CALIFORNIA
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☀️ General California Activities + Travel Tips
☀️ Best Activities + Tours in…
• Northern CA
• Santa Barbara
• Los Angeles
• South Bay LA
• Orange County
• San Diego
☀️ Best Places to Stay + Hotel Recommendations
• Northern California
• Central California
• Los Angeles + Orange County
• San Diego
☀️ Living in California
My name is Janelle and I was born and raised in California.
I grew up in the South Bay of Los Angeles (an adorable beach community just south of LA) and went to college in Santa Barbara. Now, I’m based out of Redondo Beach and travel the world as often as I can.
Read below for my guides and insider tips on the best places to visit in California!
If you have any questions about your trip to California, I grew up here and have explored up and down the coast. Please reach out – I would be happy to help you plan your trip!
✨ California Activities + Travel Tips ✨
Best Activities and Tours in Northern California
Best Activities and Tours in Santa Barbara
Best Activities and Tours in Los Angeles
Best Activities and Tours in South Bay LA
Best Activities and Tours in Orange County
Best Activities and Tours in San Diego
Best Activities and Tours in Baja California
✨ PLACES TO STAY + HOTEL RECOMMENDATIONS ✨
Best Places to Stay in Northern California
Best Places to Stay in Central California
Best Places to Stay in Los Angeles + Orange County
Best Places to Stay in San Diego
✨ LIVING IN CALIFORNIA ✨
☀️ California FAQs ☀️
✈️ Where Can You Find the BEST Flight Deals to California?
1. Scott’s Cheap Flights – FREE flight deals alert, works best if you can be flexible
2. Skyscanner – FREE search engine, great for budget flights + deal
❗Is Travel Insurance Required in the U.S.?
No, it’s not.
However, it’s always recommended to have travel insurance any time you travel in case of injury, accident, lost luggage, missed flight, etc. The best and most affordable travel/expat insurance is Safety Wing. It covers some medical as well, which is important in the U.S. due to the high cost of health care.
>>> CLICK HERE FOR INFO
☔️ When Is the Best Time to Visit California?
Summer (June-August) – is the warmest (in some parts it can be pretty hot) but you will have the most crowds. Some parts of the state get “June Gloom” where it can be cloudy during the morning and burn off by mid-day.
Spring (March-May) or Fall (September-November) – are cooler and have the potential of rain, but you will beat some of the crowds and see some incredible wildflowers (spring)/greenery (fall).
🏠 Where Should You Stay in California?
Hotels, vacation rentals, and house-sitting are all available for accommodation. My top recommendations for each are:
• Booking.com
• Vrbo
• Trusted Housesitters (watch a home/pets in return for a FREE place to stay)
🌴 Where Can You Find Tours?
I find incredible tours around the world >>> HERE with private and guided group tours of the most popular attractions and ones that fit your specific interests.
🚘 Should You Rent a Car in California?
I very highly recommend renting a car in California so you don’t miss out on the gorgeous scenery and wonderful things to do in between the big cities! California is fantastic for road trips – there is SO much to see up and down the coast. Plus, sites are often spread far out, even in the cities, so having a car is the most convenient option.
>>> Best car rental rates and deals