Classic California

Wrapped in the fog that drifts in from the bay and draped over steep hills facing the Pacific, San Francisco is one of America's most beloved cities, refined, rebellious and deeply cosmopolitan. Its symbol is the Golden Gate Bridge, the unmistakable red span reaching out towards the ocean, revealed and hidden by the morning mists. To walk the city is to be surprised by its rolling streets, still climbed today by the famous cable cars that scale the heights of Nob Hill and Russian Hill, offering sudden glimpses of the water. Along the Fisherman's Wharf waterfront the sea lions of Pier 39 bark and the air smells of sourdough bread and fresh crab, while offshore stands the island of Alcatraz, with its historic penitentiary reachable by boat. The charm of San Francisco lives in its neighbourhoods: the Victorian Painted Ladies around Alamo Square, the Chinese energy of Chinatown, the oldest and liveliest in America, the rainbow, activist streets of the Castro, and the bohemian ferment of Haight-Ashbury, cradle of hippie culture. At the city's core, Union Square buzzes with shopping and theatres, while the Civic Center and museums such as SFMOMA and the de Young reveal its cultured soul. Green spaces abound: the vast Golden Gate Park holds Japanese gardens, conservatories and trails down to the ocean. The dining scene is among the most innovative in the country, from fusion cuisine to the wines of the nearby Napa and Sonoma Valley and organic markets. From San Francisco it is easy to set out for California's national parks, the redwoods of Muir Woods and the Big Sur coast. Free, creative and swept by the ocean wind, San Francisco wins over anyone willing to be led by its hills and its suspended light.

You leave the big city on the bay for the region at the foot of the Sierra Nevada, which in 1849 was at the center of the Gold Rush. Yosemite National Park is one of the world's most famous natural sanctuaries, set among the granite peaks of California's Sierra Nevada and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Yosemite Valley opens between the imposing walls of El Capitan and Half Dome, the thundering waterfalls such as Yosemite Falls and the meadows crossed by the Merced River. Forests of giant sequoias and alpine plateaus complete a legendary landscape. Yosemite is the ideal destination for those seeking grand nature, climbing and the iconic wilderness of California.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park preserves in California the largest living trees on the planet, the majestic giant sequoias that soar in the Sierra Nevada. Here grows the General Sherman Tree, the largest tree by volume in the world, among ancient forests, deep canyons and granite peaks. Trails of every level lead to caves, waterfalls and breathtaking views. This park is a sanctuary of silence and grandeur, where nature reaches titanic proportions.

Miles of golden sand and waves made for surfing define Pismo Beach, a lively seaside resort set along California's central coast. Famous for generations for its carefree summer atmosphere, the town centres on the historic pier reaching out over the ocean, a gathering point for anglers and sunset lovers. The broad sandy expanses are perfect for long walks, while the nearby Oceano Dunes invite off-road trails and outdoor adventures. Between November and February, groves of eucalyptus host thousands of monarch butterflies that overwinter here, creating a remarkable natural spectacle. Between a feast of fried clams, a visit to the wineries of nearby Edna Valley and a sunny day on the shore, Pismo Beach embodies the authentic, sun-drenched spirit of coastal California.

Santa Barbara stretches along the coast of Southern California, nestled between the waters of the Pacific and the slopes of the Santa Ynez Mountains. Nicknamed the "American Riviera" for its mild climate and Spanish colonial architecture, the city charms with its red-tiled roofs and whitewashed walls. Its historic heart is the Old Mission Santa Barbara, a beautiful 18th-century Franciscan mission, while the County Courthouse tower offers a spectacular view over the rooftops and the ocean. The seafront promenade of Stearns Wharf invites sunset strolls, and the golden beaches are ideal for surfing and relaxing. All around stretch the vineyards of the Santa Ynez Valley, renowned for their fine wines and tastings. Santa Barbara enchants those seeking Mediterranean elegance and Californian dolce vita. Palm-lined coastal roads, wide sandy beaches, and the unmistakable atmosphere of Southern California accompany this scenic journey along the Pacific coast. The route initially follows the shoreline, offering beautiful views of the ocean and the offshore Channel Islands. A worthwhile stop can be made in Ventura, a relaxed coastal town known for its historic center and attractive waterfront. Further southeast, the famous beaches of Malibu dominate the scenery. Along the iconic Pacific Coast Highway, dramatic coastal stretches, elegant homes, and impressive viewpoints create constantly changing vistas. As you approach the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the landscape becomes increasingly urban while still offering frequent views of the Pacific Ocean and the surrounding coastal mountains. Los Angeles, home to Hollywood, Disneyland, and Universal Studios, is the epitome of carefree living for visitors: year-round sunshine, palm trees swaying in the wind, movie stars with luxurious residences in the hills of Beverly Hills, stunning museums, avant-garde architecture, and surf beaches.

In the 200 km that separate Los Angeles from San Diego, stretches the Orange Coast, 70 km of beaches, natural reserves, coves, tourist ports, and legendary waves: the homeland of US surfing. San Diego stretches across the southernmost tip of California, along the Pacific coast just steps from the Mexican border, blessed with the mildest, sunniest climate in the United States and an unmistakably laid-back seaside spirit. This is where California's first Spanish mission was founded, and that past survives in Old Town, where adobe houses, courtyards and Mexican cooking recall the city's origins. Its monumental heart, however, is Balboa Park, a vast urban garden home to Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, some fifteen museums and the famous San Diego Zoo, among the most important in the world. Towards the harbour, the Embarcadero waterfront lines up historic tall ships such as the Star of India and the floating museum of the USS Midway aircraft carrier, while the Gaslamp Quarter pulses with evening life among Victorian buildings, restaurants and bars. The beaches set the city's rhythm: the elegance of the Coronado peninsula with its historic hotel, the surf at Pacific Beach and Mission Beach, the cliffs and coves of La Jolla where sea lions and seals bask in the sun. The cuisine celebrates the closeness to Mexico with its fish tacos and a lively craft-brewery scene that has made San Diego a capital of American craft beer. All around, scenic roads lead to theme parks, nature reserves and, across the border, to Mexican Tijuana for a day trip. Between sunshine, ocean and an ever-living Hispanic-Mexican heritage, San Diego invites you to experience the most authentic California at the slow pace of days by the sea.