California Bucket List(s)

So Cal Bucket List

Between San Diego and the LA area, there are a million things to do! These are the things I either recommend, or have yet to do and want to before I move away from the great state of California!

■San Diego Zoo - This is perhaps the world's best, and certainly one of the largest, zoos. Plan on spending at least a day here, it could easily stretch two days without much repeat.
The giraffes are my absolute favorite, and on certain days you can feed them! Also don't miss the koalas, polar bears, penguins, walk-in aviaries, elephants and big cats! If you have extra days and love animals, head north to the Safari Park and make sure to go on the kangaroo walkabout!
■Universal Studios Theme Park - The Jurassic Park / Jurassic World water ride is the best!
■Ballast Point Brewery - Whether you go to the location in Miramar, or my favorite in downtown Little Italy, the food is unbelievable, and pairs great with the well-known craft beer.
■Six Flags Magic Mountain - Home of Goliath, X2 and Full Throttle, not to mention my all-time favorite coaster, Twisted Colossus, Six Flags packs a day full of some of the best roller coasters in the west!
■Comicon Museum at Balboa Park - This museum never opened while we lived in San Diego, but we made a trip in early 2022 to visit!

■Legoland - Especially if you're a fan of Lego like we are, this is a must-see. Unfortunately, the roller coasters are made for very little kids so it's not great for adults in that respect, but the Lego creations are just so much fun to peruse, it's definitely worth a visit as an adult.
■Stone Brewing Co in Escondido - This one you have to go to the source; beer garden and brewery tour, plus fantastic food and merch awaits you in Escondido. Worth the drive!
■Idyllwild - I read about this place somewhere and decided I should go visit; it was a cute little old-timey town.
■Disneyland / DCA - Obviously, one of the biggest tourist attractions in the area.
■Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park, San Diego
■Pizza Port - Take your pick on locations, they all feature good food and fantastic craft beer. The one in Carlsbad is the best.
■La Brea Tar Pits - Free to walk around outside, but worthwhile museum with paid admission (or get a free pass from the library)!
■Sea World San Diego - Whether you're there for the animals or there for the roller coasters, you'll find something you'll like here. Make sure to dip your hands in the touch pools at the front for a personalized fish manicure.

■California Science Center - Honorable mention to the SR-71 Blackbird outside the museum, this is a fantastic, engaging science center that gets kids and adults involved in experiments and learning experiences you can rarely find elsewhere.
■Coronado Island - A fun little community with cute shops, beach views and the best pasta at Island Pasta!
■Getty Center - An art museum with fantastic architecture, a tram that takes you from the parking lot and a neat garden labyrinth with views over the city!
■Giant Dipper, Belmont Park in San Diego                                                                                    □Catalina Island
■Model Railroad Museum in Balboa Park, San Diego
□Shell Beach
□Gibbon Conservation Center
□Grater Grilled Cheese
□Broken Yolk Café
■Pantages Theater
■Vasquez Rocks  
■Donuts! Not at any specific place, just make sure to get some donuts in LA / San Diego!

Ultra-local (to us) Palmdale-area Bucket List

■Broken Bit Steakhouse
■Blackbird Air Park
□Rose City Pizza
□Fatboy's Tacos
■Raven's Nest
■Flying Nun House (Apple Valley)
■Bravery Brewery - One of the dozens of great breweries, but we haven't been yet!

Nor Cal Bucket List

■Walt Disney Family Museum - While I'm not really a "big" museum fan, this is one I recommend to anyone remotely interested in Disney, whether or not they like museums. It was interesting, interactive, and moving, to say the least.
■Six Sigma Winery - For nerds like me, you understand what it means to apply Six Sigma principles to growing grapes for wine. One of my most memorable wine tasting experiences occurred here, and it had a killer drive from San Fran!
■Russian River Brewing Company
■Boudin Sour Dough Factory
■Lagunitas Brewing Company
■Trolley ride in San Fran (to/from Fisherman's Wharf)
■Yosemite National Park
■Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
■Giant Dipper Roller Coaster, Santa Cruz
■Exploratorium Science Center