Relaxing Vacation: 5 Open-Air Getaways of California

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According to many travelers, California is associated not only with the sun, sea, beaches and the movie business – there’s a place offering many other no less interesting attractions. Natural diversity makes California a desirable place among outdoor enthusiasts.

In this sense, California is a unique place to travel, where in a couple of days you can cross several climatic zones and see the diverse beauty of nature. Would you like to try it? Then you’ll need a car in California. You can use Budget rental car San Diego airport phone number to contact the agency and book the appropriate vehicle.

Yosemite Park

Breakfast with the Three Brothers

Yosemite Park is not only a national park – it’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Granite rocks, waterfalls, alpine meadows, dense forests – this is all that you can admire in the park. Yosemite is considered to be one of the most visited national parks in the West of the country. The park can be explored both by car and by special free shuttle buses. The most popular places for travelers are Yosemite Valley, waterfalls and Glacier Point.

Another interesting place is located in Tuolumne, where through the trunk of one of the redwoods a through pass was made – this is a favorite travelers’ attraction. Trails to the Alpine lakes of Yosemite – Tenaya Lake and Cathedral Lake begin from Tuolumne Meadows. The water in them is crystal clear and transparent, as befits mountain lakes. Yosemite has its own hotels and campgrounds, because one day is not enough to see all the unique attractions of the park.

 

Napa Valley

Napa Spring

Napa Valley is a wine region in the United States. It’s here that grapes are grown for North American wines. And yet the place is considered to be a paradise for gourmets and spa lovers. Napa is the place where prestigious culinary schools are located, so it’s not surprising that the rest there involves going to restaurants, cafes, bars and wineries.

The hotel infrastructure is completely pointed to fashionable leisure, offering all sorts of services, including spa treatments and other amenities. The place is extremely popular among Americans, especially in summer and from September to October. The Napa Valley features its own wine route, which can be traveled by car.

 

Sequoia Park

Yosemite National Park

Sequoia Park is a mixture of dense forests and mountains, because the park is located on the slope of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. It keeps unique objects with a thousand-year history – giant redwoods, which are the largest trees on Earth. Sequoia Park is smoothly connected with another national park Kings Canyon. Its picturesque meadows and deep valleys are also worth attention.

As a rule, tourists combine visits to these two parks. Forests of giant trees, canyons, waterfalls, alpine meadows – this is what you will see during the exploring of the place. The parks have their pedestrian routes, designed for experienced backpackers and hitchhikers. The most popular tracks are Alta Peak, Big Stump, Lookout Peak, and Mist Falls Hike.

 

Death Valley

Death Valley NP-2

Death Valley National Park is located in the south-east of the state, where the California desert originates on the border with Nevada. The place is considered to be one of the hottest on Earth. The landscape of the valley is extremely diverse, ranging from stony soils and salt fields and ending with the sand dunes.

On the territory of the valley there’re about 20 check-points, which are designed specifically for tourists, so that everyone can inspect the park. The most famous spot is Zabriskie Point with its amazing canyons. The territory of the valley covers about 200 square kilometers.

If you need to spend the night there, you can find campgrounds and lodgings in the park.

 

Lake Tahoe

South Lake Tahoe, California

Lake Tahoe is a year-round resort: in the winter it provides skiing opportunities, while in the summer travelers are engaged in water sports. Thus, the place is in demand at any time of the year.

The lake is surrounded by forests and mountains – this fact explains its crystal clear water and picturesque views. The most beautiful place of the lake is the Emerald Bay situated on the western side.

Of course, you can search for more quiet and secluded corners of Tahoe by renting a boat. If you are a fan of outdoor activities, then you can go parasailing, scuba diving and even more exotic sports on the lake. In winter, several ski slopes of any complexity are open at once, so from December till March the mountains of Sierra Nevada are filled with a large number of winter sports enthusiasts.

Well, Californian sights are notable for their diversity: they are presented with big cities, unique nature, diverse climate and relief, and a multicultural environment. Don’t be surprised that in some areas of California, Spanish is used along with English – this is connected with the history of the region and with the Spanish-speaking bordering on the neighborhood. While thinking what to see in California, try to devote equal time to cities and nature, because only together you can understand a real spirit of America’s largest states.