Southern California: a land of great weather, charming beaches, celebrity homes and palm trees. The southern tip of the Golden State is really golden.
If you are looking to plan a comprehensive SoCal trip, you will want to look at the cities Los Angeles and San Diego, and perhaps one of the cities in Orange County. There are some great activities you will find in any city, and if you want to actually experience Californian culture, you should.
Here’s how to make the most of your trip.
Take Public Transportation
You’ll want to experience everything California has to offer, aside from one thing: the traffic. SoCal is too reliant on car culture and lacks some of the faster, more efficient public transit you will find in New York City or Chicago. The result is some of the worst traffic in the United States. San Diego is not bad (unless you are used to small-town America), but it gets horrendous in Los Angeles and Orange County.
That’s why you must take public transportation as often as possible, wherever you can find it. While it may sound tempting to drive down Highway 101, you will quickly regret it once you experience the first mile of bumper-to-bumper traffic.
If you are in Los Angeles, get around using the LA Metro subway system. San Diego has an identical light rail system called the San Diego Trolley. Take the Amtrak train to travel between Los Angeles and San Diego. Amtrak will get you from LA to San Diego in 3 hours, with multiple stops in Orange County and exquisite views of the Pacific Ocean coast.
Jump on the Weed Wagon
Alright, now the fun stuff. California is one of 10 states that legalize recreational marijuana. You cannot smoke in public and you can’t smoke within 1,000 feet of the school. But there are numerous hash bars and dive bars that allow guests to smoke. There are many San Diego dispensary selling numerous types of hash—like walking into a candy store.
You might be rolling your eyes at this one, but if you are from a state that hasn’t legalized marijuana, here’s your chance to do it shamelessly. And it’s without a doubt one of the joys of SoCal culture; just ask Snoop Dogg.
Enjoy Mexican Cuisine
There is a large population of Mexicans living in Southern California, given its proximity to Mexico and the indisputable fact that California was once a Mexican territory. You can find delicious mexican food Here. From fresh tortillas, to street tacos, to enchiladas, to churros, Southern California is a foodie’s paradise for its abundance of delicious Mexican food. You cannot leave the region without partying.
Drink Craft Beer
The craft beer scene is prospering across the United States, and Los Angeles County, Orange County, and San Diego County collectively have hundreds of microbreweries serving SoCal-inspired brews. Plus, San Diego and Los Angeles are known for having some of the best bars and breweries in all the US! If you are attempting to find a good weekend getaway for celebrations, St. Patrick’s Day. Patrick, The 4th July, and even Mardi Gras, all of which are largely celebrated in the city. If you are tired of margaritas, make sure to head to one of these hop head hangouts and try some of the local brews.
Some of the more well-known Southern California breweries include:
- Hillcrest Brewing Company
- Ballast Point Brewing Company
- Beachwood Brewing
- Alesmith Brewing Company
Visit an Amusement Park
SoCal is a theme park lover’s paradise, and you should visit one of the two parks before you go. In the Los Angeles area, you will find:
- Six Flags Magic Mountain (currently holds the world record for the most roller coasters in a theme park)
- Disneyland
- Universal Studios Hollywood
- Knott’s Berry Farm
In San Diego, you will find amusement parks that are more animal-centric, such as:
- Sea World San Diego
- Aquatic San Diego
- San Diego Zoo
- San Diego Zoo Safari Park
But the real giants of the SoCal theme parks are Disneyland Resort, which consists of the Theme Parks of Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. Disneyland is not as large as the Magic Kingdom at Disney World Florida, but it’s the only Disney park that Walt Disney personally supervised. If you are a die-hard Disney fan, you will appreciate all the historic sites within the park and Walt’s personal touch left over.
Apart from the theme parks and breweries, remember to enjoy the stunning SoCal weather. If you live in a part of the country with very cold weather, visit Southern California in winter and enjoy relaxing on the beach in mid-December. And, remember, avoid the traffic.
