Manhattan Beach, CA

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!

sitting in the sand at Manhattan Beach

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 ✨


The BEST Pacific Coast Highway 7-Day Itinerary
15 Best Places to Visit in California in January
Snorkeling in Catalina Island: Best Spots, Rentals, and More!
Where Is the Best Weather in California? 17 Lovely Cities
Top 20 Best Beaches in California in December (Winter)
Does It Snow in Southern California? 11 Best Snow Spots!
Colorado vs. California: Comparison for Living and Traveling
Top 25 California Stereotypes: True or False?
A Guide to Viewing June Lake Loop’s Fall Colors
The Worst (And Best!) Times to Visit Los Angeles

Best Activities and Tours in Northern California

Is San Francisco Worth Visiting? 43 Pros and Cons to Consider
Is Santa Cruz Worth Visiting? 43 Pros and Cons to Consider
Is Napa Valley Worth Visiting? 43 Pros and Cons to Consider
Is Sacramento Worth Visiting? 43 Pros and Cons to Consider

Best Activities and Tours in Santa Barbara

Is Santa Barbara Worth Visiting? 43 Pros and Cons to Consider
Santa Barbara in December: 21 Best Things to Do and More!
31 Best Day Trips From Santa Barbara
Top 15 Best Santa Barbara Surf Spots

Best Activities and Tours in Los Angeles

Is Los Angeles Worth Visiting? 43 Pros and Cons to Consider
A Guide to Surfing in LA: 21 Excellent Surf Spots
Day Trip to Solvang From Los Angeles: A Complete Guide
Swimming With Dolphins in Los Angeles: Everything You Need to Know
8 Beaches With Fire Pits in Los Angeles
13 Best Hollywood Tours From Santa Monica

Best Activities and Tours in South Bay LA

57 Fun Things to Do in South Bay, Los Angeles
Things to Do in Hermosa Beach, CA
29 Fantastic Things to Do in Redondo Beach, CA
31 Incredible Things to Do in Manhattan Beach
27 Fun Things to Do in Torrance, CA
25 Best Things to Do in Palos Verdes
Top 20 Best Things to Do in Hawthorne, California
21 Excellent Restaurants in Torrance, CA
Redondo Beach Surf Guide + 6 Best Surf Spots

Best Activities and Tours in Orange County

Is Long Beach Worth Visiting? 43 Pros and Cons to Consider
Is Huntington Beach Worth Visiting? 43 Pros and Cons to Consider
Is Newport Beach Worth Visiting? 43 Pros and Cons to Consider
50+ Fun Things to Do in Long Beach at Night
The Best Tacos in Long Beach: 15 Amazing Taco Joints
How to Get to Catalina Island From Long Beach Guide

Best Activities and Tours in San Diego

Is San Diego Worth Visiting? 43 Pros and Cons to Consider
The Dog Society San Diego – Review, Information, and Tips!

Best Activities and Tours in Baja California

Is Rosarito Safe?

✨ PLACES TO STAY + HOTEL RECOMMENDATIONS ✨

Best Places to Stay in Northern California

15 Best Places to Stay in Napa Valley on a Budget (2023)

Best Places to Stay in Central California

7 Best Cheap Hotels in Goleta For Budget Travelers

Best Places to Stay in Los Angeles + Orange County

5 Best Luxury Hotels in Los Angeles for Families
11 Best Cheap Hotels in Redondo Beach
19 Best Hotels in Manhattan Beach (2023) Luxury to Budget!

Best Places to Stay in San Diego

Top 11 BEST Places to Stay in San Diego For a Bachelorette Party

✨ LIVING IN CALIFORNIA ✨

15 Tips For Moving to and Living in Santa Barbara
Is Santa Barbara Safe?
Top 15 Safest Cities in Los Angeles County in 2023
Moving to Los Angeles Without a Job: 21 Important Tips!

☀️ California FAQs ☀️

✈️ Where Can You Find the BEST Flight Deals to California?
1. Scott’s Cheap FlightsFREE flight deals alert, works best if you can be flexible
2. SkyscannerFREE 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