Southern California Summer 2021

Major Regional Attractions

Year-round sunny weather, gorgeous beaches and an abundance of family-friendly attractions make Southern California one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world. Encompassing the southern third of the Golden State, SoCal stretches west from the inland deserts and mountains to the temperate shores of the Pacific Ocean. Many of region’s cities and communities have enough sights and activities to serve as a travel destination in their own right, but it would be shame to visit the Southland without hitting the highlights.

Thanks to an extensive freeway system, getting around is relatively easy, despite the occasional traffic jam. It’s possible to spend the morning surfing the waves and the afternoon skiing or hiking in the mountains. From its beautiful beaches and national parks to its world-class cultural attractions and amusement parks, here are some of the best places to visit in Southern California.

SAN DIEGO WILD ANIMAL PARK & ZOO
30 Min

The San Diego Zoo in San Deigo, California is one of the largest and most progressive zoos in the world with over 4,000 animals of more than 800 species. It is also one of the few zoos in the world that houses the giant panda. At the San Diego Zoo, species mingle much like they do in their native Asia and Africa. Today, dozens of nearly-extinct species have been bred here and re-introduced into the wild. It is privately operated on 107 acres of parkland, leased from the City of San Diego, and ownership of all animals, equipment and other assets rests with the City of San Diego. More Info
SAN DIEGO SAFARI
15 Min

An extension of the San Diego Zoo, the wildlife preserve is home to some 2,500 Asian and African animals, including many endangered species. It is different from the Zoo in the sense that the animals are in a natural habitat setting where they live and run freely. The Photo Safari Caravan allows you to travel in open-air trucks and have a chance to feed giraffes. Ride the Wgasa Bush Line Railway and enjoy a 55-minute guided railway tour of the park. Wild Animal Park is open every day of the year, including all holidays. More Info
SEA WORLD San Diego
30 Min

Visit SeaWorld’s San Diego California theme park for your next family vacation. Enjoy rides, shows, attractions – and of course, their amazing animals from the sea! Experience some of the most thrilling San Diego attractions at SeaWorld®, where you can ride the ray on their double-launch roller coaster Manta®, take in amazing live shows and enjoy special attractions such as Turtle Reef and the Shark Encounter®. Most importantly, SeaWorld is about animals: From Shamu® to sea lions, polar bears to penguins and bottlenose dolphins to beluga whales, marine life abounds! More Info
DISNEYLAND® PARK
1 Hour 20 Min

Disneyland holds the distinction of being the only theme park to be designed and built under the direct supervision of Walt Disney himself. Walt’s original Theme Park continues to reign as “The Happiest Place on Earth” and home to almost five decades of Disney wonder and magic. From the charm of Main Street, U.S.A to the whimsy of Mickey’s Toontown, explore eight fantastic “lands” of nostalgia, color and delight. Let your imagination run free in a magic kingdom where life is a fairy tale and dreams really do come true. Greet old friends like Mickey and Minnie. Make new friends, too. More Info
DISNEY’S CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE® PARK
1 Hour 20 Min

Disney’s California Adventure Park is the theme park adjacent to Disneyland Park and part of the larger Disneyland Resort. It opened in 2001. This 55-acre theme park consists of five areas: Sunshine Plaza, Hollywood Pictures Backlot, The Golden State, A Bug’s Land and Paradise Pier. Each area is meant to resemble various aspects of California, its culture, landmarks and history. Park includes The California Screamin’ roller coaster, The Tower of Terror attraction, Golden Gate Bridge replica, Boardwalk, Ferris Wheel, Beer Garden, rides for young children, entertainment and much much more! More Info
LEGOLAND® California
35 Min

At LEGOLAND® California, your day starts at The Beginning, the main entrance plaza to the Park. You can’t miss the bright red welcoming dinosaur, Bronte, standing nine feet tall and 34 feet long from his nose to the tip of his tail, made completely from LEGO® bricks!

The Big Shop, thier largest retail facility at just over 8,000 square feet, is jam-packed with the biggest selection of LEGO merchandise in the U.S. They can also ship packages for you anywhere in the world.

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UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
2 Hours

The Hollywood location is the first of the Universal theme parks and is still home to one of the oldest and most famous movie studios. Find a full day of action-packed entertainment all in one place: Universal Studios Hollywood. With thrilling park rides and shows, daily tours of a real working movie studio and L.A’s best shops, Universal Studios Hollywood is a unique experience that’s fun for the whole family.

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KNOTT’S BERRY FARM
1 Hour 30 Min

America’s first theme park, created in 1940, is still alive and kicking today. With over 165 rides and six themed lands celebrating the Wild West, Mexico, and California beaches, among other areas. Known for their thrilling roller coaster rides, Knott’s Berry was also the first theme park to have an area designed specifically for young kids, Camp Snoopy, which is still one of the most popular attractions today. The park is also home to The Boardwalk with arcade games, live shows and many shows and attractions.

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JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK
2 Hours 15 Min

The nearly 800,000 acre park encompasses some of the most interesting geologic displays found in California’s deserts. Arroyos, playas, alluvial fans, bajadas, pediments, desert varnish, granites, aplite, and gneiss interact to form a giant desert mosaic of immense beauty and complexity.

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