California's Best Vacation Spots
Places To See, Things To Do
Get Away to Adventure, Romance and Fun

One of the best vacation spots is California, located on the west coast of North America. California has the largest population of the states, and is the third largest of the states in land area. With famous landmarks, unique scenery, grand beaches along the Pacific, cultural icons of the entertainment industry, and plentiful tourist attractions, California offers the best vacation spots. In California you'll find such popular attractions as Disneyland, Hollywood and the beaches of Malibu. Northern California has the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, the hills of San Francisco, the vineyards of Napa Valley, and the state capital, Sacramento. Outside California's major cities are some of North America's most rugged national parks, incredible places to ski and snowboard, and quiet and ancient northern forests. California has Mt. Whitney, the highest mountain peak in the continental US. On the other extreme, California has the desert called Death Valley.

After the Spanish and Portuguese settled California, they built twenty-one missions by the late 1700s. Many of these missions survive today. California broke away from Mexico to become the California Republic, and then was annexed by the United States in 1846. With its fertile land and moderate climate, agriculture is an important industry in the Central Valley area around San Joaquin Valley.

Major Cities in California With the Best Vacation Spots

These major cities in California make the best vacation spots.

1. The laid-back state capital is Sacramenta with its historic area of the city, Old Sacramento.
2. Los Angeles is the second-largest city in the nation. L.A. is home to Hollywood, Venice, The Getty Center, and Griffith Park.
3. Bakersfield has the world's largest Basque population outside of Spain. Fine Basque restaurants abound.
4. Fresno marks the gateway to Yosemite National Park and the spectacular beauty photographed by Ansel Adams.
5. Palm Springs is a deluxe desert city with golf, spas, resorts, casinos, and the famous aerial tramway.
6. San Diego has Balboa Park, Old Town, SeaWorld, San Diego Zoo, and nearby Tijuana, Mexico.
7. San Francisco is memorable for the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Chinatown, cable cars, and the colorful painted Victorian houses.
8. San Jose and Silicon Valley are south of San Francisco. Here you'll find the Winchester Mystery House, and the many technology companies.
9. Santa Cruz - A central coast city. The home of the historic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Mission Santa Cruz, and the Mystery Spot.

Some of the Best Vacation Spots in California

1. Travel to the Napa Valley to enjoy California's excellent wines. Many vineyards offer wine tasting, tours and shopping.
2. Drive along the Pacific Coast Highway for unforgettable scenery. Big Sur is one of the most scenic spots along the way.
3. Look for gold along California's trails, Although the Gold Rush of 1848 in the Sierra Nevada mountains is over, panning for gold can still be a rewarding pastime.
4. Visit the State and National Parks of California for unique outdoor experiences. California is noted for its ancient forests of Redwood trees and Sequoia trees, especially along the north coast where the world's tallest trees thrive. The Channel Islands National Park includes five remarkable islands and their ocean ecology. Yosemite National Park Other parks are Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Redwood National Park , and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
5. Tour Los Angeles for the best-known sightseeing, the world-famous Hollywood sign, the Walk of Fame, Graumann's Chinese Theater, and the homes of the movie stars in Beverly Hills. Window shop on Rodeo Drive, the location for high-end brands and designers.
6. Tour San Francisco to see the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, the island prison Alcatraz, Chinatown, the Mission district, cable cars, and Lombardy Street. San Diego has a renowned zoo and separate wild animal park, and the Sea World marine theme park. San Diego is said to have the best year-round climate in the United States.
7. Anaheim is home to the premier theme park, Disneyland, called the happiest place in the world.
8. Santa Barbara, city on a south-facing coast, is nicknamed "the American Riviera."
9. You'll find cross-country skiing downhill skiing and snowboarding at one of the great resorts near Lake Tahoe or Big Bear.
10. Surf the waves or work on your tan at the beaches along the Pacific Ocean in Orange County or Santa Monica.
11. The long coastline throughout the state offers some great California scuba diving.
12. Climb a mountain and camp in the Sierra Nevada or Shasta Cascades.
13. Keep an eye out for the amazing wildflowers that flourish in Southern and Central California.

I wish you a trip full of adventure and happy memories at the best vacation spots of California.

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California's Best Vacation Spots





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