California Travel Guide

Whale watching

During the annual migration of the Californian Gray Whale from Alaska to Mexico, whales can be seen passing along the California coast and numerous whale-watching excursions are available from Los Angeles city harbors or further south from the city of Dana Point. Monterey on the Central Coast is regarded as the best place to view whales as well as other marine mammals and whale-watching boat trips are educationally orientated. Boat trips are available from more than 20 ports along the entire California coast.

Surfing

A lot comes to mind with California surfing, from Beach Boy serenades to the edgy skate style of Dog Town, or epic big waves of Mavericks. But what these all have in common is the ridiculous wave-producing coastline of California. Northern California leaves surfers to the elements, with big storm swells and big storm weather. These are not ideal surfing conditions but seclusion and striking rugged scenery are the norm off the coast of Humboldt and Sonoma Counties. Central California is much more popular among surfers but has nothing near the surf culture to the south.

Santa Cruz is best visited during winter and unique surf spots can be discovered along Monterey. Southern California is the surf epicenter, although by no means a small one. From Santa Barbara to L.A. to San Diego, the coastline is a smorgasbord of tasty waves. The more popular areas push limits of how many can surf the same wave. For observers, Malibu is the place to soak in surf history and culture.

Wine tasting

California's luscious Napa Valley is probably the second most celebrated wine growing region in the world, after France's Bordeaux, and is the second biggest tourist draw to the state of California bringing in nearly five million tourists annually. Where the Valley does rule supreme, however, is the art of modern winemaking. Here the practice of cold and maloactic fermentation, and the use of heaters and wind machines to combat frost are commonplace. Some of the more popular grape varieties coming out of the over 300 wineries in this region include Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Merlot. Looking beyond the infamous valley, California is the United States' top wine state and home to what the locals call the Wine Country. The Wine Country, located east of the major cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco boasts luxury garden estates, golf courses, shopping, farmer's markets, just about any recreational outdoor activity one could imagine and, of course, some of the best wines you'll ever taste.

Golf

Course designers have given the Californian desert a facelift. The difference between natural landscape and fairway is drastic with little chance to incorporate natural hazards into the game. But immaculate grooming and facial reconstructive surgery have created beautiful oases. Here, golf communities such as Palm Springs have mountain range backdrops but are otherwise golf resort/retirement towns in middle of unremarkable desert. Around the San Diego area Coronado Golf Course and Balboa Park are the best value. The more rugged and coastal courses of mid and northern California are loved more for their personality. Ocean side courses are short drives from San Francisco including the Monterey Peninsula and the famous Pebble Beach. Majestic rocky coastlines reminiscent of Scottish links have similar seaside grass roughs. In contrast to the expanse of mid-Californian courses, northern fairways are often cut into dense walls of tall redwood forests. In the north, weather can become wet in fall and winter, making the best time to visit in spring and summer months when the south is too hot. Resort courses are an option but in California most areas are drivable from a city center.