As we watch our vacation budgets carefully, a question that arises is “Where’s a great destination with lots of variety?” Southern California would be a good possibility for your summer travel planning. It’s got the beaches, theme parks, roller coasters, Hollywood and lots more.
The beautiful state of Hawaii should also be on the list, if you find a good deal on airfare. Although those warm beaches are hard to resist, there’s not as much variety in vacation options as California. There’s a friendly comparison between vacations in California vs. Hawaii at the SoCal Vacation Guru that you might find interesting. Keep in mind that there are way fewer underwater rocks to worry about in the California surf, and the humidity and sun intensity are a little easier to handle in the summer. You’ll find the ocean water to be warmer in the Aloha State, but the cooler California water might actually seem more inviting on a hot summer day.
Of course, the vegetation in Hawaii is often magnificent and the local culture adds much to the experience. But don’t forget the melting pot of many different cultures to be experienced in California, as well as the mountains, desert and coastline.
The beach is not the only attraction in Southern California. There are a half-dozen major theme parks to be visited. Don’t forget about the seven world-class theme parks waiting for your visit. In particular, Six Flags Magic Mountain and Knott’s Berry Farm top the list for thrill rides, with the Six Flags roller coasters being in especially great abundance and variety. Those parks both boast many coasters and similar adrenaline-pumping rides. In fact, they offer more thrill rides than Disneyland, although the Magic Kingdom does include some fast attractions such as the Matterhorn and Space Mountain.
There aren’t many roller coasters to be found in Hawaii, unless you consider wintertime surfing to qualify in that category. In terms of the budget, there may be great vacation specials to both destinations, but you can drive to California if airfare is too costly.