Things to do in Central California

Activities, attractions and tours

Visit Central California

Types of activities

Where to stay

Central California travel guide

Yosemite Valley featuring mountains and a waterfall

Central California which includes general coastal views, landscape views and a coastal town

Ventura featuring dining out, night scenes and outdoor eating

Ventura featuring surfing and general coastal views as well as an individual male

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Top places to visit

1. Yosemite Valley

Yosemite Valley is the emerald green heart of Yosemite National Park. Marvel at the soaring granite walls, including some of the park’s most iconic landmarks, flanking this 8-mile (13-kilometer) canyon.

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2. Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is an area of extraordinary natural beauty in the center of California. It has abundant flora and fauna in addition to majestic mountains, giant trees, vast valleys and peaceful lakes. Every year, millions of travelers visit the park, which stretches across 747,956 acres (302,687 hectares). Glaciers formed the fascinating landscape about 1 million years ago.

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Yosemite Falls which includes a waterfall and mountains

3. Monterey Bay Aquarium

The Monterey Bay Aquarium showcases more than 35,000 animals and plants across 550 species. You’ll discover all kinds of local wildlife here, including fish of all sizes, invertebrates, mammals and plants.

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Monterey Bay Aquarium which includes interior views and marine life

4. Death Valley National Park

Death Valley National Park is the continental United States’ largest park. It’s also the hottest, driest and lowest. Despite harsh conditions, the park’s more than 3 million acres (1.3 million hectares) aren’t simply desert plains. Find mountains, canyons, sand dunes, extinct volcanic craters and even palm trees and wildflowers.

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Death Valley featuring desert views and tranquil scenes as well as a small group of people

5. Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort

Just like its name suggests, Mammoth ski resort offers some hairy features, such as the 22-foot Super-Duper Pipe along, the 18-foot Super Pipe, and the Mini Pipe, making the resort the only one in North America featuring three different-sized half pipes. What’s more, Mammoth offers eight highly regarded terrain parks, where Olympic athletes and top professionals train and perform. Land tricks and stunts alongside the professionals as you challenge yourself to the rails, jumps, jib lines, and more at these parks.

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Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort showing snowboarding and snow

6. Cannery Row

Discover the leisure attractions along the historic street of Cannery Row. Once a thriving and rather smelly sardine-canning district, today this strip of coast offers fun for the whole family. Peruse the specialty shops and art galleries, dine in seafood restaurants, take the kids to Monterey Bay Aquarium and enjoy watersports in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

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Cannery Row which includes a beach as well as a small group of people

What to do in Central California

Popular places to visit

Yosemite Valley

5/5(63 reviews)

From Yosemite Falls to Half Dome and El Capitan, you can see some of the most stunning scenery in the world from Yosemite National Park’s central valley.

Yosemite National Park

The hiking trails, waterfalls and mountains full of diverse wildlife make this national park one of the country’s most picturesque.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

4.5/5(29 reviews)

Perched on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, you’ll find a spectacular window into life both above and below the waves.

Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort

4.5/5(4 reviews)

When it comes to California skiing, Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort is the mammoth of all ski resorts on the West Coast. Boasting the highest summit of any other CA ski resort, along with an average of 400 inches of snowfall each season, Mammoth ski resort in Mammoth Lakes is a snow mecca for both skiers and riders.

Hearst Castle

5/5(21 reviews)

You can learn about the local history of San Simeon during your trip to a top site such as Hearst Castle. Wander the area's seaside or simply enjoy one of its top-notch restaurants.

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

4/5(41 reviews)

Have a fun-filled day with the family at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk during your visit to Santa Cruz. Attend a sporting event in this walkable area or seek out the cycling trails.

Cannery Row

4/5(64 reviews)

Luxury, leisure and nature come together at this historic sardine-canning district, which is one of Monterey’s most acclaimed recreational areas.

Carmel Beach

4.5/5(60 reviews)

Spot birds or catch waves, then spread out a picnic by a campfire and enjoy the views at this picturesque beach.

Sequoia National Park showing forest scenes as well as an individual female

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

Be humbled by nature at its most impressive in these two breathtaking national parks, home to some of the largest living things on this planet.

Areas of Central California

Downtown San Jose

3.5/5(5 area reviews)

Known for its fascinating museums and great live music, there's plenty to explore in Downtown San Jose. You can visit top attractions like SAP Center at San Jose and San Pedro Square, and jump on the metro at Santa Clara Station or St James Station to see more of the city.

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Yosemite West

You'll enjoy the waterfalls and riverfront in Yosemite West. You might want to make time for a stop at Yosemite National Park or Sierra National Forest.

This is a small state park at the northern end of Santa Cruz' scenic West Cliff Drive and a little over a mile from the Boardwalk, wharf and Main Beach. A couple of times a year you can see Monarch butterflies during their migration. They are not in the numbers of years past, but you'll still see some.

If you walk north towards the rocks during low tide you will find some amazing tidepools full of sea anenomes, sea urchins, starfish, crabs, hermit crabs, and all sorts of marine life. The tidepools are on a ledge, so the tide needs to be quite high

Westside Santa Cruz

4/5(31 area reviews)

Travellers to Westside Santa Cruz praise its stunning beaches. If you've got some more time to explore, be sure to stop by Monterey Bay and Pacific Avenue.

Following highway 1 south out of Monterey you get views like this

Downtown Monterey

4/5(31 area reviews)

The pristine beaches and popular aquarium are top of the list for many visitors to Downtown Monterey. A stop by Monterey State Beach or Golden State Theatre might round out your trip.

Downtown Pismo Beach

4/5(15 area reviews)

If you're spending some time in Downtown Pismo Beach, Pismo State Beach and Pismo Beach Surf Shop are top sights worth seeing.

Golden Rectangle

5/5(11 area reviews)

While visiting Golden Rectangle, you might make a stop by sights like Carmel Plaza and Carmel Beach.

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