7 Fantastic Factory Tours You Can Only Take In Southern California
By Natasha Kayes|Published January 03, 2023
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Natasha Kayes
Author
I was born and raised in sunny Southern California and will never tire of the West Coast, although I spent several years living in Southeast Asia, about as far from California as you can get. Wherever I am in the world, I love straying from the beaten path, experiencing local life, and discovering hidden gems - camera in hand. The beach is my happy place and when I am not there (or writing), you will usually find me baking, watching movies, and cuddling my pugs. I have traveled around the country and around the world, and it never, ever gets old. Being able to combine my passion for travel and my love of writing is nothing short of a dream.
From bread to candy and vehicles to musical instruments, there are so many things produced in Southern California. It is one thing to enjoy a high-quality finished product, but even better to see firsthand the work and skill that goes into making it. Get a sort of backstage pass with these seven factory tours in Southern California and see how some wonderful products come together.
Who doesn’t love fresh bread, from that amazing smell to the soft and crusty texture? Tour San Diego’s Bread and Cie to see the process that turns dough into an irresistible finished loaf. On your tour, you will explore the factory and walk-in freezer, sample breads, and learn all the little things that bakers do to produce their goods. You definitely won’t want to leave without purchasing some breads or other baked goods to take home.
If you have ever wondered how a quality mattress is made, we suggest a tour of the family-owned Custom Comfort Mattress factory. This is a great tour for adults, kids, and school groups. These mattresses are hand-crafted and you will get a chance to see each aspect of the process that goes into making each made-to-order luxury mattress. On your tour, you will be able to examine materials and fabrics, view sewing machines and equipment in use, and see mattresses being hand-sewn. You will definitely appreciate your own mattress differently when you get home.
Le Caramel is a family bakery that made its start as a small business with a traditional French sea salt caramel cream product and has become a large award-winning caramel factory. You can take a free tour of this sweet factory to learn the story behind this caramel, how it is cooked and cooled, and the equipment used in production. You will have a chance to sample a fresh piece of caramel before heading to the shop to stock up on sweet, caramel goodies.
Lancy Camper has been making the world’s finest RVs since 1965, and you can go behind the scenes at their state-of-the-art factory in Antelope Valley. See firsthand the craftsmanship that goes into what has been called America’s favorite truck campers. The expansive 141,000-square-foot facility is open for tours by appointment only and can be requested on their website.
Have you ever wished you could enter the world of Willy Wonka? For chocolate fans 10 years of age or older, the Chuao Chocolatier factory tour is like a dream come true. Chuao is a Venezuelan chocolate factory and on your tour you will learn about its history, see how mouthwatering chocolates and truffles are made, and of course, enjoy plenty of free samples. Don’t forget to drop in to the store and buy some chocolate to bring home with you.
2350 Camino Vida Roble #101, Carlsbad, CA 92011, USA
Touring the Fender Factory and Custom Shop will give you a close-up view of the beginning-to-end processes that turn raw materials into some of the world’s most popular guitars and other instruments. You will observe each stage of production in the wood mill, the metal shop, and the final assembly area. End your tour at the “Dream Factory,” the famous Fender custom shop.
Get the inside scoop on how beer is produced and bottled on your tour of Stone Brewery. Children must be over 12 years old to join the tour, Adults over 21 are able to enjoy four samples of the delicious beers and take home a souvenir glass. After your tour, explore the beautiful one-acre beer garden and enjoy a meal at the huge bistro. There are 36 beers on tap and a long list of wines to accompany your meal.
Have you had the chance to take any of these awesome tours in Southern California? Share your tour experiences with us in the comments. If you love tours, check out these other amazing tours you can take in SoCal.
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