A few suggestions to get the holiday planning process started
Discover the magic behind the movies on tours of Warner and Universal Studios in Los Angeles.
16 days, from £2,340 to £3,800
In San Francisco, learn about the city’s hippy roots as you explore with a local guide
14 days, from £2,520 to £4,990
Easter or October half-term break, L.A., Las Vegas, Bryce Canyon, Monument Valley and Grand Canyon, a great family trip
13 days, from £2,655 to £3,660
Tour the City of Angels (Los Angeles) with a local guide
10 days, from £2,665 to £4,255
Head off on a family road trip in the Far West complete with legendary cities, movie scenery and large parks
15 days, from £2,895 to £4,020
Escape the summer crowds and explore California’s iconic sites during the balmy winter months
13 days, from £2,970 to £4,430
Hit the slopes at the Mammoth Lakes ski resort
9 days, from £2,970 to £4,735
Embark on a three-week journey with family, friends or as a couple across the West Coast of the USA
20 days, from £3,135 to £4,375
Discover the wonders of wine country in Napa Valley and Paso Robles
18 days, from £3,300 to £4,800
Practical advice and inspiration to help you prepare for your holiday
Practical guide
Travel Advice & Information
San Francisco or Los Angeles are the likely starting points for any Californian trip, and the two cities dovetail beautifully; San Francisco the understated, walking friendly, hipster hangout with great shopping and excellent Oriental cuisine, and LA the quirky and exuberantly OTT city of neighbourhoods you'll probably feel you knew before even arriving, thanks to the iconic status of places like Rodeo Drive, Venice Beach and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Speaking of iconic status, the stretch of coastline and road between these two cities is generally regarded as one of the most dramatic and beautiful in the world, and a Big Sur Road Trip is right at the top of several of the Original Travel team's holiday bucket lists. En route are many Californian highlights such as the giant redwood forests, and attractive towns such as Carmel, Monterrey and Santa Barbara.
There's more. South of LA and a stone's throw from the border with Mexico, San Diego is a vibrant mish mash of North and Central American culture. More relaxed than the frenetic Los Angeles but with even better beaches, it is a place to unwind; made even easier by the city's reputation for having the best craft beer in the country. And on the subject of 'liquor', very few wine regions on the planet are as pleasant to visit as the beautiful Sonoma and Napa Valleys north of San Francisco, as famous for their scenery and restaurants as their excellent wines.
After a stint in the wine region, there's no place better for burning off the excess than the jaw-droppingly beautiful Yosemite National Park, which you can find out more about in our American West section.
All this, and we haven't even mentioned the seriously impressive ski conditions in Lake Tahoe and the multitude of family-friendly things on offer in California, ranging from the obvious (Disneyland, Legoland and Universal Studios anyone?) to seeing the sea lions in San Francisco and even just enjoying a bit of good old fashioned bucket and spade work on the many beautiful beaches.
Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
