car light trails in Joshua Tree National Park

CALIFORNIA

It's called the Golden State for a reason...

California will always hold a special place in our hearts because it's where we met and fell in love! Scott's from Huntington Beach, just southeast of Los Angeles, and Megan moved to Laguna Beach to pursue a career in fashion over a decade ago! We met right before Scott was preparing to move to Korea and teach English. Well, lo and behold, Megan's dream job wasn't much of a dream, and she left to teach in Korea too, and that's how Bobo & Chichi was born! Fast forward a few years, and we had one of our weddings on a secluded little beach in Laguna right where Megan used to live.

Given that we've both spent significant chunks of our lives getting to call California home, we can safely say there's a reason people flock here and want to stay! Because it's such a long state (if you look at a map of the west coast, about 1/4 of the US coastline is shared between Washington and Oregon and then 3/4 is all California), there's truly something for everyone.

Head up north to check out wineries in Napa and Sonoma valleys. Explore hilly San Francisco until your calves burn. Visit the many incredible national Parks like Yosemite, Death Valley, Redwood, and more. Road trip down to sunny Southern California (with a stop in the very underrated San Luis Obispo in Central California along the way) to check out both the coast and the desert. Find the best photo spots of the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles. Make a weekend or day trip out to Catalina Island. Check out all the beautiful beaches in Orange County including some of our favorite small California beach towns. Do not skip San Diego, especially Balboa Park. Head inland to visit some incredible desert destinations like Joshua Tree and Palm Springs. Heck, if you want some snowboarding or skiing, you just need to plan a trip to Big Bear Mountain or Mammoth Mountain.

There's seriously so much to do and see in California, that even we, who collectively have lived here for a good portion of our lives, haven't even begun to scratch the surface!

QUICK TIPS for visiting CALIFORNIA

When to Visit: Lucky for you, California has some of the best weather in the whole country, especially Southern California which is pretty much just summer 365 days of the year (though June gloom is a thing). Keep in mind for Northern California that it does get cooler than you'd expect in the summer, especially in the mountains and even in San Francisco, so bring a light coat even if you don't think you'll need it.

Language: English, but it can't hurt to know a little Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, or Korean!

Currency: The dollar (USD). (1 USD = ~.9 EUR or ~.75 GBP OR ~1.25 CAD)

Card-Friendly? Like most of the US, California is extremely card-friendly. It's always good to have a little cash on hand just in case though.

Getting Around: You definitely will need a car anywhere you go in California, even the cities!

Safety: Over all, California is fairly safe, though the cities all have the same issues you'd find in any metropolis. Keep in mind carjackings are on the rise in some cities as is petty theft and scamming, so be smart. If you're walking, don't stop to engage, and keep all valuables hidden away in your trunk.

JUMP TO AN AREA BELOW

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California

Road Trip Guides

Golden-Gate-bridge-in-San-Francisco-by-Katie-Hinkle
25+ Scenic Stops on the San Francisco to San Diego Drive
Ventura Pier at Sunset in Ventura California
The Perfect 5 Days in Southern California Road Trip Itinerary
windmill in Solvang California
The Perfect 3 Day California Road Trip Itinerary

Explore By Region

LOS ANGELES

Hollywood Sign Los Angeles
Best Hollywood Sign Photo Spots
Matador Beach in Malibu
AWESOME Day Trips from Los Angeles

soUTHERN calIFORNIA towns

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25 Amazing Things to do in Encinitas
Victoria Beach Pirate Tower Laguna Beach
Local’s Guide to Laguna Beach
Downtown Ventura California
Amazing Things to do in Ventura

SAN DIEGO

retro beach cabanas on Coronado in San Diego
The Best Things to do in San Diego for a First Time Visitor
Botanic Building at Balboa Park in San Diego
Your Perfect 3 Day San Diego Itinerary
Villa Capri hotel exterior on Coronado in San Diego California
One Stop Guide for Where to Stay in San Diego

CATALINA ISLAND

Catalina Island
Amazing Things to do in Catalina Island (Local’s Picks)
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The Perfect Catalina Island Day Trip Guide
Megan enjoying the incredible views of Catalina island interior
27 Photos that Will Inspire you to Visit Catalina Island

Northern california

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More Than Yosemite: Things to do in Tuolumne
Golden-Gate-bridge-in-San-Francisco-by-Katie-Hinkle
Local’s Guide to the Best Things to do in Laguna Beach

OTHER SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SPOTS

Best Things to do in PalmSprings
Perfect Weekend in Palm Springs Guide
Megan standing by a tree at Joshua Tree National Park
Your One Stop Guide for Best Things to do in Joshua Tree
Looking off at Big Bear Lake from one of the runs at Snow Summit in Big Bear
Big Bear Mountain – A SOCAL Winter Getaway
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All the Awesome Things to do at the Salton Sea