To the west lies Hollywood, the wealthy suburb of Beverly Hills and stunning city views from winding Mulholland Drive. Take a tour around Universal Studios Hollywood and check out the ‘stars’ on the Hollywood Walk of Fame between La Brea Boulevard and Vine Street. Downtown lies the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) where you can view more than 5000 permanent pieces, ranging from colourful pop art to photography.
Feel the wind in your hair on Highway 1, one of California’s most spectacular drives, which snakes up the coast north of San Simeon with tremendous views along the way. Look out for huge elephant seals lounging on some beaches and take a break at Big Sur, a long time retreat of artists and writers, that sits surrounded by ancient forests and rugged shoreline.
San Francisco’s passionate but different culture offers a wide range of experiences: savour chowder at Fisherman’s Wharf and mouth-watering cuisine in Chinatown, peer into the eerie cells at Alcatraz, cycle or drive over the Golden Gate Bridge – the art-deco masterpiece offers unforgettable views from either Fort Point or Marin’s Vista Point – or get a bird’s eve view of the city on a private helicopter tour.
Elsewhere, the Napa and Sonoma wine country beckons wine lovers, Lake Tahoe provides some of the world’s finest ski resorts while Yosemite allows you to get back to nature at one of North America’s most impressive national parks. And if you’re looking for relaxation Palm Springs has more than 100 championship golf courses and numerous spas, making it the perfect place to unwind.
