California Reopening: The Crowds are Back

Since California's official reopening on June 15, many people have been getting back out there – a lot. If you're among the Californians ready to start going out, keep in mind that pent-up demand may equal large crowds in some popular hot spots.

For example, Universal Studios Hollywood was so busy on the weekend after Gov. Gavin Newsom terminated the state's stay-at-home order and tiered lockdown system that wait times for rides were well over two hours at times. See the photos below of the scene on that first weekend of (more or less) "back to normal."

Meanwhile, other spots that would usually have been congested with international and out-of-state tourists pre-pandemic remained almost eerily quiet. Weeks after the reopening, San Francisco's Chinatown was still refreshingly free of crowds, and the official vendor for Alcatraz tours was showing plenty of availability – normally unheard-of during the peak summer season.

So if you're planning an outing but prefer to avoid the crowds, it may be a good time to play tourist at local businesses that usually rely on out-of-towners or seek out other spots less popular with locals. If you prefer to go to the big theme parks and other major draws, just know you won't be alone.