In a state driven by innovation, the one constant is change. That rings true across the Golden State in 2024, with the new year bringing an exciting slate of theme park attractions, museums, hotels, and restaurants helmed by Michelin-starred chefs.
A few attractions and festivals celebrate anniversaries this year—like the 20th year of California Wine Month (September), the 25th birthday for LEGOLAND California, and the centennial celebrations for the Giant Dipper roller coaster in Santa Cruz, Balboa Theatre in San Diego, and Old Spanish Days Fiesta (July) in Santa Barbara.
With so many openings on the horizon, this won’t be an exhaustive list—but from north to south, here are some items to add to your 2024 California bucket list.
Theme Parks and Family Fun
Beach Boardwalk Debuts New Rides and Celebrates a Centennial, Santa Cruz
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk will embrace both old and new in 2024. Its landmark Giant Dipper roller coaster celebrates its centennial this year and will be joined by The Dream Wheel (opening in spring), a family-friendly Ferris wheel with 15 colorful gondolas that seat up to six and offer views of the boardwalk, Monterey Bay, and downtown Santa Cruz. A new spinning ride, Surge, will likely open Memorial Day weekend.
Intuit Dome Opens, Los Angeles
The new home of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers will open in Inglewood for the 2024–25 season. The arena will have a giant “halo” scoreboard—designed to be extra-easy to see from the higher seats—as well as a sprawling outdoor plaza featuring Roman-style steps, two bars, a restaurant, and a team store. Scheduled to open in the fall.
New Snoopy Rides at Knott’s Berry Farm, Buena Park
Originally inspired by California’s High Sierra region, the Camp Snoopy area at the Buena Park theme park is adding new family-friendly rides: Snoopy’s Tenderpaw Twister Coaster, the jeep-based Camp Snoopy’s Off-Road Rally, and the giant porch swing of Sally’s Swing Along. There will also be a new free-play area with barrel bridges, a cave, and a waterfall. Scheduled to open Memorial Day Weekend.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Opens at Disneyland Resort, Anaheim
The classic Splash Mountain log ride has been refurbished with a new Princess & the Frog theme: As you ride through the “bayou,” you’ll now see Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen, and the jazz-loving alligator Louis as they prepare for a Mardi Gras party in New Orleans. Scheduled to open in late 2024.
In the meantime, check out the other new Tiana-themed attraction at Disneyland Park: the recently opened Tiana’s Palace, which features a Creole and Cajun menu of po’boys, muffulettas, and lemon curd–filled beignets.
The Palm Springs Surf Club, Palm Springs
Hone your surfing skills at this surf-wave pool in Greater Palm Springs. Choose from beginner, intermediate, and advanced waves as well as private or public sessions (even in a public session, you’ll get some pointers from staff before beginning). Make a day of it by hanging out at the onsite restaurant and bar. Must be taller than 42 inches and able to swim. Open in January.
Dino Valley and a Parade Debut at LEGOLAND California, Carlsbad
The Carlsbad theme park celebrates its 25th birthday this year with a new area, Dino Valley, which expands the dinosaur-themed zone around Coastersaurus. Expect two new rides (the boat-based Explorer River Quest and the jeeps of Duplo Little Dino Trail), a dino-themed build-and-play area, and dinosaur meet-and-greets; it all opens this spring. During the summer, the park will debut its first parade, with floats and characters from LEGO realms such as NINJAGO and LEGO Friends.
Jewels of the Sea: The Jellyfish Experience at SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego
Learn about these fascinating creatures and watch them dance at this new area at SeaWorld San Diego. The three photo op–ready galleries will feature such species as moon jellyfish, Pacific sea nettles, and comb jellies swimming in a huge habitat. Guests can watch the marine activity from an enormous viewing wall, a walk-through arch, and one of largest jelly cylinders in the U.S.
New Hotels and Resorts
Chicken Ranch Casino Resort, Jamestown
Located at one gateway into Yosemite, this Tuolumne County casino-hotel owned by the Me-Wuk Indians offers a gaming getaway that mixes mod aesthetics with a tongue-in-cheek chicken theme. The new five-story hotel and casino (which is both smoke-free and alcohol-free) will replace the longtime Chicken Ranch casino and will feature an onsite restaurant and coffee bar. Scheduled to open later in the year.
Firefall Ranch, Groveland
Choose from cottages and villas, all with a sleek take on mountain ambience, at this 300-acre resort in the Yosemite gateway town of Groveland. Every unit has a fireplace, private deck, high ceilings, and creature comforts like heated bathroom floors and a Keurig. The resort also has an onsite restaurant, taverns, and general store, as well as daily activities, a saltwater pool, and nightly s'mores. Scheduled to open in May.
Wildhaven Yosemite, Mariposa
Located just southwest of Yosemite, this glamping resort offers both furnished cabins and safari tents—the bigger ones include a kitchenette, bathroom, shower, and A/C and heating. The 36-acre resort also features hiking trails, little perks (daily coffee, tea, and hot cocoa), and seasonal activities such as yoga and wine tasting. Scheduled to open in May.
AutoCamp Sequoia, Three Rivers
The newest branch of AutoCamp will be a short drive from Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. Choose from well-appointed Airstream trailers or other glamping options such as cabins and tent cabins. The location, about 30 miles east of Visalia, is also near Lake Kaweah, a reservoir with boating, fishing, and watercraft rentals. Scheduled to open in autumn.
Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara
This grande dame Santa Barbara resort has been closed since early 2020 but now promises to return in 2024 once some updates and renovations are completed. The 1927 Spanish Colonial resort, set on 22 acres dotted with fountains and bougainvillea, is comprised of rooms, villas, and bungalows, and includes an acclaimed spa, the Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club. What’s more, idyllic Butterfly Beach is just across the street. Scheduled to re-open fall 2024.
The Jordan San Gabriel, San Gabriel
This boutique-style Hilton Curio hotel will offer a comfortable home base for exploring the San Gabriel Valley including Pasadena, The Huntington, and Descanso Gardens. Plus, the Asian cuisine magnet San Gabriel Square Mall is right across the street. The hotel has a rooftop pool and spa too. Scheduled to open in July.
Fairmont Breakers, Long Beach
When the Breakers hotel first opened in Long Beach in 1926, it quickly became a magnet for Hollywood types like Cary Grant and Elizabeth Taylor, thanks in part to its Sky Room restaurant. The hotel went through many iterations over the decades and this year, the Spanish Revival building will debut a new look inside as well as a new affiliation with the Fairmont brand. The new version has a rooftop pool, a spa, a live jazz club, and a return of the Sky Room. Scheduled to open in summer.
Pixar Place Hotel, Anaheim
Immerse yourself in the worlds of Pixar movies such as The Incredibles and Inside Out at this new Disneyland Resort hotel that is replacing the former Paradise Pier Hotel. The Anaheim hotel’s new lobby features the giant Pixar lamp and art inspired by the movies. Headboards in the rooms will showcase more scenes and characters from the movies and even the gym has a mural featuring characters from Monsters, Inc. The hotel will also have a rooftop pool, a Pixar store, and a branch of the restaurant Great Maple. Scheduled to open Jan. 30.
Thompson Palm Springs, Palm Springs
Stay in the Uptown District in the heart of Palm Springs at this boutique-style Hyatt with midcentury modern aesthetics, two pools, and a Hall Napa Valley tasting room. Scheduled to open in May.
New Restaurants and Nightlife
Pedregal, Folsom
The chefs behind two Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurants—Nixtaco in Roseville and Canon in East Sacramento—have joined forces to create this Folsom spot celebrating the authentic cuisine of northeastern Mexico. The menu will include dishes such as cabrito, flavorful whole fish, and bone-in ribeye steaks. Scheduled to open in early 2024.
Moro, Napa
The Oxbow Public Market is getting a new Moroccan spot that is reminiscent of Marrakesh’s night market. Chef Mourad Lahlou (known for both Mourad and Aziza in San Francisco) will serve up grilled meats, flatbreads, salads, wraps, and spreads at this new spot in the downtown Napa culinary hub. Opening in fall.
Starlite, San Francisco
Enjoy a cocktail at this legendary lounge that debuted in 1928 in the Union Square hotel now known as the Beacon Grand Hotel. The reimagined hot spot, which used to go by the name The Starlight, will still have 360-degree views of San Francisco from its 21st floor perch, but will now have a new cocktail menu, all-vinyl DJ sets, and cuisine by Michelin-starred chef Johnny Spero. Opening Feb. 2.
Ritual at Manresa, Los Gatos
Foodies once mourned the closure of three-Michelin-starred Manresa, but its chef David Kinch is reviving the Los Gatos location as a venue for world-class chefs to create during three-week residencies. The lineup so far includes other Michelin-starred chefs from around the globe such as London’s Isaac McHale and Paolo Casagrande and Ángel León, both from Spain. Opening February 2024.
Stella, West Hollywood
Canadian expat chef Janet Zuccarini, known in part for Felix in Venice Beach, joins forces with fellow Toronto native Rob Gentile for this new Italian restaurant in West Hollywood. One standout on the menu is the rarely served pasta dish known as su filindeu (“threads of God”). Scheduled to open in early 2024.
Café Boulud Beverly Hills
A-list French chef Daniel Boulud will open his first West Coast restaurant on the ground floor of the Mandarin Oriental residences in Beverly Hills. The menu will feature French classics alongside globally inspired fare and seasonally driven California ingredients. Scheduled to open in the fall.
Sea & Sky, La Jolla
As part of the recently renovated Hotel La Jolla Hilton, this new restaurant will occupy the top floor and will be helmed by James Beard Award–nominated chef Anthony Wells, formerly of downtown San Diego’s Juniper and Ivy. Expect locally sourced cuisine, regional wines (from both California and Mexico’s Valle de Guadalupe), and big views of La Jolla’s coastline. Scheduled to open in March.
Museums and Exhibits
David Geffen Galleries at LACMA, Los Angeles
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is already the largest art museum in the western United States and is now expanding further. The glassy new building, designed by Pritzker Prize–winning architect Peter Zumthor, will house the museum’s permanent collection and be surrounded by new outdoor spaces with public art. A new Metro stop is in the works outside to make access even easier too. Scheduled to complete construction in 2024.
Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy, Los Angeles
This “art amusement park”—carnival-style rides and attractions created by famous artists including Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat—was briefly open in West Germany in the 1980s, then promptly went into storage. At the end of 2023, the pieces of the park reemerged and went on display at a warehouse in downtown Los Angeles, with the backing of rap artist Drake. While you can’t ride the rides, there will be strolling performers and some interactive attractions, like Salvador Dali’s mirrored dome. Book online for timed arrival. Open through March 2024.
Destination Crenshaw, Los Angeles
This public art project boasts of being the largest Black-led public art project in the United States, and perhaps even the world. More than 100 works will be on display in pocket parks along Crenshaw Blvd., which runs through communities such as Leimert Park Village and Hyde Park, showcasing artists with strong ties to Los Angeles. The project has staying power too: This stretch of Crenshaw will now be home to more than 800 new trees and 30,000 square feet of sustainable landscaping. Scheduled to open in February.
Hilbert Museum of California Art Expansion, Orange
This hidden-gem museum will debut its expanded spaces—almost three times its original size—on the campus of Chapman University. Check out the galleries lined with rotating exhibits and pieces from the museum’s permanent collection of 19th- and 20th-century American art. The first exhibits will showcase Native American art, a Disney animator known for her work on Alice in Wonderland, and a display of modernist-art toasters. Scheduled to open Feb. 23.
Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert, Rancho Mirage
Join the kids in exploring the first of three reimagined buildings set to debut at this hands-on museum in Rancho Mirage. Check out more than 40 new exhibits geared to kids ages 0–8—such as a giant Lite Brite–style light board, a puppet stage, spider-web weaving, and more. The first new building is scheduled to open March 25.
World Design Capital of 2024, San Diego
Every two years, the World Design Organization (WDO) recognizes a city for its excellence in design related to economic, cultural, and environmental quality of life. This year the honored cities are San Diego and neighboring Tijuana, across the U.S–Mexico border—and it marks the first time a city in the U.S. has been awarded the distinction. The honor involves a wide range of events and exhibits during the year, including the World Design Experience in San Diego (Sept. 18–25), which will include installations, talks, and studio tours, in collaboration with the Mingei International Museum in Balboa Park.
What’s New for Nature Lovers
Expansion of the California State Park Adventure Pass
Have a fourth grader at home? California residents can now explore more state parksthrough the Adventure Pass system, which allows kids in the fourth grade (or fourth-grade equivalent) to gain free admission for their families and friends to select state parks. The number of participating parks in 2024 has gone from 19 to 54 and includes must-see locations such as Empire Mine State Historic Park in Grass Valley, Big Basin Redwoods State Park in Santa Cruz, and Will Rogers State Historic Park in Los Angeles. Get the pass by going to ReserveCalifornia.com or calling 800-444-7275 to register. The 2024 passes are good through Aug. 31.
Even if you don’t have a fourth grader at home, check out the California State Library Parks Pass which enables California residents to use their library cards to get free day passes to more than 200 state parks.
Bring Your Own Water Bottle to Lake Tahoe
If you’re headed to South Lake Tahoe or North Lake Tahoe this year, remember to pack a reusable water bottle. This year, both areas will prohibit the sale of single-use water bottles, and the ordinance will be official in April. The ordinance is a result of a decade’s worth of data collected by the League to Save Lake Tahoe, which found that plastic water bottles had become one of the main sources of litter in and around the lake. You won’t be at risk of dehydration, though: You can fill your own bottle with the local high-quality “Tahoe Tap” at free water filling stations at local businesses and recreation areas.
Yosemite Implements New Reservation System
Streamline your trip to Yosemite National Park by making the most of its new reservations system, meant to mitigate overcrowding during peak periods. Starting Jan. 5, you’ll need an entry reservation every day during the peak season of July 1–Aug. 16 and on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays during popular time periods: Feb. 10–25, April 13–June 30, and Aug. 17–Oct. 27. Check out more details about the Yosemite reservations system and how to swing a last-minute visit.
