California is a haven for amazing experiences all year round, but summer is the best time to visit this state. This is because summer makes everything more enjoyable, whether it’s relaxing by the beach, hiking in the wilderness, or kayaking in the rivers. With summer almost here, this is a great time to start planning a visit to California. The list of places worth visiting in the Golden State is endless, but one can skip the rest and visit these top summer vacation spots in California for a memorable sunny season.
10 Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park remains one of the top attractions in California that’s worth visiting year-round. In summer, however, this attraction is at its best. The weather is perfect during this season, and the visibility is excellent and which makes exploring the park so enjoyable.
Visitors to Yosemite during summer will be opportune to witness the park’s natural attractions from Yosemite Falls to the giant Sequoias at their most beautiful state. Yosemite's numerous activities (besides hiking, of course) include kayaking and camping, which are also more enjoyable during this season as there is less disturbance from the weather.
9 San Francisco
San Francisco is one of the most popular cities in California, renowned for its scenic beauty and its amazing attractions, one of which is the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge and the Golden Gate Park. Summer in this city offers a great opportunity to explore its interesting attractions and also enjoy other exciting activities like hiking and cruising.
In addition, some amazing festivals are held in San Francisco during summer, which is just one more reason this city is worth visiting during this season.
8 Santa Catalina Island
Catalina Island is one of the most beautiful summer destinations in California; it's a great place to enjoy a relaxing summer vacation away from the noise and crowds. The island is a haven for sensational experiences like fly-fishing, cruising, zip-lining, and hiking, and these experiences are more enjoyable in summer when the weather is warm and less disturbing.
7 Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe really lives up to the hype; it's one of the best summer spots in California and is a place that offers incredible scenery and amazing experiences year-round. It's amazing year-round, but summer in this place, however, is perfect for those who love warm weather adventures and gorgeous natural scenery.
Summer is the best time to enjoy some of Lake Tahoe’s best activities, like hiking, kayaking, camping, and biking. The photos are even more gorgeous during this season as the atmosphere is bright, and the visibility is excellent.
6 Napa Valley
Napa Valley offers plenty to do depending on when travelers visit. Whatever the season, it is always a great place to talk about because there is so much to enjoy here. It is unlike many other of the best places in California as it combines natural scenery with exciting outdoor adventures. In particular, wine-tasting experiences in Napa are one of the top things to do in California in summer especially.
Overall, summer in this part of California is unforgettable as there are so many exciting things to experience, from music festivals to wine tours, food-tasting adventures, and more. There’s never a dull moment in Napa during summer.
5 Santa Barbara
While it is great to visit year-round, Santa Barbara is one of the best places in California to visit in summer when its beaches are in clear view and the weather is comfortable enough for enjoyable outdoor experiences. As one of the most historic parts of California, this city is also endowed with plenty of attractions that shed more light on the history of the state. Summer visitors to this city will also get to enjoy nature as it has several nature parks that host wildlife, rivers, and forests with numerous hiking trails.
4 Santa Monica
Santa Monica offers plenty of things to do; it's most renowned for its magical beachfront, nature parks, luxury hotels, and beautiful streets where one can just roam and take beautiful pictures. The city caters to the needs of all travelers, from families to solo travelers who just want to have warm weather activities and meet new people in the process.
Of course, Santa Monica transforms into one of the best summer vacation spots in California; every one of this city’s offerings becomes more appealing and great to explore, thanks to the summertime weather. Several festivals are even held during this season, and the crowds are at their peak.
3 San Diego
Another one of the best places for a summer vacation in California is the sunny city of San Diego. Located in the Southern parts of California lies this super elegant city, where it's all sunshine and sensational vibes in summer. San Diego is particularly a great place for a family vacation as the city is home to many family-friendly attractions like the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, Balboa Park, and SeaWorld San Diego.
Besides family-friendly attractions, San Diego also has attractions that offer all types of travelers an amazing vacation. In San Diego, travelers will enjoy hiking, cruising, surfing, whale watching, and many more exciting outdoor adventures that make a summer vacation memorable.
2 Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach is a small charming city in southern California that comes with gorgeous beaches, interesting art, and exciting adventures. Although great to visit year-round, summer is the best time to experience the natural and man-made attractions in this city. During this season, the city becomes a haven for a wide range of activities, from music festivals to wine-tasting adventures and whale watching.
This is also a great time for visitors to explore the city’s numerous art galleries and museums, which are some of the best in the country. Activities such as hiking, kayaking, cave exploration, and mountain biking can also be done in this city, and the summer weather makes them exciting.
1 Malibu
Beaches are some of the most sought-after attractions in summer because they are superb for tackling the heat while having fun. When it comes to the best beaches in California, Malibu is at the top of the list. This area consistently finds itself among the best places in California for a summer vacation; the famous beach city is endowed with an abundance of sandy beaches that are great for relaxation and epic water sports like surfing and paddleboarding.
Beyond beaches and watersports, Malibu is also home to several hiking trails and interesting attractions like the impressive Hindu temple and the impressive canyons. In addition, Malibu is also a great place to see celebrities, as many of them live in this city and even spend their summers there.