According to Bestitude, the state of California, also known as the Golden State, is one of the most visited states in Western America , offering both bustling cities and beautiful natural parks. California is one of the fifty states of the United States of America and a California vacation is very versatile. It is stretched from north to south along the west coast of the country, on the Pacific Ocean. The capital is Sacramento . The symbol of the state of California is the California grizzly bear, which is also depicted on the flag.
Do you want to visit California? View the overview of all tours through Western America here. Don’t have time to make a tour? Then take a look at one of our city trips to: Los Angeles , San Francisco and San Diego. Or check out our Fly drives: Fly Drive Los Angeles , Fly Drive San Francisco and Fly Drive San Diego.
California residents
With an area of 411,049 km2, California is the 3rd largest state in the US (after Alaska and Texas ). With more than 40 million inhabitants, California is the largest state in terms of population. The state borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east , Mexico to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west.
Climate during your California vacation
The climate of California is warm to very warm, with an average of 18 degrees in Los Angeles and 14 degrees in northern San Francisco. Great for a California beach vacation. However, in the winter you can ski well at Mammoth Lakes located around Mammoth Mountain, this is one of the largest ski areas in the country.
California is a state of contradictions: the north is more rainy, the south (the Colorado desert) is scorching hot. On holiday in California you will encounter the highest and lowest point of the 48 continental states: Mount Whitney is 4,418 meters above sea level and Death Valley with 86 meters below sea level.
Highlights during your California vacation
A holiday California has a lot to offer, such as the popular major cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and the capital Sacramento. California also has a large number of impressive National Parks: Joshua Tree National Park (near Palm Springs ), Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Park & Kings Canyon National Park, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Channel Islands National Park, Death Valley National Park, Pinnacles National Park and Redwood National Park.
San Francisco
San Francisco is located in the San Francisco Bay area and is California’s fourth largest city. It is a very nice city to visit during your California vacation. San Francisco is a bustling city with many attractions. Cycle across the famous Golden Gate bridge, visit the oldest Chinatown in America or visit ‘prison island’ Alcatraz.
Los Angeles
Los Angeles is California’s largest city and famous for Hollywood and the movie industry. Los Angeles is a huge metropolis and consists of several suburbs. Popular are the observatory Griffith observatory, Santa Monica Beach and the theme parks Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood.
San Diego
San Diego is the city everyone would like to live in. Here you can live in the best climate in the world. The city is located on a beautiful bay and you will find beautiful beaches nearby. Highlights include Balboa Park, San Diego Zoo, and Old Town San Diego.
California National Parks
California has no less than 9 National Parks: Joshua Tree NP , Death Valley , Sequoia / Kings Canyon , Yosemite National Park , Channel Islands, Pinnacles National Park, Redwood National Park, and Lassen Volcanic National Park. Each park has unique natural phenomena and are well worth a visit during your California vacation.
Mojave Desert
Eastern California is mostly desert (the Mojave Desert), bordered on the west by the Sierra Nevada, a steep and high mountain range.
Highway 1
The coastal area (with famous places such as Monterey and Carmel) of the state with the famous Highway 1 is mainly mountainous and sparsely populated, especially in the north, exceptions are of course the urban areas.
Wine region
Napa Valley and Sonoma are located in northern California. These areas are world famous for their wine and are definitely worth a visit during your California vacation.
Ghost Towns
California is also famous for its many old Ghost Towns, it is even possible to take a scenic drive along these Ghost Towns.
