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:

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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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Places You Should Go in SoCal

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