Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Taking A Look At California's Tourist Attractions by Mike Selvon

For family vacations, one of the perpetual favorite places to go to is the vast and diverse state of California. This state is always on the top of family fun spots because there are so many places to go, and so much to see and do. California has tourist attractions that appeal to all different ages and preferences, and as a bonus, the weather is usually quite nice throughout the year.

No matter whether the family is interested in activities in the cities of California and the big theme parks that are so plentiful, or they are more inclined to enjoy the breathtaking mountains, the lush and ancient forests, or the miles and miles of beautiful beaches, there is no doubt that there are enough attractions to provide many options. In fact, vacationing in California will probably mean that there will be much more to see than most families will have time to visit, so there's not much chance of boredom being a problem during a family vacation in this state.

When most people first think about California tourist attractions, they think of the popular destinations like Disneyland, Universal Studios, Sea World, Knott's Berry Farm and Magic Mountain. But, there are many lesser known sights and diversions that might even be considered a bit quirky.

For instance, one of the attractions near San Francisco, which is gaining a surprising following, is the Museum of Pez Memorabilia. Yes, that's right; the little Pez candy dispenser everyone remembers from their youth has been honored with its very own museum. The museum contains not only the officially released Pez dispensers made by the company itself, but also features a collection of some "fantasy Pez dispensers" that have been produced by an "underground" market.

Including some of these off-the-beaten paths, quirky kinds of attractions in the family vacation plans will help make the overall trip even more memorable and fun as well. It's probably a good bet that your child will be the only one in their class to report that they visited the Pez museum during their vacation travel.

While in the San Francisco area, there are many wonderful sights that should not be missed. The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the world's most popular attractions, and for good reason. In addition, no visit to San Francisco should be considered complete without a stop by the historic and popular Fisherman's Wharf or Alcatraz.

Within a couple hours drive of the Bay Area, the Napa Valley awaits visitors with an array of tourist spots all its own. With vineyards to explore, wine tasting, fine gourmet restaurants to delight in, and plush boutique hotels to luxuriate in, it is no wonder why the quaint small towns of the Napa Valley are some of the most popular tourist destinations anywhere in the states.

One great way to maximize the travel budget for the family vacation is to spend some extra time seeking out discount vacation deals that include some tickets for the major tourist attractions where you are headed. Often families get to enjoy cheap vacations that give them some extra money to spend on buying souvenirs and seeing additional sights because of these package deals.

About the Author

Mike Selvon portal offers free articles on vacation rentals. Find out more about the tourist attractions, and leave a comment at the travel and tourism blog.

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