Where are the best places to go in California?

I was thinking about going to California next summer but I wasn't exactly sure where to go. I don't think I want to stay in one place I was thinking about going from place to place. I just wanted some opinions about it.

Public Comments

1. So Cal: -Sunset strip in Hollywood for partying. -Malibu -santa barbara -santa monica peir, 3rd street prominade -city walk Central Cali: - Cambria is really nice.
2. i live in Los Angeles that place is alright not that good I'd say you go to Hollywood or Venice Beach
3. Most traveller will go to San Fran, Santa Barb, LA, San Diego. Ultimately, it depends on what you want to do. If you want to party, then any of these cities are great. If you want a beach, SB and SD have nice beaches (note: I have not been to SF). The water in Santa Monica (LA) is brown, my guess was pollution. Also, stay out of the hostel in SB. I've travelled quite extensively around the world, and the SB hostel by far the worst place I've ever stayed (I was there in Oct 2005).
4. Seems to be a serious bias in favor of southern California in the answers so far. If partying is your thing, any of the major coastal cities will do - but you can party in any state, so I'd suggest seeing some of the things that are unique to California. My first pick is highway 1 from Monterey to San Luis Obispo. Big Sur is incredible, simply the most beautiful spot on Earth...and I've seen a lot of this lovely planet. Hiking the John Muir trail in the Sierra Nevadas is a once in a lifetime thrill. The giant Redwood trees in Humboldt County (way up north) are wonderful. Yosemite is breathtaking, but crowded in summer. The Napa valley is fine, but very touristy. I prefer the coastal areas in Mendocino County for wine touring, especially the Anderson Valley. Probably you'll want to avoid the Central Valley, unless farming is your thing. It's hot and dry all summer and bores most of my visitors. I happen to love it. Personally, I'd drve through Los Angeles at night (to avoid gruelling traffic) and savor the joys of San Juan Capistrano, La Jolla and San Diego - lively music scene and good clubs. It all depends on what you like. California is so varied that you're bound to find something just right for you.
5. These are my favorite places to go in California: 1. Yosemite National Park - This is located in Northern California about 4 hours from San Francisco. It is not to be missed. The huge granite mountains, trees, and waterfalls are awesome. People come from all over the world to see Yosemite. http://www.nps.gov/yose/ 2. Wineries - There are wine regions all over California. California is known for its world class wines and there are many wineries that allow visitors to sample their wines. Many areas allow free wine tasting while others such as Napa do charge for the tasting. http://www.cheers2wine.com 3. San Diego - This is a beautiful coastal city famous for its year round mild weather. There are lots of things to do in San Diego throughout the year. http://www.sandiego-romantics.com 4. San Francisco - Another gorgeous city. More congested than San Diego, but still a fun place to visit.http://www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/ 5. Disneyland - This is a fun place...especially for families. http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/home/home?name=HomePage Check out tickets through Costco for Disneyland and other attractions as well.
6. nowhere