California
Why go?
The most populous U.S. state (and third largest behind Alaska and
Texas), California dominates the West coast - covering more
than 1,000 miles from San Diego on the Mexican border to the
dramatic headlands of the Pacific Northwest - and lives large in
the imagination of the rest of the world.
From the ever-unfurling red carpet in Hollywood to San
Francisco’s majestic Golden Gate Bridge, the state
seems to be defined by its iconic images. (It’s even governed
by a former movie action-hero, Arnold Schwarzenegger.) Here
everything rates an “Awe-some!” And almost everybody
you meet is transplanted from somewhere else. California
dreamin’ is alive and thriving in Hollywood starlets and
fledgling winemakers in the Napa Valley, Santa Barbara
surfers waiting for the perfect tube, and software nerds, for the
next round of venture capital.
While California’s history may be a blip on
civilization’s timeline, it’s also the birthplace of
Apple, innovative cuisine fusions and the next pop
culture craze. Sure, it can be exasperatingly superficial. But
bottom line: almost every day is sunny and warm. The
extraordinary landscape ranges from cactus flowers in the
Palm Springs desert to the majestic coastal redwoods, the world's
tallest trees. From the country's highest peak (Mt Whitney) to the
continent's lowest point (Death Valley), national and state parks
showcase California's extreme beauty, crowned, many believe,
by Yosemite. From spring skiing in the High Sierras - on
snow in the morning and Lake Tahoe after noon - to
adventures along its photogenic coast. Totally awesome.
Any Downsides?
Distances can be vast. It’s a seven-hour drive from
Los Angeles to San Francisco; longer if you take the coast-hugging
highway. Traffic (especially in and around the cities) is just as
bad as you’ve heard - ranging from Kamikaze to
gridlock.
When it comes to weather, think “moods” rather than
seasons. Plan your beach days around “May gray” and
“June gloom,” when coastal fog hangs around
until well after noon. And fog billowing through the Golden Gate
turns summer evenings from balmy to bone-chilling in a matter of
minutes. While the L.A. smog is a view-blotting constant,
earthquakes are few and far between (though there’s no
denying the “Big One” waiting in the wings.)
What's where?
- Big Sur and Central Coast: One of the most scenic drives in the world takes you through beautiful Big Sur and other charming coastal points of interest such as Carmel Read More >>
- Los Angeles: World-famous as the city of dreams for aspiring actors and glamour-addicts, L.A. also has great food, excellent shopping and fabulous art collections Read More >>
- Marin: Just North of San Francisco, affluent Marin County has New Age sensibilities, organic agriculture, stunning coastal scenery and tall redwoods Read More >>
- Napa & Sonoma: The rolling hills and beautiful forests of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys are ideal for wine-tasting, leisurely picnics or adventurous river-rafting Read More >>
- Palm Springs: A hot spot since Hollywood's Golden Age, this desert oasis and icon of Mid-Century Modern architecture, loved by culture-hounds, hikers and hedonists Read More >>
- San Diego: An outdoor playground famous for its near-perfect climate, 70 miles of beaches, its historic Gaslamp Quarter, zoo and SeaWorld Read More >>
- San Francisco: The iconic Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars and culinary adventures - multicultural and unconventional San Francisco is breathtaking Read More >>
- Santa Barbara: A picture-perfect historic town on the American Riviera with whitewashed houses, a vibrant arts scene and top-rated international cuisine Read More >>
Current Weather – Time
Los Angeles:
Click image for forecast