Spring is here but summer will be here before we know it! Whether you are a California local or planning a trip to the Golden State, here are a list of things that should be on your bucket list for the summer.
1. See a movie at the park under the stars (Check out your local parks and recreation calendar)
2. Have your little ones attend Vacation Bible School
3. Visit a local farmer’s market
4. Make a dessert from Pinterest
5. Participate in a local beach clean up
6. Go out with some friends and sing karaoke
7. See a concert at the park under the stars (Check out your local parks and recreation calendar)
8. Build a sandcastle at the beach
9. Take in the sights at the 17th Annual Big Bear Renaissance Faire
10. See the midnight showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show
11. Plan a spa day at Burke Williams
12. Make homemade icecream
13. Spend a day at a local car show
14. Take a road trip to Big Bear
15. Take the Catalina Express to Catalina Island
Things to do in Los Angeles
16. Visit Rodeo Drive
17. See a Disney movie at El Capitan
18. Walk along the Hollywood Walk of Fame
19. Play a round of miniature golf at Golf n Stuff
20. People watch at Venice Beach
21. Spend the day at Six Flags Magic Mountain
22. Tour RSM Queen Mary
23. See a game at Dodger Stadium
24. Visit the Santa Monica Pier
25. Eat fried food at the Pomona Fair
26. Visit Universal Studios
27. Go stargazing at the Griffith Observatory
28. Visit The Huntington Library
29. Visit Malibu’s Surfrider Beach, the site of the original Gidget film
Things to do in Orange County
30. Spend a day at Disneyland
31. Spend a day at California Adventure
32. Visit Heisler Park in Laguna Beach
33. See a baseball game at Angel Stadium
34. Take the ferry at Balboa Island
35. Take a train to San Diego from San Juan Capistrano.
36. Spend a day swimming in the pool at the Disneyland Hotel
37. Ride a bike along the beach from Huntington Beach to Newport Beach
38. Visit Knott’s Berry Farm
39. Beat the heat at Knott’s Soak City
40. Spend a day at the 2018 Vans US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach
41. Learn to surf in Huntington Beach or Dana Point
42. Take a gondola ride in Newport Bay
43. Visit the Laguna Beach Stardust Festival
44. Have dinner at Medieval Times
45. Rent a boat in Newport Beach
46. Visit the Orange International Street Fair
47. Visit the Pageant of the Masters
48. Enjoy the San Clemente Ocean Festival
49. Rent a classic Mustang and drive PCH Highway
Things to do in Central California
50. Take a tour of Hearst Castle
51. Spend the day in Solvang
52. Go wine tasting in Napa, California
53. Take a tour of the Winchester Mystery House
54. Raft down the American River
55. Go for a hot air balloon ride in Napa Valley
56. Camp on the beach at Pismo Beach
57. Visit Santa Barbara Mission
58. Have lunch at Schooner’s Wharf in Cayucos
59. Wine Tasting in Carmel
60. Take a private sailing cruise in Monterey Bay
61. Visit Sand Dollar Beach in Big Sur
62. Go glamping at the Costanoa Resort on the San Mateo Coast
63. Visit a local farmer’s market
64. Visit Monterey Bay Aquarium
65. Visit the California State Railroad Museum
66. Visit the Aqua Adventure Water Park in Fremont
67. Enjoy Sunday Brunch at Bella Vista, a restaurant inside the Biltmore hotel in Montecito
68. Visit LotusFest in Montecito in July
69. Visit the Winchester Mystery House
Things to do in San Diego
70. Take a road trip to Julian and have a piece of Mom’s pie
71. Spend a day at the San Diego Fair
72. Visit the USS Midway Museum
73. Visit Hotel Del Coronado
74. Rent a boat in Mission Bay
75. Bring your passport and drive to Puerto Nuevo for lobster village
76. Spend the day at Legoland
77. Visit the Balboa Park Museum
78. See a Padre game at Petco Park
79. Win some or lose some at the Del Mar Racetrack
80. Visit Old Town San Diego
81. Relax along the lazy river at Harrahs SoCal
82. Visit Sea World
83. Go wine tasting in Temecula
84. Make s’mores by the bay at Paradise Point Resort
85. Visit San Diego Zoo
86. Watch the surfers at Swami’s State Beach in Encinitas
88. Watch an old-fashioned Independence Day parade in Oceanside
89. Get there early and feed the lorakeets at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Things to do in San Francisco/Northern California
90. Visit Fisherman’s Wharf
91. Take a walk across the Golden Gate Bridge
92. Catch a Giants game at AT&T Park
93. Ride the cable car from Fisherman’s Wharf to Union Square
94. Walk down Lombard Street
Things to do in Northern California
95. Explore Yosemite National Park
96. Visit Redwoods National Park
97. Visit Sequoia National Park
98. Visit the Victorian Village of Ferndale
99. Enjoy the summer activities in Mammoth Lakes
100. Go whitewater rafting in Lake Tahoe
What are your plans this summer? Did we forget any of your favorite things to do in California?
Yosemite photo courtesy of Nancy Collins
California Adventure photo courtesy of Brandon Joseph of DizFeed
This post was previously published May 2017. Last updated May 12, 2018.
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