Showcasing nearly 900 miles of golden Pacific shores which are crowned by its Golden Gate Bridge, there is no title more fitting to California than The Golden State. There is; however, even more, colour filling this West Coast palette, from the forestry greens of the Yosemite National Park, the fiery red stalls of Fisherman’s Wharf and the rainbow-infused broad walk of Venice Beach, there is nowhere with a colourful spectrum quite as extensive as California’s.For a memorable holiday rental in the United States look no further than California, the state that has it all. Choose accommodation in California, which is as vibrant as the state it stands in by reserving a holiday apartment rental through Airbnb or TripAdvisor today.
Find and book the perfect apartment or holiday villa in the Golden State of California
Spend your morning surrounded by the glorious leafy giants of Sequoia national park before filling your nights with the great bright lights of Hollywood Boulevard, all while taking in the waterside kingdom of Santa Barbara while en route. With a collection of powerhouse city's, rivalled only by the state's even more powerful scenery in its selection of National Parks and emerald and American landmarks, there is something for everyone who visits the Golden State. There is nowhere quite as diverse as this free-spirited land, so choose a holiday apartment rental in California which mirrors this land's unique spirit. From a holiday home on Santa Monica's shore to a holiday villa in the heart of San Diego, there is your perfect Californian sanctuary just waiting to be discovered.
When to Visit California
California is famed for its year-round sunshine, and its climate is comfortable for visiting even in the winter months. The best time to visit is between early May to late September, as there is less chance of rainfall and the weather is perfect for bathing on the beach. However, it is important to remember that the attractions and city's get busier in the peak summer months of July and August, so remember to book holiday accommodation in California in advance if you are planning on visiting in these sunnier, but busier months.
What types of holiday rentals are available in California?
Just as people travelled to California to find their own piece gold in The Gold Rush, visitors today can experience the same rush from discovering their perfect holiday rental, their jewel along the California coast. For a Californian experience which is taken straight out of a movie, head to the Hollywood hills, where you can live like a movie star and stay in a luxury villa in Los Angeles to sleep surrounded by the glamour of this global powerhouse. For an even more romantic side of California, choose a holiday apartment in Santa Monica to wake up in a room with a view which overlooks the sandy Pacific Coast and the nostalgic Pacific Park Pier, whose carousel will transport you back in time to a fifties West Coast escape. Alternatively, you can stay in the heart of the Californian surfing community by renting a reasonably priced holiday apartment rental in Malibu, where you can ride the waves before the rest of the state wakes up. For those who want to immerse themselves in the Californian culture around the clock, choose a hostel in San Francisco, where you can dance the night away in the jazz bars before watching the sunrise from your holiday accommodation above the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge.
How to get there?
Located on the West Coast of the United States along the Pacific Ocean, California can be reached directly from the UK by air by flying from London Heathrow to Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose or San Francisco with British Airways or Norwegian Air, or from Manchester to San Francisco with Virgin Atlantic. The flight duration from the UK to California takes approximately 11 hours and 20 minutes, with airport connections to the central Californian city's available by bus, subway or taxi.
Getting around
Stretching 900 miles across the West Coast, California is near twice the size of the UK, meaning if you want to explore beyond the area of your holiday apartment, you may need to plan and rent a car. Renting a car is one of the easiest ways to explore the vast beauty of this sunny state, as the ease of highways which connect the significant attractions suggest that California's transport scene is built around car culture. If driving is not your thing, then fear not, as California's major city's all boast reliable public transport services, including the Metro in Los Angeles, the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) in San Francisco and the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System in San Diego. If you want to explore some of this state's natural attractions which lay beyond the city centres, then day trips are also available by coach, California Rail or even by jumping aboard an internal flight.
Where to Stay
Los Angeles
Think of accommodation in California, and you will no doubt picture a holiday rental in Los Angeles. Known as the Entertainment Capital of the World, Los Angeles remains one of the most vibrant destinations in the entire country. Choose a holiday home in the heart of Hollywood, or a holiday villa which is big enough for the whole family near Disneyland and discover a home away from home in California's most famous city. If you want a slice of West Coast glamour, then secure a luxury apartment rental in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles' most fashionable district.
San Francisco
The musical spirit which runs through San Francisco's colourful veins showcases the most electric atmosphere in the United States, meaning this is the perfect place to secure a holiday apartment rental in California if you do not want to sleep when the sun goes down. After spending your days walking across the renowned Golden Gate Bridge and shopping in Union Square, keep dancing through the evening on Pier 39 and in the jazz bars of the Mission District, where you can spend the night surrounded by San Francisco's Latino before returning to a holiday apartment in San Francisco which is almost as diverse as the city it stands in.
Malibu
Renowned for its celebrity homes which can be spotted along Zuma Beach, a holiday home in Malibu will allow you to live like an A-Lister in California's beachfront paradise. This Pacific jewel is, however, even more than a celebrity's playground, as it remains a favourite with surfers who flock to the shores of Malibu Lagoon State Beach to ride the waves from dawn. There is a range of reasonably priced holiday rentals and youth hostels in Malibu which caters to every surfing need, and with a great year-round sunny climate, nothing is stopping you from hitting that surfboard.
Santa Monica
With its iconic Ferris wheel standing upon Santa Monica Pier, and the Playland Arcade where visitors can revisit timeless arcade games, Santa Monica offers a nostalgic escape from the glitz and glamour of nearby Los Angeles. Reserve a classic Californian retreat in this timeless district, where you can roller-skate your way to the world-famous Venice Beach, before trying out the traditional American cuisine on Pacific Park Pier.
San Diego
The most colourful city in California, San Diego, is bursting with contemporary art galleries, studios, rainbow kissed old town and flower-filled gardens and parks which lay at the fringe of the emerald Pacific. There is also no shortage of this city's maritime past as history enthusiasts can explore the USS Midway Museum which is aboard a naval aircraft carrier. Choose a holiday villa in San Diego, which is nestled among the countless attractions of this cultural hive and enjoy the very best of this state's art and history scene.
Santa Barbara
Reserve a bed and breakfast with a garden in Santa Barbara to find a sanctuary in California's answer to the Mediterranean. This stucco paradise is a cocktail of Spanish architecture mixed with American culture, and the result is a sun-kissed kingdom filled with European eateries, boutiques and endless Moorish- style tiles. Choose accommodation in California's most picturesque city and escape to another continent while still indulging in the riches of The Golden State.
Food and Drink
With a food scene which continues to evolve with its ever-changing ethnic influences and a drinking culture which is, quite literally, cosmopolitan, foodies flock to the west coast for its inspired cuisine. With the Gold Rush came the development of some globally famous tasty treats, from its Sourdough Bread to Rocky Road for those with a sweeter tooth. The Mission District in San Francisco was the birthplace of the Burrito, which was adapted from its Mexican neighbours, so be sure not to leave California without sampling one of their finest Mexican staples from La Taqueria, before washing it down with a Martini, as California is the alleged home to the first ever Martini. Whether you are new to Mexican food, or you are an acclaimed burrito lover, or you enjoy the classic cocktail shaken or stirred, there is a world of drinking and dining possibilities just waiting to be explored by your taste buds in California.
Explore urban adventures, stunning beaches, and rich cultural heritage across North America
In bustling cities, vibrant landscapes, and captivating art scenes, the essence of dynamic urban adventures comes alive. Venture into the heart of innovation and creativity with holiday homes Los Angeles, where the bustling art districts truly mesmerize. Further north, immerse yourself in the charming French-Canadian culture with Montreal airbnb amidst its iconic old town architecture. Discover the pulse of urban life with accommodation in New York — a city that never sleeps, offering the vast skyline and iconic landmarks like Times Square and Central Park.
Experience the allure of coastal sanctuaries and sun-soaked beaches that border serene seaside landscapes. Walk the golden sands with airbnb Malibu and relish the views of rugged cliffs and pristine waters. To the south, enjoy endless sun and vibrant beach life with holiday stays San Diego along its sprawling coastline and surf-friendly waters. Head east to immerse yourself in the lively culture and famous Art Deco architecture by securing rentals in Miami, while the sunny shores of the Sunshine State invite you to explore with rentals in Florida.
Unearth the historical narratives and cultural heritage that each destination offers. In the United States, delve into the stories and heritage embedded in picturesque metros and smaller towns. For an enchanting historical journey, explore Norfolk airbnb and its rich naval past. Venture north into Canada with holiday homes Kingston, Ontario, teeming with colonial history and waterfront beauty. Broaden your cultural encounters across this vast and diverse land with holiday homes United States, discovering landmarks and historical sites that reveal the nation's multifaceted heritage.
