California: Nature, Coast and Historic Experiences
Accommodation in California
California offers an unusually wide range of different travel experiences: The state’s nine national parks encompass desert, alpine, volcanic and coastal landscapes. In addition, there are giant sequoia groves, islands, historic Gold Rush towns, railroad history and protected stretches of coastline. If you would like to combine nature, activity and culture on your trip, you can plan your stay around the experiences that are particularly interesting for your family.
Giant Sequoias, Trails and Special Landscapes
In Yosemite, the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is the largest giant sequoia grove. More than 500 mature giant sequoias stand there. The General Sherman Tree is also an impressive natural attraction: The volume of wood in its trunk makes it the largest tree in the world. The trail there is 0.5 miles, or 0.8 kilometers, long.
For longer hiking experiences, Pinnacles National Park has more than 30 miles of scenic trails. Joshua Tree National Park also offers opportunities for backpacking in designated wilderness areas. Yosemite Valley can be reached by car year-round. Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park offers another perspective on the landscape: A paved scenic road runs for more than 10 miles beneath tall, old coastal redwoods.
Coast, Islands and Wildlife Watching
Along the coast, active and nature-focused days can be combined. At Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island, guided sea kayaking tours and snorkel equipment rentals are available. Channel Islands National Park is served by ferry from Ventura and Oxnard. If you would like to get to know this island world, choosing your starting point is therefore an important part of planning your trip.
Up to 10,000 elephant seals return each year to the Natural Preserve in Año Nuevo State Park. They come to mate, give birth to their young and molt, staying among the dunes and beaches. Point Reyes offers another special wildlife-watching opportunity: From December to May, gray whales pass by and can often be observed from the areas around the Lighthouse and Chimney Rock. Point Reyes National Seashore also preserves stories and encounters involving people from several cultures over thousands of years.
History, Culture and Regional Discoveries
Empire Mine State Historic Park is located at the site of one of California’s oldest, deepest and most productive gold mines. The Hardrock Trail there is an easy, well-marked two-mile loop trail. At Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, visitors can search for gold in the American River. Places like these make the history of gold mining tangible through specific sites and activities.
At the California State Railroad Museum, you can see restored locomotives and railroad cars. The exhibits also address the contributions of Chinese railroad workers and the experiences of passengers in the early 20th century. California’s state historic parks offer educational programs that incorporate the stories and culture of more than 150 distinct California Native American tribes. In addition, California Wine Month coincides with the grape harvest and includes special tastings, festivals, concerts, tours, as well as wine-paired meals with top chefs and winemakers.
The Right Region for Your Vacation Rental
When searching for a vacation rental or holiday home in California, it is worth first defining the type of trip you want. Wildlife watching, longer trails, historic sites, island experiences or culinary events lead to different plans. More than 20 Welcome Centers give travelers the opportunity to discuss their travel plans with local residents. When choosing your accommodation, you can then consider which region suits your planned experiences, desired trip length and preferred daily routine.
Regions for Further Guidance
The following destinations, among others, are available for your regional search: Riverside, San Luis Obispo, Modoc, Los Angeles, Santa Cruz, San Diego, Imperial, Orange, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Kern, Tulare, Monterey, San Benito, Madera, Santa Clara, Merced, Inyo, San Mateo, Mariposa, Alameda, Mono, Stanislaus, San Joaquin, San Francisco, Marin, Contra Costa, Solano, Napa, Sacramento, Sonoma, Yolo, El Dorado, Placer, Mendocino, Lake, Sutter, Nevada, Butte, Tehama, Lassen, Shasta, Humboldt, Siskiyou, Fresno, Tuolumne, Plumas, Del Norte, Colusa County, Kings County, Trinity County, Glenn County, Calaveras County, Amador County, Alpine County, Sierra County and Yuba County.
For the higher-level travel overview: USA.
