this is seen the most clearly defined. The park is very significant looking at it from a historical stand point as there are over 1,000 archeological sites that have been recorded by visitors and park staff alike. Due to the massive amount of land that the park covers it is likely there are still many more sites to be discovered. Yosemite is one of the best places to go in the United States to see some really exceptional natural beauty.

[MysteRy]

4. Napa Valley   



Attracting more than 5 million visitors a year Napa Valley in California is one of the states biggest attractions and it is mainly due to its world recognition as one of the best wine destinations found in the western hemisphere. Aside from being one of the top wine producing destinations it is also a place where visitors can easily find many gourmet restaurants, high end cafes and a great selection of all inclusive spa treatment facilities. The busiest months of the season are, of course the summer months and the months of September and October. September and October are the wine harvest "crush” festival, during this time is when the freshest wines can be sampled and purchased. Napa Valley is home to more than 200 wineries and they range from small mom and pop producers to giant corporations. Everyone wine lover will find their favorite blend after visiting the Valley.

[MysteRy]

5. Old Town San Diego   



Old town San Diego is an area in the famous county that encompasses 230 historical acres of the county and it is one of the best places to go and take in all the history of San Diego, California. The area was the first place in California that was settled by Europeans and it is the oldest area in San Diego. The town even though not modernized as far as new development in order to keep its historic presence intact, has more than 32 restaurants, only around 9 hotels and a vast amount of unique specialty shops to visit. There are also many options to make your stay in some of the holiday homes of the town; this is one of the best ways to make a stay in the area. The Mexican heritage of the town has been pretty well preserved and many Mexican festivals that take place in the town such as the Cinco de Mayo Festival that takes place in Old Town San Diego every year. The festival attracts those from all over San Diego as it is the biggest Cinco de Mayo festival in San Diego.

[MysteRy]

6. Downtown Los Angeles   



The place where many of the movie celebrities roam is in Downtown Los Angeles and there is more than one reason why the rich and famous of California spend their time in this area. Downtown Los Angeles is the hub of the city and is the home to Los Angeles financial center. It is also home to much of the citys fine dining and the best shopping in the city having many shops designer shops like Gucci, Prada, Burberry, Tiffany among the many other top names in fashion. The city doesnt slack on fitness either as visitors will find great fitness centers spread throughout the city. When it comes to accommodation in the downtown area of Los Angeles there is always great selection of skyscraper condominiums with an excellent view of the city that comes alive at night with bright colorful lights. For those who enjoy nightlife Downtown Los Angeles is a good place to experience the cultural ambiance of California.

[MysteRy]

7. Lassen Volcanic National Park   



Right in California is the worlds biggest dome volcano, it is found in the Lassen Volcanic National Park. The area was designated a national park by Theodore Roosevelt in 1907 and it started out as two national monuments but it is now just known as Lassen Volcanic National Park. The volcanic lands of Lassen are the most unique in the world as they include some of the rarest volcanic activity in the world and it can all be found within the park. There are four types of volcanoes found in the park strato, cinder, plug dome and shield. The park is one of the only places you can find these four types of volcanoes in one place. The last eruption of the volcano is thought to be relatively recent occurring about 350 years ago somewhere between 1630 and 1670. It is a wonderful place to go and see the unique volcanic nature of the world.

[MysteRy]

8. Balboa Park, San Diego   



Balboa Park is different from the average park as it is a urban culture park and the area that houses the park has been preserved since 1835 making it one of the oldest lands that were preserved for public recreational activities. Inside the park visitors will find restaurants, wide open area to relax, museums, shops and even the San Diego Zoo. Aside from those things there are also many cultural activities to take part in and there is something for people of all ages to enjoy. The giant San Diego zoo is probably the biggest attraction for many as they spend some time in Balboa Park because it has over 4,000 animals on its 100 acres of Balboa Park. The San Diego Zoo holds the largest number of koalas outside of the country of Australia and holds the worlds only Albino Koala that has been born while captivity as well.

[MysteRy]

9. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk   



One of the rare seaside amusement parks that can be found on the west coast is the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, it is also one of the oldest "still operating” in California too. The boardwalk is actually set alongside the Monterey Bay of Santa Cruz, California. Some of the attractions include old style booth based games and the ever classic carnival games like trying to make a ring around the neck of a bottle. The best part about the park is that admission is always free into the park although there is a small fee charged for parking but only when the rides are active, which the park has around thirty rides. Visitors will find roller coasters are included in the thirty rides as well. There are many more aspects to the boardwalk such as restaurants, theaters and even a banquet hall for conferences. No matter what brings you to the boardwalk, you will have fun.

[MysteRy]

10. Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco   



One of the most recognized landmarks in the state of California is by far the Golden Gate Bridge, not just because it has been featured in so many films but mainly because of its infamous size and structure. The giant suspension bridge is thought to be a modern wonder of the world especially by the civil engineering societies out there in the world today and it is the symbol of San Francisco. The iconic bridge can be recognized by almost anyone in the United States and this is because it has been in the spotlight since the completion of its construction in 1937. Every single one of the cables that suspend the massive span of bridge is composed of 27,572 strands of wire and in total there is over 80,000 miles of wire found on the bridge, quite amazing. It is something you shouldnt miss while you are in California.


Plan a trip to see all these wonderful places in California and you wont be disappointed with your vacation time spent in the state. There are many more great places to see as well so you may not make it to them all especially if you get caught up in the relaxing environment of Napa Valley or the intrigue that is found in Alcatraz. These ten places are great to visit though while you are California and the cities that some of these parks and national monuments are found just add to the experience. The state has many things to do for people of all ages and these ten places are great for all ages to have fun at especially the boardwalk in Santa Cruz and the San Diego Zoo.