Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
July
Beach season gets into full swing, particularly in SoCal. Theme parks are
mobbed by vacationing families, as are mountain resorts, but deserts are
deserted. The July 4th holiday is summer's peak travel weekend.
Reggae on the River
Come party with NorCal's 'Humboldt Nation' of hippies, Rastafarians, treehuggers and
other fun freaks during two days of live bands, arts-and-crafts, food vendors, juggling, uni-
cycling, camping and swimming in late July and early August.
Festival of Arts & Pageant of the Masters
Exhibits
by hundreds of working artists and a pageant of masterpiece paintings 're-cre-
ated' by costumed actors and accompanied by an orchestra keep Orange County's Laguna
Beach plenty busy during July and August.
Opening Day at Del Mar Racetrack
Horse racing
returns in mid-July to Del Mar's elegant racetrack, built by Hollywood stars
in the 1930s. Tickets are tough to get, but it's worth going just to see the ladies' hats.
California State Fair
A million people come to ride the giant Ferris wheel, cheer on pie-eating contests and
horseback jockeys, browse the blue-ribbon agricultural and arts-and-crafts exhibits, taste
California wines and craft beers, and listen to live bands in
Sacramento
over two weeks in
late July.
Comic-Con International
Affectionately known as 'Nerd Prom,' the alt-nation's biggest
annual convention
of
comic-book geeks, sci-fi and animation lovers, and pop-culture memorabilia collectors
brings out-of-this-world costumed madness to San Diego in late July.
