The Top 10 Places Locals In Southern California Love, According to OnlyInYourState Readers
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Natasha Kayes
Author
I am an avid traveler and know there is nothing like the experience of discovering new places and experiences. Of course, here at home, I have my favorite spots – my “happy places” – where I return again and again. I’m not sure I could narrow it down to just one place, but that’s what we recently asked our Only in Southern California readers to do! Are you curious to know what Southern Californians’ favorite spots are? Out of hundreds of responses, here are the top 10 places in Southern California where locals love to go.
1. San Diego
More than any other place in Southern California, it seems Southern Californians love to go to San Diego! It’s no wonder, really, because there is just so much to explore. San Diego really does have it all, from the historic Old Town and Gaslamp District to the stunning gardens, architecture, and zoo in Balboa Park to the amazing beaches of La Jolla and Coronado.
2. The Beach
One of the top answers to the question, “What is your favorite place to go in Southern California?” is always going to be “the beach!” The beach, any beach, is definitely my happy place. Some specific beaches that our readers mentioned were Malibu, Santa Monica, and Ventura - and of course, enjoying all of them on a drive down the Pacific Coast Highway.
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3. Orange County Beach Cities
If you have never visited the beach towns in SoCal’s Orange County, you are missing out. Each of these little cities - including Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, Dana Point, and Seal Beach - is incredibly unique. From islands and gondola canal rides to rocky bluffs and pristine beaches to incredible shopping, dining, and hotels (like this hotel right on the water!), locals and visitors alike fall in love when they spend time on this part of the coast.
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4. Santa Barbara
Another place locals love to go is Santa Barbara. This small city has so much to offer - loads of character and history, amazing architecture, botanical gardens, an urban wine trail, and a walkable main street lined with boutique shops and fantastic restaurants that leads to a historic wharf.
5. Amusement Parks
Many of us grew up going to our iconic theme parks and we still love having them here in our own backyard. From the fairytale magic of Disneyland and California Adventure to the hair-raising rides at Six Flags Magic Mountain to the family-focused vibes and attractions at Knott’s Berry Farm, SoCal amusement parks just never get old.
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6. Catalina
Who could argue with a beautiful island getaway just on hour away by ferry? Deep turquoise water, an adorable waterfront town, backcountry tours, water adventures, a one-of-a-kind historic theater building… need I say more?
7. Solvang
At the northern edge of Santa Barbara County is one of my favorite places to go, and clearly I am not alone. Solvang is just the cutest little Danish town! It is a walkable village with awesome little boutique shops, mouthwatering bakeries, wine tasting, great restaurants, windmills, lovely hotels, and a horse-drawn trolley - the perfect place to play tourist in our own state.
8. The Desert
This one may surprise a lot of people, but many locals love to head for the desert, whether it is Hollywood’s favorite getaway town of Palm Springs, camping and hiking in Joshua Tree National Park, or exploring the otherworldly landscapes in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
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9. Griffith Park Observatory
Not only do locals love to bring out-of-towners to Griffith Park Observatory, we just love spending time there, whether it is lighting up the Tesla Coil in the museum, learning about the universe in the Planetarium, peering through one of the powerful telescopes, or just enjoying the spectacular views over LA.
10. Mountain Resort Towns
Rounding out the top ten favorite places locals love to go are the mountain towns of Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead, not far from each other. Though beautiful and well-loved all year long, both towns are especially popular during the winter. These picture-perfect towns are simply enchanting when blanketed in snow and have some amazing ski resorts.
Honorable Mention - Home
Since it’s not a specific place, it didn’t technically make the top ten, but when asked what their favorite place to go is, one of the top three most common responses was “home,” which just goes to prove that this is a great place to live and wherever we happen to live in the state, we just love it here.
So, whether or not you live here, is one of your favorite Southern California destinations on this list? Tell us where you love to go! Follow Only In Southern California for tons of inspiration and to share your own favorites and photos. Planning a trip in SoCal? Check out some of the best and most highly-rated places to stay here!
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