Top Tourist Attractions in California

One of the best things about California is that it's one of the most diverse states in terms of geography and activities to do. Many visitors are astounded by how much variety there is between different California regions, making it a popular travel destination for many.

Disneyland

Disneyland is the original Disney theme park, located in Anaheim, California. It opened on July 17, 1955, and was the first of its kind to be designed and built under the direct supervision of Walt Disney. Disneyland is also the only theme park that is owned by The Walt Disney Company.

The idea for this particular location came from a visit made by Walt Disney's parents to Griffith Park in Los Angeles when he was just five years old (he spent most of his childhood there). They were so taken aback by Hollywood's lack of beauty that they decided to build something better at home!

As you might expect from such an iconic attraction, Disneyland isn't exactly small: it covers about 100 acres with about 60 rides (including some really excellent roller coasters). There are also opportunities for guests to meet characters from their favorite TV shows and movies as well as enjoy live entertainment in different areas throughout their day at the park!

Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge that spans the Golden Gate, connecting San Francisco with the Marin County. It is the most famous and one of the most photographed bridges in the world. At 1,200 feet (366 m), it was once ranked fifth among the longest suspension bridges worldwide but has since been surpassed by other structures such as China's Beipanjiang Bridge and New Mexico's Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. The bridge has become an icon of San Francisco, as well as an American symbol of freedom/liberty.

The idea for building a bridge across this strait was first proposed in 1872 by James Wilkins; however, due to political wrangling over financing and environmental concerns regarding construction methods, nothing came out of those plans until Joseph Strauss won a contract for design and construction in January 1936 (the winning bid was $20 million). Construction began on February 27th that same year; eighteen months later on May 27th 1937 - after 442 days - workers lifted one end of their final girder into place atop Yerba Buena Island as President Franklin D Roosevelt pushed its final rivet into place before standing on top of it himself while wearing his trademark fedora hat! On May 28th 1937 at 8:00am local time he opened America’s newest landmark where he spoke through loudspeakers mounted within each tower saying "This great engineering feat will long be remembered as one representing many years cooperation between federal agents who planned its development...and state government officials who marshaled resources necessary."

Legoland California

Legoland California is a theme park built around Lego-themed rides and attractions. The park is located in Carlsbad, California and owned by Merlin Entertainments. It was opened in 1999 on the site of the former SeaWorld San Diego aquatic park.

The park includes Miniland USA (an area with replicas of San Francisco and other major cities), as well as numerous rides and attractions based on Lego's toy range, including Bionicle: Ride & Roll, Ninjago: The Ride, Lego Star Wars Miniland Experience and The Great Lego Race Coaster.

It also features a waterpark called Legoland Water Park, which has many slides such as Aquazone Wave Pool or Runaway Mine Train Slides; it opened in 2001 as part of the expansion of Legoland California into Legoland Water Park Resort.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood is a must-see for movie buffs, but not just because of its rich history and celebrity culture. This 3-hour studio tour takes you through the sets of famous films like Casablanca, Harry Potter and The Matrix Reloaded. You'll get to see where all the magic happens—even if it isn't actually real magic (we promise).

There are also rides, shows and attractions throughout the park that add an extra layer of fun for kids and adults alike (though it should be noted that little ones under six years old aren't allowed on this ride).

Universal Studios Hollywood

Universal Studios Hollywood is a working production studio, theme park, and resort located in Universal City, California. The park opened on June 7, 1915 as the Universal Film Manufacturing Company to produce silent films. Some of the early films produced here include: "The Perils of Pauline" (1914), "The Patchwork Girl of Oz" (1914) and "Cops" (1922).

In 1923 it was bought by Carl Laemmle who changed the name to Universal City Studios before finally settling on its present day title in 1958. You can see some impressive history at this location including an authentic backlot where many films have been shot such as: "King Kong" (1933), "Back To The Future Part III” (1990) and “Fast & Furious 6” (2013).

There are also plenty of rides for those interested in getting out on the roller coasters or other attractions such as Fear Factor Live stage show which takes place inside a giant warehouse space where many scenes from popular movies were filmed like: “The Avengers", Batman Begins", Iron Man II and Transformers 3."

Santa Monica Pier

Located at the end of Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica, this pier is a great place to spend a day. There’s plenty to do and see, and it’s near other popular points of interest like Venice Beach and Muscle Beach.

You can ride on one of the many carnival rides or play games like Skee-Ball, which has been around since 1909! If you're feeling hungry, there are plenty of food stands featuring everything from ice cream to funnel cakes. You can also enjoy some live music or catch an iconic view from a ride in one of the ferris wheels overlooking the beach.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)

LACMA is located in Los Angeles, California. It is one of the largest art museums in the United States and it has an extensive collection that covers a wide range of periods, styles and cultures. LACMA also hosts a variety of traveling exhibitions from around the world.

If you are interested in art or history and want to learn more about these topics, visiting LACMA will be a great way for you to expand your knowledge while having fun at the same time!

The museum offers free admission on their first Wednesday each month so it's perfect if you're planning on visiting other attractions nearby such as Hollywood Walk Of Fame or Griffith Observatory (they charge normal entrance fees).

The Getty Center

The Getty Center is a museum and cultural center in Los Angeles, California. It's one of the most famous tourist attractions in the state, with over five million visitors every year. The museum is located at 1200 Getty Center Drive in Brentwood and has parking for 7,000 vehicles.

The museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 am to 5 pm, Saturday from 9:30 am to 6 pm, Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm; closed Mondays except holidays that fall on a Monday (including New Year's Day). There is a fee for admission to the facility but free admission on the third Thursday evening of each month from 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm as well as free access during some days/hours for LA County residents with proof of residency within LA County or adjacent counties (Ventura/Santa Barbara).

After entering through security screening upon arrival at the main entrance plaza you can proceed directly into the Museum Courtyard where there are several eateries available (not included in admission price) including an outdoor cafe serving lunch items such as sandwiches plus snacks like pretzels & potato chips which may come in handy if you forget something before heading out! You'll also find restrooms here along with information desks where staff can answer questions about visiting procedures etc...

When touring inside one must first purchase tickets prior coming back later so they'll be ready when needed inside buildings where tickets need scanning before proceeding further into exhibits houses containing artifacts displayed throughout various areas ranging from paintings & sculptures - jewelry  to furniture pieces which attendees might admire while viewing them up close! There are guided tours available throughout each day as well," said one visitor who recently visited last week."

Griffith Observatory

Griffith Observatory is a popular tourist attraction in Los Angeles, California. Its mission statement is to "exhibit and interpret the phenomena of the surrounding region, including its people and history." The observatory is open to the public and free of charge. It has a planetarium and a large collection of space artifacts, including an extensive archive that houses more than 1 million photographs, hundreds of thousands of astronomical slides, nearly 250 terrestrial globes (including one dating back to 1592), 70 lunar models and several rare telescopes.

The observatory houses two research facilities: the Center for Planetary Science and Exploration (CPSX) and the Leonard D. Abess Planetarium & Space Theater. CPSX focuses on exploration within our solar system while providing educational outreach programs for school groups. 

Yosemite National Park

If you're looking for a place to visit that has it all, look no further than Yosemite National Park. Located in California's Sierra Nevada mountains, this national park is home to some of the most stunning natural wonders in existence.

Yosemite is perhaps best known for its waterfalls: there are over 2,000 cascades and falls within the boundaries of Yosemite National Park! The park also has over 2 million acres filled with wildlife such as black bears, mountain lions and bighorn sheep.

The scenery at Yosemite changes throughout the year thanks to its diverse environment: there are about 3,000 types of plants that grow here! You can find everything from oak trees to cactus plants growing well within these borders; it's truly amazing what Mother Nature can do!

California has many great tourist attractions to offer including some of the most famous theme parks in the world.

California has many great tourist attractions to offer including some of the most famous theme parks in the world. Disneyland is the most visited theme park in the world and Universal Studios Hollywood is one of the most visited theme parks in Southern California. The Golden Gate Bridge is also one of California's most popular tourist attractions, but it's actually not located in San Francisco—it spans over half a mile between San Francisco and Marin County.

The Santa Monica Pier is another one of Los Angeles' top tourist attractions, offering beachfront dining, shopping and entertainment options for visitors looking to experience something new while visiting this bustling metropolis.

Conclusion

We hope our list of the best places to visit in California has given you some inspiration for your next trip! There are so many things to do in California and even more places to explore. Don’t miss out on visiting these historical landmarks or taking a stroll through some of these fascinating parks. You could spend weeks exploring all that California has to offer, so be sure to make time for everything that interests you while planning your trip!