California Vacation Ideas
California vacation ideas are easy to come by making California an amazing place to visit.
From over 1,100 miles of coastline that range from sand beaches to dramatic cliffs to snow topped mountains there are activities and sites for everyone.
California is one of the few places where you can hiking along picturesque snow covered trail and drive to a beach and catch a wave in the same day.
There are mountain ranges that run from the northern tip of California, practically all the way to the Mexican border.
Hundreds of miles of white capped mountains provide unparalleled opportunities for skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, skating and snow climbing in places such as the Lake Tahoe or the Mammoth Lakes.
Where Can You Go
Lakes, rivers, deserts, redwood glens, and grand peaks in National Parks like Yosemite, Death Valley, Big Sur and Mt. Lassen continue to give visitors wonderful memories to share with friends and family.
California's must do list goes on and on.
Want to go on a camping trip but don't know what to pack? Here is a Backpacking and Base Camping Checklist for you to download.
The more famous sites like the massive trees of Sequoia National Park, the unusual cactus in Joshua Tree National Park and Yosemite's Half Dome are touristy places where everyone goes in California because of the scenery as well as great Rock Climbing.
Even the relatively unknown backcountry of the Los Padres National Forest near Ojai is a fantastic place to strap on you backpack and hike to a swimming hole framed by a granite gorge.
California has protected twenty percent of its land, and plenty of it is available for a limitless range of camping options.
Conservation is a big concern through out this beautiful state. Here is an article about the Califronia pine forests and the Bark Beetle.
From packing the RV with your family and heading to Lake Tahoe to taking out a boat to one of the five islands of Southern California's Channel Islands National Park and camp near the sea lions your imagination really is the limit.
Hiking
"California offers just about any kind of hiking terrain you can imagine: desert oases, empty beaches, lava moonscapes, tidal estuaries with world-class bird-watching, and untouched snowfields where you can lay down the first snowshoe tracks." From California.com
Mountains like Mt. Whitney or other peaks in the Sierra Nevada mountain range or Mt. Shasta in the Cascades give endlessly to the senses.
The Pacific Coast Trail would allow you to disappear for months as it snakes the length of California.
Just Sight Seeing
Serene redwood groves run the coastline of northern California giving you an entirely new season as you walk into them only to return to your reality from which you left.
California's interior is packed with lakes made for sailing and windsurfing.
California is an arena for outdoors activities. The best part of your vacation could be the shear variety of things you can do in Californian in a week if you choose the right place to start from. If you are unsure of where to go on your vacation, California is a great place to take a chance.
A California vacation is a great opportunity to teach yourself and the children about the planets and the night sky. One of my favorite things to do is look for constellations or meteor showers and for just a few dollars you can pick up a star finder. It's not hard to do and it is a lifetime of knowledge and fun for everyone.
Death Valley
An incomparable desert of rolling sand dunes, snow-capped mountains, vivid rock layers, water-fluted canyons and three million acres of stone wilderness. Home to the Timbisha Shoshone Native Americans, unique plants, animals, reptiles like Snakes, Scorpions and the harshest deserts, Death Valley is a mystical land of wonder and a site to see. But be careful; bring a map and compass with lots of water to avoid dehydration and heat exhaustion.
Sequoia National park
The parks lie in the southern Sierra Nevada. Immense mountains, rugged foothills, deep canyons, vast caverns, and the world’s largest trees await its visitors.
A moveable feast Sequoia National park has four seasons full of high running rivers full of dangerous, cold and swift water. Deep snow that makes trails in the High Sierra and Sequoia groves are covered in snow. It is Mother Nature as her most beautiful and treacherous self.
Crystal Cave
Caving is another great pastime in this fantastic state.Walk by scenic waterfalls on the half-mile trail to Crystal Cave. Beautiful stalactites and curtains, impressively large rooms, and ornate marble polished naturally by a subterranean stream make a tour of Crystal Cave an unforgettable experience.
Enjoy your vacation!