Vacation Spots in California

California state is located on the west coast of the United States. It is the most thickly settled state in the US and is bordered by Arizona and Nevada to the east, Pacific Ocean on the west, Mexico to the south and Oregon to the north. In terms of geographical area, it is only third to Alaska and Texas. Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose and San Francisco are the four largest cities of California. Sacramento, the capital of California state, has the largest railroad museum in the US.

California was called a gold rush country in the early times, as many gold mines were discovered there and it also attracted many immigrants from all over the world. It has progressed by leaps and bounds in every sphere of life. The tech giants Google and Yahoo have their headquarters in Silicon Valley in this state. It also has the lowest and highest points (Death Valley and Mount Whitney respectively) in the United States, which are amazingly situated at a distance of 100 miles from each other. One more startling fact is that there are only 15 living Giant Redwood trees (110 meters long) in the world and all of them are found in this beautiful state! Alcatraz Island situated in the middle of San Francisco Bay, is another famous, historic site that was once a military occupied area. Apart from these, a vacation here offers a plethora of other options to enjoy.

The Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge was constructed in the 1930s and spans from the southern tip of San Francisco to the Marin County. Open from 5am to 6.30pm, the Golden Gate Bridge is the place from where you can have a panoramic view of California. This orange-colored bridge is considered to be one of the most beautiful bridges in the world. It would be a real fun riding on this 2,737 meter long bridge, suspended 227 meter above the sea level. The waters of Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers flow under the Golden Gate Bridge.

Hollywood

Hollywood, the most famous district of Los Angeles, is also considered the entertainment capital of the world. Cahuenga Pass, Melrose District and Yucca Corridor, etc. are famous for their vibrant night life, dance clubs, disco clubs, lounges and spas. The Hollywood Hills is an area that is home to many celebs such as Justin Timberlake, Paris Hilton and Christina Aguilera. World renowned studios such as the Universal Studios and Paramount Pictures, located in Hollywood are major hubs of movie production.

If you are a shopaholic, then a Hollywood vacation can turn out to be a treat for you. From latest to vintage, you will get almost all fashion trends here. If you have a few hours free from sight-seeing, you can plan to shop at some boutiques like Casa Allegra and Lisa Kline, or visit art galleries like Gagosian Gallery, and bookstores. World-class malls such as Beverly Center and Universal City Mall are situated in Hollywood. You must visit the famed open-air Farmers Market and have loads of fun! The Farmers Market, named after a group of farmers who sold their wares here until 1934, is one of the oldest in Los Angeles and has evolved with the modern times. From groceries to gadgets, you can get almost everything in this market. Street music shows and freebee events such as cooking demos, kids events and family-based festivals are organized here. Farmers Market will give you a feel of old as well as modern traditions.

San Diego

San Diego, the second largest city of California, offers opportunities of entertainment and adventure. There are 30 museums in San Diego and they all represent the cultural heritage of this city. The Balboa Park forms the cultural hub of San Diego. Nearly 14 million tourists visit Balboa Park each year. Balboa Park houses museums, a sports complex and many beautiful gardens. The rich diversity of plants, animals, flowers and unique art treasures has made the Balboa Park very popular among the masses. The world famous Old Regional Theater is located in the Balboa Park, and every year, it presents nearly 550 performances.

The Timken Museum hosts a collection of vintage paintings and Spanish colonial architecture. The Air and Space Museum gives you an opportunity to closely view the Apollo 9 command module among many other interesting exhibits. The latest, award-winning New Children's Museum in downtown, has been designed to capture a child's imagination and your kids are surely going to love it.

San Diego SeaWorld is another destination that can offer a lot of fun-filled activities for children and parents alike. Activities such as the Shamu Adventure, where one dives into the sea with Shamu sharks and other whales is a thrilling experience. Shamu's Happy Harbor, a playground is certainly a paradise for the kids. Besides, San Diego SeaWorld, Belmont Amusement Park, San Diego Zoo, San Diego Wild Animal Park, and Legoland are other famous tourists attractions in San Diego.

If you are planning a family vacation to California, then include San Diego in your holiday itinerary. Many tourism agencies offer vacation rentals and discounts for families, depending on various factors such as number of kids, adults and senior citizens in the family.

Napa Valley

Napa Valley is a prestigious, tourist destination in California. You can have some magnificent views of the valley, either by hiring a car or boarding the famous Napa Valley wine train. Napa Valley is known worldwide for unique tastes of their sparkling white and red wines. There are nearly 300 wineries in Napa Valley, which are part of the winery tour. The popular Cabernet and Chardonnay wines are also grown here. Have lunch or dinner in the Silverado railcar, while traveling through the pastures of the Napa Valley. Packages include gourmet lunch and dinner cuisine, and Murder Mystery Theater (interactive four act drama) for family fun nights. Festival Del Sole, a summer festival is a regional wine celebration event that can give you a glimpse into the Napa food, hospitality and culture.

The onset of rain marks the beginning of winters in the Napa Valley and if you visit around winters, the Mustard Magic festival held once each year welcomes you. You can participate in activities such as voting the 'Best Chef of the Year' and tasting mouth-watering mustard recipes. While in Napa Valley, you can also play golf as a part of recreation or fly in hot air balloons for some real adventure.

Start of May to late August is the appropriate season to visit this wine country. If you are a viticulture lover, then the harvest time (September to October) is when you can learn more about wines and also enjoy a vacation at the same time.

Disneyland

If you really want to give your kids a surprise, nothing can be better than a Disneyland vacation. Disney's California Adventure Park is considered to be "one of the happiest places on Earth" and is an equally enjoyable experience, both for parents as well as kids. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Disney's Aladdin (a musical show) and the adventure parks are some of the magical places that can give you a real, once-in-a-life time experience.

California Beaches

No vacation in California is considered complete, unless you don't visit the idyllic Southern California beaches that stretch from San Diego to Mexico. Santa Cruz, San Diego and Santa Monica beaches are famous for their beautiful sunsets and are the favored hangouts for locals and tourists. Scuba diving and sea kayaking are ideal for people looking for adventure as well as fun. Surfing, swimming and beach fishing excursions are some of the other preferred activities. If you are planning a California beach vacation, you can choose to stay in a beach house or condo rental. Basic amenities like high speed wireless Internet, cable television, etc. are available as per your budget.

Variety is the spice of life and California is a testament to it. A witness to vibrant and controversial cultures, it has been a hub for hippies to high-tech executives. Silicon Valley and Hollywood have put this state on the world map. Its rich heritage and charming vacation spots, will surely sweep you of your feet. Special souvenirs will not be difficult to find and bring back home the unforgettable memories of this mesmerizing place.