All the things I love start with the letter 'C': Cats, Cars, Coffee, Crypto, Creating Content, and California. California is often referred to as the Golden State because it is a treasure trove of diverse landscapes, vibrant cities, and iconic attractions.
Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, California offers an unparalleled mix of experiences that cater to every taste and interest. The best part is that you can find every type of weather in California, with mostly clear sunny skies.
For first-time travelers, planning a trip to California can be very overwhelming with the time zone difference, multiple cities, various landscapes, and the cost of visitation. So, I decided to put together an ultimate travel guide to make the most out of a trip to this beautiful state.
The Northern and Southern California
The very first step in planning your trip is to decide whether you want to cover the northern or the southern part of the state. The state is enormous, so unless you are planning a three-week trip, you need to decide the essence and goal of your trip.
What Northern California Offers:
Northern California offers national parks, ski resorts, camping getaways, mountains, colder beaches, and a somewhat laid-back lifestyle.
Famous Northern California Cities/Places:
Silicon Valley
San Francisco
Sacramento
San Jose
Yosemite
Big Sur
Lake Tahoe
What Southern California Offers: If you are looking for flashy vibes, exotic cars, warmer weather, celebrities, and fancy houses, Southern California should be your pick.
Famous Southern California Cities/Places:
Los Angeles
San Diego
Orange County
Anaheim
Santa Barbara
What's Next?
Once you have chosen which part of the state to cover, it’s time to create your travel itinerary.
Factor in California traffic time.
Pack according to your itinerary.
Avoid packing a big bag; a small carry-on would make your life easier.
Rent your car ahead of time.
Plan your transportation from the airport to your hotel.
Book your tickets ahead of time. The cheapest I have flown from Atlanta to San Francisco was for $300 with Delta (red-eyes are usually cheaper).
Book your hotels or Airbnbs (read reviews).
Plan your budget (gas is expensive in California, in some remote places even $10/gallon, so be on the lookout).
My Recommendations
Don't try to cover the entire state in one or even two trips. Space it out so you can have multiple reasons to go back and enjoy the California vibe. Here are some of my favorite pictures:
In Conclusion
While I'm a frequent traveler to California, most of my picks and recommendations are from Northern California because there is so much nature to explore there. Southern California mostly feels like city life for rich people with extremely overpriced things. I have made a road trip in Northern California, and you have to take the scenic views, which means Highway One. You will truly thank me later for this tip.
I'm still overdue for a road trip to Southern California, but who knows, maybe that's what's cooking next 👀. If you have taken anything from this blog and found it helpful, be sure to share it with your friends and family.
Until next time, Peace 🌅
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