California - the ultimate dream vacation of many with a variety of everything - landscapes, cities, cultures. You probably have heard a great deal about The Golden State, even if you have never actually been there. Of course - it's hella amazing! You can find sunny beaches, impressive deserts, rugged coastlines, big cities, charming villages, exciting mountains and so much more in this area.
However, there are some facts that you might not know when you are travelling to California for the fist time. That is why you can find a list of important facts for first time travelers to California in this post.
THE PACIFIC OCEAN IS FREEZING.
I repeat: THE PACIFIC OCEAN IS FREEZING. Just because the weather is warm and the sun burns like hell doesn't mean that the Pacific Ocean is warm, too! You can surely swim or surf in it but don't expect nice and warm temperatures at any time during the year. The average temperature is between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit (10 to 16 degrees Celsius). Growing up far away from California with images from "The O.C." in my head I always assumed the water would be warm. Be aware. It isn't.
Earthquakes may be frequent, but not necessarily big.
There have been some major earthquakes in California in the past. Growing up in Germany I never experienced an earthquake that was even remotely recognizable...EVER. Earthquakes just aren't a thing in Germany. Thus, I did not have the slightest idea what to do when I moved to San Francisco. And honestly - I also didn't take the matter very seriously until people started telling me I really should have emergency water containers at home and my office had to renew earthquake emergency kits. However and not unlike many Californians who lived in the area for their whole life, I never experienced a big earthquake while living in California. Smaller earthquakes actually happen very frequently, but so far I have not experienced a major one. There are various apps out there, which let you track seismic activities around the globe. Those give you a good idea about the frequency and magnitude.
Plan your visit to the National Parks in advance.
There are quite a few reasons to be a planner when it comes to national parks. The weather conditions can change dramatically during the seasons so you might want to consider during which time of the year you are going. If for example you would like to see the waterfalls at Yosemite, you should definitely avoid the summer months where the weather in California is usually very dry. Furthermore, a lot of parks require permissions for camping or certain hikes, so it is always good to gather information about where to get them and how long it takes. Being the proud owner of a permit might also set you apart from other tourists and enable you to enjoy a nature experience further away from the masses of tourists. California is amazing - you surely didn't expect to be the only person visiting.
There's more than San Francisco and Los Angeles. A lot more.
I say California, you say LA. I get it - lots of stuff is happening there. Of course, you've also heard about San Francisco, Yosemite, San Diego, or Highway 101. And don't get me wrong - all of these are beautiful places and you should visit whenever you can! But there's still more. Have you heard of Point Reyes, Los Padres National Forest, Mojave National Reserve, or the massive farmland around Salinas? Oh and then there's also Monterey Bay, Big Sur, Napa Valley, and Lake Tahoe! There are a lot of places worth checking out so make sure to do your research before you head over.
You can go swimming, surfing, skiing and hike in the desert - all in one day.
Seriously. Maybe you don't necessarily want to, in order to make sure you really enjoy everything to the fullest. However, Southern California is one of the rare regions on this planet with three different climates. If you are up for a fun adventure, you might want to consider completing the Trifecta Challenge - desert, snow, and ocean - all in one day.
The PCH never gets old.
I strongly recommend driving down the 101 and listen to Phantom Planet "California". More than once. The drive is simply magnificent and there's no better soundtrack than this. When I first drove down the PCH I could not believe how beautiful it was. But even after commuting up and down the coast for several years during college, my boyfriend is equally excited about the drive so believe me when I say it never. gets. old.
Hollywood isn't as glamorous as you might think.
The Walk of Fame definitely made it to the most disappointing sights I've visited so far. I'd never say don't go because I know that sometimes you just have to check things off of your Bucket List and everyone has to make their own experience and might have a different opinion. However, Hollywood is full of tourist traps, wannabe artists, and panhandlers. After all, it is another part of the city - and not a fancy club where only famous and beautiful people have access.
There is good Mexican food - and then there's amazing Mexican food.
However, California ruined my opinion about Mexican food forever. I didn't use to be a super big fan of Mexican food (it is also not very big in Germany). However, you just have to love Californian Mexican food. So it came that I discovered my love for Mexican food when I was living in California. The bad thing - everywhere else it's worse. I've been disappointed time and time again when eating Mexican food outside of California. Damn you, amazing Californian Mexican food!
Any time is a good time to visit the Golden State.
Good weather, all year long. So go whenever. As long as you go. And this is all I have to say about that. . .
Have you been to California? If yes - what did you like and what not? And do you have any other tips or recommendations for people who are visiting California for the first time?
Kate recommends: East of Eden is John Steinbeck’s opus Magnus and was published in 1952. The majority of the plot is set in the Salinas Valley, California, and tells the stories of two families. Steinbeck himself actually makes a short appearance as a Young character in the novel.