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The Coolest California Travel Guide
California is an amazingly diverse state with something for everyone. It’s easy to romanticize California and picture only as seen on TV. However, California has so much more going for it. You’ll find great weather, fantastic cities, amazing National Parks, great campgrounds and the best road trips in the country.
There are so many adventures waiting for you in California. So if you love being fancy, you’ll love love wine tasting in Napa. If you want to off road in the desert, you’ll enjoy Death Valley. If you enjoy a good hike, head up to the top of Half Dome. Whatever your dream, make it a reality in California. Keep reading for California travel guides to all of our favorite destinations.
Our Top 5 Things to do in California
Yosemite National Park: One of the best National Parks in the USA! Yosemite has mountains, waterfalls, wildlife and more.
Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip: There is nothing more California than driving up the Pacific Coast Highway with ocean breeze in your hair. And there is a reason it is iconic and that is because it is a fabulous road trip!
Iconic Cities: California boasts several amazing cities that are just so stereotypically West Coast they’re worth a visit. Take your pick of San Francisco, Los Angeles or San Diego. They’re all fabulous but San Diego is our favorite.
Wine Tasting: California boasts some of the best wine regions in the United States. From Napa and Sonoma to Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, you can have a great time wine tasting in California.
California Desert: Whether you’re exploring Joshua Tree or Death Valley, you should not miss a visit to the deserts of California.
California has mild weather year round.
However, there are some good times to visit that stand out. First, people want warm weather when they visit California. If you’re looking for the warmth and sun, you’ll want to visit at the end of summer, like July and August. This is also a good time to visit if you are visiting mountainous regions like Lake Tahoe, Yosemite and Lassen National Park, as these areas often have road closures into early summer due to large snowfalls.
Fall is also a great time to visit California. Fall has more mild and cooler weather but the sun still shines making it another great time to visit.
Visits to the desert are a great California destination for the cooler winter months.
Getting Around:
There are several major airports throughout central and southern California making it easy to get around via short flights. However, we love a good road trip and California has some amazing road trips! From the Pacific Coast Highway to the mountainous roads to the east, we think the best way to visit California is on a road trip.
Know Before You Go
Currency and Budget:
The currency used in California is the US dollar. You’ll find that credit and debit cards are widely accepted throughout the state. Visa, Mastercard and Discover are the most common. Cash is also widely used.
The prices in California are high compared with other US areas. Hotels average between $180-250. Meal prices average from $15-$35 depending on the type of restaurant. However, meal prices can be much higher as there are some very fancy restaurants in California.
Safety:
California is a relatively safe place for tourists. The most common crimes are theft related. Crimes are more prevalent in larger cities or popular tourist areas. As always when traveling, make sure to keep your valuables in safe places, don’t flash expensive things about and make sure to lock your belongings up.
Also, make sure to take extra precautions when you are in large cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco. Be aware of your surroundings and don’t travel in unfamiliar places at night.
If you do need help, dial 911 for emergency services.
Language:
English is an official language of California. So while Spanish is also widely spoken, if you speak English, you won’t have a problem communicating.