Fun, cool places to visit in the West other than CA? (SoCal Resident)

Hi, guys. I am going to have a few weeks off and would like to visit some cool places with my parents.

We live in SoCal. We would like to visit somewhere nearby California, but we haven't traveled much and are not familiar with any of the fun places. The places that pop up in Google Searches seem dull and uninteresting, so it is hard to make a decision based on them. Could any of you share some of interesting places to visit?

We are also considering Santa Catalina Island. If anybody who had been there could share his/her experience, that would be great!

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What do you like to do? Camping, food, sightseeing, museums, night life, shows, etc?

I just sailed to Two Harbors in Catalina two weeks ago. It's primitive, definitely more for people with a ship. Avalon will not be enough for you for a few weeks- but that'd be a good amount of time to to the trans-catalina trail if you're into that sort of thing.

I'd say just drive up the coast, stop at all the places like Solvang, the Redwoods, winery tours in Napa, some show or food stops in SF, etc.

Have you really never left socal? How on earth can you not find anything near CA that doesn't sound boring (except Catalina- which is in CA BTW (Also who tf from socal really calls it "Santa Catalina Island")). Try looking up skydiving or maybe shoot some fully auto guns on blow in Vegas with your parents.

Other places- Grand Canyon, Utah Parks (Glen Canyon, MOAB, Salt Lake, etc), CO isn't too far of a drive for a 'few weeks off' trip. Visit Denver, hike a 14er, hop in a hot spring, fly fish the Arkansas or South Platte Rivers, buy some hippie art in Manitou Springs, visit the USAFA, etc.

I feel like WSO is not the best place to be asking this question.

 

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