My Ultimate Travel Bucket List: The West Coast (USA)

By: A Libra's Way

Published on April 15, 2022

I am a Southern California native and have been blessed with the opportunity to experience the world by trying international cuisines at many different restaurants among the city of Los Angeles, participate in road trip activities, and domestic and international vacation/travel. Before I turned 25, I traveled to 10 countries and 15 big cities in the US. My goal by 30 is to travel to 20-30 countries and explore mostly all of the US.

When I was 23, I realized that the world and a broadened perspective did not only come from experience in a workplace, but experiences interacting with people and cultures from all over the world. I decided once I graduated from undergrad, that I would make it my mission before or by 35, that I would eventually become a world traveler. However, I knew I had to start somewhere.

Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, CA

Fortunately, the state of California is bigger than most countries, so there are plenty of places to explore locally while working on the weekdays. I embarked on my mission to go to as many cool restaurants (for the food!) and cool landmarks as I could.

Below, I've listed places I've traveled during long weekends, solo trips, and destinations I hope to someday soon make my way to in Cali. I've also included some of my favorite restaurants. I hope that my bucket list inspires you to try out a few new places, regardless of whether you are a California native, a transplant from another city, or a tourist!

Hearst Castle in San Simeon, CA

Major Destinations in California I’ve visited:

Southern Cal:

†San Diego/Coronado (Hotel Del)

†Orange County (beach towns): Newport, Irvine, Laguna, Huntington Beaches (I lived in OC for 2 years)

†Joshua Tree (Day trip or overnight camping trip for wilderness enthusiasts)

†Palm Springs (Hotel California or Airbnb)

†Solvang (Half-Day trip in between Ojai and Santa Barbara)

†Catalina Island camping excursion with friends & family

†Big Bear (Day trip or Airbnb)

†Lake Arrowhead (Airbnb)

†Ojai (Ojai Valley Inn or Su Nido Inn)

†Santa Barbara (4 Seasons, Hotel Santa Barbara, The Ritz, or Hotel Californian)

Big sur, CA

Central Cal:

†Morro Bay (Scenic Drive)

†Cambria (Cambria Shores Inn)

†Carmel-by-the-sea

†Big Sur (Scenic Drive)

†Yosemite National Park

Japanese Garden in San Francisco, CA

Northern Cal:

†San Jose (Day trip)

†San Francisco

†Silicon Valley, Palo Alto (Day trip)

†Davis & Sacramento (Day trip)

†Napa, Sonoma

Places in California I hope to visit or see more of:

*Temecula (Day trip)

*Carlsbad (mainly for Carlsbad Flower Fields)

*Lake Tahoe (Airbnb w/ Friends, The North star California Resort)

*Avalon, Catalina Island

*Mammoth (Airbnb)

*Lake Isabella (Airbnb)

*Sequoia National Park (Airbnb or The Gateway Lodge)

*Pismo Beach (Day trip)

*Monterey (Day trip, Aquarium visit)

*Santa Cruz (Day trip)

*Big Sur (Ragged Point Inn & hike)

*Palm Springs (Hotel California)

Here’s My Restaurant Bucket List in LA for 2022:

†Bestia (Italian, hard to get a resi so book wisely)

†Osteria de Mozza (Italian with showy customers)

†Malibu Farms Café (breakfast or brunch on the water)

†Perch DTLA (brunch or rooftop)

†Taverna Tony in Malibu (Greek, good for lunch or a vibey dinner)

†Craig’s in WeHo

†Elephante in Santa Monica

†Nobu Malibu

†Jon & Vinny’s

†Bavel DTLA

†Kateen LA

†Redbird

†Love2Eat Thai Food

†Javier’s

Just a few of my favorite restaurants in LA include:

*Pann’s Restaurant (Soul Food)

*Dupar’s Restaurant (Pancakes!)

*Ruth's Chris (Steak, ALL the sides)

*TAO or Beauty & Essex (Friday or Saturday night out, flashy fun in West Hollywood)

*Il Pastaio (Fettucini Bolognese)

*Lunasia Dim Sum (Sesame balls hehe)

*President Thai (anything and everything on the menu is fire)

*Lucious Dumplings (YESSSSSS THEY ARE MY FAVE!)

*Din Tai Fung (Dim Sum, Taiwanese)

*Poncho's (Mexican)

*Tibetan Nepal House (Tibetan/Indian food)

*Pizzeria de Michele Hollywood (The pizza place from the movie Eat, Pray, Love)

*Tatsu (Ramen)

*Raffi’s Restaurant (Persian Food)

Delish Dessert Spots in LA:

†Winston Pies

†Sprinkles Cupcakes

†Insomnia cookies

†Susie Cakes

†Afters Ice Cream

†Amara Coffee (Hot chocolate and churros)

†Randy’s Donuts

†Lauduree

The view from Nepanthe Restaurant in Big Sur, CA

Road trips on the West Coast:

†Highway 1 Road trip (Version #1) LA to Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo to Big Sur to Carmel to San Francisco to Napa to LA

†SoCal Road trip LA to Long Beach to Huntington/Newport Beach to Oceanside to Del Mar to San Diego

Road trips I plan to try in the future:

*Highway 1 Road trip #2:LA to Malibu to Ojai to Santa Barbara to Solvang to Pismo Beach to Big Sur to San Jose to Sacramento to Lake Tahoe to LA

*Coastal California to Seattle Road trip: San Francisco to Mendocino to Fort Bragg to Eureka to Mt. Shasta to Newport to Seaside/Astoria Beach to Seattle

Disclaimer: All of the recommendations in this article are based on my own experiences. None of these destinations, or anything associated on the list, are sponsored. The information in this article is only intended to encourage you to consider cool & new places to check out in the world.

***All photos of A Libra's Way are not to be redistributed on any platform without consent***