Things to Do in California
By Betsy Malloy, About.com Guides to California Travel
Read about things to do in California, from the best-rated and most popular to the hidden gems and things worth planning ahead for.
- Readers' Top-Rated Things to Do in California
- Top Things to Do in California by Place
- More Things to Do in California by Place
- Best Beaches
- Indulge Your Personal Interests
- Worth Planning Ahead For
- Fabulous Places Off the Beaten Path
- Sex and Nudism
Readers' Top-Rated Things to Do in California
Don't take our word for it. Thousands of readers have voted in our polls, rating these things to do in California for you, on a scale from "Just say no" to "Awesome." Every place on this list gets well over half of its votes as "good" or "awesome." They're listed from the highest-rated down.
- Magic Mountain
- Disneyland
- Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Hollywood Bowl
- Sunset Strip
- Winchester Mystery House
- Getty Museum
- Warner Bros. Studio Tour
- Golden Gate Bridge
- Union Square San Francisco
- San Diego Zoo
- Coit Tower
- Chinatown San Francisco
- Rodeo Drive
Top Things to Do in California by Place
If you want to know what we think the best things to do in California, take a look at these lists of top things to do in San Francisco, Los Angeles and a lot of other places.
More Things to Do in California by Place
Maybe you've been to California before or live here. Maybe you're a contrarian vacationer who'd rather see things others miss. Or maybe you're looking for a specific place to see or thing to do in California. No matter what your motivation, there are plenty of things to see and do no matter where you go. Check out these indexes to find some places we might not have mentioned.
- California Beaches
- California Coast
- Disneyland
- Hollywood
- Lake Tahoe
- Los Angeles
- Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur
- Napa Valley Wine Country
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- Sonoma County Wine Country
- Yosemite National Park
- More California Places
Best Beaches
California is famous for its beaches, but they're not all like the ones you see on television. Use these guides to find the best places to surf, stroll, play and stay, no matter where you go.
- Los Angeles' Best Beaches
- Mendocino's Best Beaches
- Orange County's Best Beaches
- San Diego's Best Beaches
- San Francisco's Best Beaches
- Santa Barbara's Best Beaches
- Santa Cruz's Best Beaches
- More California Beaches
Indulge Your Personal Interests
No matter what your passion, you'll find a way to indulge it in California.
- Active Travelers
- California Classics
- California and the Old West
- City Lovers
- Culture Lovers
- Factory Tours
- Film Fans
- Food and Wine Lovers
- Ghosts' Favorite Haunts
- High-Tech Troppers
- Kids and the Young at Heart
- Lighthouses
- Nature Lovers
- Spas, Resorts, Romantic Getaways
Worth Planning Ahead For
These annual events require advance planning for a good reason. They sell out early, but they're all fantastic things to do and well worth the trouble.
- Bracebridge Dinner, Yosemite
- Christmas in Orange County
- Hollywood Bowl
- Pageant of the Masters, Laguna Beach
Fabulous Places Off the Beaten Path
Frankly, we're baffled about why so few people visit these places, and we're amibavelent about telling you about them. We like them a lot, but we secretly hope that you'll stay away so we can have them to ourselves.
- Balboa Island, Newport Beach
- Cayucos
- Occidental
- Scenic Highway 395
- Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Sex and Nudism
Whether you want to practice a naturist lifestyle, visit a nude beach or avoid it altogether, these resources tell you where to find it.
