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California Bucket List: Best Things to do in CA by Region

California Bucket List

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 downtown

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
  • CATALINA ISLAND
    • Catalina Island Ferry (for less)
    • Catalina Island Undersea Expedition
    • Catalina Ocean Runner Adventure
    • Catalina Island Zipline Tour
  • HOLLYWOOD
    • El Capitan Theater (3D Disney)
    • The Hollywood Bowl
    • Hollywood Pantages Theater
    • Universal Studios Hollywood
  • LONG BEACH
    • Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach
    • The Queen Mary
  • MALIBU
    • Malibu Beaches
    • Getty Villa
    • Lagoon State Park
    • Malibu Wine Safari
  • SANTA MONICA
    • Pacific Park
    • Santa Monica Pier
California Theme Park Discount Tickets

Disneyland California

ORANGE COUNTY

  • ANAHEIM
    • Disneyland California
    • Disney’s California America
  • BUENA PARK
    • Knott’s Berry Farm
    • Pirate’s Dinner Adventure
    • Medieval Times
  • COSTA MESA
    • Segerstrom Center for the Arts
  • DANA POINT
    • Bay Cruise
  • NEWPORT BEACH
    • Balboa Island
    • Whale Watching Cruise
  • SANTA ANA
    • Bowers Museum
    • Discovery Science Center
La Jolla 7 Caves Tour Kayak

La Jolla Seven Caves

SAN DIEGO COUNTY

  • CARLSBAD
    • Legoland California
  • CORONADO
    • Hotel Del Coronado
  • DEL MAR
    • Hot Air Balloon
    • Horseback Ride
  • ESCONDIDO
    • San Diego Zoo Safari Park
  • JULIAN:
    • Orchards, apple pie
  • LA JOLLA
    • Kayak the 7 Caves
    • Birch Aquarium at Scripps
  • SAN DIEGO
    • Balboa Park
    • Bay Cruise
    • Belmont Park
    • Navy Pier
    • San Diego Zoo
    • USS Midway Museum
    • Speed Boat Adventure Tour

INLAND EMPIRE

  • BIG BEAR LAKE
    • Alpine Getaway
  • LAKE ARROWHEAD
    • Alpine Getaway
  • ROUTE 66
    • Iconic Road Trip

CENTRAL CALIFORNIA BUCKET LIST

Carmel California Day Trip

Carmel Beach

MONTEREY COUNTY

  • BIG SUR
    • Bixby Bridge
    • Jade Cove
    • Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
    • McWay Falls
    • Nepenthe
    • Sand Dollar Beach
  • CARMEL
    • Carmel Scenic Road through Fairy Tale Cottages
    • Sunset on Carmel Beach
    • Carmel Food Tour
    • Carmel Mission
    • Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
  • MONTEREY
    • Monterey Bay Aquarium
    • Old Fisherman’s Wharf
    • Cannery Row
    • 17-Mile Drive
    • Picnic in Veteran’s Memorial Park
  • MOSS LANDING
    • Paddle Elkhorn Slough

Hotel Indigo Santa Barbara cruisers

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY

  • CARPINTERIA
    • Carpinteria State 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

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
    • Hearst Castle Tour

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA BUCKET LIST

Golden Gate Bridge Fort Baker view

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA

  • SAN FRANCISCO
    • Alcatraz Island
    • Aquarium of the Bay
    • AT&T Park
    • Bay Cruise
    • 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
    • Seward Slides
    • Walt Disney Family Museum

ALAMEDA COUNTY

  • ALAMEDA
    • USS Hornet Museum
  • BERKELEY
    • Berkeley Art Museum
    • University of California Botanical Garden
  • OAKLAND
    • Chabot Space and Science Center
    • Oakland Museum of California
    • Oakland Zoo
Sausalito floating homes

Sausalito floating homes

MARIN COUNTY

  • MILL VALLEY
    • Muir Woods (old growth Redwoods)
  • SAUSALITO
    • Bay Area Discovery Museum
    • Marine Mammal Center

NAPA COUNTY

  • NAPA
    • Lots and Lots of Wine Tasting
    • Napa Valley Picnic
    • Bike Tour through Vineyards
    • Hot Air Balloon over Wine Country
Pillar Point Harbor HMB

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
    • Hiller Aviation Museum
  • SAN MATEO
    • CuriOdyssey
  • WOODSIDE
    • Filoli Center
    • Alice’s Restaurant
Gilroy Gardens Discount Tickets

Gilroy Gardens

SANTA CLARA COUNTY

  • GILROY
    • Gilroy Gardens
  • PALO ALTO
    • Museum of American Heritage
  • SAN JOSE
    • Tech Museum of Innovation
    • San Jose Museum of Art
    • Winchester Mystery House
  • SANTA CLARA
    • California’s Great America
  • SARATOGA
    • Montalvo Arts Center

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
Sea Ranch California Vacatrion

The Sea Ranch, north end of Sonoma County Coast

SONOMA COUNTY

  • BODEGA BAY
    • whale watching, seafood
  • FORT ROSS
    • Hike, Wine Taste, State Park
  • HEALDSBURG
    • Paddle the Russian River
  • JENNER
    • Walk in Stillwater Cove
    • Goat Rock Beach
  • OCCIDENTAL
    • Bohemian Highway Scenic Drive
    • Howard Station Cafe
  • SONOMA
    • Hot Air Balloon over Wine Country
  • PETALUMA
    • Butter & Egg Day Parade & Festival
  • THE SEA RANCH
    • Seek Serenity by the Sea

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST BUCKET LIST

Mendocino from the headlands

Mendocino from the headlands

MENDOCINO COUNTY

  • ALBION
  • BOONVILLE
    • Buckhorn Boonville
    • Farmhouse Mercantile
  • FORT BRAGG
    • Coastal Escape
    • Botanical Garden
    • Glass Beach
  • GUALALA
    • Gualala Point Regional Park
    • Gualala River kayaking
    • Walk the Coastal Bluffs
    • Pygmy Forest
  • MENDOCINO
    • Big River Estuary
    • Paddle an Outrigger
    • Bicycle Big River Headlands State Park
    • Hike Redwood National Park
    • Russian Gulch State Park Waterfall Hike
  • POINT ARENA
    • Point Arena Lighthouse

Humboldt County

  • Avenue of the Giants Road Trip, State Route 254
  • Humboldt Redwoods State Park

EASTERN CALIFORNIA BUCKET LIST

Palm Springs Burgess House by Albert Frey

Palm Springs Burgess House by Albert Frey

DESERTS

  • PALM SPRINGS
    • Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
    • Wet ‘N Wild Waterpark
    • Movie Star Homes Tour
    • Palm Springs Air Museum
    • Jeep and/or Biplane Tour
  • 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
Drive to Lake Tahoe

The drive to Lake Tahoe

SIERRAS

El Dorado County

  • LAKE TAHOE
    • Ski Lake Tahoe
    • Take a Sleigh Ride
    • Tram to High Camp
    • Gondola at Heavenly
    • Hike/Bike Emerald Bay State Park
    • Go Ice Skating
  • 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

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