California trip: where to go

Is your California vacation fast approaching? Then here are 12 places you simply must add to your itinerary. As your road trip progresses, you'll marvel at the mythical cities and fabulous national parks just waiting to be discovered.

Don't forget your camera and get ready for the trip of your dreams under the California sun!
 

#1. San Francisco

One thing's for sure: you can't take a California trip without spending a few days in San Francisco. You're bound to fall head over heels in love with this metropolis often affectionately known as "everyone's favorite city".

The most iconic attractions include the Golden Gate Bridge and the cable car. Try the latter for fun and also to get around while avoiding the impressive hills that will put your legs to the test.

Alcatraz Prison is the most renowned penitentiary in the world and a site you won't want to miss. If you're still wondering what to do in San Francisco, there's also:

• Fisherman’s Wharf and the famous sea lions of Pier 39
• Alamo Square with its view of the lovely pastel houses known as the "Painted Ladies"
• Chinatown, one of San Francisco's most historic neighbourhoods
• Lombard Street and its eight hairpin turns
• Haight Ashbury, for an immersion in San Francisco's hippie culture of the 1960s and 70s

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#2. Yosemite

Yosemite National Park is a real highlight of any California road trip. Located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the park abounds in grandiose scenery. Take to the many hiking trails where you will discover immense granite cliffs, powerful waterfalls and giant sequoias. It's no wonder the park has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site!

In the Yosemite Valley section, be sure to take in:

• Tunnel View, one of the best photo spots in the valley
• Yosemite Falls, three waterfalls that form one of the tallest waterfalls in North America
• Glacier Point lookout, especially at sunset.

Don't leave Yosemite National Park without taking the superb Tioga Road. This scenic route through forests, meadows, lakes and granite domes offers breathtaking views. Stop off at Olmsted Point and Tuolumne Meadows to take in the incredible scenery.

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#3. Mammoth Lakes

Although less well known to visitors, Mammoth Lakes is a choice destination during a California tour. If you want to stretch your legs between Yosemite and Death Valley, this is the place to take a break. You'll fall under the spell of its impressive mountains, dense forests and pristine lakes.

Depending on the season, outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing and downhill skiing.

Be sure to make the short detour to Devils Postpile National Monument. This cliff of basalt columns is one of a kind.

#4. Death Valley

Despite its spine-chilling name, Death Valley is, in my opinion, one of the most fascinating destinations in California. Few places in the world can boast such great diversity. Death Valley is not only a desert where the temperature rises over 50° Celsius in summer, it's also mountains, canyons, salt marshes, the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes and the Ubehebe Crater.

Here are some of the highlights of Death Valley National Park:

• Zabriskie Point and its spectacular view of the Golden Canyon Cliffs
• Dantes View, the perfect panoramic overlook from which to admire the immensity of the park
• Artists Drive, a small road leading to the incredible colours of Artists Palette, an iconic Death Valley photo spot
• Devils Golf Course, to marvel at the vast expanse of crystallised salt
• Badwater Basin, to see the lowest point in North America and its salt polygons

#5. Los Angeles

Symbol of the American dream, the City of Angels is a sprawling city with no real downtown core. L.A. is made up of multiple neighbourhoods, each with its own atmosphere and all with one thing in common: 320 days of sunshine a year.

Venice Beach's reputation is well established. Explore its canals and its beach, not to mention its lively boardwalk. Continue your stroll along the Santa Monica Pier, legendary for its amusement park and carnival atmosphere, and one of the best Los Angeles neighbourhoods to visit.

Continue your tour of Los Angeles with Hollywood, an emblem of American cinema, and Beverly Hills, the inspiration for the famous TV series. Don't miss Downtown L.A. for its museums and its many restaurants, whose eclectic cuisine will take you on a trip around the world.

#6. San Diego

If you're looking for relaxation and culture during your California vacation, head to San Diego. Here, Mexico is right around the corner and it won't take you long to realize it. Between the historic Old Town district, the museums of Balboa Park and the energy of the Gaslamp District, San Diego has so much to offer.

This lovely Californian city is also an excellent spot for watching marine mammals, so bring your binoculars and camera. To see San Diego from a different angle, get out of town and explore La Jolla, Sunset Cliffs, Coronado Island and Point Loma. Now you know what to do in San Diego!

#7. California Coast

Offering a real condensed California experience, this wild coastline is characterized by its steep cliffs jutting out into the Pacific Ocean. Now's the time to re-read Kerouac and Steinbeck and crank up the Beach Boys as you eat up the miles of asphalt along the California Coast.

Drive Highway 1 between San Francisco and Los Angeles and take your time exploring this fabulous stretch of road. Santa Cruz, Monterey, Point Lobos State Reserve, Big Sur, Santa Barbara, Malibu, not to mention Pfeiffer beach, considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches in California.

There's no lack of good reasons to stop off along the California Coast, so take the opportunity to capture these magical moments in pictures.

#8. Sequoia National Park

Welcome to the land of the giant sequoia! This must-see national park, considered one of the most beautiful parks in California is home to stands of enormous trees, which will make you feel very tiny in comparison. Explore the hiking trails, including Congress Trail, where you will see the General Sherman Tree, the largest living organism on Earth!

Big Trees Trail is another trail you're sure to enjoy. It begins near the Giant Forest Museum and features many interpretive signs that will teach you all kinds of fascinating facts about the ecosystem of Sequoia National Park.

Moro Rock, Tunnel Log, Crescent Meadow and Crystal Cave are also among Sequoia's 10 must-see attractions.

#9. Kings Canyon

You may never have heard of Kings Canyon in California. And yet, while it may not be the most famous park in the American West, this cousin of Sequoia National Park is just as fascinating. Don't miss it on your California vacation!

Of all the great sights to see in Kings Canyon, I particularly recommend:

• Buena Vista Peak Trail
• General Grant Tree Trail
• Kings Canyon Panoramic Point
• Kings Canyon Scenic Byway
• Zumwalt Meadow

Words can't begin to describe such beauty, so make up your own mind by adding this destination to your itinerary.

#10. Lake Tahoe

If you'd like to recharge your batteries on the shores of a pure, crystal-clear lake while on holiday in California, set a course for Lake Tahoe! The largest alpine lake in the U.S. and one of the most beautiful lakes in the American West can be found at an altitude of 1,800 metres. If you're travelling with the family, you'll want to head for the north shore of the lake. Kings Beach is the perfect spot for a picnic, while Tahoe City has a rich historical heritage and many tourist attractions.

If you're visiting the southern part of Lake Tahoe, head to Emerald Bay for the best photos, then take the Heavenly Mountain Gondola for panoramic views.

#11. Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree is an incredible experience! Although it's not very big, this national park has a magical, enchanting feel that lends it a real charm. Spend a full day there, starting with Pioneertown, which has been the setting for many Wild West films and TV shows.

Once you've entered the park, be sure to hike the Hidden Valley Trail, Barker Dam Trail, Skull Rock Trail, and Cholla Cactus Garden Trail to experience the full beauty of the Joshua Tree desert. Thousands of Joshua trees stretch as far as the eye can see.

And don't forget Keys View, the highest lookout in the park, for panoramic views over the Coachella Valley and the Salton Sea.

#12. Channel Islands

To the west of Los Angeles lie the Channel Islands. Less well known than some of California's other star national parks, these islands are absolutely splendid. Known as the "Galapagos of North America", they boast a wilderness of endemic plants and abundant wildlife.

To make the most of your visit to Channel Islands National Park, here's your program:

• Anacapa with its sea caves, volcanic rocks and natural bridges
• Santa Cruz, the largest island in the Channel Islands and in California
• Santa Barbara and its colony of elephant seals
• Santa Rosa with its many beaches and steep cliffs

Map of places to discover on your California trip

Now you know where to go during your California vacation! These places are a must for any road trip through the American West and I promise you, you won't be disappointed.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments below. I'll be happy to answer them.