I’ve been thinking about where I could go with a lot of vacation attractions, but will be sensitive to my tight budget. A good candidate for your summer travel plans would be Southern California. It’s got the beaches, theme parks, roller coasters, Hollywood and lots more.

The beautiful state of Hawaii should also be on the list, if you find a good deal on airfare. It’s hard to beat the beautiful warm ocean water, but it does not offer as much overall variety as Southern California. For a discussion about differences between California and Hawaii vacations, check out the SoCal Vacations Guru. 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.

The beaches are just one of many attractions to be enjoyed in Southern California. You could spend a week checking out the seven top-notch theme parks between San Diego and Los Angeles County. If you are traveling with a lover of thrill rides, then Six Flags Magic Mountain and Knott’s Berry Farm should be on your list; Six Flags and Knott’s roller coasters are especially noteworthy. You’ll discover many intimidating coasters and thrill rides at Knott’s and Six Flags. Disneyland has a few attractions that would be considered thrill rides, but not nearly as many as those other two parks.

There aren’t many roller coasters to be found in Hawaii, unless you consider wintertime surfing to qualify in that category. California is probably a more budget-friendly summer travel option, but now and then you really do need to get over to Hawaii.