ROAD TRIP! Bomber's Ultimate Guide to Traveling California

May 25, 2022

It’s no secret that California is one of our favorite places. You’ve got the beach, you’ve got hiking, you’ve got mountain biking, and of course you’ve got jet skiing. With so many outdoor activities and year-round nice weather, can you blame us for being obsessed with our home state?

Now the golden coast stretches to almost 900 miles and is the third largest state in the U.S.—so there’s a lot of ground to cover (pun intended). So today we’re offering Bomber’s complete guide to traveling California!

What to Know About the Weather

Overall, California’s weather is beautiful. There’s simply no other way to put it. But most people are shocked when they visit certain parts of California that isn’t coastal and find out that it can get kind of chilly. Imagine that—you travel up north and there’s wind? But yes, in Northern California you’ll find more foggy mornings and stronger winds that can lower the temperature.

In Southern California you’ll experience mild temperatures all year with higher temps in mid-summer. Inland California is where things can get tricky. There are a lot of “desert” areas which can have scorching temperatures in the summer and freezing temperatures in the winter.

Make sure that you research the weather at the time before you go so you know how to pack. If you’re heading to Malibu beach pack a bathing suit, sunscreen and BUZZ Bomb glasses. And if you’re headed to hike Joshua Tree then we suggest packing a camera, comfortable shoes and a pair of the CLUTCH frames with side shields to protect you from the wind and debris.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit California is all the time. Call us biased, but there really is no terrible time to visit. It just all depends on why you’re traveling and what part of California you’re traveling to. If you plan on hitting the slopes, then the wintertime is the best. If you plan on hiking or mountain biking, we suggest the fall. And of course, if you plan on tanning on the beach or jumping in the ocean we highly suggest coming in the summer.

How Much Money Do I Need to Travel California?

California is a high-tourist destination. Especially the major cities such as Los Angeles, San Diego, and Palm Springs. Between flights, booking hotels, rental cars (and parking), 5-star restaurants, and other budget-busting activities—you’re looking to spend quite a bit of dough.

Of course, you can budget and if you’re an expert traveler you can definitely sniff out a good discount or two. But some items are more expensive because they just are. (Don't judge us, we hate it too.) For instance, gas is much more expensive in California than most states. And even though most cities are car-friendly, a lot of public parking costs money -- like, stupid money.

And let’s not forget about all the restaurants and stores you’ve saved from TikTok to “visit one day.” If you’re booking a flight to Cali, our biggest advice is to save, save, save!

Be Ready to Drive

As we said before, California stretches almost 900 miles. If you’re going from Palm Springs to San Diego to Los Angeles—you’ll be doing a lot of driving. Like a lot. Not only are there miles and miles in between popular locations, but there’s also traffic. There’s a reason that Los Angeles beats NYC for “worst traffic.” Since you’ll be in the car all day with the sun glaring through the window we suggest getting a pair of the TIGER frames that have 100% UVA and UVB protection. We also suggest getting a decent rental car—maybe even an electric car to help save on gas—to make your commute and budget a bit more comfortable.

Don’t Try to Do It All

This is our #1 piece of advice to anyone traveling to California for the first or 100^th time. DON’T TRY TO DO IT ALL. Unless you plan on staying in California for over a month—you won’t get to all of it. It’s simply too much to do in the span of one vacation.

We highly suggest jotting down everything you want to get done and then be realistic. Are most of your “must do” activities in Los Angeles? Maybe just stay in LA. Do you plan on staying in Southern California soaking in the sun? Then skip the Dolby Theatre this time. Really plan out your trip and be understanding that you won’t be able to do it all. After all, you can always come BACK to California -- and once you go for the first time, you'll understand why we never want to leave.

Our Favorite Spots

Now that we’ve gone over what to expect and how to plan your next trip, we want to share some of our favorite spots that California has to offer.

If you’re sporting a pair of BOMBER frames during your next trip to Cali, be sure to tag us on Instagram @bombereyewear!

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