California Road Trips Guide - 2021 - 18

ROAD TRIPS 2021
San Diego
Laguna Beach
Beverly Hills
Gateway Essentials:
Southern California
S
outhern California's sunny
landscape is dotted with
dozens of cities that radiate
outward from Los Angeles. Seen on a
map, they look fairly close together,
but more than 100 miles separate the
major urban centers of San Diego and
Los Angeles. And where exactly does
Mickey Mouse call home? Somewhere
in the middle.
When you're ready to pack your
bags for Southern California, plan
your arrival airport carefully. Los
Angeles International and San Diego
International are the largest, but they
might not be closest to your destination.
If you're headed to Disneyland
Resort or Orange County's beaches,
consider John Wayne or Long Beach
airports. For Universal Studios tours,
Hollywood Burbank is convenient.
Palm Springs International or Ontario
International offer easy access to
desert cities. Here's a quick look at a
few gateway highlights.
San Diego
Surf and swim along this sunbaked
coastline, or tickle your brain at a
staggering collection of museums
18 | VISITCALIFORNIA.COM
in Balboa Park. Glimpse San Diego's
bawdy history at the Gaslamp
Quarter, watch flamenco dancers while
sipping margaritas in Old Town, or tour
some of the city's 150 craft breweries.
Food trucks serve up everything from
fish tacos to Korean street food.
San Diego offers nonstop familyfriendly
fun: SeaWorld San Diego has
ocean creatures from seahorses to
sharks. LEGOLAND California builds
an entire world with plastic LEGO
building bricks. And the San Diego
Zoo shows off 650 species, including
polar bears, elephants, flamingos, and
impossibly cute koalas.
Orange County
Orange County serves up wide, sandy
beaches and world-famous surf
breaks, and in every coastal town,
cliff-top restaurants overlook the
setting sun. Newport Beach attracts
the yachting crowd, Laguna Beach
thrums with the arts, and Anaheim
has global dining and breweries.
At Disneyland, your kids can
mingle with Mickey Mouse and watch
colorful fireworks explode over a
fairy-tale castle. Next door is Disney
California Adventure Park, home to
the brand-new Avengers Campus.
In Buena Park, Knott's Berry Farm
stands out for stomach-flipping roller
coasters and a splashy water park.
Los Angeles
Metropolitan Los Angeles has 88
separate towns: Downtown L.A. is a
cultural melting pot with Little Tokyo,
Chinatown, and a hip art scene.
Hollywood and West Hollywood revel
in movie glamour, galleries, museums,
and Sunset Strip nightlife. In Beverly
Hills, shopping is a favorite pastime-
even just strolling Rodeo Drive feels
indulgent. Santa Monica offers easyaccess
beaches, boutique shopping,
and a bohemian arts scene. Alluring
Malibu has epic surf breaks, celebrity
mansions, and a wealth of parklands.
Near downtown Los Angeles,
Universal Studios Hollywood lets
kids step into The Wizarding World
of Harry Potter and Jurassic World.
Teens love the adrenaline-pumping
rides at Six Flags Magic Mountain.
The Santa Monica Pier's aquarium,
roller coaster, and Ferris wheel make a
beach day even better.
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California Road Trips Guide - 2021

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