California Travel Guide

Explore California by County and City Chambers of Commerce - your best source for California travel and vacation information. Caution: California is a very large state!! The Northern, Central and Southern California coastal regions are the size of several average states. The main problem for California visitors is attempting to see too much in too little time. One and two week vacations are best restricted to one of our four coastal regions if you want to relax and enjoy the local attractions. Driving time will be your biggest variable. The best chance to get somewhere on the California city freeway system is to avoid weekday work traffic from 7 - 9am and 3 - 7pm.

News: California's budget crisis is threatening to shrink public access to some of these treasures. As the Chronicle reported May 14, the state parks department is planning to close 70 locations statewide by July 2012 — and possibly as early as this September — in an attempt to save $22 million over two years. State officials cited criteria that included visitor numbers, revenue and ease of access in creating the "hit list," one that left no area untouched. The parks foundation suggests park supporters send a letter to their state legislator opposing the cuts. In the meantime, Bay Area road-trippers and other visitors to the Central Coast should make haste to visit the following five state parks — some well-known, others less so — sooner rather than later. (Call or check online for current park hours to avoid disappointment.) Read more.

California enjoys a wide variety of micro climate zones with significant temperature swings between the beach areas, central valley, deserts and the high Sierra's. The moderate coastal climate has been a major factor in the concentration of settlement along the coast, where temperatures seldom exceed 90F (32C) or drop to freezing. The Desert of southeastern California has summer temperatures up to 130F (54C), with annual rainfall averaging 3 to 4 inches (75 to 100 mm). Redwood forests thrive in the northwestern coastal ranges, where annual rainfall exceeds 70 inches (1,778 mm) and annual temperatures average 55F (13C). Climate changes rapidly with altitude, and the coastal cities are only hours away from mountain skiing or desert sports.

Popular California Destinatons & Attractions
	California wine has gained world recognition for many fine wines due to the wealth and variety of soil conditions and micro climates that exist here. Careful planning is advised when planning to visit and explore our world famous wine regions. California is a very large state. One and two week vacations are oftentimes best restricted to one or two of our famous wine regions.
	Visit San Francisco Bay Area and discover the Golden Gate bridge, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Golden Gate Park, Nob Hill, Union Square, Alcatraz, The Presidio, Angel Island, Chinatown, North Beach, The Embarcadero, Fisherman's Wharf, Aquarium of the Bay, Ghirardelli Square, The Cannery, National Maritime Museum and the San Francisco Museum of Art.
	Visit Central California and discover world class wineries, Hearst Castle, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Big Sur, Morro Rock, Pismo Dunes, Naceimento Lake, Santa Barbara Mission and world class wineries.
	Visit Southern California and discover Disneyland, Los Angeles, Orange County, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, San Diego, Universal Studios and much, much more.
	Visit Northern California and discover the world famous Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Russian River wine regions. Explore the Redwood National Park, Bodega Bay, Fort Bragg, Fortuna,Humboldt, Eureka and Arcata. Visit the many state beaches up along Northern Californias coast.
	The High Sierras have numerous hiking trails, which provide access for exploring the different vegetation zones. Visit Yosemite National Park which is world famous for its impressive waterfalls, meadows, cliffs, and unusual rock formations. Explore scenic Lake Tahoe and Mono Lake.
	Gold Country includes the foothills of the western Sierra Nevada mountains and many historic towns that date to the 1849 California Gold Rush. The South Fork of the American River continues to be one of North America's premier (and most popular) river trips.
	Visit the Deserts of California and discover the festivals of the city of Palm Desert, the resorts and luxury spas of Desert Hot Springs, Joshua Tree National Park located at the southern end of Colorado Desert, The Salton Sea, Yuma Desert , the Mojave Desert and of course Death Valley.
	The Central Valley is home to many of California's most productive agricultural efforts. University of California, Davis,California State University, Chico and California State University, Sacramento are all a part of the Central Valley.
	Visit Shasta/Cascade which is home to seven national forests in California: Klamath National Forest, Lassen National Forest, Mendocino National Forest, Modoc National Forest, Plumas National Forest and Shasta-Trinity National Forest, as well as the Lava Beds National Monument. Castle Crags State Park offers sking, hiking, biking, fishing, camping, horseback, swimming and exhibits
	Redwood National & State Parks: Come see the world's largest and most majestic trees at this arboreal Eden in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, California. More than 300 bird species and 100 mammals can also be seen, many of them year-round. Howland Hill Road is a must-do. You can also visit the largest Sequioa of them all at Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park. Giant Sequoia acquire claim to fame by being the largest trees on earth.
	Disneyland: The "Happiest Place on Earth" is family entertainment at its best, further enhanced by its sister theme park, California Adventure. Whether you're wowed by Disney animation, thrilled by the roller-coaster rides, or interested in the history and hidden secrets of this pop-culture icon, you won't walk away disappointed. Be sure to get a Fast Pass to skip those long lines.
	San Diego Zoo, Wild Animal Park, & SeaWorld: San Diego boasts three of the world's best animal attractions. At the zoo, animals live in creatively designed habitats such as Tiger River and Hippo Beach. At the Wild Animal Park, 3,000 animals roam freely over 2,200 acres. And SeaWorld, with its ever-changing animal shows and exhibits, is an aquatic wonderland.