California attracts visitors with sunshine, breathtaking landscapes and urban sophistication. Tourists gather in San Francisco to be amazed by the steep hills, nestled between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. Los Angeles amazes visitors with scenery from Southern California and glamor from Hollywood. San Diego and Santa Barbara have perfect weather, golden sands and Spanish history.
Another top reason to visit California is the outdoor scenery. Yosemite National Park is a nature site, where granite rocks are draped with dramatic waterfalls. In the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Lake Tahoe is an amazing alpine backdrop for hiking, boating and skiing. Further south, in the Sierra National Forest, is the less visited destination of Mammoth Lakes, a clean environment that offers well-kept trails and excellent fishing in hundreds of lakes and streams.
1 San Francisco Bay Area
This renowned city is known for its eclectic culture and surreal beauty. When the afternoon sun shines on the steep hills or the mist that turns from the Pacific Ocean over the Golden Gate Bridge, the city has a mystical aura. Visitors are immediately amazed by the beautiful scenery and views, from the fog-covered Golden Gate Bridge, to the villas on the Pacific Heights. While exploring the top attractions, tourists discover the charm of the city’s streets and historic neighborhoods full of multicultural flair. Today, San Francisco is the most sophisticated city in California, a place where you can enjoy world-class opera, ballet, theater and gourmet dining. The city has an impressive assortment of top restaurants, offering a wide range of world-class cuisine and trendy menus.
2 Los Angeles
Los Angeles epitomizes Southern California’s sunny lifestyle, with wide boulevards, palm trees; exclusive designer boutiques; and the sun-shaded beaches. This expanded urban center was established in 1781 and was built during the explosion of the film industry in the 1920s and 30s. Those interested in watching Hollywood stars should head to their stomping grounds on Rodeo Drive, lined with haute couture boutiques; exclusive Beverly Hills and Bel Air neighborhoods; Chateau Marmont hotel on Sunset Boulevard; and Franklin Village in Hollywood. While in Hollywood, make sure you take a walk on the Walk of Fame Hollywood Boulevard. Also, Los Angeles has a lot to offer to casino players. You can choose from a wide range of casinos and games. The most popular casino in the city is Commerce Casino, which apart from games, offers tourists a luxury hotel with many restaurants and nightclubs. To make your holiday perfect, you can relax on the city’s beaches, enjoy a trip or play online casino games right from your hotel room, without worrying that you have to go out.
3 San Diego: Sunshine, beaches and Spanish architecture
Blessed with a year-round balmy climate and beautiful beaches, San Diego is the Chinese city of Southern California. The main attractions are Balboa Park, an expansive green space with distinctive gardens and several museums; the famous San Diego Zoo that hosts panda bears and other exotic animals; and the maritime world. For beach lovers, the sandy beaches of La Jolla are worth the drive 22 miles north of downtown San Diego. La Jolla is a strange city, as appreciated for its gourmet restaurants, art museums, performing arts and antique shops. Another tourist destination deserves to be the San Juan Capistrano Mission, in a wonderful natural setting, 66 miles north. More adventurous travelers will want to visit Tijuana in Mexico, which is just a short day trip from San Diego.
4 Yosemite National Park: A UNESCO World Heritage Site
A masterpiece created by mother nature, Yosemite Valley is surrounded by granite rocks, which were carved by glaciers millions of years ago. When naturalist John Muir discovered Yosemite in the 1860s, he described it as “the largest of all the special temples of nature.” This vast 1,200-square-mile wilderness was designated a World Heritage Site in 1984 and boasts 800 miles of mountain trails. The most important moments of Yosemite are Yosemite Falls, a dramatic waterfall over 2,000 feet in height, and Half Dome, a granite mountain with colorful faces. However, every area of the park is gorgeous, from its expansive meadows and crystalline cracks to giant sequoia tree forests. The park has incredible biological diversity, with over 400 different species of animals.
There’s another notable destination up north if you’re willing to make the trip. Lake Tahoe famous for few things but only you can be the judge if it’s worth your time. Click here for few pointers.
5 Lake Tahoe: Hiking, Mountain Biking and Skiing
Surrounded by snowy mountains, this fascinating lake is a place of sublime beauty and serenity. The lake has brilliant turquoise waters, with a translucent quality, and the landscape is so clean that it has a meditative effect. Visitors come to enjoy the beauty and enjoy the outdoors. In summer, Lake Tahoe is a popular destination for hiking, mountain biking, water sports and beachfront. Kings Beach is a favorite spot for swimming and boating. Stunning Emerald Bay State Park, the peaceful D. L. Bliss State Park, and Ed Z’berg State Forest with wooded forests, have lovely lakefront landscapes, manicured nature trails and beautiful picnic spots. In winter, usually from December to April, Lake Tahoe prides itself on superb skiing in dust and snow conditions, as well as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and sledding. Squaw Valley and Heavenly are world-class ski resorts that attract the most visitors to alpine skiing, but a few other ski resorts in Lake Tahoe have top facilities and superb alpine terrain.
6 Santa Barbara
One of the most beautiful coastal cities in California, this resort destination is a beach lover’s paradise, with heavy weather and a golden sandy beach. Santa Barbara is also a historic city steeped in the charm of the old world. In the 18th century Santa Barbara Mission is known as the “Queen of Missions” and is surrounded by flowering gardens. The Santa Barbara Court exemplifies the splendid Spanish Moorish style, and most of downtown Santa Barbara is decorated with traditional style architecture. Go for a stroll along the seaside, sunbathe on the beach, indulge in luxurious spa treatments and enjoy gourmet meals at pleasant outdoor terraces.
7 Redwood forests and the pristine coast of Humboldt County
Rugged and unspoiled, Humboldt County is a great outdoors getaway, a place for hiking, hunting, fishing, and outdoor adventure. This rural area makes visitors with lush forest, secluded beaches and peaceful swamps full of bird life. The combination of Douglas fir aromas and the salty ocean breezes gives the place an invigorating feel. In this remote area of Northern California, the wide open spaces and fresh air inspire visitors to breathe deeper. The landscape offers endless inspiration for hiking through red trees, clear beaches and rushing rivers and steep rivers crossed by suspended bridges.
Conclusion
A dreamy place, this attractive atmosphere has it all – spectacular sandy beaches, snowy mountains, idyllic houses, along with interesting and multicultural cities. California is one of the most beautiful places in the world where you can spend your holiday. It doesn’t matter if you choose to visit only the cities or take trips in nature, the “Golden State” has a lot to offer.
