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They say the West Coast is the best coast and I’ll back up that claim any day of the week. I may have been born and raised in Texas, but some of the best years of my life were spent in California.
I’m not going to sugarcoat the frustrations of living here, but ultimately, there’s no other place I’d rather call home.
And I know that because I’ve left before and the grass was literally and figuratively not greener.
The Golden State may not do everything right, but it is one of the best places to travel in the country.
I’ve lived here for 10 years and have visited every city. These are my 5 favorite destinations:
5) San Francisco
I know, I know – San Francisco has changed. We’ve even included this amazing city as a place not to visit this year, and for good reason.
If Tony Bennett left his heart in San Francisco today, someone would steal it and sell it on the black market.
The crime waves and ugly zombie apocalypse like streets are something I can overlook because I love it so much and have never had a bad time.
As sadly as the city has changed, the cultural neighborhoods, amazing views, fun attractions, and phenomenal food scene remain. hardly breaks my top 5.
After traveling to about 30 countries, my favorite restaurant in the world is still Terra Cotta Warrior, located in the Outer Sunset neighborhood.
It is a no-nonsense, yet authentic Chinese restaurant, specializing in dishes from Shaanxi province. If this place ever closes, SF might not even make my top 10. It’s that good!
4) Malibu
Spoiler alert: Los Angeles itself will never crack my favorites list for anything. Personally, I believe it’s the most overhyped city in America, but outside the city limits, LA is at its best.
Malibu is so much more than a Miley Cyrus song. This swanky beach town is a place where average Joes like me can mingle with the world of the rich and famous, unlike Beverly Hills, where I feel like I’m looked down upon after I make a Target run.
Lined with delicious upscale restaurants, beautiful beaches and scenic Topanga State Park for incredible views and hikes, Malibu is a great place to visit.
The coastal drive itself is great. Just plan ahead for spring break and summer traffic.
Speaking of summer, who’s coming with me to the ever-popular Malibu Chili Cook-Off?
3) Sequoia National Park
My favorite place in California to immerse myself in nature outside of the state’s incredible beaches is hands down Sequoia National Park.
Although you can fly into Fresno (certainly not a favorite), a road trip makes the adventure more fun with stops in charming small towns like Kernville.
The country roads of Sequoia are indescribably beautiful. Just prepare better than I did by renting a Toyota Yaris.
Either way, a trip to Sequoia should honestly be bucket list worthy. Few places have given me more appreciation for nature than this park.
Seeing photos of mountains and huge trees online is one thing, but seeing them in real life is a whole other level.
2) Orange County (beaches)
Orange County covers a large area of Southern California with cities like Santa Ana, Irvine and Anaheim, but I’m not here to promote Disneyland any more than necessary.
Orange County’s quaint beach towns are beautiful and it’s honestly hard to choose just one. Each of them tends to have its own unique vibe, such as the luxurious Laguna Beach to the more laid-back Dana Point and San Clemente.
If I had to choose one it would depend on my budget for the day, but it would be a case of Laguna Beach and San Clemente.
You can’t go wrong with either, although San Clemente definitely has much more of a local feel as a surfers’ favorite hangout.
1) San Diego
My home for 10 years and hopefully many more, San Diego is hands down my favorite destination in California.
Traveling is my first love and one of life’s few passions, but no matter where I am or how long I am there, I always look forward to coming back home to this beautiful city.
Often overshadowed by the gargantuan size of Los Angeles, San Diego is still a big city with plenty to do besides planning beach days from Coronado to Oceanside.
With historic neighborhoods like Old Town known as the “Birthplace of California” and cultural districts like City Heights, where more than 80 language dialects are spoken, San Diego is not just another “beach city.”
While it’s definitely not a digital nomad haven with a high cost of living, my favorite part of San Diego, aside from Mexican food, is of course being able to go hiking in the mountains, go to the beach and see the snow, all on the same day. .
There is always something to do outside the city, but the beautiful small towns such as Julian, which are close by, make it easy to escape for a change of pace when you need it.
And after a night in downtown’s wild Gaslamp District, you definitely need a change of pace.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
