How Many of These 65 California Bucket List Adventures Have You Actually Done?
You could live in California for years, take road trips every other weekend, and still miss a hundred things people swear you have to try at least once. I was based out of LA for three years and spent most of my van life years in the Golden State chasing hikes, surreal desert art, and beach camps from the coast to the mountains.
Even with all that time on the road, I’m still finding new things that make me stop and go, “How have I never done this before?” Some of the stuff on this list I stumbled into by accident. Others took applying through backstage access sites. Whether it was watching the sunrise alone in the Alabama Hills or getting stuck in traffic for three hours just trying to leave Joshua Tree on a Sunday, it’s all part of the experience.
Out of these 84 California bucket list adventures, I’ve done a good chunk, but definitely not all. Let’s see how many you’ve actually checked off.
Pop Culture, Film & Live Entertainment
1. Take a Warner Bros Studio Tour
From the Friends couch to the streets of Stars Hollow, this tour covers iconic sets and sound stages. Guides are full of behind-the-scenes trivia, and you might spot a real production in progress. It’s one of the best ways to peek behind the curtain without needing an agent.
2. Visit a Filming Location While the Shoot Is Happening (Easy Around LA)
Don’t be surprised if you stumble across a film crew on your coffee run in Silver Lake. Productions are everywhere, and sometimes entire blocks are transformed into fake storefronts and prop cars seemingly overnight.
3. Attend a Red Carpet Premiere as a Spectator
Hollywood premieres are open to the public, sort of. You can’t walk the carpet, but fans can line the barricades and get a front-row view of the stars. Arrive early and bring patience.
4. Sit in the Audience for a TV Show Taping
Shows like Jimmy Kimmel Live and The Price Is Right regularly tape with live audiences. Tickets are free, but getting in can feel like winning the lottery depending on the show. You probably will have to fake laugh at mediocre jokes and clap until your hands are raw.
5. See the Rocky Horror Cast at the Nuart Theatre
Every Saturday night, the Nuart in LA hosts a live shadow cast of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Costumes, props, yelling at the screen the moment you step into the theatre. If you’re not into audience participation, this isn’t for you, but it’s a California cult classic.
6. Spot a Celebrity
The key? Act like you don’t care. Runyon Canyon, Erewhon, and high-end gyms in West LA are prime spots for random celebs to just be around. If you play it cool, you might catch a glimpse of someone you just binge-watched on Netflix.
7. End Up at an After-Party in a Celebrity Mansion
If you live in LA and are in the party scene long enough, this has happened to more than a few lucky (or just well-connected) Californians. House parties in the Hills can blur into something straight out of a tabloid and all the stereotypical depravity.
8. Visit Universal Studios Hollywood
Part theme park, part working studio, Universal offers both rollercoasters and filming secrets. The studio tour is classic, with sets from Psycho, Jaws, and Fast & Furious. Harry Potter World gets most of the attention now, but the movie history is still classic.
9. Attend a Live Performance at Hollywood Bowl or Disney Concert Hall
The Bowl’s outdoor amphitheater feels like summer in one setting. The LA Phil plays at both venues, but the acoustics at Disney Hall are world-renowned.
Outdoor Activities & Lifestyle
10. Roller Skate the Venice Beach Path
The Venice Boardwalk is equal parts workout circuit and people-watching goldmine. Join in by roller skating past street performers and shirtless guitar players.
11. Learn to Surf
You don’t have to shred like a pro, just standing up on a board once totally counts. Places like Huntington Beach, Malibu, and Santa Cruz have surf schools with patient instructors and soft waves. Otherwise, you can always rent a board and just go at it.
12. Catch a Drum Circle at Venice Beach
Sundays at sunset, the drums come out on Venice Beach. What starts with a few people turns into a spontaneous, sandy concert with dancers and the occasional fire-spinner. No one really organizes it; it just happens.
13. Bike the Golden Gate Bridge
You’ve seen it in movies, now try pedaling across it with wind in your face and the Bay sparkling below. Rent a bike in Fisherman’s Wharf and ride to Sausalito for lunch. Just know that the incline at the start isn’t as gentle as it looks.
14. Pet a Goat at a Goat Yoga Class
Yes, it’s real, and yes, this may have been a corporate bonding activity I’ve gone on. Goat yoga is exactly what it sounds like, relaxing stretches while friendly goats roam the mat and pop on your back.
15. Sleep in a Vintage Airstream in the Desert
Joshua Tree and the high desert have dozens of retro trailers turned into Airbnbs. They’re small, cozy, and cooler than most hotels. You’ll wake up to silence, sunrise, and a jackrabbit or a coyote howl.
16. Visit Three Microclimates in a Single Day (Fog, Sun, Mountains)
Only in California can you leave your foggy San Francisco apartment, sunbathe in Marin, and snowboard in Tahoe all in the same day. The weather here can’t make up its mind, even within the Bay Area itself.
17. Snorkel La Jolla Cove, Sea Caves, and Seals
La Jolla’s waters are packed with curious sea lions. You can paddleboard or snorkel near the caves and swim alongside fish, kelp forests, and the occasional leopard shark.
18. Hang Out at Venice Skate Park & Muscle Beach
This is where street skating meets gym selfies. The skate park is a constant show of flips and fails. Muscle Beach is nearby, with bodybuilders casually bench pressing more than most people weigh.
19. Watch Spring Wildflowers at Carlsbad Flower Fields (March–May)
For two months a year, 50 acres of hillside explode into an endless horizon of colorful flowers. It’s extremely Instagram-friendly. Come on a weekday to avoid crowds, and even better if it’s a “superbloom” year.
20. See the Monarch Butterfly Migration
From October to February, thousands of monarchs cluster in eucalyptus groves along the coast. Pacific Grove is a hot spot, with butterflies draped across branches.
21. Watch the Sunset Over the Pacific from a Parking Lot in Your Car
Sometimes the best views don’t require hiking boots or a dinner reservation. Find a cliffside turnout on Highway 1, lean your seat back, and let the ocean put on a light show.
22. Ride a Hot-Air Balloon Over the Vineyard at Sunrise
Temecula and Napa both offer early morning balloon rides that float over vineyards just as the fog lifts. It’s quiet with a champagne toast at the end of every ride.
23. Walk Across the Border of Mexico
Yes, you can literally walk across the border at San Ysidro and be in Tijuana in minutes. It’s easy with a passport and makes for a surreal day trip. Locals in San Diego will go for the street tacos and cheaper shopping just casually.
California Road Trip Experiences
24. Drive Highway 1 with Zero Agenda
On this stretch of road, you’ll hit misty cliffs, hidden beaches, and roadside pie stands without trying. Stop wherever looks good, because most of it does.
25. Drive Pacific Coast Highway Top to Bottom
From Leggett to Dana Point, this drive spans over 600 miles of coast. It’s a bucket list for a reason. It includes Big Sur’s cliffs, Santa Barbara’s beaches, LA’s chaos, and SoCal sunsets all in one route. Leave time for detours.
26. Loop Around the Scenic June Lake Loop
Just off Highway 395, this 16-mile loop is a local secret. Lakes, aspens, and snow-capped peaks surround the tiny town. Fall is unreal here, but even in summer, you’ll want to pull over every five minutes.
27. Road Trip 17‑Mile Drive to Carmel-by‑the‑Sea
This toll road winds past Pebble Beach, windswept cypress trees, and multi-million-dollar oceanfront homes. Take your time, stop at Spanish Bay or the Lone Cypress, and end up in Carmel for wine and weirdly strict city rules (no high heels without a permit!).
28. Drive Tioga Pass into Yosemite (Summer Only)
Tioga Pass is the highest highway in California, but it closes in winter, so timing is everything. In summer, it’s the back door into Yosemite, with alpine lakes, meadows, and fewer crowds. Keep an eye out for the adorable marmots.
29. Take On a Highway 395 Road Trip (Eastern Sierra Highlights)
Highway 395 runs along the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada and packs in more natural landmarks than most states. My favorites are Mono Lake, Alabama Hills, hot springs, ghost towns, and views of Mt. Whitney. Fewer people take this route, but those who do never shut up about it.
30. Drive the Scenic Big Sur Coastline
This is the showstopper of Highway 1. With cliffs dropping straight to the ocean and redwoods growing right up to the road, pull off at Bixby Bridge, grab lunch at Nepenthe, and try not to cry from the view.
Hiking, Nature & National Parks
31. Summit Half Dome & Yosemite Valley Waterfalls
Getting to the top of Half Dome is 14 to 16 miles round-trip, which ends with a set of cables bolted into granite. Permits are required, and it’s one of the most dangerous hikes in the country. But the views over Yosemite Valley are worth every uphill step, especially with waterfalls thundering in the distance during spring.
32. Explore Pinnacles National Park
One of the lesser-known national parks, Pinnacles is filled with caves, rock spires, and California condors gliding overhead. The talus caves are fun to explore with a headlamp, and it’s surprisingly crowd-free most of the year.
33. Visit Point Reyes Lighthouse & Elephant Seals
The Point Reyes Lighthouse is perched on a windy cliff you reach after descending 308 steps. Just down the coast, massive elephant seals nap, spar, and occasionally yell at each other on the beach.
34. Visit Mono Lake Formations
Those weird, spiky towers sticking out of the water are called tufas, and they look like something from another planet. Mono Lake’s salty, alkaline water creates the perfect setting for surreal photo ops.
35. Hike to the Hollywood Sign Trails in LA
Multiple trails lead up to LA’s most famous set of letters, but the Mt. Hollywood Trail offers solid views without needing to scale a mountain. Once you’re up there, you’ll get a panoramic shot of the city that even lifelong locals stop to admire.
36. Witness Yosemite’s Firefall Phenomenon (February)
For two weeks every February, if conditions are just right, Horsetail Fall lights up like molten lava during sunset. Thousands flock to see it, tripods in hand, hoping for the glow. It only happens with the right snowpack, temperature, and sky, so it’s rare and completely weather-dependent.
37. Camp Under Joshua Tree NP Rock Formations & Boulders
Sleeping under the stars here feels like camping on another planet. Massive boulders stack around you, the silence is deafening, and the night sky is ridiculously clear.
38. Feel the Heat in Death Valley
It’s the hottest place on Earth, and it really will feel like you’re being cooked alive if you come to Death Valley in summer. But the landscape is like nowhere else: salt flats, sand dunes, and multicolored hills that don’t look real.
39. Camp Under Redwoods in Sequoia or Redwood NP
Some of these trees are older than the Roman Empire. Whether it’s in Sequoia National Park with the massive trunks or along the foggy coast in Redwood National Park, camping here feels humbling.
40. Visit Shasta for Waterfall Hikes & Lassen Volcano
Northern California’s Mount Shasta looms over everything, and the surrounding area has waterfall hikes like McCloud Falls and Burney Falls that were once called the “8th wonder of the world”. Nearby Lassen Volcanic National Park has bubbling mud pots and active geothermal zones, minus the Yellowstone crowds.
41. See the World’s Oldest Trees, the Bristlecone Pines
The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the White Mountains is home to trees more than 4,000 years old. They’ve survived high winds, snow, droughts, and everything in between.
42. Soak at East Cali’s Hot Springs (Wild Willy’s, Travertine)
Out near Mammoth and Bishop, you’ll find natural hot springs tucked in wide-open landscapes with mountain views. Some have boardwalks, others are harder to find, but all are perfect after a long hike or road trip. Know that most are clothing-optional.
Offbeat Landmarks & Small Towns
43. Visit Metal Sculptures & Desert Flora in Borrego Springs
In the middle of the Anza-Borrego Desert, 130+ massive metal sculptures of dragons, mammoths, and dinosaurs suddenly appear. They’re scattered across the open desert, so you can drive right up to most of them.
44. Visit Cabazon Dinosaurs & Go Inside One
If you’ve ever seen Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, you’ve seen these. The giant roadside dinos near Palm Springs have been a photo op since the ’60s, and you can walk inside the T. rex’s mouth.
45. Explore Salvation Mountain Clay Hill Sculpture
Built entirely by one man using adobe and paint, Salvation Mountain is a rainbow-colored tribute to love and scripture. It’s on the edge of Slab City and looks like a psychedelic hill in the middle of nowhere.
46. Visit Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
This rotating tram car climbs over 8,500 feet from the desert floor to the alpine forest in 10 minutes. One minute you’re sweating in 95-degree heat, the next you’re walking through pine trees in a jacket. At the top, you can hike or just grab a drink with panoramic views.
47. Stop at the Nightmare Rock & Movie Rd in Alabama Hills
Alabama Hills looks like a film set because it is. Hundreds of movies and shows have been filmed here, and you can drive Movie Road to see where classic Westerns were shot. This is one of the most beautiful spots in California by far, yet still underrated.
48. Visit Lava Beds National Monument
This hidden spot in Northern California has over 800 lava tube caves, many of which you can crawl through with just a flashlight. The landscape above ground is lava rock and sagebrush.
Food & Drink Traditions
49. Do a Secret Menu Run at In-N-Out (Protein Style, 3×3, Neapolitan Shake)
The secret’s not really a secret anymore, but ordering off-menu at In-N-Out is a must while you’re here. Go Protein Style for a lettuce-wrapped burger, or get wild with a 3×3 (three patties, three cheese).
50. Eat at Hole in the Wall Donut Shops in SoCal
The best donuts in Southern California are usually from slightly run-down-looking storefronts in strip malls run by families who’ve been perfecting their recipe for decades. They’re cheap, fresh, and their origins are laid out in the movie “Donut King”.
51. Experience LA Food Trucks and Taco Stands Curbside
Some of LA’s best meals come from a truck or a cart. Birria, al pastor, Korean BBQ tacos, whatever you’re craving, it’s probably parked somewhere nearby.
52. Go Wine Tasting in Napa or Sonoma, Temecula, Santa Ynez
California wine country isn’t just one region. Napa gets the headlines (and the tour buses), but Sonoma is more laid-back, Temecula’s got balloon views, and Santa Ynez pairs wine with wild west vibes.
53. Eat an Authentic Danish Pastry in Solvang
Solvang is a Danish-style town in the middle of Central California that has windmills, clogs, and pastries. Head straight for a bakery to find authentic Kringle, aebleskivers, and butter-soaked layers.
Architecture, History & Museums
54. Take Pictures at LACMA Museum of Art & Sculpture
The “Urban Light” lampposts out front have become an LA photo rite of passage. Inside, LACMA is California’s largest art museum, with collections spanning everything from ancient artifacts to modern installations.
55. Visit Palm Springs Mid‑Century Homes & Architecture Tours
Palm Springs has more mid-century homes than pretty much anywhere. You can drive around on your own or take a guided architecture tour to learn the stories behind the sleek lines and retro glam.
56. Visit Malibu’s Getty Villa Art Museum
The Getty Villa is a Roman-inspired mansion filled with ancient Greek and Roman art, perched above the ocean. Admission is free (parking is not), and the architecture alone is worth the visit. It’s one of the few places where you can look at a 2,000-year-old vase with a view of the Pacific.
57. Go to the Griffith Observatory
Free telescope viewings, hiking trails, and one of the best city views in LA. You’ve seen it in countless movies, but it’s even better in person, especially at sunset.
58. Winchester Mystery House, San Jose
This bizarre mansion was built nonstop for decades with staircases to nowhere and doors that open into walls. Legend says it was to confuse ghosts. Tours take you through winding halls and past windows with zero reason for existing.
59. Tour the Painted‑Ladies Interior in San Francisco
You know the iconic row of Victorian houses from the Full House intro, but did you know you can tour the inside of one? A few have opened their doors for walkthroughs.
60. Explore Sausalito Floating Homes
Sausalito’s houseboat community is funky and colorful. Some are former WWII ship hulls turned into homes, others look like art installations on water. The annual floating homes tour lets you peek inside, or you can just stroll the docks and admire from outside.
61. Explore Alcatraz Island & SF Waterfront
Alcatraz once held some of the country’s most notorious inmates, including Al Capone. Now it’s a National Park site you can visit by ferry, complete with audio tours that are genuinely haunting. Combine it with a day at Fisherman’s Wharf for maximum San Francisco chaos.
62. Learn Gold Rush History at a Ghost Town
Bodie is the best ghost town with abandoned buildings, creaky floorboards, and rusted-out wagons. It’s preserved in “arrested decay,” which means it looks like everyone left in a hurry and never came back. But there are plenty of others strewn about the state.
Island & Water Adventures
63. Kayak to Fannette Island in Emerald Bay
Lake Tahoe’s only island is home to the ruins of a stone tea house built in the 1920s. Rent a kayak or paddleboard and glide across the impossibly blue water to explore.
64. Kayak Along Channel Islands National Park Coastline
Dubbed the “Galápagos of North America,” these remote islands are full of sea caves, kelp forests, and wildlife you won’t find on the mainland. You’ll probably see dolphins on the ferry ride over, too.
65. Passport Stamps on Catalina Island Ferry
Catalina Island is only an hour from LA, but feels like a tropical island. You can snorkel or cruise around in a golf cart.
Catherine, a seasoned travel writer, has lived in 4 different states and explored 36 states and 28 national parks. After spending two years embracing van life, she's now dedicated to sharing her vast knowledge of day trips across America. Catherine's other works has been referenced in major publications like MSN, Self, and TripSavvy.
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