Tips on California Warnings or Dangers – Stay Safe!

California Warnings and Dangers

Dangerous beauty spreads across California in many forms, some natural, and some man-made. Both can be deadly if you ignore the warnings.

Tips on Areas to Avoid in San Francisco

San Francisco has a lot of fun things to do and beautiful places to see.  Here are a few tips to avoid – the unsafe/violent neighborhoods that plague all major cities.

• Bayview – drugs and violence
• Sunnydale – drive-by-shootings, active drug use
• Hunters Point – highest murder rate in the city
• Visitation Valley – drive-by-shootings and stabbing
• Tenderloin – Eddy and Ellis Streets are heavily populated with drug users
• Some parts of the mission – gang related shootings and drug violence
• Some parts of the Fillmore – drug issues

Stay on the Beaten Path in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is crime ridden, but so are most other major cities. You should be fine in the tourist corridors. The most dangerous parts of the city haven’t seen a tourist in 50 years, unless they take the wrong exit or breakdown.

LA is fun and huge “but you don’t want to get lost.” For tourists driving or renting a car – plan your road trips ahead of time and keep an updated map with you at all times. Know the areas you should avoid when traveling after dark. A great tip for enjoying Los Angeles safely is to choose an organized tour bus and taxi rides.

Tips for Beach Safety in San Diego

Respect the dangerous beauty of the ocean while vacationing in San Diego. Pay attention to the beach signs with warnings of unsafe conditions. People die every year as they ignore the dangerous signs of high winds, riptides and creatures of the sea, which can all lead to disaster.

If you are caught in a riptide – don’t fight it. Go with the current and try to relax. Eventually, the current will die out and you’ll be able to swim parallel to the shore.

Big Sur – The Scenic Route

Driving on the Scenic Route 1, you will encounter twisty roads for over an hour. It could be quite treacherous as it’s right along the mountain. The cliffs overlook a beautiful view of the ocean – keep your attention focused on the road in front of you. Another frustrating factor, is you might end up behind a very slow driver and be stuck for a long time as you will not want to pass them on such a twisty road.

If you have even a slight aversion to heights, Scenic Route 1 is not the route for you. Big Sur has severe hairpin turns and sheer drops. The views are breathtaking, yet dangerous if you lose your focus. Once you are on the Big Sur – there is no way to get off until you come down to sea level, hours and miles ahead. A better alternative for you – is to take route 101 which is further inland and view some National Geographic photos on line.

Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about warning and dangers in California.