It’s no secret that there are literally hundreds (if not thousands) of places you should go in SoCal, so how do you decide which ones you want to do first? Well, that’s up to you – but we have some suggestions! Throughout this list, you’ll find some of our picks for the best natural and man-made attractions you should definitely visit as soon as you can throughout Southern California. Here are some of the coolest places you should go in SoCal, ASAP:

1. Cabrillo National Monument
Patrick Emerson/Flickr
Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego is home to a secret sea cave that you must see to believe. Situated along the Tidepool and Bluff Trail at the Point Loma Tidepools, this secret sea cave is a rare and special find. Depending on weather and safety conditions, the sea cave may be closed or inaccessible, so check the area's status in advance before planning your trip to this location.

Address: 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive, San Diego, California, 92106
2. The Victoria Beach Pirate Tower
Alik Griffin/Flickr
There's nothing better than discovering a hidden gem along the beach! Victoria Tower is a breathtaking treasure that will make you think you've stumbled upon a fairytale castle. Open-to-the-public hours may vary, so remember to check the Visit Laguna Beach website before planning your trip to this spot.

Address: 381 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach, California, 92651
3. El Dorado Nature Center
tdlucas5000/Flickr
For nature lovers looking for short-and-sweet walking trails, the El Dorado Nature Center is the perfect destination. Trail lengths range from one to three miles at this outdoor oasis in Southern California. While planning your trip, visit the official website for important information about hours and programs.

Address: 7550 East Spring Street, Long Beach, California, 90815
4. Spencer's Restaurant
Spencer's Restaurant/Facebook
For a magical night of outdoor dining, Spencer's Restaurant in Palm Springs is absolute perfection. It's no wonder Spencer's has been voted the best outdoor dining venue by Palm Springs locals. Visit the Spencer's Restaurant website for more info, pictures, and more.

Address: 701 West Baristo Road, Palm Springs, California, 92262
5. The Ojai Music Festival
Ojai Music Festival/Facebook
Our favorite festival of the year is probably the Ojai Music Festival. If you forgot to check it out in 2020, mark your calendar for June 2021 so you don't miss out! More information is available on the official website.

Address: 201 South Signal Street, Ojai, California, 93023
6. La Jolla Tidepools at Sunset
Photos By Clark/Flickr
For THE most Southern California day ever, pack a picnic up and head to La Jolla. End the day with a stroll along the La Jolla Tidepools to experience one of our world-famous glorious sunsets.
7. Cold Spring Tavern
Cold Spring Tavern
One of our Southern California favorite restaurants of all time is Cold Spring Tavern, in Santa Barbara. This historic restaurant dates back to the 1860s and has a warm, rustic ambiance with a perfect dash of romance. Visit their website for more information about reservations, hours, and more.

Address: 5995 Stagecoach Road, Santa Barbara, California, 93105
8. The Donut Hole
The Donut Hole/Facebook
We all have our favorite SoCal drive-thru restaurants, right? But an epic drive-thru that serves donuts? We think it's obvious we can all agree that The Donut Hole should be on everyone's favorites list.

Address: 15300 Amar Road, La Puente, California, 91744
9. Crystal Cove State Park
Mitch Barrie/Flickr
Refreshing hikes along the beach are one of the many outdoorsy things you can enjoy in sunny SoCal. You can find one of our favorite beach-side hikes along the three-mile oceanfront stretch at Crystal Cove State Park in Orange County. Visit the official Crystal Cove State Park website for additional information to plan your visit.

Address: 8471 North Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, California, 92651
10. Idyllwild
Don Graham/Flickr
When you need a weekend away to refresh the senses, the best place to get away from it all is Idyllwild. Fresh mountain air, a quaint art scene, and mouthwatering local restaurants make this small town an obvious choice as among the best of the best places in Cali.
11. Pageant of the Masters
CactusWriter/Wikimedia
If there's one festival you should attend in SoCal every year, it would have to be the Pageant of the Masters. Held in Laguna Beach during the summer, this is one event you don't want to miss, so check out the dates for 2021.
12. The Pacific Surfliner
Nick Chill/Flickr
If you want to see as much SoCal scenery as possible in a single day, hop aboard the Pacific Surfliner via Amtrak, where you'll travel between San Luis Obispo and San Diego. This is one of the most beautiful train routes in the state, probably even the entire country. You can find ticketing information at the Amtrak website.
13. Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway/Facebook
A ride inside the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is a wondrous way to see the rugged beauty of the SoCal landscape. Climb 8,500 feet to experience a side of the San Jacinto Mountains as you've never seen before. Be sure to visit the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway website for ticketing and more.

Address: 1 Tram Way, Palm Springs, California, 92262

What’s on your Southern California ultimate bucket list? Where are some other places you should go in SoCal? Tell us your favorites in the comments!

Craving a little more SoCal goodness? Check out this list of some places in Southern California to visit on a long weekend.

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More to Explore

Places You Should Go in SoCal

Tori Jane | April 16, 2021

What are some of the most popular attractions in SoCal?

Given that there are literally hundreds of choices, you really can’t go wrong when it comes to attractions in Southern California. Of course, you’ve got your most talked-about, which usually includes any of our epic theme or adventure parks or any number of our world-famous beaches. Channel Islands National Park is a must-see national park in SoCal that attracts millions of visitors each year, and everyone has to walk the Santa Monica Pier at least once. San Diego is basically a slam-dunk, too, for anything you’d like to see or do. 

Where are some truly unique sites in SoCal?

Amazingly, SoCal is home to some legitimately unique places, like Joshua Tree National Park, which is one of the few places on the planet that the strange and beautiful Joshua Tree grows. That’s pretty unique, if you ask us! There’s also Sunny Jim’s cave, a fascinating cave walk unlike any other in the state. Atlas Obscura lists over 1,000 legitimately unique things to do in Southern California, and we are inclined to agree. There’ are a TON of things to do, so get outside and go!

What kind of day trips in SoCal could I go on?

One of the best things about California is how enormous it is. Seriously, there’s hundreds and hundreds of road trips you could take in SoCal alone, never mind the northern half of the state! From chocolate-lovers day trips to waterfall road trips, there’s something for everyone in SoCal. Wildflower season in the spring is usually incredible here, and so is autumn, when leaves change. It doesn’t seem to matter what kind of environment you like best: we’ve got everything from forest to beaches, and from desert to… well, whatever Joshua Trees like. For more day trip inspiration, check this article out. 

 

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Featured Addresses
1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr, San Diego, CA 92106, USA
381 Forest Ave, Laguna Beach, CA 92651, USA
7550 E Spring St, Long Beach, CA 90815, USA
701 W Baristo Rd, Palm Springs, CA 92262, USA
201 S Signal St, Ojai, CA 93023, USA
La Jolla Tide Pools, 303 Coast Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
5995 Stagecoach Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93105, USA
15300 Amar Rd, La Puente, CA 91744, USA
8471 N Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA 92651, USA
Idyllwild-Pine Cove, CA, USA
1 Tram Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262, USA