Beautiful beaches meet the desert in Southern California, often called “SoCal.” This vibrant, rich and sunny area is beloved by its many full-time residents and draws millions of travelers every year. If you’re planning a SoCal vacation, there are many communities to consider visiting, each with their own history and charm.
We broke down our favorite places to help you plan the ultimate Southern California getaway.
Anaheim
Anaheim is an inland city in Orange County, California. Anaheim is most famous for being home to Disneyland Park, the original Disney theme park. Disneyland Park occupies about 85 acres of the town and is in a district of town called “Anaheim Resort,” which also includes Anaheim GardenWalk, Anaheim Convention Center, Angel Stadium of Anaheim and the Honda Center.
Aside from the amusement parks, Anaheim has a great, walkable downtown. Every Thursday between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., the Anaheim Farmers Market brings local farmers, food trucks, artists and live music to the Center Street Promenade. There are also periodic festivals, art crawls, parades, community 5ks, a great selection of family-friendly restaurants, and more in downtown Anaheim. Don’t forget to visit the Anaheim Packing District, which included a restored citrus packing house from 1919, which is now a phenomenal food hall.
Find vacation rentals in Anaheim >
San Clemente
San Clemente, California is known as the “Spanish Village by the Sea.” The area was originally inhabited by Native Americans and was later settled by Spaniards, who founded Mission San Juan Capistrano. The Mission is located just north of San Clemente and is a must-visit landmark on your vacation. Smaller than other SoCal cities, San Clemente is recognized for its Mediterranean Renaissance-style architecture — think stucco and red tile roofs.
San Clemente is a surf destination and has consistent, year-round swells. Trestles and T-Street are two of the favorite surf spots in the area. From the San Clemente Pier, you can watch surfers, ride bikes, swim, view the sunset and walk to favorite local restaurants. There is also an outdoor outlet mall with over 45 stores.
Find vacation rentals in San Clemente >
Huntington Beach
Another famous surf town (in fact, nicknamed “Surf City USA”) is Huntington Beach, located around 30 miles north of San Clemente. Take a surf lesson during your SoCal vacation, or just visit the International Surfing Museum and dive into the history of surf culture in the area.
Besides surfing and beach-related activities (like free volleyball), there is still much to explore in and around Huntington Beach. The Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve is a 1449-acre preserved saltwater marsh and is open to the public for wildlife viewing, hiking (on trails), nature tours and programs. The 350-acre Huntington Central Park has playgrounds, pathways and trails, picnic facilities, a nature center, extensive landscaping, a library, restaurants, and more.
Find vacation rentals in Huntington Beach >
Newport Beach
Newport Beach, California is located on Newport Bay and is home to Newport Harbor, a large harbor for recreational boats and other water activities. Within the bay are several artificial islands with picturesque, walkable communities — like Balboa Island. Newport Beach itself, on the mainland, has hundreds of world-class restaurants and fantastic nightlife. If you seek retail therapy on your SoCal vacation, you’ll certainly want to spend a day at Fashion Island (a premier shopping center) or walking around the many local boutiques.
Newport Beach has two distinct piers, with restaurants, entertainment and sightseeing. The whale watching in Newport Beach is unparalleled and tours run during all seasons. To spend more time on the water, consider sportfishing, kayaking / paddleboarding, sunset cruises, sailing / yacht charters or, of course, surfing.
Newport Beach also has numerous opportunities to experience local art and culture. The Orange County Museum of Art specializes in modern and contemporary art. The Newport Beach Film Festival takes place every spring and shows both studio and independent films. For music, theater and dance, see a show at the renowned Segerstrom Center for the Arts in nearby Costa Mesa.