As we watch our vacation budgets carefully, a question that arises is “Where’s a great destination with lots of variety?” I might suggest you consider a SoCal vacation. SoCal offers beaches, amusement parks, Hollywood and many other attractions.
Another possibility would be Hawaii. It’s hard to beat the beautiful warm ocean water, but it does not offer as much overall variety as Southern California. You might want to read this article by the SoCal Vacation Guru, where California vacations and Hawaiian vacations are compared. Keep in mind that there are way fewer underwater rocks to worry about in the California surf, and the humidity and sun intensity are a little easier to handle in the summer. As we noted, the Hawaiian waters are warmer, but in the middle of summer, the cooler California water can be more invigorating.
Hawaii does have an advantage with such beautiful natural countryside and vegetation, enhanced by the local Polynesian culture. On the other hand, there are many different cultures to be experienced in the Southern California melting pot.
The beach is not the only attraction in Southern California. There are a half-dozen major theme parks to be visited. Don’t forget about the seven world-class theme parks waiting for your visit. Knott’s Berry Farm and Magic Mountain offer some great roller coasters, among many other attractions. Both offer many coasters and other fun rides. In fact, they offer more thrill rides than Disneyland, although the Magic Kingdom does include some fast attractions such as the Matterhorn and Space Mountain.
Hawaii does not offer roller coasters, but does offer surfing on the North Shore of Oahu in the wintertime. It may be that California offers more ways to trim the budget, but sometimes there are great Hawaii vacation packages to be found on the internet or in the newspaper Travel section.