What comes to mind when you envision a West Coast getaway?
For most, it’s a mixed bag of big city thrills and gorgeous beaches — and they’re not wrong.
Today, I’m putting on my tour guide hat with one exception: I’m going to be honest as your resident insider who’s traversed each West Coast state extensively from Bellingham, Washington all the way down to the Mexican border.
That’s right — no sugarcoating or smoke and mirrors. That’s what we strive for here at Travel Off Path.
Without further ado, here’s our expert take on the West Coast’s 4 most overrated destinations and where you should really go instead:
4) Disneyland: You Can Put A Price On Happiness
Disney theme parks have commonly been known as the ‘happiest places on Earth’. That phrase should come with an asterisk stating, “you’re only happy if you don’t check your bank account”.
Sure, theme park rides are always fun, but having to wake up at the crack of dawn to score primetime parking and spent a fortune to feel, well, ‘happy’, doesn’t seem like it should be the formula.
I’m no Deepak Chopra, but I’ve felt a lot happier in so many other places, including another trendy beach town close-by that will keep your kiddos just as entertained as minimum-wage teenagers dressed in oversized rodent costumes.
The alternative: Carlsbad.
This up-and-coming beach town was deemed by Travel + Leisure as the #1 destination in the world for 2026.
It’s home to LegoLand, another theme park full of thrills for all ages.
Unlike Disney’s base of Anaheim, Carlsbad is a beautiful beach town, so you get the best of both worlds. You can book at hotel within the LegoLand grounds or opt for an underrated oceanfront resort walking distance from Carlsbad Village.
Plus, much to locals’ chagrin, Carlsbad’s relatively new commercial airport is now anchored by United and American, making a trip to this midsize city more feasible.
3) Laguna Beach: Just As Inauthentic As MTV’s Portrayal
Remember Laguna Beach on MTV?
Unfortunately, I do too. But the real Laguna Beach isn’t so much a set-jetter destination like that of The White Lotus.
In some ways, it’s just like the show — materialistic, posh, and inauthentic to outsiders.
In other ways, it’s truly one of SoCal’s most beautiful beaches. It’s not that I hate coming here by any means, it’s that I have to take a deep breath knowing finding a parking space will be maddening, locals don’t care about anything but surf conditions and how much crypto is in their trust funds, and there’s no such thing as a cheap meal when Whole Foods is the place to stockpile beach snacks.
Don’t get me wrong — it’s gorgeous. But the overall uppity vibe feels less like a laid-back paradise and more like the waiting room of a Botox clinic.
The alternative: San Clemente.
The entryway into Orange County driving north is San Clemente, and it’s a stunner.
This local gem oozes the charm of Spain with a whitewashed townscape topped with red-tiled roofs and the easygoing nature of small SoCal beach towns.
You’ll find less Ferraris and more skateboards, better prices, and typically fewer crowds, especially during holidays.
2) Portland: A One-And-Done City
I visited Portland last year for the first time and never had a dull moment exploring the city on my own.
That said, I can’t come up with a genuine reason to go back.
It’s true the city does things differently, both politically and societally — it’s their claim to fame.
To me, it’s a one-and-done destination. As great as the food, coffee, art, and never-ending bizarro experiences were, once you’ve done it, you’ve done it.
Despite being surprisingly affordable, the biggest surprise was Portland’s cultural diversity. I wasn’t expecting a major Chinatown and Japantown here.
Let’s be honest, though — there are way better cities to pig on out Asia’s finest cuisine and what I felt Portland lacked what aesthetically beautiful architecture that draws you in.
The alternative: San Francisco.
If you want a bustling waterfront city with immersive culture, San Fran is your best bet with bustling districts dedicated to Japanese, Chinese, Italian, among other communities.
It’s truly one of my favorite cities — one that I would live in if homeownership wouldn’t break my soul.
It is important to note both Portland and San Francisco have been a PR agent’s worst nightmare dealign with unsightly headlines in terms of crime and a myriad of homelessness issues.
Right now, travelers are scoring Portland with 80/100, followed by San Fran’s 82/100, which is honestly better than I expected given the zombie-like neighborhoods often portrayed in mainstream news.
1) Los Angeles: The Fallen ‘Angel’
I used to love weekend getaways in LA.
We’re talkin’ Beverly Hills, Marina del Rey, Santa Monica, Malibu, K-Town and the July 4th Parade in Pacific Palisades.
Nowadays, you couldn’t pay to me waste my time.
Obviously, aforementioned Malibu and Pacific Palisades aren’t quite what they used to be given the out-of-control wildfires that took occurred shortly over a year ago.
But the rest of the city?
Crime/safety has been a huge talking point and one that mainstream media has actually gotten right.
The alternative: San Diego.
That’s not to say my hometown doesn’t have problems; one gander at East Village certainly says so.
San Diego is where Angelenos go to escape their city but not so much the other way around unless it’s business-related, given snail-pace gridlock and safety concerns.
SD feels safer, traffic is less of a headache, has tastier tacos (yeah, I said it!), better beaches, and continues to grow while LA feels it couldn’t possibly spread out any more.
From a safety perspective, travelers are scoring LA nearly 10 points lower than San Diego. In fact, it’s even lower than Medellin, Colombia.
Yikes!
