What Are The Main Cities To Discover In California
Whether you’re traveling with family or friends, here are the cities with the largest selection of vacation rentals for a holiday trip or just for a weekend in California:
- Mammoth Lakes: 2,381 rentals
- Big Bear Lake: 2,973 rentals
- San Diego: 6,316 rentals
For other cities, please use our search bar to access the selection of vacation rentals available.
San Francisco: The Westin St Francis San Francisco On Union Square
The Westin St. Francis on Union Square is an ideal choice for family travelers visiting San Francisco on an urban getaway. The hotel has a rich history and luxury touches that discerning parents will appreciate. It also has a number of advantages that make it a smart choice with children.
The Westin St. Francis is conveniently located on a rare flat block of the city with no hills to climb. Its within walking distance of many activities travelers with kids will want to do, like exploring Union Square or Chinatown. The hotel also has the location advantage of being directly on the Powell-Mason and Powell-Hyde cable car lines. Travelers can easily take this iconic form of San Francisco transportation to top tourist destinations like Lombard Street or Fishermans Wharf.
The rooms are also spacious enough for family travelers, particularly the deluxe double rooms in the hotels tower building that were recently renovated. The tower is set back from the hustle and bustle of Union Square, so the location minimizes city noise as well. Families with babies and toddlers will appreciate the availability of the Westins famed Heavenly Crib as well as refrigerators in every room. The Westin St. Francis will also guarantee guests connecting rooms for a modest fee, a rarity in the hotel business. Leslie Harvey, Trips With Tykes
Best Cities To Visit In California
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If you havent lived or traveled extensively in California, you might have the impression that California is all about beaches, surfers, and movie stars. But since California is the most populous state and the most diverse state in America, theres more to this west coast destination than meets the eye.
California is one of the few places in the world where you can experience a little bit of everything: ocean drives, lush forests, elegant vineyards, towering mountains, expansive deserts, magical amusement parks, cosmopolitan cuisine, and agricultural heritage. So lets start in the north and travel down to the southern tip of the state to explore what California is really all about, from underrated destinations to top-rated cities. Whether youre taking a road trip, riding a train, or hopping on a couple of flights, these are some of the very best cities to visit in California.
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Meritage Resort And Spa
The Meritage Resort and Spa is a Tuscan-inspired wine country getaway with 502 rooms, suites and vacation rental rooms. Guest rooms have high ceilings, luxurious bathrooms and plush beds. Ask for a room with a balcony overlooking the vineyard so that you can enjoy a delicious breakfast with a view. Spa Terra at the Meritage Resort is a unique 22,000-square-foot spa located in the Estate Cave 40 feet underground. The spa is the ultimate hideaway for couples with its 12 treatment rooms, lounges, whirlpools and water walls, all underground. Siena Restaurant has a beautiful outdoor patio and an indoor dining room with murals depicting the Palio di Siena horse race. Rooms start at $209 per night.
875 Bordeaux Way, Napa, California 94558, Phone: 844-283-4588
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Nice Coastal Town With An Interesting Fishing Harbor
Nice coastal town with an interesting fishing harbor. Surprisingly fine California/Italian dining at Cucina Verona for a small town away from major urban centers. Interesting shops that we didnt have time to explore. Headlands Coffeehouse next door was an lovely place to have breakfast and hang out. Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens are an extraordinary place to wander and find interesting plants. Art in the Gardens in August brings very fine artisans to the gardens for an outstanding craft fair.
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Where To Stay In Hollywood
Hollywood is a district within Los Angeles, California. LA is big so if you want to experience Hollywood, we suggest staying in Hollywood.
Is it already showtime? If youre in a rush to snag the best Hollywood accommodation option for you, then these are our highest recommendations for places to stay in Hollywood.
Rush Creek Lodge At Yosemite Groveland
Rush Creek Lodgeat Yosemite is a 143-room 5-star hotel, with facilities such as free Wi-Fi, anoutdoor pool, a gastropub and a restaurant that serves up sumptuous local fare.
The relatively new kid on the block, Rush Creek threw its doors open to the public in 2016.
The resorts 143 rooms are air-conditioned and come with patios or balconies, coffee makers and refrigerators, as well as free toiletries and ironing boards.
Guests can also enjoy karaoke, a beautiful outdoor pool and 2 spa tubs.
The helpful staff at the front desk will even help you plan your day out, taking care of your tickets and tours.
Related:Best Hotels in Northern California
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Experience California In Vacation Home Rentals
What do you expect from your vacation? Is it warm sun coupled with a cool breeze on a sandy beach or the soft chill as you ski down a snowy mountain top? California, USA has it all. Located on the western coast of the United States, California is home to beautiful beaches, gorgeous mountains, and sprawling urban cities, including the entertainment capital of the world, Los Angeles. Get the most out of your trip with a California vacation rental, creating the perfect home away from home as you explore everything the Golden State has to offer.
Our Favorite Vacation Spots In Southern California
Known worldwide for its vignettes of palm trees, Hollywood glamor, and soft sunsets, Southern California perpetually draws visitors in search of West Coast bliss. There are too many iconic sights to name in golden Los Angeles, but many travelers opt to spend their vacation in sunny San Diego—it’s all a matter of preference. SoCal is also home to a few of the state’s best mountain getaways, including Big Bear and Idyllwild, known for forest serenity. If you’re aiming for more of a desert vibe, we offer gorgeous Southwest rentals throughout the Coachella Valley, from Palm Springs to La Quinta and everything in between.
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Activities Near California Vacation Homes
The hardest part about finding something to do in California is where to start. You could take a cruise through San Francisco bay to see the gorgeous city skyline and Golden Gate Bridge glisten during twilight. Hit the beach for amazing surfing opportunities and you might even be able to spot some dolphins. Head to the San Bernardino Mountains to find thrilling ski resorts if you travel during the winter. Make sure you stop by Los Angeles to walk down Sunset Boulevard, where you can find some great music shops and other stores.
Palm Springs: A Southern California Weekend Getaway In Hipster Headquarters
Once a winter playground for wealthy retirees and Hollywood celebrities, like Frank Sinatra and the Gabor sisters, Palm Springs is now more hipster headquarters than senior center. Itâs become the coolest hot spot in the Sonoran Desert.
Just outside of central Palm Springs is the shoppers haven of El Paseo. This street tends to remind people of Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills with its many upscale shops that blend the flavors and ambiance of the past with the present. The Palm Springs dining spots of yesteryear â including Las Casuelas, Elmerâs for German pancakes, Melvynâs for retro food that really is retro like Steak Diane, wilted spinach salad, and cherries jubilee â still thrive alongside their cooler new siblings, like Workshop Kitchen + Bar for dinner, and for a cheesy retro experience, Kingâs Highway for breakfast in a former Dennyâs located in the Ace Hotel.
Take the 10-minute trip on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, the worldâs largest rotating tramcar, for the two-and-one-half mile long ride along the cliffs of Chino Canyon to Mt. San Jacinto State Park. Youâll be at 8,516 feet elevation when you arrive at Mountain Station where youâll find over 50 miles of hiking trails, two restaurants, observation decks, and a natural history museum.
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Thestanford Inn By The Sea Mendocino
Not only is The Standford Inn by the Sea one of the most kid-friendly hotels in Northern California, but its also pet friendly and eco friendly. Thats 3 birds with one stone.
Oh, and did I mention that its the only environmentally sustainable resort in all of Northern California? Thats a win-win-win-win.
Located amid the natural, untouched beauty of the Mendocino Coast, this eco-resort is 3.5 hours from San Francisco.
It overlooks the Mendocino Bay, providing beautiful views of the area.
The rooms are wood-paneled and have their own fireplaces theyre comfortable and cozy, the perfect setting to unwind after a day of family adventures such as canoeing, hiking, biking, yoga, and even sea kayaking.
Another reasonfor this resortspopularity is its certified, organic gardens onsite and its whole-heartedembracing of a healthy, vegan lifestyle with a focus on wellness.
The spa is alsoa must-visit for its unique Massage in the Forest as the name suggests, its a massage in a private forest clearing.
Best Hotel In Hollywood: The Orlando Hotel
The Orlando Hotel is a positively gorgeous hotel in Beverly Grove. It has enormous rooms and lux bathrooms. You can expect to feel exceptionally well taken care of at the Orlando Hotel. The large outdoor saltwater pool and full-service spa will leave you feeling profoundly pampered.
Did you know that Hollywood started as just a single adobe hut on some land outside of Los Angeles back in 1853? Hollywood was actually a thriving agricultural community before it became synonymous with the American film industry!
It wasnt until the early 1900s that movie makers began flocking to Hollywood, to escape Thomas Edisons Motion Picture Patents Company in New Jersey.
These patents usually forced filmmakers to stop making movies because they were getting sued. Whereas out in California, it was harder to enforce these patents and given the ideal weather, La-La-Land became home to Hollywood.
Hollywood quickly became one of the hottest tickets for places to live and to visit, for American citizens and for international tourists alike.
From the renowned Whitley Heights where the majority of the starlets live, to the famous celebrity-owned bars, restaurants, and hotels on the Sunset Strip, Hollywood is brimming with some of the coolest places to stay ever.
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Lava Beds National Monument
Located on the northeastern side of the Medicine Lake Volcano, where the Sierra-Klamath Cascade meets the Great Basin, the Lava Beds National Monument is where you can imagine what our planet may have looked like in ancient times. This unearthly landscape formed from molten rock is a vast volcanic tablelands dotted with pit craters, cinder and spatter cones, and over 700 caves. The caves are in fact tubes formed when the edges of the flowing lava started to cool.
After hot lava stopped flowing, it cooled and hardened, leaving behind strange tubes of various sizes. While the area looks desolate and barren, it is teeming with life that has adapted to the strange ecosystem. The cracks are filled with sagebrush, western junipers, and mountain mahogany, providing a home for pronghorn antelope, mule deer, rabbits, and many bird species such as bald eagles. About two dozen tubes along Cave Loop Road can be explored and kids love it. Start with the kid-friendly 1,405-foot-long Hopkins Chocolate Cave.
1 Indian Well Campground Trail, Indian Well Hqts, CA 96134, Phone: 530-667-8100
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Before You Travel To The United States
With specific exceptions, noncitizens who have been in certain countries during the past 14 days may not enter the United States, either as immigrants or nonimmigrants. For more information, visit Travelers Prohibited from Entry to the United States.
For information about COVID-19 requirements for land travel, visit the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys Fact Sheet: Guidance for Travelers to Enter the U.S. at Land Ports of Entry and Ferry Terminals.external icon
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Plan Your California Vacation
Some people wreck their California vacations by planning too many things to do. If you don’t live in California, you may not realize how big the state is, how far apart the major sights are or how to get around. Use these resources to decide what’s most important to you and find out how to plan California vacations that maximize what you can see without wearing you out.
Where are the places you might want to go? They’re all on the California vacation planning map.
What is California all about? From the mundane to the ridiculous, get some facts about California.
Best Hotel In Whitley Heights: Hilton Garden Inn Los Angeles
The Hilton Garden Inn is right on the edge of Whitley Heights and offers guests a wonderfully comfortable stay that is perfect if youre wondering where to stay in Hollywood for one night. With onsite dining, a fitness center, a hot tub, and an outdoor swimming pool, the Hilton Garden Inn has all you need.
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Where To Stay In Los Angeles: The 4 Best Places To Stay
If you are staying in LA for more than three or four days, our advice would be to stay in two or three different areas. You could spend a few days by the beach relaxing, a few days getting your adrenaline rush at the theme parks, and the rest of the time in Downtown LA or West Hollywood so you can explore the city.
In this guide to the best places to stay in Los Angeles based on our time exploring the sprawling California metropolis youll get the information you need to choose a place to stay in LA and find a perfect home base for your visit.
Before we get into the specific recommendations, its important to understand the layout of the city.
Montereyplaza Hotel And Spa Monterey
Smack-dab in themiddle of lively, vibrant Monterey, The Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa comes withbreathtaking bay views and walking-distance location from popular touristhotspots of the area, such as the Fishermans Wharf, Cannery Row and Monterey Bay Aquarium.
One of the most family-friendly resorts in Northern California, Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa plays hosts to tons of families, both first-timers and regulars.
The accommodation is a mix of suites and rooms the latter is spacious, comfortable, modern and contemporarily designed, a great option for vacationing families.
Some rooms also come with private balconies, Jacuzzi tubs, and ocean views.
The hotel also has beach access, bike rentals, a complimentary local car service, a fitness room, and a spa.
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Best Airbnb In La Brea: Stunning Studio In Historic Hollywood
This spacious and modern house is located in a very peaceful and relaxing area near Hollwood Walk of Fame, Hollywood Sign, Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, Hollywood Bowl, Beverly Hills, The Grove and more. The house consists of a private bedroom with a kettle and a fridge and a private bathroom. Its an ideal place to stay in Hollywood.
Best Hotel In Thai Town: The Dixie Hollywood
The Dixie Hollywood is located in a prime location in Thai Town. With affordable rates and a supermarket right across the street, the Dixie is hard to beat. Its also just a short walk or a $6 Uber ride into downtown Hollywood. There is also free parking available for those who are traveling with a car.
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Central Coast Of California
If you find yourself more central theres no avoiding Santa Cruz, probably the most surf-influenced county in this area of the state. Steamer Lane is a legendary spot not for the faint of heart, while Cowells offers a more laid-back vibe with long rides heading towards the famous boardwalk.
Just a little further south, we find the cutest little beach town of Morro Bay. Cool water, consistent surf, and plenty of other activities in nearby San Luis Obispo. Bike Surf Slo in Morro Bay is a great spot for rentals and lessons if you need them! The quaint beach community of Morro Bay is one of the few remaining beach towns that isnt overrun by big tourism and multi-million dollar homes.
Santa Monica Where To Stay In Los Angeles With A Family
Santa Monica is located in the Western part of the city, on the coast, and I totally recommend it if you want to have a cool vacation by the beach. Its also one of the best areas for families traveling to the City of Angels!
I can say that Santa Monica is the ideal combination between the vibrant center and a relaxed beach atmosphere sounds pretty much ideal, right? If you choose to stay in this area, youll be surrounded by everything youll ever need unforgettable restaurants, tons of shops, interesting sights and, of course, superb beaches.
While youre here, make sure to pay a visit to the Santa Monica Pier and the Aquarium, Santa Monica History Museum, the Museum of Flying, the Farmers Market, Tongva or Palisades Park or take a ride on the Ferris Wheel. Or simply sunbathe at Santa Monica State Beach why not?
Convinced? Here are the best hotels in Santa Monica I could find for you:
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