Ask people what the best attractions are in California and you’ll get answers like visiting the Redwoods National and State Park, hiking to the Hollywood sign or touring Hearst Castle.
While all have a special place in what the state has to offer, Tripadvisor is narrowing the field down with its Travelers' Choice Awards Best of the Best Things to Do in the United States for 2025 — and identifying the best in California through it. Under this category, Alcatraz Island, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Griffith Observatory were named among 25 of the top attractions in the nation by Tripadvisor.
The Travelers' Choice Awards Best of the Best are awarded to those that receive a high volume of “above-and-beyond reviews and opinions from the Tripadvisor community over a 12-month period.”
Ranked No. 10 on the list, Alcatraz Island in the San Francisco Bay has a 4.7-star rating out of over 56,000 reviews. At No. 19, the Golden Gate Bridge holds a 4.7-star rating out of nearly 50,000 reviews and in the final spot, the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles has a 4.6-star rating out of over 20,000 reviews.
Top 10 attractions in the US, says Tripadvisor
Curious to know what else made Tripadvisor’s top attractions in the nation? We won’t spoil the whole list, but here are the top 10:
NASA Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Florida
Empire State Building, New York
Sun Studio, Tennessee
Central Park, New York
Stetson Mansion, Florida
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Florida
Brooklyn Bridge, New York
National Museum of World War II Aviation, Colorado
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Alcatraz Island, San Francisco
Alcatraz Island: Tickets, schedule
You’ll need a ferry ticket to visit Alcatraz, which can be purchased at Alcatraz City Cruises’ website or by calling 415-981-7625, according to the National Park Service. But no entrance fee or pass is required once on the island in the San Francisco Bay. Alcatraz is open daily except on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Related: When was Alcatraz closed and is Trump trying to reopen the prison?
Griffith Observatory: Tickets, hours
Admission to the Griffith Observatory is free, according to the observatory. However, there are fees for parking and ticket fees for the Samuel Oschin Planetarium, so keep that in mind before you go. The observatory is closed Monday but is open from noon to 10 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Is visiting the Golden Gate Bridge free?
Tolls are collected when traveling southbound into San Francisco for motorists, according to the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District. People can also access the bridge on foot or bike.
Related: Officials urge Golden Gate Bridge, other California bridges, be assessed for collapse risk
Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Tripadvisor's top 25 attractions list feature these California spots
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