Everybody knows the one about California being the world's eighth biggest economy if it was a standalone country, but fiscal statistics aside, this is undoubtedly one seriously blessed corner of the world. California is blessed with as perfect a climate as you could wish for (OK, maybe except for in Death Valley), and landscapes running the full scenic gamut from gorgeous beaches to ski-friendly mountain ranges via perfect winemaking country, vast (in all senses) forests and some of the world's most dramatic National Parks. All rather sickening, really, but boy does it make California holidays alluring. Throw in the culture, creativity and sheer energetic output of the key cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco, and a few treasures that are less well known - just ask! - and California is the perfect destination for family holidays or couples alike.

California holiday ideas

A few suggestions to get the holiday planning process started

California Guide

Practical advice and inspiration to help you prepare for your holiday

USA Testimonials

15 reviews
4.9 / 5
"I would 100% recommend booking your next holiday trip through Original Travel. We found the whole process so easy, and our travel consultant, David, was amazing, ensuring that all the excursions and wishes of this trip were met. Nothing was too much to ask! We cannot thank Original Travel enough for our amazing once-in-a-lifetime trip and will definitely be booking through them again."
Molly - London
Published on 5th May 2025
"David really listened to what we wanted and he put an amazing itinerary together. We booked our trip almost a year in advance and David went through everything with us just before we were due to leave, even remembering that one of our group was celebrating his 50th birthday during our trip. It was a fabulous and varied trip. The Dossiers were very helpful and it was reassuring to have the Concierge as a contact - very impressed. Having the eSIM was an extra bonus."
Caroline - Angus
Published on 15th April 2025
"Great hotel recommendations and itinerary. The app is great, we loved having all the information in one place. The restaurant recommendations were good, and we like that there are links directly to Google maps, etc. We didn't use the Concierge service but it was good to have as backup."
Justine - London
Published on 28th March 2025

What you can find in California that you won't find anywhere else?

San Francisco or Los Angeles are the likely starting points for any Californian trip, and the two cities dovetail beautifully; San Francisco the understated, walking friendly, hipster hangout with great shopping and excellent Oriental cuisine, and LA the quirky and exuberantly OTT city of neighbourhoods you'll probably feel you knew before even arriving, thanks to the iconic status of places like Rodeo Drive, Venice Beach and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Speaking of iconic status, the stretch of coastline and road between these two cities is generally regarded as one of the most dramatic and beautiful in the world, and a Big Sur Road Trip is right at the top of several of the Original Travel team's holiday bucket lists. En route are many Californian highlights such as the giant redwood forests, and attractive towns such as Carmel, Monterrey and Santa Barbara.

There's more. South of LA and a stone's throw from the border with Mexico, San Diego is a vibrant mish mash of North and Central American culture. More relaxed than the frenetic Los Angeles but with even better beaches, it is a place to unwind; made even easier by the city's reputation for having the best craft beer in the country. And on the subject of 'liquor', very few wine regions on the planet are as pleasant to visit as the beautiful Sonoma and Napa Valleys north of San Francisco, as famous for their scenery and restaurants as their excellent wines.

After a stint in the wine region, there's no place better for burning off the excess than the jaw-droppingly beautiful Yosemite National Park, which you can find out more about in our American West section.

All this, and we haven't even mentioned the seriously impressive ski conditions in Lake Tahoe and the multitude of family-friendly things on offer in California, ranging from the obvious (Disneyland, Legoland and Universal Studios anyone?) to seeing the sea lions in San Francisco and even just enjoying a bit of good old fashioned bucket and spade work on the many beautiful beaches.

Best places to go in USA



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