California offers vacation fun for everyone. Whether you want to sunbathe on the beach or hike challenging mountain trails, sunshine, and adventure await you in the Golden State.
However, planning your trip lets you take advantage of the state’s many festivals. Here’s what to add to your itinerary of California vacation ideas, depending on when and where you visit.
If You Go in the Spring
If you head to California in spring, you can take advantage of multiple festivals that honor the sun’s return and remind you to connect with your playful side.
1. Spring Celebrations: Faith, Culture and Community
What are Baha’i Naw-Ruz, Holi, Ramadan and Eid-al-Fitr? The West Hollywood Library informs visitors about spring celebrations and their meaning to the faithful. Expand your horizons and learn how other people worship before throwing a spring picnic feast for yourself and your traveling companions at the Los Angeles County Arboretum.
2. Joshua Tree Music Festival
Joshua Tree National Monument comes alive in the spring as multiple cactus blooms bring a burst of color onto the scene. What better way to celebrate the new season than with a four-day extravaganza of great music and vibes? Make your reservation for one of the three park campsites early and bring your RV — or rent one. You could save money by not booking a hotel.
3. Lodi Comic Con
Add Lodi Comic Con to your California vacation ideas itinerary if you love to get in costume and make-believe. Meet scores of your favorite creators and get autographs galore. Then, stock up on unique toys, comic books and memorabilia.
If You Visit in the Summer
Summer heats up in California, making it the perfect time to head to the beach and work on your tan. However, there are also plenty of festivals when you grow weary of perfecting your bronze and crave a little excitement.
1. Country Summer 2024
Country music lovers rejoice. This festival takes place in Napa wine country and offers a full weekend of entertainment in beautiful Santa Rosa. With artists like Brett Hayes and Jo Dee Messina, you’re sure to have a boot-scootin’ good time. Here’s another location to bring the RV or book an experience package with the hotel included.
2. Mammoth Festival of Beer and Bluesapalooza
Even those who don’t come for the beer will stay for the blues at this great festival. Nestled in the pines at Mammoth Lake, this ski resort comes alive with a celebration that offers a cool getaway when the weather heats up. There are plenty of tunes, food, and retail displays to make your getaway complete.
3. California Is for Lovers Festival
Do you and your beloved need to reconnect? Book a second honeymoon with this California vacation idea. This festival features fun tunes and scores of retailers with offerings to help you rekindle your romance. Stay at a romantic hotel like the Millennium Biltmore or the Delphi.
If You Plan for the Fall
Autumn is a fabulous time to drive the Pacific Coast Highway. Along the way, stop and hit up these great festivals on your California vacation.
1. Ohana Festival
If you crave the classic tunes of your childhood, take a nostalgic journey at the Ohana Festival on Doheny State Beach, Dana Point, California. With artists like Neil Young, Pearl Jam and Alanis Morrisette, you’re guaranteed to rock out and reminisce. Those traveling on a budget should book early for reservations to camp on the beach and fall asleep to the sound of ocean waves.
2. Aftershock
Hardcore rockers should plan their California vacation around Aftershock. This festival features artists like Slipknot, Motley Crue, Slayer and Iron Maiden to make you bang your head until metal health drives you mad. If you’re on a tight budget, investigate volunteering opportunities to score free passes to the four-day event.
3. Napa Valley Grape Harvest
Perhaps a glass of a fine vintage is more your style than a mosh pit. If so, plan your California vacation for October through November. Go early in the harvest season if you prefer whites, or go sideways with your favorite pinot noir when they collect the deep reds later, after providing sufficient maturation time to produce that ruby goodness.
If You Escape During the Winter
If you find yourself California dreaming on a winter’s day, escape to one of these festivals with the following vacation ideas.
1. Winterfest
If you thought Rockefeller Center had it all, you haven’t been to Winterfest at San Francisco’s Great America park. While you might experience damp, chilly weather, a blizzard is unlikely to disrupt your plans to ice skate around the Carousel Columbia. With more than 60 rides and attractions, like writing letters to Santa, this getaway is fun for the whole family.
2. Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet
Get lost in a world of holiday imagination with the Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet at the historic Ford Theater. Book a pre-show signing with one of the performers and stay at the Hollywood Roosevelt, another establishment with a past, having once housed the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable.
3. Winter San Francisco Crystal Fair
Are you seeking one-of-a-kind holiday gifts? If so, book your California vacation for Nov. 30 through Dec. 1 to hit the San Francisco Crystal Fair. Learn about the sacred geometry inherent in these unique structures and find one with the right vibration for everyone on your gift list.
Plan Your California Vacation
Any time of year is perfect for visiting the Golden State. With a varied topography and climate and an active festival scene, there’s something to do every season.
Plan your next getaway around these fun California vacation ideas. You’ll add plenty of entertainment to your itinerary and have a memorable time.
Jack Shaw is the senior writer for Modded, a men’s lifestyle publication. An avid outdoorsman and lover of travel, he’ll often find himself taking retreats out into nature to explore the world and encourage others to do the same. Feel free to connect with him via LinkedIn.