California is one of the most visited places in the United States, and as a born and bred Californian, I think it’s easy to see why. It has a little something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for mountains, beaches, deserts, cities, or any combination in between, here are 15 must-visit places for anyone coming out to the Golden State.

The Cross Border Xpress, or CBX, is the most convenient way to fly into Mexico from Southern California.

This 390-foot walkway takes fliers from San Diego directly into the Tijuana airport. From there, get through customs first before your flight. This allows the opportunity to deboard and leave the airport immediately once you land at your destination.

San Diego Urban Adventure Quest took us on a ride none of us expected. I can’t remember the last time I’ve done a scavenger hunt. When the opportunity to try this one came about, I jumped on it. I gathered a few friends for some team building and bonding, and we all had a great time.

Even though it completely fried our brains by the end.

Palm trees lining the highways. Sun almost always shining. Big city vibes in a small city space. Smiles and laughter heard from every corner.

Welcome to Oceanside, California.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I love Oceanside. I wasn’t expecting to be as enthralled with this city as I have become over my various day trips out here from San Diego.

Looking for something to do for Memorial Day Weekend in San Diego? Listen, we’re all excited to get our vaccinations and move forward to normal life, and San Diego is ready to party.

Although social distancing and mask mandates are still happening through June 15, here’s a few things for you to enjoy for Memorial Day Weekend in San Diego.

Looking for some places to eat in San Diego? As a recent transplant to SoCal, I’ve been on the hunt for the best places to eat in San Diego. Nothing here disappoints. There’s so much culture, so much life, and so much food here that I hardly even know where to start. I thought Monterey had some good choices, but out here, every turn is a surprise.

As of now, here's a small list of places I've had the fortune of taste testing so far.

The Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside, California, is an awesome deep dive into California's history. As a native Californian, I never thought too much about our history until recently. In fact, as a kid, history was my least favorite subject. We visited a few missions in elementary school, but I never cared too much about them as I moved into my adult life.

Things changed as I got older.

Got a minute? Or an afternoon? Consider spending it in the fabulous Oceanside, California. Oceanside — often overshadowed by its bigger brother down the beach known as San Diego — is the ultimate California Surf Town.

Seriously.

The Museum of Man — now renamed to “The Museum of Us” — is an absolute must-visit in San Diego’sBalboa Park. Across a slew of exhibits and artifacts, travel through time and cultures to witness the evolution of mankind as we know it.

And no, I’m not talking about the evolution of man from monkeys. I’m talking about man as a society, as a culture, as a race. 

So, you’ve got a weekend in San Diego. You may notice there’s more than one thing to do here. Every corner opens up the opportunity for another experience, and it can be overwhelming trying to decide where to go and what to do. Well, as someone who came here to “visit” and decided not to leave for that very purpose, let me tell you:

I feel you.

Remnants of trees once bursting with life line Oregon Highway 138 — more affectionately known as “The Highway of Waterfalls.” The tree’s carcasses may provide a less disrupted view of the roaring tides found in the Umpqua River rushing between them, but the abundance of deadened trees stripped clean of their natural beauty draws the eye even more.

In the middle of it all, caught between the flames but not destroyed by them, sits The Steamboat Inn.

The Element Bend was among the nicest hotels I’ve ever had the pleasure of staying. And for only being open five weeks at the time of my stay, I think it’s only a matter of time before they become one of the most sold-out hotels in Bend.

The moment the sliding doors opened into the expansive and welcoming lobby, a friendly receptionist gave me a genuinely warm welcome.

Most people immediately associate Oregon wines with the Willamette Valley. I know I did. That was all I was familiar with when it came to Oregon wines during my bartending days. This is why seeing the sheer amount of wineries while driving through the Rogue Valley intrigued me so much.

One stop landed me along the Upper Rogue Wine Trail at an incredible Southern Oregon wine tasting room called Kriselle Cellars.

Southern Oregon may not be your first choice for Mexican food, but Shady Cove’s Miguel’s Family Mexican Restaurant is authentic as it gets.

COVID-19 has damaged a lot of restaurants, but Miguel’s continues to thrive. That may be in part to having dinner with a view sitting next to the river.

But the views aside, let’s talk about what we’re really here for: The food.

Anyone who loves anything outdoors should never sleep on an opportunity to explore Southern Oregon. I have visited my family in Medford many a time. However, every trip was usually for a birthday or a holiday. I hardly ever had time to actually go out and explore.

Well, a recent change in life events has given me the opportunity to spend some time here and do some proper exploring.

Located about 45 minutes northeast of Medford equidistant southeast to Crater Lake, the Joseph H. Stewart Recreation area is ideal for anyone looking for a quiet place to picnic or ride their boats.

The lake spills into the Rogue River, which trails across the entire state of Oregon until it births into the ocean at Wedderburn.