Things to Do in California
3 experiences in California
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About California
California doesn't behave like a single destination — it's more like five or six distinct countries stitched together with a shared coastline and an inflated sense of self-importance (mostly earned). You can surf at dawn near San Diego, stand under 2,000-year-old sequoias by lunch, and watch a Michelin-starred plate arrive in San Francisco by dinner, though driving that exact route in one day would be masochistic. The state rewards people who accept that it's enormous — roughly 800 miles north to south — and plan around regions rather than trying to see "California" in a week.
What makes it genuinely special is the collision of extremes within reach of each other. Death Valley, the hottest place on earth, sits a few hours from Sierra Nevada peaks holding snow into June. LA's sprawl gives way to Big Sur's cliffs in under three hours. This is a state built on car culture, and that's not a flaw to route around — Highway 1, the 101, the drive through Yosemite's Tioga Pass — these are the point, not the inconvenience between points.
It suits road-trippers, outdoor obsessives, food people willing to queue for a taco truck as readily as a tasting menu, and anyone drawn to the mythology of the American West Coast — Hollywood, Silicon Valley, the Gold Rush, the Beats, the surf culture. It's less kind to travelers wanting a compact, walkable single-city trip, or those on a tight budget, since accommodation, rental cars, and gas add up fast, especially in San Francisco and along the coast in summer.
Good to Know
- Tip 18-20% at restaurants, $1-2 per drink at bars, and 15-20% for rideshare and taxi drivers — service charges are sometimes added automatically for large groups, check the bill.
- Get an eSIM (Airalo or similar) before arrival; coverage is generally strong but can drop in national parks and remote coastal stretches.
- Rent a car with a full tank return policy and fill up before returning — airport gas stations charge a premium.
- Parking in San Francisco and LA is expensive and rules are strictly enforced with real towing risk; read street signs carefully or use a garage.
- Sales tax (roughly 7.25-10.75% depending on city) is added at checkout, not included in listed prices — factor this into budgeting.
- Sun protection matters more than visitors expect, even in cooler coastal cities — UV is strong statewide.
- Downtown areas in LA, San Francisco (Tenderloin), and parts of Oakland warrant normal city awareness at night, particularly around unhoused populations concentrated in specific blocks — not dangerous so much as uncomfortable for some visitors.
- National park entry runs $30-35 per vehicle; the $80 America the Beautiful annual pass pays for itself after two to three parks.
