What’s On Your California Bucket List?
After years of traveling the state, I decided to start this California bucket list of places I’ve been, want to return to, and want to visit for the first time. My ultimate goal is to share my experiences on this website, and to hear about your experiences, too.
This is a work in progress and labor of love. Maybe some of these California experiences will find a place on your California bucket list.
Skip down to: SoCal | Central CA | NorCal | Eastern CA
Have a tip or suggestion for a place I should go and write about next? I’d love to hear from you, so feel free to help this list evolve and grow.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BUCKET LIST
Los Angeles Discount Tickets
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
- LOS ANGELES
- California Science Center
- Descanso Gardens
- Dodger Stadium
- Dorothy Chandler Playhouse
- Exposition Park
- Geffen Playhouse
- Greek Theatre
- Griffith Park Observatory
- Huntington Botanical Gardens
- Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- LA County Arboretum & Botanical Garden
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art
- L.A. Sports: Dodgers, Lakers, and more
- Los Angeles Zoo
- Olvera Street Shops
- Petersen Automotive Museum
- STAPLES Center
- Third Street Promenade
- Venice Beach
- Walt Disney Concert Hall
- ARCADIA
- CATALINA ISLAND
- HOLLYWOOD
- LONG BEACH
- MALIBU
- Malibu Beaches
- Getty Villa
- Lagoon State Park
- Malibu Wine Safari
- SANTA MONICA
Disneyland California
ORANGE COUNTY
- ANAHEIM
- BUENA PARK
- COSTA MESA
- DANA POINT
- NEWPORT BEACH
- Balboa Island
- Whale Watching Cruise
- SANTA ANA
La Jolla Seven Caves
SAN DIEGO COUNTY
- CARLSBAD
- CORONADO
- Hotel Del Coronado
- DEL MAR
- Hot Air Balloon
- Horseback Ride
- ESCONDIDO
- JULIAN:
- Orchards, apple pie
- LA JOLLA
- SAN DIEGO
INLAND EMPIRE
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA BUCKET LIST
Carmel Beach
MONTEREY COUNTY
- BIG SUR
- Bixby Bridge
- Jade Cove
- Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
- McWay Falls
- Nepenthe
- Sand Dollar Beach
- CARMEL
- MONTEREY
- MOSS LANDING
- Paddle Elkhorn Slough
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
- CARPENTERIA
- Beach
- Vintage shops on Lincoln Ave
- SANA BARBARA
- Santa Barbara Vacation
- Jeff Shelton self-guided architecture tour
- Funk Zone
- Bike the Coast
- Go Wine Tasting
- Maritime Museum & MOXI Museum
- Channel Islands National Park
- SOLVANG
- Windmills, Danish pancakes
Madonna Inn San Luis Obispo California
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY
- SAN LUIS OBISPO
- Madonna Inn
- Point San Luis Lighthouse
- Ziplining at Vista Lago Adventure Park
- AVILA BEACH
- Avila Beach Pier
- Central Coast Aquarium
- CAMBRIA
- Moonstone Beach
- Pacific Coast Wine Trail
- Piedras Blancas Light Station
- Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery
- William R. Hearst State Beach
- CAYUCOS
- Historic Pier & Boardwalk
- HARMONY
- Main Street
- Harmony Creamery
- MORRO BAY
- Morro Rock State Beach
- Morro Bay’s Mural Mile
- Morro Bay National Estuary
- PISMO BEACH
- Monarch Butterfly Grove
- Oceano Dunes State Park
- Drive onto Pismo State Beach
- Dinosaur Caves Park
- LODI
- Lodi Wine Tasting Tour
- SAN SIMEON
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA BUCKET LIST
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
- SAN FRANCISCO
- Alcatraz Island
- Aquarium of the Bay
- AT&T Park
- Bay Cruise
- Beach Blanket Babylon
- Botanical Garden
- California Academy of Sciences
- Camera Obscura, Lands End, Cliff House
- Chinatown
- Conservatory of Flowers
- de Young Museum
- Exploratorium
- Fisherman’s Wharf
- Legion of Honor
- Pier 39
- San Francisco Opera
- San Francisco Symphony
- San Francisco Zoo
- Segway Tour
- Seward Slides
- Walt Disney Family Museum
ALAMEDA COUNTY
- ALAMEDA
- BERKELEY
- OAKLAND
Sausalito floating homes
MARIN COUNTY
- MILL VALLEY
- SAUSALITO
NAPA COUNTY
- NAPA
Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay
SAN MATEO COUNTY
- HALF MOON BAY
- Half Moon Bay Kayak
- Horsback ride on HMB Beach
- La Nebbia Winery
- Lemos Farm
- MOSS BEACH / MONTARA
- Montara Mountain
- Seal Cove Bluffs
- Montara Lighthouse
- Moss Beach Distillery
- PACIFICA
- Pacifica State Beach
- Devil’s Slide Trail
- Milagra Ridge, Sweeney Ridge Trails
- PESCADERO
- Ano Nuevo State Reserve
- Bean Hollow State Beach
- Butano State Park
- Costanoa Coastal Lodge
- Harley Farms Goat Dairy
- Pie Ranch
- Pigeon Point Lighthouse & Hostel
- LA HONDA
- Portola Redwoods State Park
- Long Ridge Open Space Preserve
- SAN CARLOS
- SAN MATEO
- WOODSIDE
- Filoli Center
- Alice’s Restaurant
Gilroy Gardens
SANTA CLARA COUNTY
- GILROY
- PALO ALTO
- SAN JOSE
- SANTA CLARA
- SARATOGA
Santa Cruz Beach
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
- APTOS
- Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
- BONNY DOON
- Bonny Doon Winery
- CAPITOLA
- Beach and Esplanade Park
- Zelda’s On The Beach
- DAVENPORT
- Whale City Bakery
- Roadhouse
- Davenport Bluffs
- Panther Beach
- Shark Fin Cove
- Fambrini’s
- Swanton Berry Farm
- SANTA CRUZ
- Santa Cruz Boardwalk
- West Cliff Drive
- Natural Bridges State Beach
- Santa Cruz Wharf
- UC Santa Cruz
- Wilder Ranch
The Sea Ranch, north end of Sonoma County Coast
SONOMA COUNTY
- BODEGA BAY
- whale watching, seafood
- FORT ROSS
- Hike, Wine Taste, State Park
- HEALDSBURG
- JENNER
- Walk in Stillwater Cove
- Goat Rock Beach
- OCCIDENTAL
- Bohemian Highway Scenic Drive
- Howard Station Cafe
- SONOMA
- PETALUMA
- THE SEA RANCH
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST BUCKET LIST
Mendocino from the headlands
MENDOCINO COUNTY
- ALBION
- BOONVILLE
- Buckhorn Boonville
- Farmhouse Mercantile
- FORT BRAGG
- GUALALA
- Gualala Point Regional Park
- Gualala River kayaking
- Walk the Coastal Bluffs
- Pygmy Forest
- MENDOCINO
- POINT ARENA
EASTERN CALIFORNIA BUCKET LIST
Palm Springs Burgess House by Albert Frey
DESERTS
- PALM SPRINGS
- NATIONAL PARKS
- Death Valley National Park
- Joshua Tree National Park
- Anza Borrego Desert State Park
GOLD COUNTRY
- VALLECITO
- Moaning Cavern
- CALAVERAS
- Angels Camp
- COLUMBIA
- Columbia State Historic Park
- GRASS VALLEY
- Empire Mine State Historic Park
The drive to Lake Tahoe
SIERRAS
El Dorado County
- LAKE TAHOE
- Yosemite National Park
- Sequoia National Park
- Kings Canyon National Park
- Mammoth Lakes
Madera County
- Devils Postpile National Monument
Mono County
- Bodie
- Mammoth Lakes
- Mono Lake
- Tioga Pass
SHASTA CASCADE
- Lassen Volcanic National Park