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Southern California is famous for tourism and the entertainment industry. Other industries include software, automotive, aerospace, finance, biomedical, ports and regional logistics. The region was a leader in the housing bubble from 2001 to 2007 and has been heavily impacted by the housing crash.
- 56,505 sq mi (146,350 km²)
- Los Angeles
- United States
- California
- Carrie Bell
- Hollywood. Come for the sun, stay for the stars, movie stars, that is. The entertainment industry is usually what first pops into mind when anyone mentions California and Hollywood is at the epicenter of the biz.
- Joshua Tree National Park. With its surreal rock formations and spiky trees, it’ll feel like you’ve wandered into a Star Trek shooting location or a Dr. Seuss book when visiting this national park where two desert ecosystems meet, tarantulas and tortoises cross the street, night skies twinkle brilliantly, and influencers take their wide-brimmed hats out bouldering.
- Santa Barbara. Long the playground of the posh and famous—Oprah, who lives in the community next door, is the area’s patron saint, a gig she seemed to inherit from Julia Child—the picturesque enclave occupies a narrow crescent wedged between soaring ridges and the rollicking sea.
- Disneyland. How could we not include the original Disneyland on this list? It’s the happiest place on Earth after all. Especially after the pioneering 65–year-old theme park added a whole new land, Galaxy’s Edge, inspired by the Star Wars franchise in 2019.
- Universal Studios Hollywood (Editor’s Choice) 100 Universal City Plaza. Universal City, CA 91608. (800) 864-8377. Visit Website. Social Media. Open in Google Maps.
- San Andreas Fault Jeep Tour from Palm Desert. Desert Adventures, 74794 Lennon Pl ste b, Palm Desert, CA 92260. (760) 324-5337. Visit Website. Social Media. Open in Google Maps.
- Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood. 3400 Warner Blvd. Burbank, CA 91505. (818) 977-8687. Visit Website. Social Media. Open in Google Maps. The Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood is a guided walk-through tour of Warner Bros.
- San Diego Zoo. 2920 Zoo Dr. San Diego, CA 92101. (619) 231-1515. Visit Website. Social Media. Open in Google Maps. Located in Balboa Park, this 99-acre wildlife haven is often voted as one of the world’s top zoos of all time.
- State Street. This main road runs through downtown Santa Barbara to the beach and is a must for anyone exploring the area. Check out the Spanish-style architecture of buildings like the Santa Barbara Courthouse, or climb to the top of the courthouse’s clock tower for a panoramic view of the city.
- Funk Zone. The Funk Zone used to be an industrial district of old warehouses. Now, the place is a sanctuary for art galleries, eateries, wine tasting venues, and other creative businesses.
- Beaches. Santa Barbara arguably has the best stretch of coastline in Southern California. It’s sparkling clean, never too crowded, and has plenty of parking at the downtown beaches.
- Channel Islands National Park. While there are technically eight Channel Islands off SoCal’s coastline, five of them are off the coast of Santa Barbara; these five—Santa Barbara, San Miguel, Anacapa, Santa Cruz, and Santa Rosa—make up Channel Islands National Park.
- Change Your Perspective At The Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The largest art museum in the western part of the United States, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art is renowned for its impressive and expansive collection.
- Enjoy A Little Bit Of Everything At Balboa Park. San Diego’s cultural and entertainment oasis, Balboa Park, is teeming with exuberant social activity and top attractions.
- Hitch A Ride On The Scenic Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. The world’s largest rotating aerial tramway, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, is a scenic departure linking the Coachella Valley to San Jacinto Peak.
- Tour The Old Mission Santa Barbara 1786. A Spanish mission referred to as the “Queen of the Missions,” the Old Mission Santa Barbara 1786 was first established in 1786.
Jul 17, 2023 · Explore the diverse and spectacular places to visit in Southern California, from beaches and theme parks to deserts and mountains. Discover the iconic landmarks, natural wonders and cultural attractions of this region, with tips on where to stay and what to do.
Southern California. Southern California is a megapolitan area in the southern region of the U.S. state of California. The large urban areas containing Los Angeles and San Diego stretch all along the coast from Ventura to the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego . To the west of Southern California lies the Pacific Ocean and Channel Islands.
