California beyond the clichés: All the coolest cultural experiences you should plan your trip around

You know that one group chat that starts with “we should really plan a trip this year” and somehow survives on shared Reels, half-serious suggestions, and “let’s lock dates soon” messages for months? Until one day, against all odds, it actually happens. The trip is finally coming out of the group chat, and California is the destination. Flights are being booked, outfits are being planned, and suddenly, your Instagram algorithm decides to join the planning. And out of nowhere, your fyp is filled with all the ‘hidden gems’, ‘must-visit festivals’, and ‘unique experiences in California,’ all of which can make planning the trip feel quite overwhelming. 

The truth is, California has long been the blueprint for the dream holiday. It is where beach towns sit alongside deserts, national parks meet buzzing cities, and road trips come with cinematic views at every turn. For years, films, pop culture, and social media have sold us a version of the Golden State that feels equal parts aspirational and impossible to resist. Which is exactly why it lands on so many travel mood boards year after year.

But it is not just pretty sunsets, smoothie bowls, and palm-lined photo dumps. California works best when you move beyond the obvious. It is a place where music festivals become cultural moments, food celebrations turn into community traditions, and sporting events reshape entire cities. Whether you are planning an it-girl getaway, a family holiday, a boys’ trip, or simply building the kind of itinerary that goes beyond tourist checklists, California rewards travellers who lean into its experiences.

From globally iconic festivals and local food celebrations to sporting spectacles worth planning an entire holiday around, these are the events and activities that deserve a spot on your California itinerary.

Coachella Valley Music Festival

We could not possibly start anywhere else. Few festivals have the kind of global pull that Coachella does. The two-weekend music festival held every April at the Empire Polo Club in Indio has evolved far beyond a festival. It is part music event, part fashion moment, part social phenomenon with a vibe that cannot be replicated anywhere on the planet. 

From headline-making performances to avant-garde fashion and large-scale art installations, Coachella has built the kind of atmosphere that people spend months planning around. And 2026 delivered exactly that energy. Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, Karol G, and a surprise Billie Eilish appearance kept crowds on their feet, while immersive festival experiences elevated everything beyond the music itself.

Pro tip? Download the Coachella app before you go to make sure you don’t miss anything. You can customise your schedule, get artist alerts, navigate the festival map, and keep track of onsite experiences without spending half your day figuring out where to go next. If you want the full festival experience, camping is worth considering too. Coachella's camping passes let you stay close to the action and soak up the atmosphere long after the final set wraps.

California Strawberry Festival 

Not every California experience needs celebrity sightings and festival fashion. Sometimes, all you need is strawberries. Lots of them! 

The California Strawberry Festival, which takes place every year during the third weekend of May, is the perfect two-day escape when slowing down is the agenda. More than four decades old, the festival brings together food, community, and plenty of strawberry-inspired indulgence. With nearly 40 vendors and stalls, visitors can build their own strawberry shortcake, try famous strawberry treats, and even sample unique offerings like strawberry nachos. Safe to say, food lovers will have plenty to keep them busy.

Beyond the food, the festival packs in pie-eating competitions, live music, carnival rides, arts and crafts markets, and Strawberryland, a dedicated area for children. It is wholesome in the best possible way. What makes it even better is the mission behind it. The California Strawberry Festival raises funds for local schools, charities, and community groups, donating millions towards Southern California causes over its 40-year history.

The Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival

California may be known for Hollywood glamour, but its cowboy history runs just as deep. The Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival brings that heritage to life through a two-day celebration packed with live entertainment, history, and enough country-western energy to make you consider buying cowboy boots on impulse.

More than 15 performers take to multiple stages, bringing country, western, folk, and bluegrass music to life across the festival. Beyond the performances, visitors can try line dancing lessons, test their skills at archery and axe throwing, explore Gold Rush-inspired activities, and not to mention the mechanical bull, which is for all the daredevils.

There is also shopping worth making luggage space for. Vintage boots, leather goods, hats, jewellery, and handcrafted finds from local vendors make this one of those festivals where you somehow leave with more than you planned.

Indio International Tamale Festival 

We definitely could not skip the Guinness World Record-holding Indio International Tamale Festival, one of the largest tamale festivals in the world, which welcomes more than 100,000 visitors with free entry. With vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options available, the festival ensures everyone gets a taste of the celebration.

Alongside the food sits an entire cultural experience. Ballet Folklórico performances bring vibrant traditional dances and colourful costumes to the festival grounds, while the Chavela Throwdown Arena delivers wrestling entertainment with DJ-led energy between matches.

There is also a best recipe competition, tamale-eating contests, cooking demonstrations, carnival rides, classic midway games, and plenty more. Arriving hungry might be the smartest decision you can make here! 

LA 2028 Summer Olympic 

If California is already sitting on your travel mood board, LA 2028 might just be the reason to finally lock the trip in. With the Olympics getting closer, travel planning is already in full swing. Flights are being tracked, accommodation options are being shortlisted, and sports fans everywhere are already figuring out how to make the trip happen.

The Games will take place across nearly 80 venues throughout California, stretching beyond Los Angeles into Orange County, San Diego, and parts of the San Francisco Bay Area. Which means this is not just an Olympics trip. It is a chance to build an entire California itinerary around it. Beach days, food stops, city exploring, and iconic sporting moments all rolled into one holiday.

If proximity matters, areas like Marina del Rey and Culver City could make practical places to stay, sitting relatively close to both LAX and SoFi Stadium, which will host the Opening Ceremony. And with demand expected to rise, planning early will likely make things far easier.

The 2028 Games also bring plenty of excitement for sports fans. Squash joins the Olympic programme, baseball returns, and events across surfing, skateboarding, beach volleyball, and sport climbing further cement California’s identity as a destination built around movement and outdoor culture.

Because California has always been more than just a party destination. It is equally a sports state, a food state, a festival state, and exactly the kind of place that rewards building an itinerary that goes beyond the obvious.

All images: Getty Images 

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