California holidays

For a taste of California’s natural drama, explore the outdoors in Yosemite, Sequoia and Death Valley national parks. Head to alpine Lake Tahoe, bordering the neighbouring state of Nevada, for unrivalled hiking. Get lost among giants in Redwood National Park. Towering forests and technicolour deserts await.

For a longer trip, California’s epic landscapes are perfect for a road trip: drive along the Pacific Coast Highway from the Golden Gate Bridge to Big Sur, stopping at quirky Santa Barbara, Los Angeles’ sparkling skyline, and fun-loving San Diego. There’s kid-friendly fun along the way, with Disneyland and Six Flags theme parks, pier side fun in Santa Monica, and zany museums galore.

Shoulder season in California

Spring weather is unpredictable due to rain, but autumn is mellow and sunny. Both are shoulder seasons, when cheap California holidays are easier to find – just avoid major holidays and festivals like Spring Break (usually in the first two weeks of March), Halloween and Thanksgiving (November 24).

Winter in California

Head south for balmy temperatures from December through February; Palm Springs is a favourite winter getaway, while Los Angeles and Santa Barbara remain sunny, and San Diego stays mild (high teens). Alternatively embrace winter and ski at Mammoth, Alta Sierra, or Lake Tahoe.

If you only visit one of California’s parks, make it Yosemite National Park. Home to thrashing rivers, towering mountains, crashing waterfalls, and endless hiking trails, this is the western USA at its breathtaking best.

Meander through Mariposa Grove, craning your neck at giant sequoias; watch climbers tackle El Capitan; and join a ranger-led tour to bring the scenery alive for the whole family. Beyond Yosemite are impressive national parks like Sequoia (where the ‘General Sherman’ tree reaches 84m/276ft), Joshua Tree, and the arid beauty of Death Valley.

Hollywood

Everything in this Los Angeles neighbourhood has a glimmer of movie magic. The Hollywood sign beams out from the Hollywood Hills, while silver-screen icons are immortalised along the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Peer behind the scenes on a studio tour at Universal Studios Hollywood, pay your respects to bygone film greats at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, and keep your eyes peeled for celebs. Travelling with kids? Head to Disneyland, a short drive from Los Angeles in Anaheim.

Golden Gate Bridge

A symbol of San Francisco – and an incredible feat of engineering – the Golden Gate Bridge stretches from the Presidio district to the rugged Marin Headlands. Explore walking trails and clifftop views around the Presidio before cycling or walking across the bridge (be careful, it gets crowded).

Out in the bay, you’ll see the infamous island prison of Alcatraz. It’s well worth booking an Alcatraz tour to learn about the daily lives of inmates and their bold feats of escape.

Lake Tahoe

Straddling the Nevada border, North America’s largest alpine lake is surrounded by hiking trails through evergreen forests, while kayaks bob on its glassy waters. There’s culture, too, like the 1929-built mansion Vikingsholm.

Summer is peak season for tackling the Tahoe Rim Trail, though hikers and cyclists continue well into the balmy autumn. Winter is even lovelier, when resorts such as Heavenly, Palisades, and Kirkwood bring snowboarders and skiers flocking to the pillowy snow, which sometimes lasts well into spring.

Pacific Coast Highway

Hugging the coast between San Francisco and San Diego, the Pacific Coast Highway (also known as Highway 1) is one of the most spectacular road trips in the USA. Be sure to make a stop at the enormous Monterey Bay Aquarium offers close-up views of sharks, seals, penguins, and other marine life.

Continue to popular Big Sur, a stretch of untouched, wild coastline, where Bixby Bridge is an irresistible photo-op. Make time for friendly San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and its wineries, before finishing in San Diego, one of California’s sunniest spots.

Consider action-packed Lake Tahoe, too, for winter ski holidays or summer hikes and cycle rides. Towns like South Lake Tahoe and Truckee have hotels and self-catering apartments.

For travellers on a budget

For cheap California holidays, cut accommodation costs by camping in national parks like Yosemite (but reserve months ahead) and snip restaurant costs by self-catering. No stay in the Golden State will have rock-bottom prices, but accommodation rates drop if you stay outside big cities (like in charming towns such as Solvang and Placerville).

Mount Shasta, with chain hotels and midrange resorts, is a lower-budget alternative to Lake Tahoe: its striking peak hosts a small ski area in winter and walking trails during summer.

For food and drink

Foodies will have a full menu in San Francisco. The Ferry Building Marketplace has magnificent ice cream and coffee, the Financial District hosts Prohibition-era saloons, diners come to the Marina to munch crab, while brunch spots in the Castro draw queues for eggs benedict. The Mission is a hub for Mexican cuisine, while Potrero Hill attracts craft beer aficionados.

Accommodation in San Francisco is expensive but there are boutique and chain hotels downtown, characterful B&Bs in the Mission and Castro, and self-catering apartments everywhere.

For nightlife

All creatures of the night will find their fix in Los Angeles. There's sizzling LGBTQ+ nightlife in West Hollywood, rooftop bars in downtown LA, exclusive nightclubs in Beverly Hills, plus renowned live music venues such as the Hollywood Bowl.

Downtown LA and Hollywood have good transport links so they’re great bases; both areas have chain hotels, swanky boutique hotels with rooftop pools and on-site restaurants, and compact self-catering apartments. Remember, even if you're well above the legal drinking age of 21, you need ID to enter bars!

For culture

Los Angeles has California’s biggest museums and iconic sights, such as The Getty, The California Space Center, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. San Francisco is known for its distinctive neighbourhoods, such as the Mission and Chinatown.

For an intriguing pocket of desert culture, Palm Springs is a fascinating getaway for its mid-century architecture, LGBTQ+ culture, and Rat Pack history. Modernist hotels with outdoor pools are easy to find, as are cosy self-catering rentals. With rustic B&Bs, theme park hotels, and ultra-luxurious resorts, there’s an enormous range of accommodation in Palm Springs.