Destinations in California

Beyond the great cities of LA and San Francisco, there's a wonderful world to be discovered, with a staggering variety of landscapes.

Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon rival Yosemite for natural splendour while offering different aspects of Mother Nature at her most photogenic. You can’t miss the first skyscrapers – the Giant Sequoia (or Redwood) trees, some of which are more than 2,000 years old.

Nestled in the Coachella Valley, Hollywood film stars have been coming here since the 1920s. Revel in the high life with star-studded restaurants, pristine golf courses and glamorous spas or get a taste of adventure and ride the aerial tramway to the San Jacinto Peak.

Known as the ‘city of 88 cities’, LA is a sprawling metropolis of A-list haunts, people watching and boutique shopping. With everything from adrenaline-fuelled theme parks and buzzy beaches to quaint café-lined streets, the city of Angels is a mecca for entertainment.

Known as the ‘city of 88 cities’, LA is a sprawling metropolis of A-list haunts, people watching and boutique shopping. With everything from adrenaline-fuelled theme parks and buzzy beaches to quaint café-lined streets, the city of Angels is a mecca for entertainment.

Known as the ‘city of 88 cities’, LA is a sprawling metropolis of A-list haunts, people watching and boutique shopping. With everything from adrenaline-fuelled theme parks and buzzy beaches to quaint café-lined streets, the city of Angels is a mecca for entertainment.

Known as the ‘city of 88 cities’, LA is a sprawling metropolis of A-list haunts, people watching and boutique shopping. With everything from adrenaline-fuelled theme parks and buzzy beaches to quaint café-lined streets, the city of Angels is a mecca for entertainment.

Known as the ‘city of 88 cities’, LA is a sprawling metropolis of A-list haunts, people watching and boutique shopping. With everything from adrenaline-fuelled theme parks and buzzy beaches to quaint café-lined streets, the city of Angels is a mecca for entertainment.

Known as the ‘city of 88 cities’, LA is a sprawling metropolis of A-list haunts, people watching and boutique shopping. With everything from adrenaline-fuelled theme parks and buzzy beaches to quaint café-lined streets, the city of Angels is a mecca for entertainment.

Known as the ‘city of 88 cities’, LA is a sprawling metropolis of A-list haunts, people watching and boutique shopping. With everything from adrenaline-fuelled theme parks and buzzy beaches to quaint café-lined streets, the city of Angels is a mecca for entertainment.

With beautiful open spaces, a bridge that’s the envy of the world and charming harbour-side towns, The City by the Bay is a sight to behold. Union Square’s shopping, Alcatraz Island and a stunning Golden Gate Park make for an offbeat city that refuses to blend in.

With charming resorts and some of the best urban chefs, there are endless reasons to visit California’s world-famous wine region. Wine buff or not, its glorious Mediterranean climate, acres of vineyards and general zest for life make for a wonderful sunshine escape.

As the largest alpine lake in North America, this expanse of blue that straddles the California and Nevada border is a sight to behold. On top of the wondrous nature; buzzy riverside towns, Nevada casinos and ski parks also attract the crowds.

With a trendy Gas Lamp Quarter and quaint gondola rides around the bay, San Diego, dubbed ‘America’s finest city’, offers a sophisticated European vibe. With plenty to do and see, there are cruises aplenty for spotting the beautiful wild Californian grey and blue whales.