WHY VISIT CALIFORNIA

Arrive in California and you are opening a treasure chest of stellar scenery, super-cool cities, innovative dining, and theme parks guaranteed to unleash your inner kid. Everything glitters here; from the snow-capped Sierra Nevada to the sparkling sands of SoCal’s surf beaches, via the diamond-clad fashionistas of Rodeo Drive.

Gold diggers, hippies, techie geeks, surf dudes, and wannabe stars have all sought their piece of California’s good life, and its cities are hubs of aspiration and inspiration. Cosmopolitan San Francisco chucks eye-popping scenery and start-up ventures at you like a tennis ball machine. In Los Angeles, celebrity spotting in chic boutiques, exclusive restaurants, or even the gas station is a regular and fun occurrence.

California’s ruggedly beautiful coastline curves north of Los Angeles along coastal Highway 1, an iconic American drive. At Big Sur, dramatic cliffs plunge into the Pacific Ocean where California grey whales migrate and condors soar overhead. Visitors come to hike through humongous redwoods, participate in the local art scene, and escape anything manmade. Meanwhile, surfers and sun worshippers enjoy the sand and swell along San Diego’s sweeping shores.

To the east, the Sierra Nevada is an extraordinary playground of sky-scraping mountains, towering sequoias, and plummeting waterfalls. Skiers float through powder above Lake Tahoe, climbers inch up Yosemite’s El Capitan, and hikers trek the long-distance John Muir Trail. You can travel on the same day from Mt Whitney, the highest mountain in the lower 48 states, at 4,418m (14,494ft), to Death Valley, the lowest place in North America at 86m (282ft) below sea level.

With its never-ending stream of foodie fads and inventions, Californian dining is an adventure too. And the Napa and Sonoma Valleys produce excellent wines but keep the quaffing until after you’ve ridden Disneyland’s spinning teacups.

WHAT TO SEE IN CALIFORNIA

• Hollywood: the playground of the rich and famous, see and be-seen Hollywood draws top trendsetters from all over the US to its Haute nightclubs, celebrity-infested streets, and high dining scene. The mecca of the entertainment industry, get a taste of star life exploring the iconic Hollywood Hills, and rich fashions, or see the Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard to find your favorite actor’s handprint.
• Yosemite National Park: author John Muir called Yosemite a “temple of nature” in 1868, and he was right on the mark. The beauty of this corner of the Sierras is simply sublime and arguably unmatched by any other national park in America. From the Yosemite Valley to the soaring granite of Sentinel Dome, it’s hard not to get goosebumps exploring Mother Nature’s den. Hike the easy Valley Loop or go for the views off Mist Trail, Yosemite features massive waterfalls, skyscrapers of giant sequoia trees, granite mountains, and even a bear or three so keep your eyes peeled for Yogi.
• Monterey Peninsula: this stretch of central California is about as sweet as it gets. Big Sur flaunts its majestic coastline and towering redwood forests at every bend of the Pacific Coast Highway. The serenity of this quiet region is indescribable, but continue north and you’ll reach the romantic hamlet of Carmel, California, and the golf mecca of Pebble Beach, a main staple on the pro circuit and often named the greatest public course in America. Monterrey is also nearby with its world-class aquarium, crescent bays, butterflies, and cool California beach town vibe.
• San Francisco: in many people’s books, San Francisco is America’s greatest city. It’s a place where natural beauty merges seamlessly with a colorful libertarian society and an enchanting patchwork of distinct neighborhoods. The fog creeping over the Golden Gate Bridge most mornings is reason enough to visit, but the wealth of cool bars, great restaurants, cable cars, and highlights like Golden Gate Park make this a solid one-stop travel destination. With temperatures much more moderate than Southern California, San Francisco is a comfortable year-round spot for cultural enthusiasts and political junkies alike.
• Wine Country: an hour’s drive north of San Francisco is America’s premier wine-growing region, Napa Valley. The charming towns of Napa and Sonoma create a vortex of wine-infused gourmand ambiance that seems more local to the French countryside than to the United States. The entire area is littered with wineries, quaint towns, spas, and some of California’s finest scenery and most internationally-acclaimed restaurants like French Laundry. The valley exudes romance and rarely fails to impress lovers of food, wine, beer, and pastoral beauty.
• Disneyland: there are plenty of natural attractions in California but its number one destination for fun for all ages is Disneyland. Located just outside of Los Angeles, enjoy the magical theme park of Mickey and Minnie’s closest friends, exciting rides, and a seemingly endless parade of timeless wonder. Relive your childhood at the Magic Kingdom as all your favorite cartoons and movies are brought to life.
• Orange County: formerly one of Southern California’s best-kept secrets, the OC has become a destination in its own right, serving as the backdrop of multiple reality tv shows in pop culture. Known as the stretch of coastline between the southern edges of Los Angeles and Dana Point, the beaches along this 42-mile section of the Pacific Coast Highway are ideal for a day to escape the chaos of LA. Start off at Seal Beach, then put the top down and head to Laguna Beach for a break before continuing south to Dana Point where the uber-posh housewives of Southern California play.
• Santa Barbara: an hour’s drive north of Los Angeles is the incredibly pleasant and expensive town of Santa Barbara. Among its many nicknames is the American Riviera, which isn’t too far off the mark. Its climate is nearly perfect, and the overall urban atmosphere is one of self-assured satisfaction. Downtown State Street, the bloodline of the city, is home to one of the original Spanish missions, constructed way before America was born. Stylish cafés, a superb beach scene, and plenty of nature in the backyard make Santa Barbara a popular getaway for well-heeled residents of Los Angeles.
• Lake Tahoe: the beauty of the alpine Lake Tahoe is only rivaled by its world-class ski resorts covering the surrounding mountains and the neon splash of Reno just over the border in Nevada. The cornerstone where California and Nevada meet, in the summertime, hiking and boating, mountain biking, and camping become the daytime activities of choice, with the party rolling on all year round in fun-loving Reno just down the road for your pick of casinos and bars.

WHEN TO GO TO CALIFORNIA

The best period to visit California is from xxx to xxxx.

Summers are very warm, with cool evenings, while the spring and autumn months are mild, with cool evenings. The winter “rainy season” is gentle and occurs between January and March. Much of the state has a Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. San Francisco is known for its characteristic fog in spring and early summer. Northern California and the high mountains have snow in winter, while the deserts experience very hot summers and mild winters.

For the best skiing in Lake Tahoe, the end of January and the beginning of February offer good snow and a break from the swelling crowds at Christmas and through mid-January. For prime sunny beach weather in Southern California, July and August offer lots of sun and heat, but there will be crowds. Avoid the “May Gray” and “June Gloom,” which bring a low-lying marine layer of clouds over the coastline for most of the day.

WHAT TO DO IN CALIFORNIA

Cruise the Pacific Coast Highway

California has its problems, but driving the PCH makes you understand why more people choose to live here than in any other state. Beginning on the beaches of Santa Monica, the highway heads north through rolling hills and Santa Barbara wine country, then cruises through Big Sur and the Monterey Peninsula, past crashing waves, towering mountains, and belching sea lions. Along the way, you can stretch your legs with scenic hikes and a tour of Hearst Castle. Most people end the journey around San Francisco, but, if you have time, you can continue up through Mendicino for even more jaw-dropping vistas, like the bluffs over Salt Point State Park, and the Point Arena Lighthouse.

Following is a list of typical festivals and celebrations in California.

• San Francisco Jazz Festival: in its 29th year, this world-famous series of jazz concerts brings some of the biggest names in the genre to the Bay Area. Sonny Rollins, Branford Marsalis, and Gilberto Gil are just a few of the bigwigs on an average year’s schedule. The shows run all summer long at the SFJAZZ Center, the city’s newest and most modern music venue.
• Los Angeles Film Fest: even Hollywood A-listers get excited about this hot ticket independent film festival. Legendary directors give talks and unknown writers get their chance to show off their creative genius to the world’s most discerning audiences. Movies are screened at several cinemas around LA in mid-June, with red carpet events, awards, and other fun side shows helping to create a genuine gala.
• Music in the Vineyards: Napa Valley has more than its fair share of annual events, many of which revolve around wine, good food, and live music. This hugely popular chamber music puts a touch of gentrified class on the scene from July 29 to August 19 each summer. All kinds of other events are scheduled at the valley’s top wineries around this California festival, adding to the ambiance.
• US Open of Surfing: Huntington Beach is the site for this annual surf contest that pits the world’s best against some of southern California’s finest waves. For nine days, it’s nothing but surfing, surfers, and partying at Huntington Beach. This is a big-name event, so expect to see some of the world’s premier athletes looking to add points to their championship rankings every July.
• San Diego Festival of Beer: at least 50 craft breweries participate in this excessively popular beer tasting festival every September. The intersection of Columbia and B Streets in downtown San Diego transform into a street mecca, with some of the tastiest beers in California backed up by music, food, and of course the big competition.
• Tall Ships Festival: one of the more unique and inspiring events in southern California is the Tall Ships Festival at Dana Point. For two days every September, the bay off Dana Point becomes filled with bobbing old-school sailing ships. The highlight is when they all sail together in a water parade of sorts through the entrance of the bay. There are arts, crafts, music, maritime workshops, and other great events. Particularly popular with kids, of all ages will enjoy a day of sails.
• Taste of Newport: one of the premier foodie festivals each September is this event in the posh seaside town of Newport. Newport Center Drive becomes a vortex of wine, food, and live music as 30 restaurants and 15 wineries bring out their best goods for the 75,000 or so guests to enjoy. Great scenery and nosh always seem to be the perfect pairing.

HOW TO REACH AND TRAVEL THROUGH CALIFORNIA

Only San Francisco and Los Angeles have light rail or subway transportation systems. The one in LA is of little use to tourists, while San Francisco’s is only good for traveling out of the city center. Buses are a better choice to get around the big cities as they are cheap and cover most of the attractions. Smaller cities like Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz also have public bus systems, but in really small towns like Napa you’ll be hard-pressed to find even a taxi.

To move around the vast length of California, the Greyhound bus is the most affordable and convenient option. It’s comfortable enough for a trip of just a few hours and it goes to almost every town in the state. The buses rarely fill up and the stations tend to be located right in the heart of towns and cities.

Amtrak also has train service along the coast, stopping in many popular cities like San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, and a variety of places in between. It’s much more comfortable than the Greyhound bus and runs along some truly scenic routes. Rail tickets are slightly more expensive than bus tickets, but quite reasonable considering the scenery, comfort, and dining car. Amtrak is notorious for its delays and late arrivals so schedule accordingly, but if time is on your side, it’s worth the experience.

Main airports are:

• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
• San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

GENERAL INFORMATION ON CALIFORNIA

health tips & vaccination: none

local currency: US Dollar

local time zone: GMT-8 (-7)

electricity: [su_lightbox type=”image” src=”http://www.traveltv.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/A_plug.png”]type A[/su_lightbox] and [su_lightbox type=”image” src=”http://www.traveltv.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/B_plug.png”]type B[/su_lightbox] (120V – 60 Hz)

WHAT TO DO IN CALIFORNIA

Typical food in California

• Steak. California is an historic haven for cattle and cattle ranchers, today the tradition lives on with filet mignon and porterhouse cuts at steakhouses across the state.
• Seafood. Californians consume far more seafood per capita than the rest of the country, and fishermen bring 300 different species to market each year. Dungeness crab, shrimp, and swordfish are especially popular.
  Clam chowder. San Francisco is known for serving thick clam chowder in a bread bowl.
• California wines. Northern California is famous for wines and vineyards dating back to 1855, especially white wine.
• Ghirardelli chocolate. Another speciality from San Francisco, Ghirardelli has been making speciality chocolate since 1852 using a unique manufacturing process.
• Sourdough bread. This was the bread made in Northern California during the California Gold Rush. Today, Sourdough Sam is the mascot of the San Francisco 49ers football team.
• Tofu. California is a health conscious culture with a variety of vegetarian and vegan options, including bean curd called tofu.
• Sparkling wine. White California sparkling wines are made in the Methode Champenoise style in Northern California where the temperatures can be cooler.
• Tacos. California shares a border with Mexico and offers some of the most authentic and spicy Mexican food in the United States, especially in San Diego where fish tacos can be as cheap as one dollar each.
• Fruit. California’s climate is ideal for growing fruit year around, especially citrus like lemons and oranges. Avocados, grapes, apples, and strawberries also grow especially well.

Souvenirs from California

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Source

http://www.thebesttimetovisit.com/
http://www.roughguides.com/
https://www.iexplore.com/