As we watch our vacation budgets carefully, a question that arises is “Where’s a great destination with lots of variety?” A good candidate for your summer travel plans would be Southern California. SoCal offers beaches, amusement parks, Hollywood and many other attractions.
The beautiful state of Hawaii should also be on the list, if you find a good deal on airfare. You can almost feel that warm ocean water right now, but remember that there are offsetting advantages to the Golden State. Check this out for a brief comparison between Southern California vacations and vacations in Hawaii. In Southern California you don’t need to worry as much about underwater rocks; also, the humidity is generally lower and the sunshine less intimidating. The water temperature is higher in the Aloha state, but in the middle of summer, the cooler water can be more refreshing.
A Hawaiian vacation does offer beautiful subtropical vegetation and fascinating Polynesian cultural experiences. 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. You could spend a week checking out the seven top-notch theme parks between San Diego and Los Angeles County. Knott’s Berry Farm and Magic Mountain offer some great roller coasters, among many other attractions. Both offer many coasters and other fun rides. You won’t find as many true thrill rides at Disneyland as at the other parks, although Space Mountain and the Matterhorn Bobsleds certainly qualify.
There aren’t many roller coasters to be found in Hawaii, unless you consider wintertime surfing to qualify in that category. In terms of the budget, there may be great vacation specials to both destinations, but you can drive to California if airfare is too costly.
