Vacation Primer: Where are People Going in California this Summer?
Photo: Jay Leno is seen out cruising in his classic car. Tourists snapped this photo on the Starline Movie Stars Home Tour.
It’s that time of year when wildflowers are blooming, trees are showing their springtime buds, and people are slowly venturing out on overnighters and vacations. We’re still in the “shoulder season” as the tourism industry calls this time of year before summer vacation, and if you’re looking for hotel deals, there are some out there to be had.
Though summer officially launches in June, California tourist season actually eases in around Easter and doesn’t stop till late September. Places such as Carmel & Monterey experience an extended season in October-November when their weather is generally the nicest of the year. The mountain ski resorts have their peak season during the winter snow, and the deserts likewise see their best attendance in the winter when it’s not too hot. By the numbers, however, summer wins out!
Star Power is a winning combo. Here’s where people like to go on vacation:
- California beaches – rank #1 in attendance. Top cities include Los Angeles and San Diego. Los Angeles ranks tops on the visitor list thanks to the power pack of beaches and Hollywood entertainment–celebrities, etc. L.A.’s beaches are famous because celebrities live in mansions on them in places such as Malibu.
- Theme parks – Disneyland steals the show with reported attendance as high as 25-35 million per year. The other theme parks combined bring in another 5-10 million visitors and they include SeaWorld San Diego, Knott’s Berry Farm, Six Flag Magic Kingdom, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Legoland California, San Diego Zoo, Universal Studios Hollywood, and several others.
- State and national parks – though California State Parks rightfully touts that their parks bring in more annual attendance than any other attractions, we’ve separated the beaches out from the parks attendance. Some of California’s top beaches are owned and operated by state parks. If you combined State Parks and National Parks attendance, this category might come in #1.
Top Cities & Places to See in California:
- Los Angeles – arrival at Los Angeles International Airport, combined with Hollywood and L.A. beaches make the greater L.A. area continue to be the star. Santa Monica, Universal Studios, The Getty
- Orange County – Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach
- San Diego – SeaWorld, Zoo, Gaslamp, Mission Bay, beaches-Coronado, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach
- San Francisco Bay Area – Alcatraz, Golden Gate Park, Chinatown, cable car rides, Napa Wine Country
