15 Weird Places to Visit in California (2023)

FAQs

What should you not miss when visiting California? ›

1: Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is one of the top attractions in California. This gorgeous wilderness rests along the Sierra Nevada mountains. Its granite cliffs and waterfalls are the kind of beauty that only exists along America's West Coast: immense, majestic, and breathtaking.

One large category of prohibited items might surprise you, and that's all citrus plants. California is particularly serious about barring all of it, including loose pieces of citrus fruit, from being brought into the state.

Atherton. Located 45 minutes south of San Francisco and 20 minutes away from Silicon Valley, Atherton is an incorporated town in San Mateo County. Not only is Atherton is the most expensive town in California, but it also holds the title of most expensive in the United States.

La Jolla, CA

One of the most upscale yet charming villages filled with galleries, shops and cafes along the Pacific Coast is located in San Diego County.

Using existing weather data, Bodie is officially the coldest spot in California, but colder temperatures do occur on the highest peaks of the Sierra Nevada and White mountains.

No surprise here: Los Angeles is the ultimate star-studded destination for global travelers. There is almost too much to do in the vast Southern California city.

Why is citrus not allowed in California? ›

A fatal plant disease called Huanglongbing (HLB) is threatening backyard citrus trees throughout California. HLB can be spread by a dangerous pest called the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) as it feeds on the leaves of citrus trees.

The common feature of the enumerated products or services is that they are illegal to actually sell to minors in California, such as tobacco, alcohol, firearms, fireworks, spray paint, lottery tickets, tattoos, or (so appropriately Californian) tanning bed services or tanning devices.

Well, you can buy ammunition out of state, but to bring it into California, you first have to ship it to a licensed California ammunition vendor so they can perform a background check and hand your ammo back to you. The law does not limit the fee the vendor can charge for this service.

Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California is where the Disney dream began in 1955 and it's still the 'Happiest Place on Earth', never failing to impress with fun attractions for every member of the family.

Celebrities can be found in all kinds of places in the US and abroad, but the highest concentration of famous people is still in Hollywood Hills.

The Black community is prevalent in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, and Solano Counties in the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento County, and San Joaquin County.

Much of that wealth is concentrated in the San Francisco Bay Area, where 116 of the state's billionaires reside. That includes the state's richest residents: Google cofounders Larry Page and Sergey Brin.

Where is the cheapest but safest place to live in California? ›

Sacramento: one of the safest places to live in California

As the state capital city, Sacramento is also surprisingly one of the cheapest places to live in California. Downtown Sacramento is not that cheap, however, there are lots of smaller surrounding suburbs that have affordable rent and real estate prices.

Nimes Road, CA: $11.445 Million Median Home Value

One of the borders of the original Bel Air Estates, Nimes road is located north of Sunset Boulevard and has a median home value of $11.445 million.

What city in California has the most millionaires? With a total of 255,600 individuals with a net worth of at least $1 million, Los Angeles has the highest number of millionaires in California.

San Francisco is the most hippy town in California, nay all of the United States.

Coronado Beach is also the safest beach in California for swimming. Towards the shore, the waves are very gentle, the waters are usually calm and clear that you can easily see what you're stepping on. It also features numerous lifeguard stations, making the area safer.

Old Town San Diego is the city's oldest settled area and the site of the first European settlement in California. Founded in 1769, it's considered the birthplace of modern-day California and includes many well-preserved historic buildings and museums.

Venice, California

The Venice Canal Historic District was built in 1905 by developer Abbot Kinney who wanted to recreate the look and feel of Venice, Italy. Another set of canals were built south of the original canals and they were known as the New Amsterdam Canals.

Only one California city ranked among the list of top 25 cities with the least amount of particle pollution: Salinas in Monterey County. The ten U.S. cities with the cleanest air, free of particle pollution are: Urban Honolulu, Hawaii.

Kirkwood - Snow Score - 82.7

For this reason, Kirkwood should be recognized as the undisputed king of snow within the state of California. Kirkwood is part of the Tahoe region, but it's well south of Lake Tahoe itself, making it a bit harder to get to compared with ski resorts closer to the Lake and I-80.

What is the snowiest place in California? ›

Tamarack also holds the record for greatest seasonal snowfall in California: during the winter of 1906−1907, it received 883 or 884 inches (22,400 or 22,500 mm) of snow.

Sacramento, California

Freezing temps are rare in Sacramento, and the city averages 0 inches of snow per year.

High season is considered to be June and July. The cheapest month to fly to California is January.

Best Time to Visit California for Cheap

Crowds and prices drop for a cheaper California vacation on the coast and in the mountains in the shoulder season (April – May, and mid-September – October). Along the coast, rates drop even further in the winter season from November to March.

In total, expect your average California trip cost to be about $95-155 per person per day if you want to visit on a budget. While there are certainly ways that you can cut down on costs and not spend that much, this is the budget to stick to if you want to cut costs in some ways and splurge in others.

Fresh seafood, stunning coastal views, and a natural regulator for a mild climate. Having the Pacific as your neighbor has endless benefits. It isn't until you leave the coast and are in a landlocked state that you realize how much you miss the salty ocean breeze and being able to drive down the PCH at sunset.

How Many Days You Should Spend in California? Five days in California is enough to see major attractions in San Francisco and Los Angeles. We recommend spending at least ten days in the state, as you can visit additional places like Big Sur and Lake Tahoe, as well as major national parks like Yosemite.

So layers are the key to dressing for California's climate. It can be cool in the morning and hot in the afternoon or vice versa. So start with something thin, like a t-shirt. Then add a button-up shirt or sweater.

What should I be careful of in LA? ›

There's a good chance that if you ignore your surroundings, you'll fall victim to common crimes in L.A. Los Angeles is generally a safe city. You should stay alert when visiting crowded tourist attractions, landmarks, beaches, and parks. There are areas full of pickpockets and scammers.

Vibrant cities, beaches, amusement parks, and natural wonders like nowhere else on Earth make California an intriguing land of possibilities for travel. The gateway cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles are home to some of the state's most well-known sites, from the Golden Gate Bridge to Hollywood and Disneyland.

The best time to visit California is summertime from June to August. This is the peak tourism season for the state for good reason. Every part of the state is accessible, making hikes and outdoor adventures in the northern regions possible with mild, comfortable temperatures.

California produces almost all of the country's almonds, apricots, dates, figs, kiwi fruit, nectarines, olives, pistachios, prunes, and walnuts. It leads in the production of avocados, grapes, lemons, melons, peaches, plums, and strawberries.