June 8 is National Best Friends Day, which is the perfect excuse to plan a little fun in the California sun with your bestie. Whether you’re the type of BFFs who love an adventurous road trip or prefer a little luxury pampering, there’s no time like the present to plot a Golden State getaway. Here are 10 ideas for planning your next best friends trip to California.
1. Take a road trip
All roads lead to great things in California. Hop in the car and hit the coastal highlights from San Diego to San Francisco on Highway 1, go even further up the Wild North Coast to Mendocino, or head out on a Sierra Adventure that will take you through the mountains from Lake Tahoe to Calaveras.
2. Snap great Instagram photos
Document your Best Friends Day adventure in California by taking some great pics for your feed. From the Golden Gate Bridge, Griffith Observatory, Balboa Park, and the Disneyland Resort to Yosemite, you won’t have trouble finding Instagram-worthy backgrounds. Hashtag BFFornia!
3. Eat an epic meal
California has an abundance of culinary delights and life-changing meals. From beach-side burger shacks to haute cuisine from top chefs like Tyler Florence, there’s something to suit everyone’s discerning palate. Table for two, please!
4. Visit a National Park
If you and your best friend are fans of the great outdoors, California has 9 unique national parks to explore. You can spend your vacation together gazing at the giant trees of Redwood National Park, or traversing the otherworldly landscapes of Death Valley National Park.
5. Luxuriate and retreat
Prefer a weekend of pampering and wellness? Relax and recharge with an ultimate spa experience or center yourselves at a yoga retreat.
6. Amuse yourselves at a theme park
Your friendship may have had its ups and downs over the years—much like the twists and turns of the attractions at California’s amazing theme parks. Many of these parks get new rides every year, like Disneyland California Adventure Park’s new Incredicoaster, so even if you’ve been there before, the thrills will be fresh.
7. Explore a museum
Fine and modern art abound in California, as do technology, innovation, science and exploration. There’s a world-class science center and museum (or three) in just about every city, from the Tech in San Jose to the Getty Center in Los Angeles, waiting to stimulate the mind and satisfy your curiosity.
8. Relax on the beach
There are 840 miles of coastline and plenty of sun in California, so a chill beach day could be in the cards. Catch some rays or waves together at some of the state’s best beaches—from San Diego and Orange County to the remote North Coast.
9. Go on a shopping spree
Who better to accompany (and enable) you in a little retail therapy than your best friend? Splurge on a VIP shopping suite, hit the outlets or find a trendy boutique—there are shopping hot spots all over the state. You could even buy matching outfits to commemorate the experience.
10. Toast to your friendship
California is the maker of some of the finest beverages in the world, found in Wine Country and at a plethora of destination breweries. Why not toast to that, and to your epic friendship, to cap off a very special trip together?
Looking for more California adventure ideas? Find a few here.
