Don’t worry guys, it doesn’t really matter if you end up matching with a Californian host family or not. Chances are, that you will find yourself in the ‘Golden State’ at some point during your au pair career one way or another; Whether for an Au Pair Weekend class, an organized group holiday or a well-deserved road trip along the west coast during your travel month, the options are endless, and more often than not, California is ranked up high one our au pairs’ bucket lists. So here’s a selection of the best travel tips your fellow au pairs have tested and can recommend for you. Enjoy!
Hop on, Hop off LA. The easiest way to get around downtown!
The RMS Queen Mary
Selfie Museum. Hollywood
The Grammy Museum. Los Angeles
Alcatraz Island. San Francisco
Griffin Observatory. Los Angeles
Hollywood Sign. Los Angeles
Hollywood Walk of Fame. Los Angeles
OUE Skyspace. Los Angeles
Golden Gate Bridge. San Francisco
Lombard Street. San Francisco
The General Sherman Tree. Sequoia National Park
Beverly Hills 90210
The Grove. Los Angeles
Santa Monica Pier
Monterey Bay Aquarium. Monterey
San Francisco
Los Angeles
San Diego
San Jose
Long Beach
Malibu
Sacramento
Laguna Beach
Newport Beach
Corona del Mar. Newport Beach
Disneyland. Anaheim
Universal Studios. Hollywood
Venice Beach
Huntington Beach
Balboa Island & Park. Newport Beach
Sunset Cliffs. San Diego
Yosemite National Park
Muir Woods National Monument
Joshua Tree National Park
Sequoia National Park
Sunsets and the beach (& beach BBQs!)
17-Mile-Drive. Through Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove
Authentic Mexican Food
National Parks galore
Coachella. April
Grammy Awards. January
Snowglobe Music Festival. High Sierra, NYE
Monterey Jazz Fest. September
San Francisco Jazz Fest. September
Outside Lands Music & Arts Fest. August
Golden Globes. February
Academy Awards. February/March
Emmy Awards. September
Santa Barbara International Film Festival. January/February
Los Angeles Film Festival. June
Palm Springs International Film Festival. January
Mavericks Challenge. San Francisco Bay, January
Vans U.S. Open of Surfing. July/August
Comic-Con International. San Diego, July
E3. June, Los Angeles
California State Fair. Sacramento, July
Wanderlust. High Sierra, July
Catalan Festival. San Francisco, July
Gay Pride Festival. San Francisco, June
Fashion Week. March, El Paso
Rancho Palo Verde
Melrose Avenue
LACMA Museum lights
OUE Skyspace. Los Angeles
Lombard Street. San Francisco
CA, “The Golden State”
Get a week-pass for only 25$! You’re good to use the metro and almost every bus with this card. Public transport is really convenient in Los Angeles, especially when you don’t want to spend all your money on an Uber or a taxi!
California is the USA’s most populous state. Almost 40,000,000 residents
Top Inventions. Include the Barbie doll and blue jeans!