On the one hand, there’s ‘The Golden State,’ and on the opposite, ‘The Sunshine State.’ Simple, proper?
The United States could boast a whopping 50 of them, every one bursting with belongings you wish to see, do and eat, but it surely’s little shock you’ve settled on both California or Florida as your subsequent vacation vacation spot. As somebody who’s been to each, I believe you’ve made a sensible choice.
Now, the arduous half is selecting which one you truly wish to journey to. Deciding between these two sun-drenched states might sound surface-level easy, however you’ll should look past their respective incredible climate circumstances if you wish to guide your North American getaway with the boldness of a Hollywood starlet strutting down Sundown Boulevard.
That’s the place this comparability weblog is available in.
From California’s cities to Florida’s nationwide parks and fast-food eating places, these two states pack an adventurous punch. However which one comes out on prime? Put the kettle on and hold your glasses helpful; it’s time for some critical studying (adopted by some equally critical deciding).
Cities in California
Concrete jungles are the place goals are made (and likewise make up a part of the standards figuring out your subsequent vacation vacation spot).
Los Angeles
California’s ‘Metropolis of Angels’ is a type of locations you merely should go to. Sure, it may be barely overhyped, however a metropolis this iconic must be seen, if just for a few days.
The Hollywood Stroll of Fame, Santa Monic Pier and procuring at Rodeo Drive are all must-do’s when visiting this glitzy metropolis however if you wish to swap the touristy stuff for one thing that feels just a little extra cultural (there aren’t any movie star home bus excursions on this suggestion listing), go for a hike to Runyon Canyon or visits to the Hollywood Bowl, Grand Central Market and Griffith Observatory.
High journeys beginning in Los Angeles
San Francisco
San Francisco may also be referred to as the ‘Golden Gate’ metropolis, which instantly makes me consider its iconic and intensely Instagramable bridge of the identical identify, however the fantastic thing about this city jungle lies in its spooky island jail, its undulating streets and its coastal surroundings. Full of a historical past so fascinating that studying about it doesn’t really feel such as you’re again in highschool, San Francisco deserves its hype. Actually.
From the twisting, turning and vibrant Lombard Avenue to Fisherman’s Wharf and the paranormal Muir Woods, you may spend weeks on this a part of California and nonetheless not see the whole lot it has to supply.
Additionally, anybody eager for a The Princess Diaries filming location tour?
High journeys that go to San Francisco
San Diego
This may be the second-famous ‘San’ in California but it surely’s actually not the least. Typically neglected for its flashier neighbours, San Diego is a ‘24 levels and at all times sunny’ kinda place, boasting coastlines, cultural sights and sporting stadiums excellent for a couple of days of exploring.
From marvelling at surfy surroundings alongside seaside Coast Boulevard in La Jolla Cove (a 20-minute drive from downtown San Diego) to wandering via the luxurious Balboa Park the place there’s a museum or restaurant round each nook (together with its world-famous zoo), you may attempt however you’ll by no means get bored on this spectacular metropolis.
Associated: San Fran to LA, exploring California’s epic coast
Quick Meals in California
You possibly can’t go to the USA and never have quick meals. Such as you actually simply can’t. I believe the flight attendants can sniff it out while you’re boarding the airplane dwelling and can power you to show round in the hunt for the closest meals court docket.
In & Out
In case your TikTok feed is something like mine, you watch roughly 268 movies a day of individuals consuming a ‘double double animal model, add chopped chillis and additional unfold’ with a facet of ‘animal model fries’. It’d sound like gibberish but it surely’s truly a preferred order from one in every of California’s largest fast-food eating places, In & Out.
Vulnerable to ridiculously lengthy strains at every of the shop’s 272 Californian areas, this iconic smash burger joint has a comparatively easy menu that includes burgers, fries, gentle drinks and shakes and a ‘secret’ menu that’s not that secret that includes protein-style burgers (burgers wrapped in lettuce), the flying dutchman (burger patties sandwiched between onion) and the beforehand talked about ‘animal model’ burgers (a mix of further unfold, cheese and grilled onions).
Mcdonald’s
Right here in Australia, we would realize it (and like it) as Maccas, however this iconic burger-centric quick foodery was first created in 1940 in San Bernadino, California. Whereas it’s not essentially the most refined of cuisines, a Mcdonald’s Cheeseburger/Quarter Pounder/Massive Mac/McChicken will at all times hit the spot and remains to be value making an attempt, even should you eat it as soon as a fortnight again dwelling (however who’s counting?)
Why, you ask? As a result of there are some gadgets you merely can’t get in Oz. Like biscuits and gravy, a southern-style breakfast that consists of a biscuit (extra like a British scone) with thick, sausage-flavoured gravy. And the McRib, full of a young pork patty that’s slathered in tangy BBQ sauce and sandwiched between a ‘particular’ bun. Want I say extra?
Associated: The highest meals you have to attempt in LA
Nationwide Parks in California
Yosemite
California really has among the finest nationwide parks in the USA, and Yosemite proudly leads that cost. It may be arduous to pronounce, but it surely’s not arduous to discover with big waterfalls, dramatic mountain ranges, and crystal-clear lakes assured to maintain you and your digicam occupied for hours.
Whether or not your toes are itching to get out onto the nationwide park’s many mountain climbing trails (the Mist Path, Hetchy Hetchy Reservoir Stroll and the Tuolomne Hike simply to call a couple of), take within the monolithic sequoia timber littered all through the park, attempt your hand at mountain climbing up the well-known El Capital and even merely watch the sky because it turns a spectacular shade of orangey pink above the park’s Glacier Level, there’s greater than sufficient journey available in Yosemite.
Discover Yosemite
Joshua Tree
Situated in southeastern California, Joshua Tree Nationwide Park boasts some fairly unbelievable landscapes, from winding rust-coloured canyons to billion-year-old rock formations you may truly climb on. There’s additionally desert vegetation for so far as the attention can see together with the well-known Joshua tree the park is known as after, a number of species of cacti and different spiky timber.
There’s additionally loads of hikes to maintain your toes entertained such because the Willow Gap Path, the Maze and the Corridor of Horrors (I do know they sound like they’re straight out of the pages of a dystopian younger grownup novel however that’s genuinely what they’re referred to as), the latter which loops large boulders and forces you to scramble via an exciting slot canyon.
Associated: The highest 8 California deserts value visiting
Discover Joshua Tree
However what about Florida?
California could also be dreamy however Florida is simply as cool (not actually, the typical excessive temperature there’s 28°C). Don’t take my phrase for it although; learn it your self.
Cities in Florida
Miami
If you consider Miami, your mind may immediately go to its nightlife, its seashores or perhaps even its sporting groups, however there’s loads of different issues to occupy your time within the Magic Metropolis.
Like little Havana. Promising a small slice of Cuba in the USA, Little Havana is a neighbourhood within the metropolis’s west the place you may take pleasure in a traditional Cuban lunch (a sandwich and a standard Cuban espresso). Or take a stroll down town’s star-studded road, an homage to a number of well-known Cuban celebrities. Or bop your head to the beats of a standard Cuban band at Viernes Culturales, a free road occasion that happens each third Friday of the month.
There’s additionally the ‘Wynwood Partitions’, an outside graffiti gallery that’s shortly change into the go-to place if you would like an ‘artsy’ image for the ‘gram. Or Espanola Approach, a pedestrian-only road lined with historic buildings boasting Mediterranean attraction (assume pink stucco and Spanish tiles) and a complete bunch of vibey eating places.
Associated: 11 causes to go to the Florida Keys
Tampa
Tampa won’t be at that prime of your bucket listing (or anybody’s), but it surely guarantees a ‘decide your personal animal journey’ kind expertise due to a number of of its sights – the Florida Aquarium, Tampa’s Manatee Viewing Centre and ZooTampa at Lowry Park.
If animals aren’t your factor, particularly those it’s important to be looking out for (learn: there are many alligators in Tampa), you may at all times catch a present on the Tampa Theatre, wander alongside the scenic Tampa Riverwalk and embark on a ship tour of the harbour.
Quick meals in Florida
Burger King
Mcdonald’s largest burger rival in the USA is Burger King (for all of the Australians within the room, that’s Hungry Jacks), however not like its Californian counterpart, Burger King was first based in Florida’s Jacksonville in 1953, and heralds just one burger as its declare to fame: the Whopper.
Made up of flame-grilled beef, tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, onion, tomato sauce and mayo on a sesame seed bun, the Whopper additionally guarantees no preservatives and no synthetic colors or flavours (so, it’s wholesome proper?). Eat it with a facet of thickly lower chips, onion rings or some hen nuggets and wash all of it down with a HI-C fruit punch or iced tea for a tasty meal you *technically* can’t get in Australia.
Olive Backyard
Okay, so that you’re not in Italy however Olive Backyard is the closest factor to the land of pizza and pasta while you’re in Florida (…and different states that additionally boast Olive Backyard areas). First opened in 1982 in Orlando, Olive Backyard has shortly risen via the chain restaurant ranks to assert cult hero standing thanks largely to its bottomless breadsticks and mouthwatering pasta dishes similar to shrimp alfredo and lasagne fritta.
Nationwide Parks in Florida
Okay, sufficient of the processed landscapes (cities) and processed meals, it’s time to come back again all the way down to earth, Mom Earth, that’s…
Everglades
California can’t have all of the nationwide park enjoyable, and it doesn’t, due to the magical Everglades. Proudly sporting the ‘Florida’s most iconic nationwide park’ badge, the Everglades, a subtropical wilderness of roughly 1.5million acres, is a swamp area stuffed with twisting waterways and mangrove tunnels.
A few of the finest issues to do when you’re exploring the park embrace canoeing over the calm water (watch out for the scaly animals that stay beneath the floor), saltwater fishing within the hopes of catching a tarpon tarpon or a snook snook (no, I didn’t simply make them up), and mountain climbing one of many park’s many trails.
Dry Tortugas
Whereas this one may be just a little out of the way in which (it’s positioned 100 and 13 kilometres off the coast of Key West), Dry Tortguas Nationwide Park can be just a little out of the extraordinary. Definitely worth the journey purely for being the one little bit of land this far within the state’s south, this nationwide park boasts a bunch of smaller islands (or Keys) so that you can discover. Snorkel the colorful coral trails in the hunt for nurse sharks and tropical fish off the most important island, Backyard Key, and wander Fort Jefferson, an 1800s fortress constructed to defend the coast after the conflict of 1812.
The decision
Have you ever completed your cup of espresso or tea but? As a result of this comparability’s a tough one. However then once more, if you consider the truth that California has Los Angeles, San Francisco, In & Out, Mcdonald’s, Yosemite and Joshua Tree Demise Valley, it’s form of a no brainer. I like Florida too, however California wins.
