California Dreaming: A Bucket List Adventure

Recently, my boyfriend and I, along with my best friend and her husband, went on a bucket list trip to California, and it was everything I've dreamed about since I was a little kid! California has a little bit of everything—great weather, beautiful places, and awesome people. Whether you're into hiking, exploring cities, or relaxing on the beach, there’s something for everyone.

We got to experience so much variety on this trip, from hiking in Yosemite National Park to sightseeing in LA, wine tasting in Napa Valley, and partying in San Francisco. If you’re looking for an adventure with endless options, California should be at the top of your list!

Above Vernal Falls in Yosemite National Park

Stop One: San Francisco (SFO)

We flew direct from Toronto to San Francisco with Porter. We originally booked with AC but found much cheaper flights with Porter and were able to rebook.

After landing in San Francisco, we rented a car and drove straight to Pacifica, a coastal town just south of the city, where we based ourselves for the next few days. It was more affordable than staying downtown and gave us easy access to San Francisco and California’s stunning outdoors.

Day One: Pacifica

We kicked off the trip with a classic California meal at In-N-Out Burger, a must for any first-time visitor. After refueling, we headed to the nearby Devil’s Slide Trail, a scenic coastal hike with incredible views of the ocean—a perfect start to our adventure.

The Devil's Slide in Pacifica

Day Two: Yosemite National Park

We took a day trip to Yosemite National Park, about four hours from Pacifica. It was a long drive but so worth it. We hiked the beautiful Lower Yosemite Falls before tackling the tougher Mist Trail, which led us to Vernal and Nevada Falls. The views were breathtaking—waterfalls, towering cliffs, and the Sierra Nevada mountains all around us. The Mist Trail was closed on our way up, so we had to take the longer and steeper John Muir Trail instead. It ended up being way more challenging than we expected, but we loved every minute of it. It turned out to be the highlight of the trip for all of us!

Checking out the Valley Floor in Yosemite!

The beautiful Vernal Falls <3

Day Three: Napa Valley & San Francisco

To mix things up, we booked a Napa Valley vineyard tour through Viator. We spent the day tasting wines and enjoying the picturesque vineyard views. The bus picked us up and dropped us off in Downtown San Fran.

First stop on the tour: Madonna Estates

Enjoying a bottle of white at Ru Vango Vineyard

Later, we headed to Fisherman’s Wharf for a seafood dinner at Fog Harbor Fish House. We wrapped up the night at The Mint Karaoke Bar downtown, singing our hearts out and enjoying some drinks.

Our delicious cocktails at Fog Harbor Fish House.

The one bad thing about the bus dropping us off right downtown was

we had to go to the bar in our vineyard dresses lol...

Day Four: Golden Gate Bridge & Oakland A's Game

We finally got to see the famous Golden Gate Bridge up close. Unfortunately, the bridge was covered in fog for our whole visit but still a very cool experience! Later that day, we caught an Oakland A's vs. New York Yankees game in Oakland, which was a fun way to end our time in the Bay Area.

Even covered in fog she is still beautiful! lol

We were happy to see the A's play before they move to Las Vegas!

Stop Two: Los Angeles

After our time in San Fran, we headed south to LA for some sunshine and beach time! Flying from SFO to LAX with Delta, we checked into the Freehand Hostel in downtown LA, which turned out to be a great budget-friendly spot. I can't recommend this hotel enough! The staff was awesome, there were lots of solo travelers looking to make friends, and the rooftop pool and restaurant were such a great touch. We used public transit and Uber to get around, soaking in all the different vibes LA has to offer.

Our view from the Freehand!

LA Day One: Rooftop Pool & Downtown Dinner

Our first day in LA was all about relaxing. We spent the afternoon lounging by the rooftop pool at the Freehand, taking in the city skyline. Dinner downtown at Bottega Louie capped off a chill day.

The cutest rooftop pool!

We definitely recommend this restaurant if you find yourself in Downtown LA.

LA Day Two: Hollywood & Griffith Park

On this day we did all of the tourist things by visiting the Hollywood Walk of Fame and then hiked up to the Griffith Observatory for sweeping views of the city. We also hiked to the Hollywood sign and the Hollywood Reservoir.

The Walk of Fame is busy but so cool!

Hiking in the hills was a trip highlight for sure

We had a delicious French dinner at Zinque and ended the night at Golden Gopher, a historic downtown bar.

So delicious and gluten free!

We loved this historic "dive" bar.

LA Day Three: Beverly Hills & Beach Day

We spent the morning exploring Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive. We couldn't leave without trying LA’s famous Erewhon Hailey Bieber smoothie.

Yes, the $20USD WAS worth it!

It's amazing to see all the famous places from the movies

Then we headed to Santa Monica and Venice Beach for some much-needed beach time. We ate at the amazing Fig Tree, a cafe in Venice Beach for a delicious beachside brunch.

One of my fave meals from the trip!

We walked up the board walk from Venice Beach to Santa Monica

In the evening, we checked out the nightlife in West Hollywood, a great way to wrap up our LA experience. We went to Mickey’s and the Abbey for good music and drag shows. This was one of my favorite evenings out on the trip, I can't say enough good things about West Hollywood!

Quick photobooth break at Mickey's!

Maxine on TV!

Day Five: Homebound

As our California adventure came to an end, we flew back on Porter from LAX to TO, bringing home memories of one incredible trip.

Final Thoughts

California really does have something for everyone—amazing hikes, beautiful beaches, great food, and exciting cities. We got to experience a bit of it all, from the peaceful trails of Yosemite to the buzz of LA. This trip was a dream come true, and we can’t wait to go back!

The trip of a lifetime!