California encompasses 840 miles of Pacific coastline and a wide variety of climate zones. As a vacation destination, the Golden State offers a wide variety of options. Cities, mountains, forests, deserts and beautiful beaches, California has it all. These are some of the best vacation getaways in the state.
San Diego
California’s most southwestern city, San Diego is widely known for its perfect year-round Mediterranean climate. San Diego gets sunshine every month of the year and has some of the most beautiful beaches in the state and plenty of great surf spots. Some of the other attractions include the Maritime Museum at the Port of San Diego, nightlife (especially in the Gaslamp Historic District), the famous Coronado Island, the San Diego Zoo, the Wild Animal Park, and the Sea World theme parks. and Legoland.
big bear
The area around Big Bear Lake has been a premier outdoor destination in California for years. You can find cabin accommodations and stay at the various camping spots available. Big Bear Lake is located two hours east of Los Angeles by car and about 7,000 feet above sea level, making it literally a completely different climate zone than the interior desert that surrounds it. There are many pine trees and snow every year. Some of the activities people visit Big Bear for include skiing and snowboarding at Snow Summit, cross-country sledding and snowshoeing, mountaineering, and various water sports in the summer.
yosemite
Yosemite is one of the most beautiful national parks in the country and is definitely one of the most unforgettable vacation getaways in California. With its breathtaking views, epic waterfalls, massive rock monoliths, redwood forests, lakes and streams to fish in, museums, and acres of pristine natural landscapes they are a wonderful break from the stress and bustle of urban life. If you come to Yosemite in the off-season, when there are fewer tourists, you can really enjoy the peace and solitude that this national park has to offer.
San Francisco
San Francisco is one of the most dynamic cities in California. It is full of culture, history, natural beauty and has an amazing nightlife. San Francisco is a perfect vacation getaway if you want to pack the full range of experiences that California has to offer. Some of the attractions include the historic cable cars, 14,000 examples of Victorian architecture, Chinatown, the famous Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Warf, tours of Alcatraz and much more. San Francisco also has some of the best hotels in the world, each with its own charm and history.
