Holidays in California

California is on the west coast of U.S., bordered by Oregon, Nevada and Arizona. Its diverse terrain ranges from the Pacific Coast to the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Mojave Desert in the southeast. Southern California includes the famous Hollywood Boulevard and Disneyland, while northern California features the colourful city of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge and the lush Napa valley wine region.

Planning California holidays

Visitors can arrive at a variety of airports, and the state's largest include Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO) and San Diego (SAN). Cruise ships also stop at major ports. Visitors should note that the California time zone is eight hours behind GMT (GMT -8). The climate in California varies, but in the southern and coastal regions it has a Mediterranean climate, with little rainfall during the summer.

California beaches and national parks

On Southern California holidays travellers can visit the best beaches, such as the cliffside beaches of Malibu (Leo Carillo, El Matador) and Santa Monica Beach, which has a pier with cafes and amusement park rides. Crystal Cove State Park has 3.5 miles of beach, and thousands of acres of woodlands. California also has a variety of national parks. The Sierra Nevada mountains are home to the Yosemite National Park, with stunning scenery and numerous lakes and ski resorts. Visitors can also explore Joshua Tree and Redwood National Park, a UNESCO Site with some of the tallest trees in the world.

Southern California holidays

Southern California is a popular destination for families. It includes Disneyland Park in Anaheim, where visitors can see Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters, and enjoy a variety of Disney-themed rides and seasonal parades. L.A. is home to Hollywood and Universal Studios theme park, where visitors can take studio tours to explore Hollywood's famous movie sets. California also has a number of renowned championship golf courses such as Pebble Beach Golf Links, Torry Pines and TPC Stadium Course.