California Vacation Planning

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Welcome to the California Tourist Guide – a great place to plan the perfect California vacation, holiday or weekend getaway. Even if you’re still in the California Dreamin’ stage, you’re sure to find some fun ideas to get you going.

Have you already decided where in California you want to visit? If so, you can simply click the corresponding button in the navigation bar above to learn more about that particular area. The guide also offers a list of California cities – which indicates the area where some of the state’s smaller cities are located – and that reference can be very helpful if there are people or perhaps an “off the beaten path” tourist attraction you want to see.

Should you have a bit more time to explore, the California tourist map to the left might also help you find other vacation and recreation opportunities that aren’t too far away from your primary destination. It’s a BIG state, but the California Tourist Guide wants to help you find your way around and get the most bang for your vacation buck.

Do California beaches figure prominently in your perfect vacation plan? We have quite a variety here. California’s North Coast beaches are a bit rugged and wild compared to the serene and scenic Central Coast beaches, and there are also the “laid-back cool” of Los Angeles beach towns and the “fun in the sun” vibe you’ll find in the San Diego beach communities. Whatever kind of beach you like, California has you covered! Here is a list of California beaches and beach towns for your reference.

Are you a golfer? Each California region offers wonderful courses, so it’s easy to enjoy a California golf vacation, and many people choose to spend some of their time golfing and some time enjoying other activities. If you’re planning a family vacation, you might combine it with visiting California amusement parks, but if your plan leans more toward R & R – relaxation and romance – you might consider looking for a course where a California spa vacation can be part of the package. California Tourist Guide wants you to have the best possible vacation and will do its best to help you plan it. We take our California tourism responsibilities very seriously around here!

Maybe you’re looking for an extraordinary outdoor adventure? You could explore Yosemite National Park (in the Sierras and Gold Country area) or majestic Mount Shasta (in the Shasta and Cascades area), but every region has its own natural treasures – even freeway-filled Los Angeles!

If skiing and snowboarding are in your plans, you’ll definitely want to check out Lake Tahoe (where you might also enjoy some casinos and nightlife) or Mammoth Mountain. (The town of Mammoth Lakes is located about 325 miles north of Los Angeles, about the same distance east of San Francisco and about 164 miles south of Reno, NV. Check Horizon Air for possible flights from LAX to the Mammoth-Yosemite airport.)

And, while you’re here, please be sure to sample – indulge in! – California’s superb food and drink. Maybe you’d enjoy a San Francisco food tour or even use a Wine Country cooking vacation as the starting point for your vacation plans? Abundant epicurean delights from both land and sea inspire an incredible array of talented and passionate California chefs and winemakers. In Italy they call this la dolce vita (“the sweet life”); here in California, we call it AWESOME!

Wine Country’s Napa and Sonoma are well known and wonderful, of course, but there are several different places in the state to enjoy locally produced, award-winning wine (the North Coast and Gold Country wineries are coming on strong, as is the Inland Empire’s Temecula area), and you can find truly fabu California restaurants wherever you’re headed.

Are you getting excited? Let’s get going, then… dive in and be here now! Choose an area from the top navigation buttons, use the search box in the footer to find something specific or click this link to peruse the California Tourist Guide articles that will help you learn more about everything this wonderful state has to offer. We’re honored to have the opportunity to assist you with ideas and inspiration for your perfect California vacation!