When you think of California, you rightly think of vast landscapes, large cities and wild nature. Due to the wide variety of nature reserves and sights, it is a big dream for many people to make a tour through California. California is the most populous state and ranks third in terms of size. The state is located on the west coast and is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, and the border with Mexico. The ideal environment for a wonderful tour!
Towns
In California, many things are a bit bigger than in the rest of the US, including the cities. According to smber, the state capital is Sacramento, located in the north. Sacramento is the cultural and economic core of this state and well worth a visit when you are touring California. Sacramento is the city of the arts and creativity: you will find references to theaters, film festivals, music studios and art museums throughout your tour. A selection of the other major cities that should not be missing from your list are San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.
Nature
During your tour through California you will encounter breathtaking nature reserves. Mountains that reach to the sky, huge forests where you can relax with the fresh scents and silence, the dry deserts full of unexpected charm and the vast, green agricultural areas where you enjoy the welcome shade and lush vegetation. North of Sacramento is Central Valley, which includes these colorful agricultural areas. On the east side of Central Valley is the famous Sierra Nevada mountain range. To the south of the valley are the Tehachapi Mountains, to the west the Coastal Mountain Range and north of Central Valley the Cascade Range.
The landscapes in California are very diverse. You will find coastal areas, forests (Redwood National Park), desert (Mojave Desert) and glaciers (Sierra Nevada). Also, when it comes to wildlife, California uses the offending staircase. The country’s highest and lowest points are found here: Mount Whitney and Death Valley . Furthermore, the trees here are the largest and oldest in the US. The well-known Sequoia tree is common here and is not called the ‘big tree’ for nothing. During your tour through California, admiring these enormous trees should not be missed. These and other impressive natural wonders can be found in Yosemite National Park and Sequoia National Park .
Nature has many extremes that will make your tour unforgettable. In the Mojave Desert you will find a salt lake, Salton Sea, and the lowest and hottest point in the world: Death Valley . The highest temperature measured here is no less than 56 degrees Celsius! While traveling through California, keep an eye out for the “Californian Poppy,” the national flower. A trip along the two largest rivers, the Sacramento River and the San Joaquin River, should not be missed during your tour of California!
Culture
The culture in California is Western and as a trendsetter has a lot of influence around the world, especially in the field of fashion and film, think of Hollywood! The population in the state is very diverse, partly because of the massive migration, but also because of the famous gold rush in 1848 that attracted large groups of people. California also became very popular due to the construction of the railway in 1869 and major roads such as the Lincoln Highway and Route 66. During your tour through California you will experience that this is not for nothing: the bustling atmosphere, the wonderful climate and the impressive buildings leave an indelible impression.
Climate
Due to the size of the state, the climate varies enormously, but the majority has a Mediterranean climate. In the middle, at Central Valley, this climate is more extreme than at the coast. Along the coast it is nice and cool in the summer, while inland it gets very hot and bone dry. Winters are wet, especially in the northern part. The many mountain ranges also influence the climate and on their highest peaks eternal snow can be found. A beautiful contrast to the sweltering surroundings: so keep your camera handy during your tour of California!
Tour of California
California is known for its car culture and associated road planning. A well-known example is the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, where a lot has to be arranged to prevent traffic jams. Because California is so popular when it comes to vacations or a tour, you see a lot of arts in the field of road planning. The Department of Motor Vehicles is also nowhere as big as here: the place-to-be for a tour of California by motorcycle! The best routes for a tour of California are:
- S. Route 1, Seattle–San Diego
- S. Route 50, San Francisco–Chesapeake Bay
- S. Route 66, Los Angeles–Chicago
- US Route 80, San Diego – Georgia coastline
