As we watch our vacation budgets carefully, a question that arises is “Where’s a great destination with lots of variety?”  One strong possibility for your summer travel plans is Southern California.  It’s got the beaches, theme parks, roller coasters, Hollywood and lots more.

Another possibility would be Hawaii.  It’s hard to beat the beautiful warm ocean water, but it does not offer as much overall variety as Southern California.  You might want to read this article by the SoCal Vacation Guru, where California and Hawaii are compared.  The beaches in SoCal do not have as many rock outcroppings and the sun is less intense (as is the humidity).  The water temperature is higher in the Aloha state, but in the middle of summer, the cooler water can be more refreshing.

Of course, the vegetation in Hawaii is often magnificent and the local culture adds much to the experience.  On the other hand, there are many different cultures to be experienced in California.

The beach is not the only attraction in Southern California.  There are a half-dozen major theme parks to be visited.  If you are a fan of roller coasters, you really need to visit Knott’s Berry Farm and Six Flags Magic Mountain.  Both offer many coasters and other thrill rides.  Disneyland has a few attractions that would be considered thrill rides, but not nearly as many as those other two parks.

You won’t find many roller coasters in Hawaii, although surfing on the North Shore of Oahu in winter would qualify as a thrill ride.  California is probably a more budget-friendly summer travel option—but now and then you really do need to get over to Hawaii.