California – 5 Special Things to Do in 2024.

If you’re visiting California, you’re in for a pretty special vacation. Home to great cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, you can mix exploring the cities with getting out into the great outdoors. California has more national parks and camping grounds than any other state, so it couldn’t be easier to experience the great outdoors. Add in several other quirky and curious attractions for the whole family, you’re sure never to be bored in Cali!

In this post, we’ll take a look at 5 of the best things to do in California to make your trip special. Hopefully, it’ll help you to plan and make the most of your trip to The Golden State!

Visit one of many national parks

You could spend a month in California and not have time to visit all the stunning national parks. However, you may as well try! There are nine national parks in the state. That’s right, nine! That’s more than any other US state. Yosemite is one of the crown jewels of not only California, but the whole of the United States. No matter what time of year you travel, there’s something to do – wildlife watching, rock climbing, and hiking in the summer – while cross country skiing and snowshoeing are popular activities in the winter.

For a day of rock climbing before lying back under the stars, make for Joshua Tree National Park. If you want to see the largest tree in the world by volume, it’s off to General Sherman in Sequoia National Park while the tallest is in Redwood National Park in the north. There really is no end to exploring California’s national parks!

California’s national parks benefit from multi-day trips to make the most of their exceptional beauty and wide range of activities on offer. Luckily, many have camping and RV parks, so you’ll be able to keep your costs down and wake up with the parks right on your doorstep!

Take a road trip along the coast

When you travel in an RV, it’s just as much about the journey as it is the destination. And nowhere is that truer than along the Big Sur coastline. It’s where Pacific Ocean meets rugged mountains! This 90-mile drive along the Central Californian coastline is regarded as one of the most scenic routes in the world and more than 3 million people drive the route each year.

This jaw-dropping route runs between Carmel and the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains and there are several spots along the way where you can park up and enjoy lunch, take pictures, or just gaze in awe at the unbelievable surroundings. Some places that you might want to add to your Big Sur itinerary include the tallest single-span bridge in the world – Bixby Bridge, McWay Falls – one of two tidal waterfalls in California, and hiking the Cyprus Grove Trail. And yes, there are numerous camping grounds throughout the park, so get your tent pitched or your vehicle parked before sunset – you won’t want to be distracted from the stunning cacophony of colours!

Camp out in the great outdoors

With almost 300 units, California has a bigger state park system than any other state in the nation. So, you just know that there are going to be incredible places to either camp out or park up your RV. And it certainly doesn’t disappoint. There are more than 20 campgrounds around Lake Tahoe, perfect if you’re planning to hike or go fishing. Just a little out of Los Angeles, there’s the Angeles National Forest and Big Bear Lake where you can even hang a hammock! However, in Sequoia and Redwood National Parks, it’s best you don’t hang a hammock between those trees.

If you want to make a reservation for a camping spot, you can do so from up to 6 months in advance of your date of travel!

Head to the hottest and driest area in North America

Death Valley might not sound like the most appealing place from its name, but you just can’t miss it off your Golden State itinerary! The salt flats are one of the most surreal activities you’ll ever do, and by visiting Badwater Basin, you can tick off a visit to the lowest point in North America. Interestingly, you can also view the highest point in the lower 48 from Death Valley too – Mount Whitney. At 4,421 metres above sea level, it’s quite a jump!

Although you can do day trips to Death Valley, like the other 8 national parks in the US, it makes sense to spend a few days here. Just make sure that when you’re travelling in Death Valley, you have a vehicle with air-conditioning and plenty of water!

Let your hair down at a theme park

Okay, we’ve shown you a lot of natural beauty, but here’s an option that will especially appeal to families! California is home to several world-class theme parks throughout the state, offering a range of activities from ultra-modern 4D experiences to good old-fashioned wooden roller coaster to incredible live shows!

But which one do you choose? Well, Six Flags Magic Mountain has the most roller-coasters of any amusement park in the world – so it makes sense to visit that for an adrenaline rush! Knott’s Berry Farm developed from a family farm into one of the most visited amusement parks in the nation, while you can’t go wrong with a trip to Disneyland, Legoland, or Universal Studios. Especially if you’re travelling with the family!

So, now that you know exactly how to make your trip to California special…

It’s time to book your trip. And there are few better ways to navigate the great open roads of California than in an RV. Not only do you save money on accommodation, but you’ll be able to travel around the state in complete comfort with the perfect vehicle to suit you.