California
The most-visited U.S. state, offering many different flavors in one place, from Los Angeles and San Francisco to Yosemite and wine country.
California lies on the U.S. West Coast, and its terrain includes a long coastline, the Sierra Nevada and southeastern deserts. Los Angeles has Hollywood and theme parks, San Francisco has the Golden Gate Bridge and hilly streetscapes, and San Diego has a pleasant climate and many beaches. Along Highway 1 you can visit Santa Barbara, Big Sur and Hearst Castle. National parks such as Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon display wonders of granite and giant trees, while Napa and Sonoma are famous wine regions. The coast is good year-round, while the mountains are best in summer and autumn. Los Angeles and San Francisco international airports are the main gateways.
Destinations
- Los Angeles
- San Francisco
- San Diego
- Sacramento
- Laguna Beach
- South Lake Tahoe
- Yosemite National Park
- Palm Springs & Joshua Tree
- Santa Barbara
- Monterey & Big Sur
- Napa & Sonoma Wine Country
- Mendocino
- Bishop
- Mammoth Lakes
- Lone Pine & Alabama Hills
- Cambria & Hearst Castle
- Sequoia & Kings Canyon (Three Rivers)
- Santa Cruz
- Redding
- Arcata & Redwood Coast
- Mojave National Preserve
- Death Valley National Park
- Big Bear Lake
- Reno
- Lake Havasu City
Itineraries
- US West National Parks & Coast Grand Loop – A Los Angeles loop passing through Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Yosemite, and San Francisco, returning…
- Pacific Coast Highway: San Francisco to Los Angeles – Drive south along Highway 1, connecting San Francisco, Big Sur, Hearst Castle, and Santa Barbara
- Northern California Redwoods Coast & Volcano Loop – Head north along Highway 1 to Mendocino and the Redwoods, then turn toward Redding and Lassen Volcanic before returning…
- Eastern Sierra US-395 & Yosemite Crossing – Head north from Los Angeles along US-395, crossing the mountains via Tioga Road to Yosemite and San Francisco
- Death Valley, Sequoia & Yosemite National Parks – Fly into Las Vegas and out of San Francisco, visiting Death Valley, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Yosemite in succession
- Southern California Coast & Desert Loop – From Los Angeles to San Diego, then to Palm Springs and Joshua Tree, split evenly between beaches and deserts
- Los Angeles Neighborhood Life and Santa Barbara – Stay downtown and use the metro to explore Olvera Street, Hollywood and Fairfax, plus a day train trip to Santa Barbara.
- Los Angeles City and Coastal Day Trips – Stay in Santa Monica; three days in the city, plus day trips to Malibu, Catalina Island and Laguna Beach.
- Reno, Virginia City & Lake Tahoe Loop – Depart from Reno, pass through the historic gold-mining town of Virginia City and Carson City, and loop around Lake Tah…
- Los Angeles First Visit Classics – Stay in Hollywood; three days covering Hollywood and the Observatory, the Getty and Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica Pie…
- Las Vegas, Death Valley, and the Western Grand Canyon: Zion – A self-drive trip based in Las Vegas, covering Red Rock Canyon, Death Valley, the western Grand Canyon, Valley of Fire…
- Ensenada & Valle de Guadalupe Wine Tasting – Cross the border south from San Diego to see the blowhole, eat fish tacos, and stay in the wine valley for slow-paced t…