California Destinations You Might Have Missed The First Time Round

California spans a whopping 425 thousand square kilometers, so no one would blame you if you didn’t see it all on your first visit. Whether you’re road tripping or exploring a single area, the state has some of the most diverse landscapes and cultures in all of America. Thankfully for guests planning longer trips, the Good Nite Inn has hotels in Rohnert Park CA and all the way to San Diego, so you’ll never be too far from somewhere to stay during your Californian adventure.

From San Jose Hotels to condos in LA, there are plenty of comfy-room equipped tourist spots that are no doubt on your bucket list. But if you’re planning to head off of the beaten track, or have visited a few times before, this blog offers a roadmap to the rare and a guide to the special. Below are some of the best spots to visit in California that you may not have gotten round to during your first trip.

Catalina Island

For guests of cheap hotels in Malibu looking for a lap of luxury, look no further than Catalina Island, located about 40 kilometers off of Los Angeles. Vacationing to the stars and teeming with wildlife, the only city on Catalina Island is Avalon, so you can be sure of some peace and quiet here. Attractions include the beautiful Avalon Canyon, Wrigley Mansion and botanical garden as well as kayaking and sailing trips around Lover’s Cove Marine Preserve.

Capitola

Dating back to 1876, Capitola is one of the oldest beach resorts in the US and is home to hotels, colorful coastal houses and even local wineries. Guests of the Good Nite Inn Camarillo planning on doing a Pacific Highway road trip should make this their final destination, if not just for a snap of the toylike aesthetic of Venetian Court.

Salvation Mountain

Built by eccentric artist Leonard Knight, Salvation Mountain is 100 miles east of San Diego but is well worth the roadtrip. Built with Adobe clay, straw and paint, the huge painted words of “God Is Love” stand proud at 50 feet high and can be seen from miles away. Salvation Mountain provides a dash of color in the desolate Salton Sea Desert. Make sure that during your visit, you don’t miss the alternative artist commune Slab City either, from where Leonard Knight planned and built the mountain over a period of 30 years.

Balboa Park San Diego

It’s easy to forget about Balboa Park during a visit. With SeaWorld and the USS Midway taking the biscuit for most visited attractions, the site of the Panama–California Exposition in 1916 is host to a great many museums, galleries and of course the world famous San Diego Zoo. Amidst all this, it’s easy to forget the beautiful gardens of the park itself. These include the rosebeds of the Alcazar Garden, the historic Botanical Building and the Japanese Friendship Garden, built as a sign of union between San Diego and its Japanese sister city of Yokohama.