As we watch our vacation budgets carefully, a question that arises is “Where’s a great destination with lots of variety?” You might put a Southern California vacation on your list. SoCal offers beaches, amusement parks, Hollywood and many other attractions.
Hawaii would be another option. It’s hard to beat the beautiful warm ocean water, but it does not offer as much overall variety as Southern California. For a discussion about differences between California and Hawaii vacations, check out the SoCal Vacations Guru. 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. 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. 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. You’ll discover many intimidating coasters and thrill rides at Knott’s and Six Flags. Disneyland has a few attractions that would be considered thrill rides, but not nearly as many as those other two parks.
There aren’t many roller coasters to be found in Hawaii, unless you consider wintertime surfing to qualify in that category. California is probably a more budget-friendly summer travel option, but now and then you really do need to get over to Hawaii.