California / Soak up the sunshine in California: Must-visit tourist attractions and highlights

Reported by Hong Shengyi / Taipei

Previously, from a beginner’s perspective, we have introduced the food, fun, and transportation in San Francisco as well as Alcatraz Island in San Francisco, which received enthusiastic support from our readers (proving everyone wants a vacation!). Therefore, by utilizing Google’s latest search features and combining information from Wikipedia, let’s take a quick look at some must-visit places in California — you might find them useful for your next overseas trip.

▲Aside from the Gold Rush dream that San Francisco once created for the world, what remains unchanged is the ever-present “California sunshine,” which has also become a top tourist destination. (Photo / File image, photo by Hong Shengyi)

※Yosemite National Park:

Yosemite National Park is a U.S. national park spanning across Tuolumne, Mariposa, and Madera counties in central western California. The park covers an area of 761,268 acres and includes the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Over 3.7 million visitors come to Yosemite National Park every year, most of whom visit Yosemite Valley.

●Area: 3,081 square kilometers
●Address: Yosemite Village, CA 95389
●Phone: (209) 372-0200

※Disneyland California:

Disneyland is a theme park located in Anaheim, California. Founded by Walt Disney, it was the first of a series of theme parks and resorts created and operated by The Walt Disney Company. Located about a 20-minute drive from downtown Los Angeles, Disneyland opened in 1955 and attracted both children and adults. It features many Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse and scenes from Disney movies. – Wikipedia
●Area: 65 hectares

●Opened: July 17, 1955
●Address: 1313 Disneyland Railroad, Anaheim, CA 92802
●Phone: (714) 781-4565

※Alcatraz Island (The Rock):

Alcatraz Island, commonly known as Alcatraz or “The Rock,” is a small island located 1.5 miles off the coast of San Francisco Bay in California. Covering an area of 0.0763 square kilometers, the island is surrounded by steep cliffs and deep waters, making access difficult. Originally home to a lighthouse, it served as a military fortification before being chosen as a prison site. From 1933 to 1963, it operated as the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, housing many infamous criminals.

●Area: 9 hectares
●Elevation: 40 meters
●Address: San Francisco, CA 94123
●Phone: (415) 561-4900

※Universal Studios Hollywood:

Universal Studios Hollywood is a film studio and theme park located in Universal City, Los Angeles County, California. It is one of the oldest, most famous, and still active Hollywood film studios. Its official marketing slogan is “The Entertainment Capital of LA,” though it is often advertised as “The Coolest Place in LA” during the summer. It was initially created to allow visitors to tour real Universal Studios film sets and scenes.

●Opened: July 15, 1964
●Opening Hours: Weekdays from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM – View all
●Address: 100 Universal City Plaza, University City, CA 91608
●Phone: (800) 864-8377

※Golden Gate Bridge:

The Golden Gate Bridge is an iconic landmark of San Francisco, USA. It spans the Golden Gate Strait, which connects San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean, linking the northern part of San Francisco to Marin County in California.

● Total length: 2,737 meters
● Longest span: 1,280 meters
● Building height: 227 meters
● Elevation: 67 meters
● Completed: 1933
● Address: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA 94129

※ USS Midway Museum:

The USS Midway Museum is a maritime museum in the United States, formerly the aircraft carrier USS Midway, located at Naval Pier in San Diego, California. The Midway was decommissioned in 1992 and struck from the naval register in 1997. In 2003, the U.S. Navy donated the ship to a civilian organization, which converted it into a museum ship. The museum opened in June 2004 in San Diego, California.

● Opening hours: Monday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM - Show all
● Address: 910 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92132
● Phone: (619) 544-9600

※ Hearst Castle:

Hearst Castle is a hilltop estate built by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst on the California coast near San Simeon, situated between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Construction began in 1919 and the castle was completed in 1957, after Hearst's death. It has since become an iconic landmark in the region.

● Completed: 1919
● Address: 750 Hearst Castle Rd, San Simeon, CA 93452
● Phone: (800) 444-4445

※ Hollywood Bowl:

The Hollywood Bowl is a modern open-air amphitheater located at 2301 North Highland Avenue in the northern part of Hollywood, California. Originally a music performance venue, it officially opened in 1922 on what was known as Daisy Dell, a natural amphitheater site, and has served as the summer performance venue for the Los Angeles Philharmonic since its inception.

● Completed: July 11, 1922
● Address: 2301 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90068
● Opening hours: Closed on Mondays.
● Phone: (323) 850-2000
● Architectural style: Modernist architecture

※ Golden Gate Park:

Golden Gate Park is a large urban park in San Francisco, USA, covering an area of 1,017 acres. Shaped like a rectangle, it is 20% larger than New York City’s Central Park, which has a similar shape. Golden Gate Park receives approximately 13 million visitors annually, ranking third in the United States.

● Area: 4.1 square kilometers
● Established: 1870
● Address: 501 Stanyan St, San Francisco, CA 94117
● Phone: (415) 831-2700

※ de Young Museum:

The de Young Museum is an art museum located in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. It is named after M. H. de Young, an early San Francisco newspaperman. The de Young Museum opened in 1895 as a product of the 1894 California Midwinter International Exposition. The building was severely damaged in the 1989 earthquake. The new de Young Museum building, designed by Herzog & de Meuron, reopened on October 15, 2005.

●Opening Hours: Closed on Mondays. - Show All
●Address: 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118
●Phone: (415) 750-3600

※Dolby Theatre:

The Dolby Theatre, formerly known as the Kodak Theatre, is located on Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California, USA. It opened on November 9, 2001, and serves as the venue for the Academy Awards (Oscars). Since 2002, it has been the permanent home of the Oscars. At other times, the theatre hosts concerts and other performances, as well as various award ceremonies. The finale of the American singing competition show "American Idol" is held here each season.

●Capacity: 3,401
●Opened: November 9, 2001
●Address: 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
●Phone: (323) 308-6300

※Union Square:

Union Square is a 2.6-acre public plaza in San Francisco, surrounded by Geary Boulevard, Powell Street, Post Street, and Stockton Street. The term also refers to the surrounding central shopping, hotel, and theater district spanning several city blocks. The name "Union Square" originates from the area's use as a gathering place to support the Union Army during the American Civil War.

※Pier 39:

Pier 39 is a tourist attraction and shopping center located in San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf. It features shops, restaurants, video stores, street performers, as well as the Marine Mammal Center and the Aquarium of the Bay. The pier is near Chinatown and the Embarcadero, and is accessible via the F Market & Wharves streetcar line. From Pier 39, visitors can enjoy views of Angel Island, Alcatraz Island, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge.

●Completed: September 1989
●Opened: October 4, 1978
●Elevation: 2.00 meters
●Address: 39 Pier 39 Concourse, San Francisco, CA 94133
●Phone: (415) 981-7437

※Sources: Google Search, Wiki

※Photos: Taken by Hong Shengyi, reporter for ETtoday Eastday News Cloud. Please credit the source when reposting.