What to do in Central California, CA

Activities, attractions and tours

Yosemite Valley which includes mountains and a cascade
Channel Islands National Park
Central California showing landscape views, a coastal town and general coastal views
Ventura featuring outdoor eating, signage and dining out
Ventura featuring surfing and general coastal views as well as an individual male

Central California Attractions

Let Expedia help you to experience the best that Central California has to offer! If you’re planning a trip to Central California, we can provide you with a list of the top sightseeing attractions, as well as helping you to find unmissable activities. Whether you’re travelling to Central California with your family, planning a romantic trip with your loved one, or visiting on business, we’ll make it easy to plan an unforgettable holiday that checks all the boxes.

Places of interest in Central California

Central California is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. We can help you decide where to stay in Central California, and make it a breeze to explore Central California and the surrounding areas with our guides on where to go, what to see and when to see it. No matter how long your stay, it’s easy to find places of interest in Central California to make sure that you enjoy your holiday to the fullest and don’t miss a thing. Leave the local knowledge to us and leave the hassle behind.

If you’re planning a visit to Central California, why not check out our handy guides to places of interest in the area? You can browse lists of things to do, learn about the most popular attractions, and get help with planning the details of your trip. Expedia makes it easy for you to check out all the top sights in Central California.

Central California attractions

Central California has something for everyone, so whether you’re planning to get active on a summer holiday, put a spring in your step with a romantic rendezvous, or pamper yourself with a leisurely winter trip, you’ll find plenty of attractions in Central California to keep you entertained. Expedia makes it easy to book your flight, hotel and rental car in advance, making for hassle-free travel and freeing you up to explore the sights of Central California.

Looking for things to do in Central California can be time-consuming, but we can take the hassle out of planning your holiday. Whether you’re looking to get active in the great outdoors, sample the cuisine of Central California or catch up with the vibrant local culture, our guides to Central California attractions ensure that you’ll have a successful trip, whatever the season. Happy trails!


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What to do in Central California


Popular places to visit

Explore areas of Central California

Downtown San Jose featuring heritage architecture

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.

Downtown San Jose
🚙🚗🚙🚗🚙🚗🚙🚗🚙🚗🚙 driving through #Yosemite #nationalpark #toottootbeepbeep #ruffiansroadtrip ☀🌲🍃🌲🍃🌲🍃🌲🍃🌲🍃

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.

Yosemite West
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.

Westside Santa Cruz
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 Monterey
Aerial View of Mammoth Lakes, California in Winter

Mammoth Village

While Mammoth Village isn't home to many top sights, Village Gondola Station and Sierra Star Golf Course are some notable places to visit nearby.

Mammoth Village
Sunset over Pismo Beach. #beachbound

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.

Downtown Pismo Beach

 

Looking for fun things to do nearby? Check things to do near me to find and book the best things to do, fun activities, and top attractions wherever you happen to be.

 


 

Day trip destinations from Central California

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