Accommodations

California offers a wide range of getaways with a variety of beach cottages, vacation homes, hotels, and resorts. Choose an accommodation near any of California's local attractions that offers comfort while making the most of the beautiful mountains and attractions at affordably priced rates.

View our California Vacation Rentals or California Resorts

Activities

Perhaps the most popular of California's attractions is Disney Land, located in Anaheim, part of the Los Angeles area. This was one of the original theme parks and has led to many Disney Resorts throughout the world. The Carmel Mission Basilica has some of the most significant religious artifacts in California. The mission was built in 1770, and has an on-site museum that houses California's first library and is still home to a thriving Catholic community. For many visitors to San Diego, the San Diego Zoo is one of the top attractions, one of the most famous zoos in the word. They have several exhibits not available at other zoos, such as panda bears and the Mountain Gorilla habitat, one of the finest in any zoo. San Juan Capistrano is a monument to California's multi-cultural history, embracing its Native American, Spanish, Mexican and European heritage. The serenity and peace amid the ten acres of lush gardens and cool fountains, set apart by old adobe walls, offers visitors respite from the sights and sounds of a busy world. The most famous attraction in Palm Springs is the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which takes you from the floor of the Coachella Valley to near the top of San Jacinto Peak, where you can explore the alpine wilderness of Long Valley and Mount San Jacinto State Park. The air may be 40°F cooler at the top than in the desert. Visitors can walk along nature trails, take a burro ride or even play in the snow during the winter months.

Events

The April Art Festival at the Joshua Tree National Park features painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, and jewelry for sale to benefit the Park. Dana Point's Tall Ships Festival in September includes the Sea Chantey Concert, maritime exhibits and demonstrations, the Port Royal Privateers encampment, model boat building, wood carving, touch tank encounters, a rope challenge course, crafts and food. Winter in San Diego is whale watching season, when gray whales migrate from the waters off Alaska to the lagoons of Baja California and back, and San Diego is fortunate enough to be along the way. Whether you're on a sundeck or in a kayak, don't miss the gentle giants as they swim by. Celebrate the splendor of harvest at Monterey Wine Country’s Great Wine Escape Weekend in November. The Great Wine Escape features Monterey County’s world-class wines and gastronomic delights.

Mountain Activities

The ski resorts of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California do not have to be covered in snow to enjoy. While well known for the skiing and snowboarding, in the summer and fall they offer spectacular backgrounds for hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, camping, and fishing.

Water Sports

The California Pacific coast is perfect for a wide variety of water activities, including jet skiing, ocean kayaking, diving, surfing, parasailing, windsurfing, sailing, fishing, and of course swimming. The large diversity of sealife draws thousands of scuba divers each year to California.

Golfing

Year round, California offers a great golf vacation and you can enjoy a competitive golf game on one of the many fine golf courses located in California. You can find both private and public golf courses for both 9 and 18 holes of play, with professionals available for lessons. Great courses, beautiful greens and spectacular views are just a couple of reasons why visitors can enjoy their golf vacation getaway.

History

Jose Rodríguez Cabrillo first discovered the area that was to become California in 1542. In November of 1602, Sebastian Vizcaíno was mapping the Pacific coast for Spain, and he named San Diego and Monterey Bay. It was not until 1769 that Mission San Diego de Alcala was built in San Diego, in an effort to establish possession of California to prevent Russian settlers from entering the area. The Mission was the first of 21 Missions established throughout California by the Spanish. In 1821, Mexico won its independence from Spain, and California became a territory of Mexico.