by Tracey Lund

Created on: October 31, 2009   Last Updated: April 18, 2011

California is a beautiful place to visit. As the state ranking third in physical size, with 163,707 square miles of land, according to enchantedlearning.com, there are many beautiful places to visit from Northern California to Southern California and all of the space in between. However, there are some places that are found to be more popular destinations than others. Some areas that would be easy to become enchanted with are San Diego, Los Angeles and the surrounding area, Yosemite National Park and San Francisco.

A trip to San Diego feels incredibly laid back for being in a metropolitan area. Downtown is wonderful for some of the unique skyscrapers, the San Diego Bay and Maritime Museum, the Gaslamp Quarters for nightlife and Little Italy for a taste of fine, authentic cuisine. Coronado Island, just over the big, blue bridge is like an island escape. Old Town is fascinating for the preservation of that old world appearance and Balboa Park is an intriguing mixture of gardens, exhibits and old Spanish architecture. Mission Beach boasts an amusing boardwalk, known as Belmont Park, and La Jolla beaches are known for the brilliant scenery surrounding it. Sea World and the San Diego Zoo are both wonderful attractions for animal lovers while those looking to venture into another culture can slip over to Tijuana. Be sure to check travel advisories before crossing the border, though.

Take a drive north on Pacific Highway One to go towards Los Angeles. This classic highway boasts breathtaking beach side views and perfect vistas of the extravagant hillside homes in Laguna Beach. Huntington Beach, also known as Surf City, is also on the way. Once you have arrived in Los Angeles you can take in one of the many museums or go to Universal Studios. Next, take a trip to Hollywood to see the star-studded Walk of Fame or swing over to Anaheim to spend a wistful day at Disneyland, thechildren's fantasy land, or riding thrill rides at Knott's Berry Farm.

A classic outdoor attraction that is timeless is Yosemite National Park. Here you can hike, bike or take a bus tour as well as camp out or shack up in a local bed and breakfast, resort, hotel or cabin. Yosemite Valley is full of waterfalls and cliff faces among other alluring natural wonders. One of the most popular attractions is the Half Dome rock, featured in many nature photographers' portfolios.

After Yosemite, slide almost due-west to see San Francisco. There are several features that are commonly spoken of, such as the Golden Gate Bridge and the famous cable cars that are very successful in the hill-ridden City By The Bay. One attraction that is well-known, but not nearly as publicized is the Fisherman's Wharf. This is any seafood lovers dream come true! Most of the deck that serves food distinctly smells of very fresh seafood. Across from the Fisherman's Wharf lies Alcatraz. The prison, which is built on top of a tiny island, is open for tours. Some of the most notorious criminals resided here between 1934 and 1963.

There are so many other areas of California that are equally enchanting. These suggestions touch on some of the most popular destinations, but the possibilities are almost endless in the Golden State.

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