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.
Hawaii would be another option. You can almost feel that warm ocean water right now, but remember that there are offsetting advantages to the Golden State. There’s a friendly comparison between vacations in California vs. Hawaii at the SoCal Vacation Guru that you might find interesting. The beaches in SoCal do not have as many rock outcroppings and the sun is less intense (as is the humidity). The water temperature is higher in the Aloha state, but in the middle of summer, the cooler water can be more refreshing.
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.
Southern California offers much more than great beaches. Don’t forget about the seven world-class theme parks waiting for your visit. Knott’s Berry Farm and Magic Mountain offer some great roller coasters, among many other attractions. You’ll discover many intimidating coasters and thrill rides at Knott’s and Six Flags. 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. California is probably a more budget-friendly summer travel option, but now and then you really do need to get over to Hawaii.
