California Bucket List

California is a big state with a little bit of everything. Jared and I have often joked that it has everything we would want Mountains, Trees, and the Beach, we just live on the other side of the country.

Joking aside California does have pretty much everything from beautiful coastal drives to hot and sandy deserts to towering trees and large cites. Oh, and we can’t forget about Disneyland!

Though we haven’t ever lived in California and honestly we probably never will, but who knows?!? We love visiting the state and exploring new places.

Jared and I took our first trip to California together for our honeymoon and since then we have been back several times with our kids to explore more of the beautiful state. We still have a lot of places we want to explore and some favorites we want to go back to!

This California Bucket List doesn’t have everything on it because how could you put everything there is to do in California on one list? But it does have some of the things we have done on our trips to California and a lot of things we still want to do!

Things to do in California

Don’t forget to get your free printable California bucket list at the bottom of this post.

Disneyland (+ California Adventure)

My first trip to Disneyland was when Jared and I went on our honeymoon. We had a fun-filled week at the most magical place on earth and I was even brave enough to go on roller coasters, which I don’t typically like.

Since our first trip to Disneyland, we have been back a few more times taking the kids along with us. It’s been a couple of years since our last trip to Disneyland so I think it’s about time to plan another trip.

Related Post: Disneyland Ride Checklist {Printable}

SeaWorld

When I was growing up we had cousins that lived in California and for one year we had season passes to Sea World. It’s been several years since I visited Sea World but it’s a place we want to visit again soon with the kids.

Sea World is a great place to enjoy rides, entertainment, and animal encounters. Read about visiting SeaWorld in San Diego over on my friend Jess’s blog.

San Diego Zoo

The San Diego Zoo is an amazing zoo and a great way to spend the day in San Diego. I have been able to visit the zoo several times and each time has been so much fun.  We usually spend the whole day at the zoo and still don’t have enough time to see everything.

You can read about our latest trip to the San Diego Zoo in this post about How To Do the San Diego Zoo in 1- Day.

Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge in San Francisco California. The bridge is 1.7 miles across and you can walk or bike across the bridge.

Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada Mountains on the California and Nevada border.

Last summer my friend Justine took her family to Heavenly Mountain in South Lake Tahoe. After reading about there trip we added a trip to Lake Tahoe to our bucket list.

Death Valley National Park

Death Valley National Park is located in both California and Nevada. Death Valley is a land of extremes, so be sure to plan carefully when visiting.

If you’re heading to Death Valley consider adding Mosaic Canyon to your list of attractions to visit.

USS Midway

The USS Midway is a historical naval aircraft carrier you can explore in San Diego. It’s a fun place to explore with the whole family.

The USS Midway is just one of the places Heather mentions in her post about San Diego Budget Travel Tips.

Balboa Park

Balboa Park in San Diego has a number of museums, gardens, and fountains. It’s a beautiful area to explore and many of the gardens are free and fun to walk through.

At the bottom of the hill near Balboa Park, there is a fun playground for the kids to enjoy and run off energy after spending time in museums.

Related Post: A Family Guide to 3 Days in San Diego

Channel Islands National Park

Channel Islands National Park is comprised of 5 islands off the southern California coast. You can visit the visitor centers for this national park in Ventura and Santa Barbara. The islands are only accessible by park concessionaire boats, planes or private boat.

Sequoia National Park

Sequoia National Park is the second oldest National Park in the US. It became an official park in 1890. Plan on spending time in the visitor centers, hiking and exploring. Be sure you don’t miss Tokopah Falls and the Giant Forest.

Justine at Little Dove includes Sequoia National Park as 1 of 3 California National Parks to takes your kids to.

The Beach

California has over 800 miles of coastline so spending some time at the beach while visiting California is a must.

Redwood Forest

You can visit the Redwood forest by visiting Redwood National Park as well as the REdwood State park in California. Most of us think of the Redwoods as home to the tallest trees on Earth, but you can see more than just tall trees at these parks.

In the Redwood parks, you can camp, take a scenic drive, go for a hike, explore a visitor center and so much more. Read about these awesome parks here.

Donut Bar

San Diego Donut Bar is a trendy spot to pick up donuts with flavors like French Toast, Strawberry shortcake, and Triple Chocolate. If you’re planning on visiting this donut shop be prepared to wait in line. Head over to Jessica Lynn Writes for a full review of the Donut Bar.

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is located in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. Yosemite is known for its giant sequoia trees, Bridalveil falls, granite cliffs and Tunnel View scenic viewpoint.

If you’re planning a trip to Yosemite check out Half Dome Village a fun glamping location in the park.

Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National park is about 800,000 acres and has about 2.8 million visitors each year. Joshua Tree National Park is a desert so the best times to visit are from October through May.

Mango Pie -Urban Plates

When I was growing up on one of our trips to California we had some amazing Mango Pie. Luckily you can still get that amazing Fresh Mango Pie at Urban Plates.

Pinnacles National Park

About 23 million years ago multiple volcanoes erupted, flowed and formed what is now Pinnacles National Park. This park has a unique landscape with oak woodlands, talus caves, and rock spires. Read more about the park.

Pony Express National Historic Trail Sites

The Pony Express National Historic Trail stretches from Missouri to California with different Museums and historic sites along the trail.

In California, you can visit the B.F. Hastings Building and a Pony Express Statue in Old Sacramento.

Legoland

As you know we loved going to Legoland Florida last year so of course, Legoland California had to make it onto our California bucket list.

While I haven’t been to Legoland California since I was growing up Justine has some great tips for Legoland you’ll want to read when you’re planning your trip.

Point Reyes National Seashore

Your first stop at Point Reyes National Seashore should be the Bear Valley Visitor Center to find out what activities you can do on your visit. Activities at different times during the year include: visiting the historic lighthouse, wildlife viewing (elk, Elephant seals, birds, and gray whales) hiking, biking and more. Read more here.

Cabrillo National Monument

A couple of years ago while we were in San Diego we were able to spend a little bit of time exploring Cabrillo National Monument.

The national monument area has beautiful views (if it’s not cloudy), a visitor center, statue of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, Old Point Loma Lighthouse and more.

Fort Point National Historic Site

Fort Point defended the San Francisco Bay after the Gold Rush through World War 2. It is located near the golden gate bridge and a great place to wander around and explore.

For other fun things to do near Fort Point check out Justine’s post with 5 great places to take your kids in San Francisco.

Stomp Grapes

Each year there is the Julian Grape Stomp Festa where you guessed it you can stomp grapes (think that episode of I Love Lucy). Admission to the festival includes wine, entertainment, and stomping. Even though I don’t drink I think being able to stomp grapes would be worth it!

Head over to my friend Jess’s post about Grape Stompin’ for all the details (and pictures) about this fun event.

La Jolla Cove

La Jolla Cove is a great place to see the sea lions and explore tide pools during low tide. It’s also a great place to go snorkeling.

Carlsbad Flower Fields

If a trip to Holland for the Tulips isn’t possible I think a trip to The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch in Carlsbad California must be a close second. The fields are made up of nearly fifty acres of flowers that bloom for about 6-8 weeks each year. Read more here.

Knotts Berry Farm

Knotts Berry Farm is a theme park in southern California. The park averages about 4 million visitors each year. At Knotts Berry Farm you will find big and little thrill rides, a water park, entertainment and food. Read more here.

Hollywood Sign

The Hollywood Sign is a cultural icon so it had to make it on the list. Is it overrated? Possibly. You decide if you’re going to add it to your list of places to see, it’s just one of many options.

Hollywood Walk of Fame

Walk along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and find the names of your favorites in the entertainment industry.

In-N-Out Burger

If you live in the west you might be lucky enough to have an In-N-Out burger restaurant close to you. If you don’t be sure to stop by for a burger, fries and a shake.

Mormon Battalion Museum

The Mormon Battalion Museum is a historic site in Old Town San Diego. The site honors the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who served in the United States Army’s Mormon Battalion during the Mexican-American War.

This site is free to visit and a great place to learn a little bit about California’s history. Plus you can pan for gold at the end of the interactive tour.

Ride the San Fransisco Cable Cars

Cable Cars have long been a symbol of San Fransisco. Cable cars were invented almost 150 years ago and named a National Historic landmark in 1964. Today the cable cars are still running and you can climb aboard and experience them on your next trip to San Fransisco. Find details here.

Sacramento Capital Building

The California capital building is both a museum and a working seat of government. Tour the capital building for free and spend some time in the museum learning more about California. Details here.

Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz Island is located in the San Francisco Bay. The small island was developed for a lighthouse, military fortification, military prison, and federal prison until 1963. Alcatraz Cruises is the official website to get tickets to tour Alcatraz Island. Get details here.

Jelly Belly Factory Tour

Did you know you can see how your favorite Jelly Beans are made? In Fairfield California, you can watch Jelly Belly candies be made. The Jelly Belly Factory tour is free and self-guided. After the tour head to the shop to buy some “Belly Flop,” the imperfect candies sold at a discount. Get all the details here.

Griffith Observatory

The Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles is a great place to enjoy spectacular views of Los Angeles and the Hollywood sign. Plus you can enjoy looking through telescopes, exploring exhibits and seeing shows in the Planetarium. Get details here.

Universal Studios Hollywood

Universal Studios Hollywood is another theme park in California you don’t want to miss. This theme park is packed with attracts like The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Jurassic World, and more. Get tickets here.

Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park

Sutter’s Fort was a 19th-century agricultural and trade colony in the Mexican Alta California Province (now Sacramento). Today you can take a self-guided tour of the park and attend special events. Find out more here.

Castle Mountains National Monument

Castle Mountains National Monument is part of the Mojave Desert. The park is almost 21,000 acres in size. The park has Joshua tree forests, natural landscapes, desert grasslands and more. Read more about the park here.

Devils Postpile National Monument

Devils Postpile is a monument in eastern California. The monument protects an unusual rock formation of columnar basalt called Devils Postpile. Read more here.

Take a Sriracha Tour

Head over to Huy Fong Foods in Irwindale California to take a 45-minute tour where Sriracha is made. Get details here.

Lassen Volcanic National Park

Lassen Volcanic National Park in northern California has acres of bubbling mud pots. The summit of Lassen Peak Volcano has views over the surrounding wilderness area. There are several trails through the park for hiking. Get details here.

Highway One

Highway one is California’s iconic highway that spans 750 miles from north to south. Along the highway enjoy small towns and stunning views.

Glass Beach in Fort Bragg

Glass Beach is a southern beach in MacKerricher State Park. The beach got its name from all the smooth colorful glass pieces you can find along the beach. While it is a great place to find sea glass, it is illegal to take any glass from the beach. Read more.

Sunset Cliffs Natural Park

Sunset Cliffs natural park is a 68-acre resource-based park along the Pacific Ocean. Head to Sunset Cliffs at Osprey to view some amazing sunsets.

McArthur- Burney Falls Memorial State Park

The highlight to see in this state park is the 129 foot, Burney Falls. While not the tallest or largest waterfall in the state it is very beautiful. Read more here.

San Diego Zoo Safari Park

I mentioned how much we love the San Diego zoo at the top of this post. We haven’t had the chance to go to the Safari Park yet but it’s on our list.

There is a lot to do at the Safari park from seeing all of your favorite animals, to enjoying shows and animal encounters. Find out more here.

Spanish Mission

California is home to a chain of 21 missions stretching from San Diego to Sonoma. The missions are about 30 miles apart. All 21 of them are open to visitors and most of them hold mass on Sunday. So pick one of the missions to visit or take a road trip and visit all 21. Read more here.

Go Skiing/Snowboarding

In the winter head over to Mammoth Mountain and have fun skiing or snowboarding. (I had to add this to the list because skiing is one of the last things I think of when I think California.)

Muir Woods National Monument

Muir woods is home to the largest trees in the world – the redwoods. Muir woods has boardwalks so you can easily explore the forested area.

Alabama Hills

The Alabama Hills are a group of rounded rocks and eroded hills between the Sierra Nevada and Inyo Mountains. Many movies have been filmed in this area since the early 1920s. More recent movies have been filmed at sites known as Movie Flats and Movie Flat Road. Read more here.

Santa Barbara County Courthouse

The Santa Barbara County Courthouse is a Spanish-Colonial style that was built in 1929. This still-functioning courthouse is open for free tours daily. On the tour, you will learn about the building’s architecture, history, and other interesting facts and details. Find out more here.

Solvang

Take a little trip to Denmark while staying in California. Solvang is a city in southern California with Danish-style architecture and many wineries. In the city, you will also find the Elverhøj  Museum of History and Art, where you can learn about the city’s Danish history and personal stories. Read more here.

Free Printable Bucket List

Please keep this California bucket list for personal use. Do not share the link to the printable but the link to this post if you think someone else will enjoy it, Thank you.

What is your favorite place to visit in California? Did we miss something we need to add to our list?

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