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Top California destinations include coastal towns in Southern California, romantic getaways, family vacations, great spas and other weekend spots.

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Day Trip in Southern California

Day Trips in Southern California

Home to so many large urban centers, Southern California is also incredibly rich in diverse ecosystems that range from deserts to mountaintops.

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Beach near San Diego

Weekend Getaways from San Diego

Browse relaxing spa resorts, beach hotels, golf getaways and city hotels, with driving times from San Diego.

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Beach near Los Angeles

Best Weekend Getaways from Los Angeles

Plan a weekend trip from LA to one of these beautiful beaches, hotels, resorts, romantic inns and spas.

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Road leading to the ocean in Southern California

Places to Visit in Southern California

Whether you are looking for a relaxing beach holiday, action-packed adventures, historic attractions, or family fun, Southern California ticks all the boxes.

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Feeling Welcome by the Ventura Welcome Sign

Things to Do in Ventura, California

Ventura is a relaxed weekend destination with great beaches, restaurants and attractions.

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Laguna Beach, Southern California

Things to Do in Southern California

If you are planning a vacation with many different things to do, family fun, as well as diverse history and art to discover and appreciate, then Southern California is the place to visit.

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Beach in Southern California

Romantic Getaways in Southern California

Whether you are looking for a luxury hotel or an affordable cottage hideaway, there are many great choices in Southern California.

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Aerial view of Coronado Bridge in San Diego bay in southern California

Day Trips from San Diego

San Diego is an ideal springboard to the many and varied cities, beaches, national parks, and historic attractions of Southern California.

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Huntington Beach from above

Day Trips from Los Angeles

Plenty of excellent destinations are only a short drive away, including beautiful nature reserves, educational museums, and some of the best theme parks in the world.

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Orange County Day Trip

Day Trips from Orange County

Southern California’s Orange County offers some of the most beautiful coastline in the state, and a rich inland empire history centered on America’s second gold rush, the citrus industry.

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California Vacations

California felt like a long, unfolding breath. One coast, a thousand moods, fog rolling over cliffs, sunlight dripping through vineyards, desert wind humming against canyon walls. I remember driving with the windows down, the sky wide and weightless, and thinking, “This is where beauty meets you without trying.”


What stayed with me were the shifts: redwoods rising like cathedrals, a coffee cup warming my hands in a seaside town, the quiet of an empty trail just after rain. I wandered from tide pools to taco stands, mountain roads to city corners strung with lights, and I left feeling open—like California had invited me to stretch, to soften, to be.


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Whether you’re dreaming of coastal drives, quiet beaches, high desert stillness, or slow mornings in small towns that feel like postcards, these guides gather the California that lingered with me, spacious, soulful, and always lit with something golden.

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Welcome to Vacation Idea

Hi there! At Vacation Idea, we've been uncovering and reporting on the best local hidden gems for 27 years. Join us and plan your next authentic and truly unique getaway.