Best things to do in California

Golden Gate Bridge

The rust-coloured towers, graceful suspension and supportive cables of the Golden Gate Bridge make this famous symbol of San Francisco the most photographed bridge in the world, and visible from almost any high point in the city, although it is often shrouded in rolling fog. Spanning the two-mile (3km) mouth of the bay, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time of its completion in 1937 and was built to withstand winds of more than 100 mph (161km per hour). During high winds it can sway up to 27 feet (8m) in each direction. One of the great engineering accomplishments of the 20th century, the bridge claims to have used enough wire in its construction to stretch around the earth several times. Walking across the bridge, under the towers that loom 65 storeys above the water, is one of the best ways to experience the immensity of the structure and affords beautiful views of the San Francisco skyline, the bay and its islands.

Wine Country

The Napa and Sonoma Valleys are at the heart of the Californian wine country, producing wines that are praised by connoisseurs worldwide, from a perfect climate of sunny days and cool nights. The area is a forerunner in the latest grape-growing techniques and wine making, and many individual growers, instead of selling their grapes to the larger wineries, are producing their own excellent boutique wines.

The Napa Valley is the more commercial of the two, with more wineries, spas and tourist traffic, and a better selection of restaurants and hotels. The valley also caters for classic wine country activities such as hot air ballooning or biking through the vineyards; the world-renowned wineries also offer informative tours, which provide the ultimate wine-country experience. Sonoma Valley is less pretentious and more beautiful in a rustic way, with smaller family-run cellars and fewer visitors.

Although the Napa Valley is the USA's best-known wine region, Sonoma boasts more awards than their snobbish neighbour, producing intensely complex reds. The Napa Valley is a relatively compact region with more than 200 wineries offering tours and tasting. Most of the large wineries with their orderly rows of vineyards are situated along the main thoroughfare that stretches from San Francisco Bay to Calistoga in the north.

But there's more to the valley than wine tasting. The small resort town of Calistoga is famous for its mineral springs and mud baths, as well as the Old Faithful Geyser that shoots boiling water and steam 60 feet (18m) into the air every 40 minutes. Nearby is a Petrified Forest with redwoods, seashells and marine life that were turned to stone after volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount St Helena covered the area.

Website www.winecountry.com

Hollywood

Los Angeles is the film and entertainment capital of the world and the name 'Hollywood' is the embodiment of glamour, success and money; the place where films are made, television shows are recorded and stars take up residence. The famous Hollywood sign on the hills above the city has become the enduring symbol of the movie industry and of Los Angeles itself; the 50-foot-high (15m) white letters can be seen from miles away.

The historic heart of the movie industry is centred on Hollywood Boulevard, where millions of visitors flock to see landmark attractions and museums. The impressive Grauman's Chinese Theatre (TCL Chinese Theatre) is famous for its courtyard where over 200 stars such as Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, Clint Eastwood and Frank Sinatra have set their signatures and imprints of their hands or feet in cement.

For many years the theatre has been the spot for movie premieres and is modelled on a Chinese temple with columns, dragons and an ornate interior. Passing in front of the theatre is the mile-long Walk of Fame, the world-famous sidewalk embedded with the names of legendary television, film, radio, theatre and recording greats engraved within pink granite stars. More than 2,500 celebrities are honoured here, including Elvis Presley, Charlie Chapman, Marilyn Monroe and Michael Jackson.

The cylindrical Capitol Records Tower is one of the most recognisable buildings in the city and is supposed to resemble a 12-storey stack of records with a needle on top that blinks out 'h-o-l-l-y-w-o-o-d' in Morse code. Other attractions include the Dolby Theatre (designed to host the Academy Awards) and the Hollywood Guinness World Records Museum, as well as the Hollywood Wax Museum and the Ripley's 'Believe It or Not!' Museum.

Website www.hollywoodchamber.net

Disneyland Resort

Claiming to be 'The Happiest Place on Earth', Disneyland is an integral part of an American childhood and was the world's first mega theme park designed for the family by Walt Disney in 1955. It's one of America's most famous attractions and, despite competition from other similar parks in Florida, Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai, nothing can compare to the original.

It's an enchanted kingdom of fantasy and imagination filled with magical entertainment and attractions. The park is divided into different 'lands' and each one features its own rides, dining experiences and entertainment as well as daily live-action shows and parades.

Adventureland, Fantasyland, Critter Country, Frontierland, Mickey's Toontown, Tomorrowland, New Orleans Square and Main Street USA offer such attractions as a boat trip through the underground caverns of Pirates of the Caribbean, an experience of the Wild West on the Thunder Mountain Railroad, a visit to Sleeping Beauty's Castle, a giddy journey with Indiana Jones, a spooky tour of the Haunted Mansion, or the experience of a pitch-black rollercoaster ride inside Space Mountain.

There's also a shopping, dining and entertainment district called Downtown Disney. Adjacent to Disneyland is California Adventure Park, a separate park minus the cartoon characters that offers further rides and rollercoasters, but an additional ticket is required.

Website www.disneyland.com

Yosemite National Park

One of the country's premier national parks, Yosemite receives millions of visitors each year with more than four million people visiting the Yosemite Valley alone. It's home to the biggest piece of exposed granite in the world, some of the highest waterfalls, and giant redwoods that are among the tallest and oldest trees on earth.

The Yosemite Valley was formed by glacial action that carved away the softer rock creating the almost-vertical 3,000ft (914m) granite cliffs that line the seven-mile (11km) long valley floor. The towering cliffs are streaked with waterfalls and the valley floor is covered in meadows, rivers and forests that are the habitat of black bears, deer and coyotes. It's one of the world's most dramatic geological sights and has granite monoliths such as the 3,600ft (1,097m) piece known as El Capitan, and the sheerest cliff in North America, the Half Dome.

Climbers on the granite faces are almost invisible to the naked eye and at night pinpricks of light halfway up indicate where they have tied themselves in for the night, ready for the next day's climbing. The most spectacular views of the valley are from Glacier Point, the top of a sheer cliff perched high above the valley, with magnificent vistas of Half Dome and the mountains of the High Sierra in the distance. There are numerous trails in the valley and many lead to several of the incredible waterfalls that are at their most dramatic after the spring snowmelt, including the 2,425ft (739m) Yosemite Falls and the Vernal Falls that drenches hikers in rainbow-coloured spray.

A loop trail takes walkers to the hundreds of towering redwoods in Mariposa Grove, one over 2,700 years old. Although the park is big enough to absorb the crowds, 95 percent of the tourist activity is concentrated within the valley, and outdoor enthusiasts need only walk a little further along the trails to find all the solitude and wilderness they desire. Above the valley are the large open fields of Tuolumne Meadows that offer fantastic scenery, uncrowded camping and a haven for hikers with hundreds of miles of trails. Yosemite Village is the largest developed region in the Yosemite Valley and holds the main visitor's centre, restaurants and shops as well as nearby hotel accommodation.

Website www.nps.gov/yose

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is known as the 'American Riviera', thanks to its gorgeous weather, clean air, and beach-centred lifestyle. This attractive and historic coastal town is framed by the Pacific Ocean and Santa Ynez Mountains, and is located just off Highway 1, 80 miles (120km) north of Los Angeles. Santa Barbara has a character and laid-back energy all of its own, and attracts both wealthy weekenders and tourists seeking respite from the busyness of the larger urban centres to the north and south.

Apart from relaxing on the fabulous beaches, there's plenty else to see and do here. Surrounding the beachfront are several popular bike trails, including local favourite the Cabrillo Beach Boulevard Bike Trail. Santa Barbara Channel is rated one of the world's best land-based whale watching sites, with over 30 different species of whales and dolphin viewable at different times of the year. The scenic waterfront is another major draw card, including Stearns Wharf, the oldest working wooden wharf in California.

And if all that sightseeing and sun-tanning works up an appetite, travellers shouldn't miss the area's highly regarded Mexican food, which may be complemented by a tasting or two at one of over 100 local wineries. A tour of the town would ideally start at the beach front, from where State Street stretches into the historical and attractive downtown area. A stroll here will take visitors past charming boutiques, stores and eateries. The Spanish colonial-style buildings of the area reflect its history, although many are modern replicas built after the devastating 1925 earthquake. The surviving Santa Barbara Mission, built in 1786, is a landmark building, known for its twin bell towers and rolling green lawns (picnickers welcome); while the Santa Barbara Courthouse is renowned for its classical, stately proportions.

California

Attractions

Golden Gate Bridge

Wine Country

Hollywood

Disneyland Resort

Yosemite National Park

Santa Barbara

Are you a travel professional?

Already a member?

Golden Gate Bridge

Wine Country

Hollywood

Disneyland Resort

Yosemite National Park

Santa Barbara