A dummy’s guide to vacation: California

There’s no getting around it. California is the place to vacation. There are plenty of fun things to do in Cali, but some activities are more obscure than others. 

I can’t mention California without talking about the happiest place on earth, Disneyland. If you haven’t been, where have you been? Disneyland just completed StarWars land, and though their prices went up they aren’t too crazy. A 5-day hopper ticket is $415, a 3-day hopper is $365 and a 1-day hopper is $194. Disneyland hopper passes allow you to go into the California Adventure park and Disneyland on the same day, filling your time with roller coasters, rich and delicious food, excellent shows and most importantly, magic!

There are several cities in California that can help you unwind. Specifically, San Francisco. There’s nothing like seeing the Golden Gate Bridge in person. You can walk across the 1.7 mile-long bridge at no charge or even drive up to the Golden Gate Overlook for a perfect view. San Francisco wouldn’t be complete without Pier 39, either. The food options here are diverse: anything from fresh fish to fresh donuts. Near the pier is the Boudin Sourdough Bakery and Cafe is the best smelling thing in San Francisco. Bread sculptures can be seen through the bakery windows and throughout the cafe depicting crab, fish and even crocodiles! The bread making process is also on full display through the windows with the smell of baking sourdough wafting through the air. The cafe has so many tasty options and is always filled with people. Finally, you can’t go to San Francisco without getting some really good chocolate. The place to get that is Ghirardelli’s in the renowned Ghirardelli Square. Upon entering Ghirardelli’s, you are greeted with a free square of chocolate and welcomed into a space with thousands of chocolate squares, all differing in texture and taste. Ghirardelli Square is also home to a winery and cheese/bake shops. Needless to say, San Francisco is a city for foodies.

Los Angeles is also a great place to vacation. Hollywood boulevard provides a walk you won’t forget. Let’s not forget that Hollywood is home to the Universal Studios amusement park. Universal Studios is home to Harry Potter World, where you can get butterbeer and chocolate frogs. The Universal Studios tour is a great option for film lovers, providing cool inside looks into film production. Los Angeles is anything but boring. 

While I could never possibly list all the things you could do in California, I can list some honorable mentions that aren’t necessarily in Anaheim, San Francisco or LA. First up is Amy’s Drive-Thru in Rohnert Park. Amy’s is plant-based, gluten-free and dairy-free, so no matter what your dietary restrictions are they will provide delicious food for you.

The second honorable mention goes to Knotts Berry Farm. This amusement park has some of the wildest roller coasters and some amazing pies and jams. Knotts Berry Farm is also cheaper than Disneyland; prices are around $60 for a day pass. 

Finally, the last honorable mention goes to the beaches of California. Being on the coast is one of the greatest feelings in the world. Relaxing on California beaches is a great way to unwind.