Are you bored and looking for something to do? Today I’m going to tell you all about my opinion on the top 5 places to visit in Southern California. These places will include a variety of things that are enjoyable for mainly teens and young adults. Although most of these locations are aimed toward younger interests, most adults will enjoy some aspects of each place.
- Disneyland
Disneyland is a theme park located in Anaheim, California and it is the 2nd most popular theme park in the world. There were 17.33 million visits to the park in 2024, and there is an average of 47,000 visitors per day. Ticket prices range from $104 – $224 based on the day and time of year. Additional fees include the option to “park hop” or go to the attached small park called California Adventure. If you would like to skip the long lines, Lightning Lane multi passes start at $34 per ticket, per day. As someone who is not a fan of big, upside down roller coasters, Disneyland is one of my favorites. One day at Disneyland will make you feel like your feet are going to fall off, but it is worth the experience. Disneyland is split up into different areas known as “lands” which are created as thematic representations of popular Disney characters and movies. These lands include Adventureland, Frontierland, Bayou Country, Fantasyland, Mickey’s Toontown, Star Wars land, Tomorrowland, and Main Street near the front that includes apparel boutiques and fun little shops. Some of my favorite rides include Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Matterhorn, and more.
- Los Angeles
Los Angeles is a very popular part of California and a city that is very commonly known. A very typical thing people like to do in LA is go shopping. The most well known mall in LA is The Grove. Many influencers and celebrities are constantly at this shopping center. This mall includes a variety of favored teen and adult shops. In LA, people also love to go to Griffith Observatory which is a place to get a great view of the Hollywood sign. Hollywood, LA has many landmarks, one including the Hollywood Walk of Fame which displays many stars with celebrities names on them. Personally, I love Santa Monica Pier which overlooks the beach and has many roller coasters and carnival games.
- Newport Beach
Due to the amazing weather in SoCal, Newport Beach is another favorite of mine. I love to go to the beach and hang out with friends. My favorite things to do specifically in Newport are tanning, swimming, going to get food, and browsing in all the surf shops. One of the main things Newport has to offer is a wide selection of delicious food and popular bars. Many restaurants overlook the water and are high priced, but also high quality. I like going to A street or Blackies because of the location and surrounding area. Both locations are sort of central to Newport Beach. It is a really fun area because of the stores around it and the popularity. Across the big street, you can find Balboa Fun Zone which is another big part of Newport. They have so much to do ranging from candy stores, to rides, and even a ferry.
- Universal Studios
If you do it right, Universal Studios can be an experience of a lifetime. In addition to the rides, the layout and theme of the park is incredible. General admission ranges from $101 – $149, but if you want the Universal Express or VIP experience, prices can be up to $519. They have many lands including ‘The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’, ‘Minion Land’, and ‘Jurassic World’. Their most recent additions consist of ‘Super Nintendo World’ and ‘Fast and Furious: Hollywood Drift’. Each land has stores that match the movie they are trying to represent. For example, in Harry Potter land, there is a candy store with all of the things they ate and tried in the movies. Like Disneyland, the park also has a strip of cool shops and clothing stores called Universal CityWalk Hollywood. The rides include more than just a roller coaster, but also cool projections and features that make you feel like you’re in a movie.
- Irvine Spectrum
Irvine Spectrum has over 175 stores and it is one of my favorite places to go on the weekend. With a variety of shops throughout the mall, there’s something for everyone. My favorites are Edikted, Brandy Melville, PacSun, Hollister, and Garage. Even though most people go shopping, there is so much more to it. They have many different restaurants including chains such as Cheesecake Factory, Chipotle, Starbucks, California Pizza Kitchen, P.F. Changs and so many more. The shopping center has many forms of entertainment such as mini golf, escape rooms, Dave & Busters, and movie theaters. Compared to some of the other locations, this choice isn’t insanely expensive for what you get.
To conclude, all of these places will make your SoCal vacation or weekend 10x better. They are all unique in their own way and from personal experience, are so much fun.
