California tourist attractions are numerous and diverse. Whether you enjoy cities, mountains, forests or oceans, the State of California offers more variety than any other state in the U.S. Hikers and mountain bikers will love the mountains of California. Skiers and snowboarders can pursue powder days at the Lake Tahoe and Mammoth Ski resorts. Geology enthusiasts can experience the wonder of the Mount Shasta Volcano. If you are interested in military history, pay a visit to the USS Mount Whitney. Oenophiles will be delighted with the California Wine Country. Fans of the Silver Screen will enjoy the glitter and glamour of Hollywood. There are California tourist attractions for every taste.
In addition to the traditional California tourist attractions, there are a number of unique of humorous attractions that should be explored. For example, do you remember Pez dispensers? If you harbor fond memories of this popular childhood treat, you will be delighted by the Museum of Pez Memorabilia. Located just a few miles from the San Francisco Airport, this museum displays every Pez dispenser ever made.
In addition to the dispensers made by Pez, there has been an underground “fantasy Pez” market. The museum contains one of the outrageous “Hitler” Pez dispensers which the Pez lawyers cracked down on. Apparently, the counterfeiter painted the Hitler face on a generic Pez dispenser. Given that Pez is an Austrian company, they were not amused.
Balancing the quirky attractions with the traditional can make for a fantastic trip. In order to make the most of your vacation time, as well as your vacation dollar, consider putting together a California travel package. You can choose packages that combine airfare, hotels and car rentals. Some people might choose a California travel package that includes a guided tour. If you are interested in concerts or theatre, it’s possible to find a California travel package that includes tickets to various performances.
You can save some money by visiting some of the California tourist attractions by foot. For example, the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge should be seen up close and personal. This spectacular California tourist attraction has achieved world wide fame. The San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge took over four years to build, at a cost of 35 million dollars. It was completed in four years at a construction cost of 35 million dollars. Much to the delight of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, when the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge opened to traffic at noon on May 28, 1937, it was ahead of schedule and below budget.
The art deco design of the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge has fascinated artists and architects. Its beauty is only rivaled by the Marin County area that it links to. Bring your walking shoes and walk across. Both the bridge and the scenery are sights to be savored.
While the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge may be of interest to adults, children may prefer a visit to Disneyland in California. Located in Anaheim, Disneyland in California is the world’s most famous theme park. When it opened on July 17th, 1955, Walter E. Disney made the following dedication:
"To all who come to this happy place: welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past...and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams and the hard facts which have created America...with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world."
Before they created Disneyland in California, Walt and his brother Roy were heads of a successful Hollywood studio. Unhappy with the negative connotations of traveling carnivals, Walt wanted a place where families with children can enjoy the attractions together. Since many people had written letters asking if they could come to the studio to see their favorite characters, Walt and Roy decided to create a theme park near their Burbank studio. Inspired by the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, they pursued their dream. The rest is history.
