Destinations > California Destinations
Welcome to California — The Golden State
California is a land of extremes. Mist-covered redwoods more than 350 feet tall dot the northern landscape and vineyards and farmland dot the Napa and Sonoma valleys. To the south lay famous sandy beaches on the West coast with enormous desert vistas less than a two hour- drive to the east. From the Santa Monica Mountains of Malibu to the Sierra Nevada, a 400-mile north-to-south mountain range that forms the state’s towering spine. Visitors flock every year to the 760-mile coastline that consists of jagged cliffs in the northern and central part of the state to the popular sandy beaches of Southern California. California destinations range from forests to deserts, international cities to vibrant wine communities. Find travel itineraries in California and discover why the state is called The Golden State.
Capital: Sacramento
Largest City: Los Angeles
Area: 158,706 sq mi
Major Rivers: Klamath, Sacramento, San Joaquin
Elevation: 14,494 ft at Mt. Whitney to 282 ft below sea level in Death Valley
Bird: California Valley Quail
Flower: California Poppy
Tree: California Redwood
Motto: Eureka! (I have found it!)
Song: “I love you, California!”
Nickname: The Golden State
State Travel Site: Visit California
![Pacific Coast Highway Northern California Cover image [Joe Parks from Berkeley, CA [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]](https://i0.wp.com/travelartsy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/00-Pacific-Coast-Highway-Roadtrip-Introduction.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1 "Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip — Northern California Itinerary")
From the dazzling and rocky seascapes of the Northern Coast to the sun-drenched beaches of Southern California, this road trip…
![Pacific Coast Highway Road. [Image by DomCarver from Pixabay] Trip — Central California Itinerary](https://i0.wp.com/travelartsy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/00-pacific-coast-highway-big-sur.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1 "Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip — Central California Itinerary")
Central California, often called the Big Sur Coast, stretches between beautiful Monterey and San Luis Obispo. Wave-battered cliffs, shady forests,…
![Santa Monica Pier at Sunset [Image by David Mark from Pixabay]](https://i0.wp.com/travelartsy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/00-Pacific-Coast-Highway-Intro-Santa-Monica-Pier-1.jpg?fit=1024%2C598&ssl=1 "Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip — Southern California Itinerary")
Southern California is one of the best places to travel in the United States as far as attractions, weather, and…
From the dazzling and rocky seascapes of the Northern Coast to the sun-drenched beaches of Southern California, this road trip…
Central California, often called the Big Sur Coast, stretches between beautiful Monterey and San Luis Obispo. Wave-battered cliffs, shady forests,…
Southern California is one of the best places to travel in the United States as far as attractions, weather, and…
![Pacific Coast Highway Road. [Image by DomCarver from Pixabay] Trip — Central California Itinerary](https://i0.wp.com/travelartsy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/00-pacific-coast-highway-big-sur.jpg?resize=370%2C305&ssl=1 "Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip — Central California Itinerary")
Central California, often called the Big Sur Coast, stretches between beautiful Monterey and San Luis Obispo. Wave-battered cliffs, shady forests, sandy beaches, and rich history make up this portion of the Pacific Coast Highway. How long? 158 miles, about 5 or more hours without traffic or stopping for…
Follow the coastline from the Mexican border to the Oregon state line and you’ll find some of the best beaches in the Golden State. Some of the beaches are more commonly known (like the one in Santa Monica) and others are hidden treasures. All these beaches are owned…
California needs no introduction. The most populous state stretches from the Mexican Border to Oregon with 900 miles of coastline. Twenty-eight national parks can be explored cheaply or for free. There are over 1.6 million acres of beaches and parks in California. From beaches to redwood forests and…
![Pacific Coast Highway Northern California Cover image [Joe Parks from Berkeley, CA [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]](https://i0.wp.com/travelartsy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/00-Pacific-Coast-Highway-Roadtrip-Introduction.jpg?resize=370%2C305&ssl=1 "Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip — Northern California Itinerary")
From the dazzling and rocky seascapes of the Northern Coast to the sun-drenched beaches of Southern California, this road trip is filled with scenic vistas, sandy beaches, majestic cliffs, and ancient forests. Pacific Coast Highway, California State Route 1, runs north to south along the coast through (sometimes…
![Santa Monica Pier at Sunset [Image by David Mark from Pixabay]](https://i0.wp.com/travelartsy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/00-Pacific-Coast-Highway-Intro-Santa-Monica-Pier-1.jpg?resize=370%2C305&ssl=1 "Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip — Southern California Itinerary")
Southern California is one of the best places to travel in the United States as far as attractions, weather, and scenic views. Walking trails, surfing spots, and dramatic views of the Pacific coastline can be found all along the Pacific Coast Highway. Step back in time at a…
Nearby State Attractions
