San Francisco, one of America's most beautiful cities, should be on everyone's bucket list. The ocean and hills create a beautiful natural background, but it is the city's quaint neighborhoods, historic landmarks, green spaces, inspiring cultural institutions, and laid-back atmosphere that truly distinguish it.

The magnificent Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most well-known sights in San Francisco, and it is what many people think of when it comes to California. An amazing image is the orange frame against the blue water of San Francisco Bay or emerging out of the fog that often covers the area. You may admire the bridge from afar or drive over it, stroll across it, or even cycle across it for a more personal experience. Fisherman's Wharf and the famed Alcatraz Island are two more popular tourist attractions. This old prison is now a national park worth seeing. Ferries depart from Pier 33 near Fisherman's Wharf for the island.

Yosemite National Park in Northern California is one of the most gorgeous and visited national parks in the United States. For decades, visitors, artists, and athletes have been drawn here by the mountains, valleys, rivers, and beautiful waterfalls.

Yosemite Valley makes up the bulk of the park's major attractions and activities. The granite walls and huge waterfalls, carved by glaciers during the last ice age, are some of the park's most impressive features. The major attractions, such as Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, and El Capitan, are all situated here. The Tioga Road and the Glacier Point Road, both located beyond the Valley, offer access to alpine areas, lookout points, and breathtaking views. The giant sequoias are sometimes missed by tourists but are well worth viewing. Mariposa Grove, in the park's southern section, has the largest stand. Getting out into the landscape on some of Yosemite's fantastic hiking trails is one of the best ways to explore the park. These range from easy walks along streams and lakes to challenging pathways that lead to the tops of mountain peaks and historic landmarks.

Disneyland, in Anaheim, has long been the most popular family vacation in California. This massive amusement park has everything from rides to games to shows to entertainment, as well as restaurants and hotels. The park has theme rides as well as recreated worlds and cultures. Shows and various forms of entertainment are available for both children and adults.

The invention of FastPass+, which allows you to book specific ride times, a hug with a character, and entertainment events, has helped to reduce long lines and wait times. When children are not in school, whether for the summer, Christmas, spring break, or any other holiday, the park is quite crowded. Keep in mind that Disneyland is more than just the parks. Hotels, dining, shopping in the Downtown Disney District, and the Disney Adventure Park are all part of the Disneyland resort experience. Although your children have come to visit the parks, there is something for everyone in the family to enjoy.

Death Valley National Park is home to some of California's most inhospitable terrain, as well as high heat that has made this desert area strangely beautiful. In this distant valley, salt fields, parched land, sand dunes, mountains, unusual rock formations, and a lake below sea level create a distinctive scene.

The sand dunes surrounding Stove Pipe Wells, Badwater Basin, Zabriskie Point, and Dantes View are some of the easiest to access sights in Death Valley. These and other locations are all easily accessible by car. If you have a 4WD vehicle, you may go to sites like The Race Track that are more remote. Death Valley can be done as a day trip from Las Vegas, Nevada, but there is much to see and do here that you may want to stay longer. You may drive through the park and stop at lookouts, hike short trails or see the ruins of the valley's former industry.

This beautiful stretch of California's Central Coast gives an opportunity to get back to nature. Garrapata State Park and Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park are two of the greatest areas to go camping and hiking.

Big Sur begins in Yankee Point, about four miles south of Carmel, and runs along Highway 1 until it reaches Salmon Cove, about 17 miles north of San Simeon. This scenic road provides breathtaking views of the beautiful shoreline. The Santa Lucia Mountains and Ventana Forests, with more than 220 miles of trails, are located to the east. Hikers, sunbathers, and those seeking a nature escape will enjoy Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. The park features camping facilities, and the Big Sur Lodge offers a serene getaway in a spectacular setting for those wanting a little more comfort. Pfeiffer Falls, which may be reached through the Valley View Trail, is one of the park's attractions. The Valley Overlook, a branch off this trail, offers views of the ocean and the Big Sur River Valley. Big Sur's Garrapata State Park is another favorite destination. Garrapata Beach, a long, wide, crescent-shaped stretch of golden sand, is the main attraction.

Stunning Lake Tahoe is a renowned year-round tourist destination in California, located high in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. More than just the lake, Lake Tahoe is known for its forests and mountains, small towns, and diverse range of activities.

Boaters, beachgoers, campers, and nature enthusiasts go to the blue lake, which has turquoise coves and surrounding mountains. Beautiful beaches and shallow coves are among the area's main attractions for summer visitors. Around Lake Tahoe, notable beach sites include D.H. Bliss State Park and Kings Beach State Recreation Area. In the mountains and along the seashore, there are excellent hiking trails for all abilities. The beaches are the focal point of most of the summertime activity. The attention changes to the ski resorts in the winter. With numerous major ski resorts, Lake Tahoe is also California's premier skiing destination. During the winter, skiers from all over the country flock to the region to enjoy the incredible terrain and great snow conditions.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are must-see sites because they feature the world's biggest trees. The sequoias here are the world's biggest living things, with many dating back more than 2,000 years, with some even more than 3,000 years old.

These two parks are adjacent and cover a mountain range with stunning granite peaks, deep gorges, lakes, rivers, and woods, but they are quite different. You will need at least a couple of days to see both parks. Even though both parks include giant sequoias, Sequoia National Park is undoubtedly the greatest site to see them. Easy walking trails, many of them paved, meander through the forests and lead to the major attractions. Mt. Whitney, the tallest mountain in the United States at 14,495 feet, is also located in this park (apart from Alaska). Sequoia National Park has various beautiful campgrounds, many of which are conveniently located for seeing the trees and other sights, such as Moro Rock and the famed General Sherman Tree. With jagged peaks, roaring rivers, and remote sections where you may escape the people and appreciate nature, Kings Canyon National Park is more rugged and wild. Hiking is common in this park.

It's like stepping into another era when you walk through a forest of giant redwoods that rise more than 300 feet above you. These are the world's tallest trees, descended from Jurassic Period trees, and are undoubtedly one of California's greatest treasures.

Redwood National Park, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Del Norte Redwoods State Park, and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park are among the cooperatively managed parks that span a magnificent section of the Northern California coast. Each one has something unique to offer, but they all have fantastic hiking trails and beautiful campsites. Most people are familiar with Redwood as the home of the world's tallest trees. However, the park also safeguards vast prairies, oak woodlands, wild rivers, and 40 kilometers of rocky shoreline. The National Park Service and California State Parks are working together to manage and restore these lands for everyone's enjoyment, education, and inspiration.

Joshua trees add a touch of beauty to this great terrain, where massive rocks and rock formations form strange shapes that capture the imagination. Joshua Tree National Park spans 800,000 acres and features a wide range of attractions, including more than just Joshua trees.

The Cholla Cactus Garden, where chollas extend endlessly along the hillside to the mountains beyond, the ancient Keys Ranch ruins, the Lost Palms Oasis' giant palms, and the vista from nearly 5,000 feet at Keys View are just a few of the attractions. Don't miss Skull Boulder, a big rock shaped like an alien skull. If you plan on staying for a while, one of the fantastic campgrounds in Joshua Tree National Park is a great place to stay under the stars and trees. It takes less than three hours to drive from Los Angeles to Joshua Tree National Park, and less than an hour to go from Palm Springs.

This amusement park and movie studio is one of California's most popular attractions, and it's ideal for families with older kids and teenagers. This movie studio-meets-theme-park combines a studio tour with thrilling action rides and walk-through attractions on a large site in the Hollywood Hills. Rides are inspired by popular films and include everything from frighteningly realistic simulator rides to roller coasters and more.

The "Secret Life of Pets" off the leash ride, the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride, and the renowned WaterWorld live show are all available as you enter the park's entrance gates. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Fast and Furious - Supercharged, Jurassic World, and The Walking Dead Attraction are among the park's most popular attractions. Dining, shows, shopping, and a variety of events are all available throughout the year.

Hearst Castle, a hilltop mansion built by William Randolph Hearst, is located along the beautiful Central Coast of California in the tiny town of San Simeon. It was begun in 1919 and completed over a 28-year period, resulting in a special mix of architectural styles that is both quirky and stately.

It sits on a hill, 1,600 feet above sea level, with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Lucia Range. The vast art collection is one of the main attractions here. The castle formerly housed the world's biggest private zoo, and zebras and other exotic animals may still be seen wandering the grounds nowadays. The castle is almost halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. It takes around four hours to drive from either city.

Catalina Island, just 22 miles off the coast of southern California, is a picture-perfect island paradise that is a world apart from the hustle and bustle of the mainland. Catalina Island is a great spot for relaxation and play, with plenty of options for adventure, whether you're visiting for the day, weekend, or longer.

Boaters and day-trippers go to the island in great numbers. The main population center and the center of the activities is Avalon. Two Harbours is a considerably smaller village on the other end of the island. While most visitors come to Santa Catalina Island to relax and stroll, other popular activities include glass-bottom boat excursions, scuba diving, kayaking, and parasailing. Ferries run from San Pedro, Long Beach, Newport Beach, and Dana Point to the island.

Rich in history and long in ocean miles, the Channel Islands offers a unique opportunity for ocean, land, and history-loving park goers. The Channel Islands National Park, which is made up of five separate islands: San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, and Santa Barbara, is an excellent site to see wildlife and unspoiled scenery.

Because the islands have always been separated from the mainland, they have developed independently and include numerous indigenous creatures. The islands are located off the coast of Southern California and are only accessible by private boats or park concessionaire boats and planes. Channel Islands National Park offers a wide range of recreational opportunities as well as a delightful break from the hustle and bustle of city life.

The Getty Center is one of America's most prestigious museums. Its magnificent structures, nestled in the hills above West Los Angeles The museum houses works by notable painters like Monet and Van Gogh, as well as sculptures and other works of art from before 1900.

The architecture and grounds of the museum itself are also worth seeing. The structure is a shimmering white curtain that flows and undulates, with exquisite gardens and waterfalls in front. More than a million people take the tram from the street level to the hilltop Getty Center each year, drawn by the white travertine walls and spectacular city views as much as the art inside. Don't forget to check out the spectacular views of Los Angeles from one of the numerous patios there.

San Diego is the perfect destination to experience California's laid-back lifestyle of sun-drenched days at the beach and fun-loving outdoor experiences, thanks to its mild year-round temperature. Beautiful sandy beaches with pristine scenery and practically year-round sunshine are high on the list of top tourist attractions.

The main tourist attractions in San Diego proper are Balboa Park, an expansive green space with seductive gardens and many museums; the historic Gaslamp Quarter, which is full of boutiques, art galleries, and great restaurants; and the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, which houses museums, retail shops, and restaurants in old adobe buildings. The city's kid-friendly activities, as well as the family-friendly resorts, will appeal to families with kids. Visiting the San Diego Zoo, seeing dolphin and whale performances at SeaWorld, exploring the playgrounds at Balboa Park, appreciating colorful sea life at Birch Aquarium in La Jolla, and spending time at The New Children's Museum are among the best things to do in San Diego with kids.