With the US-Canada land border officially reopening on November 8, California is ready to welcome Canadians back to the destination they long loved travelling to prior to the pandemic! The Golden State is rolling out its red carpet for its neighbours to the north with an exciting mix of California classics and exciting new offerings. Here is a roundup of fun things to do in California.
Highlights
Over the past 18 months, California has been busy developing new places for Canadians to stay, like The Seabird Resort in Oceanside and JW Marriott Resort in Anaheim, and long-time favourites like The San Diego Zoo have unveiled new and immersive opportunities to explore wildlife.
The restaurant industry across the state has also been busy cooking up trendy ways to explore diverse cuisines. Travellers can take to the trail.. taco trail that is, in Stockton, Concord and Gilroy, or fine dine at one of San Francisco’s famous Michelin three-star restaurants.
Below is the latest from some of the California’s hotels, culinary experiences, and attractions that Canadians will be interested in exploring when they make their way back to the Golden State.
Fun Things to do in California *NEW*
The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
The long awaited attraction on Wilshire Blvd, The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, has officially opened as of September 30, 2021!
This attraction will impress cinema enthusiasts from across the globe, playing host to six unique floors of exhibitions that take visitors on a journey across different decades of film making history.
On the rooftop is The Dolby Family Terrace, located beneath a glass dome made from 1,500 glass panels, giving guests to the museum the view of a lifetime of the Hollywood Hills and the beloved Hollywood Sign.
New Redwood Sky Walk at Sequoia Park Zoo
On June 4, 2021, Eureka officially opened the Redwood Sky Walk to offer an entirely new way to experience California’s renowned coastal Redwood treasures.
Approximately 1,104 feet to the end and back, the experience takes visitors up and across a network of suspended bridges that connect old-growth and mature second-growth redwood trees, with an optional 369-foot adventure segment that offers a little more sway and emphasis on the extreme height of these giant trees!
The new Redwood Sky Walk reaches 100 feet above the forest floor and still platforms only sit about 1/3 of the way up these majestic trees.
Avengers Campus, Disney California Adventure Park
Oneof California’s most famous theme parks, California Adventure Park, welcomed the latest edition, the Avengers Campus on June 4, 2021.
Located in Anaheim, Orange County, the campus has many new activities for travellers looking for an attraction that promises to excite the kids (and kids at heart).
Ranging from WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure ride, Ancient Sanctum to Doctor Strange teaches mystic arts live performances, visitors are immediately immersed in the Marvel cinematic universe – an opportunity of a lifetime!
The LEGO Movie World at LEGOLAND
Hosting three new rides, three new attractions and family-friendly dining options, including the Everything is Ramen! Eatery, Carlsbad’s The LEGO Movie World at LEGOLAND has something to excite LEGO movie enthusiasts abound.
Diestelhorst to Downtown Trail
Cyclists rejoice! Redding’s Downtown Connector Loop opened this summer to bicyclists, walkers and scooters, now connecting downtown Redding to the iconic Diestelhorst Bridge that spans the Sacramento River and was the first concrete bridge to do so in Northern California.
Guided e-bike tours are available through Shasta Living Streets along the loop trail to the Sundial Bridge (the world’s largest sundial designed by famed Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava) and beyond.
More than 225 miles of paved, dirt and single-track trails along with a new multimillion-dollar Shasta Bike Depot under construction, primes Redding as trail town USA!
California Classics
San Diego Zoo
A long time favourite for fun things to do in California, the San Diego Zoo is revamping to welcome back visitors with new family-friendly attractions including The Kenneth C. Griffin Komodo Kingdom where guests will have a chance to see giant lizards up close and personal and learn more about the species and the honourable work the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is doing within the community.
The Zoo also features the William E. Cole Family Hummingbird Habitat, which offers a glimpse into several species of hummingbirds and other rare birds from the Americas.
Sensorio Re-Opens With Second Exhibit
The original Sensorio experience, Field of Light in Paso Robles, quickly became a California classic after its opening in 2019.
The second exhibit, Light Towers, by the same artist, Bruce Munro will be on display until January 2, 2022.
The new piece pays tribute to Paso Robles’ extensive wine country, with 69 towers made from 17,388 wine bottles – 252 bottles per tower – rising some six feet high and illuminated in gently changing colours.
Yosemite Climbing Museum
Travellers hitting the road in California would be remiss to not fit in a stopover visit off Highway 140, in the Mariposa region, to be immersed into the world of climbing through the Yosemite Climbing Museum.
A project from well-known climbing enthusiast Ken Yager, where the museum brings to life stories of boldness and bravery through various exhibits.
Napa Art Walk
A biennial rotating exhibition of art, the Napa Art Walk, just opened its latest exhibition this summer.
Art enthusiasts will be delighted to view installations from 7 artists who are from multiple states.
The theme for the Art Walk exhibition for 2021-2023 is “Play!” featuring 10 unique sculptures.
Using kinetic art, movement, and light to define dimensions and interaction in space, each of the unique installations contain symbolic movement or requires motion for its effects.
Foodie Experiences
Taco Trails in Stockton
The Stockton Taco trail is an exciting culinary experience that trendy travellers won’t want to miss.
The trail features 50 taquerias, food trucks and restaurants highlighting the taste of Mexico in a city renowned for its Mexican culture.
Visitors can take advantage of the Stockton Taco Trail pass and as they check-in to the various venues, they have a chance to even win some prizes!
Ramen Trail in Torrance
The Ramen Trail is a fun experience curated for ramen lovers in Torrance, which is considered by some to be the Ramen Capital of Southern California.
There are eight different venues to check out on this trail while exploring the cultural sights Torrance has to offer, like the Torrance Cultural Arts Center and the Chen Art Gallery.
Wise Sons Jewish Deli
New to Culver City, with Californian roots in the Bay Area, is a fresh location of Wise Sons Jewish Deli that features classics like hardwood-smoked pastrami, house baked goods including the Classic Smoked Salmon Bagel and delicious buttery babka filled with Guittard chocolate.
The chain has earned a reputation for using the high quality ingredients and is now available for travellers to grab a bite before a packed day exploring Culver City, home to the Star Eco Station and The Actor’s Gang Theater.
Tower Park Waterfront Grille
In Lodi, located in Jellystone Park™, The Waterfront Grille has undergone a renovation and is now open and ready to welcome hungry visitors!
It boasts American-style mouth watering cuisine curated by Award-winning chef, Richard Potts who elevates the guest experience with a menu that serves everything from California-grown avocado guacamole to classics like the double thick pork chop served with bacon blue cheese grits.
Since the restaurant is in Jellystone Park™, guests can go on to enjoy camping, the park’s Water Zone, miniature golf, and fun themed activities.
Atelier Crenn
The Bay Area hosts the most Michelin three-star restaurants in the United States, and Atelier Crenn, a treasure among critics, prides itself in being one of them.
The French eatery located on a steep hillside away from the city centre of San Francisco offers guests the best of what French cuisine has to offer, presented in a minimalist setting.
The menu is curated by French chef, Dominique Crenn who is originally from Versailles but fell in love and chose to stay in San Francisco because of the city’s renowned diversity!
V. Sattui Winery
Rated one of the most popular wineries in the region, the V. Sattui Winery is a long loved favourite that offers award winning wines fresh out of the Napa Valley.
Guests can embark on an array of tastings, indoor and outdoor, or visit the on-site Artisan Deli & Marketplace to grab a quick bite!
San Marcos Date Farm
Serving up dates grown in the heart of Desert Hot Springs, California, multi-generation operated, San Marcos Date Farm has for many years prided itself in offering the most natural product, featuring dates grown without the use of pesticides and from soil encompassing natural fertilizers.
This is the perfect culinary experience for visitors on the road to make a stopover and taste some of the highest quality dates in the world!
Where to Stay
The Exchange Sacramento Hotel
Newly open as of October 3, 2021, the 10-story, 100-room hotel is an adaptive reimaging of Downtown’s iconic California Fruit Building.
Located in the heart of downtown Sacramento, the Hilton Curio Collection hotel boasts a third-floor rooftop bar and maintains its historic elegance with no changes being made to the exterior of the building, which was constructed in 1914 as Sacramento’s first high-rise building.
Thompson Hollywood
Thompson Hollywood is in the heart of Los Angeles offering travellers a gateway to explore the culture and entertainment that California is world renowned for.
The hotel is new to the block, having just opened this August.
A stroll away from the Thompson would take visitors to the TCL Chinese Theatre, a historical landmark and the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame which features a living memory of the very stars that walked the streets decades prior.
The hotel boasts a rooftop pool and on-site garden where visitors can watch the sunset, while sipping on a cocktail, enjoying a 360-degree view of the city.
JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort
One of the only AAA Four Diamond hotels in Anaheim outside Disneyland Resort, the JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort, opened in summer of 2020.
The new property is the ideal space for Canadians on an enriching family vacation to stay.
The hotel is located near Disneyland Resort and other popular spots, like the outdoor shopping centre, the Anaheim GardenWalk.
After a day filled with activity, visitors can relax in the on-site yoga and zen room or in the outdoor swimming pool.
The Seabird Resort
Located by the seaside, The Seabird Resort is a fresh accommodation to explore for travellers wanting to escape winter and enjoy the Southern California culture from private balconies right by the Pacific.
Guests of this incredible resort in Oceanside, which had its opening in spring of this year, can take advantage of the art scene in the community where walls across the neighbourhood have been turned into murals by local artists including the well-known snake mural by painter BB Bastidas.
For those who prefer to stick to the property, the resort also has an onsite gallery called the OMA West which features an array of collections and rotates exhibits three times each year.
The Beverly Hills Hotel
Last month, the California icon The Beverly Hills Hotel, revealed its fresh redesign, featuring 11 new poolside retreats, designed by the award-winning New York City studio Champalimaud Design.
The hotel, known for being featured in many classic films, has been frequented by historic celebrity guests like Charlie Chaplin and Marylin Monroe and today plays hosts to the likes of Michael Douglas and Kim Kardashian.
Decked out in pink, the new poolside cabanas present the perfect stay for visitors looking to turn back time to Hollywood’s Golden Age.
Hotel de Coronado
Raved once by the USA Today as one of the top 10 resorts in the world, San Diego’s finest, Hotel de Coronado, is an old-time favourite among travellers to the region.
The Coronado is the perfect stay for Canadians looking to be immersed in the nostalgia of SoCal at a hotel embodying a history that spans two centuries.
Starting November 22, 2021 to January 2, 2022, the Hotel de Coronado will transform into a winter wonderland, featuring its famous beachfront ice rink where guests can skate by the sea.
Madonna Inn
First opening its doors to guests in 1958, the California classic Madonna Inn has become a landmark for visitors to California.
With award-winning restaurants and an on-site spa offering tranquil treatments, the Madonna Inn is the perfect hotel for Canadians who want a place to relax after an epic road trip down the California coast.
The Inn is conveniently situated off US Route 101, halfway between the urban centres of San Francisco and Los Angeles, being the optimal spot for travellers in the region.
Tenaya Stone Spa at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
A fresh retreat with roots in nature and indigenous culture, The Tenaya Stone Spa, which opened its doors this fall, offers solace for travellers wanting to relax in the Golden State after many unpredictable months.
It offers an array of body treatments and salon services with eight treatment rooms, including one for massages, four manicure chairs and a relaxation lounge.
The spa is home to a sentimental piece of nature, a Tenaya Stone, of which it is named after, given by a Miwok leader a descendant of Chief Tenaya in the Yosemite Valley.
Flights
Flair Airlines begins Vancouver flights into Burbank
Flair Airlines, low-cost Canadian carrier, will begin flying into Burbank starting Nov. 21 from Vancouver.
Flair will be making history as the first Canadian airline to fly into the city, just outside of Los Angeles, known for being the home to film giants Walt Disney Studios and Warner Bros. Studios.
Flights originating from Edmonton will then begin Dec. 16. Fodor’s Travel Awards recognized Hollywood Burbank Airport as the best airport in the U.S. citing the airport’s accessibility and hassle-free experience.
This news is exciting for Canadian travellers opting for a direct option into the popular Californian city, at an affordable rate.
Air Canada launches flights from Vancouver to Santa Ana
This month, Air Canada began operating four flights weekly from Canada’s west coast to Jon Wayne Airport in Orange County, California.
This new gateway flight into the Greater Los Angeles area, offers Canadians more options, as many more travellers head down south amid the border reopening.
Travellers flying into John Wayne Airport can take a moment to appreciate a mesmerizing photograph exhibition on-site at the airport, curated by California State Polytechnic University professor Crystal Yachin Lee.
Flair Airlines begins Flights into San Francisco
Flair Airline’s expanded fleet includes new route offerings to San Francisco.
The ultra low-cost carrier has to date expanded its offerings by 33%, continuing to bring cost-effective air travel options to travellers with modest budgets!