When it comes to vacation options, many states are one-trip ponies.

Take Florida, for example, which primarily features destination beaches from the Panhandle to the Keys. Sure, there are a dashes of Disney World magic here and a trip around Daytona International Speedway there, but it’s rightfully all about beaming beach seekers in the Sunshine State.

California, on the other hand, is a chameleon — changing its colors, terrain, weather, and more to accommodate a diverse array of trips and travelers. It makes sense that California is an ideal destination for travelers seeking so many different things. That’s because the massive state — the third largest in the country — is more than 500 miles wide and stretches 1,000 miles measured north to south.¹

Consequently, a California vacation can be a 20^th wedding anniversary escape to Napa Valley or a class reunion skiing adventure in Palisades Tahoe. There is another thing that all these destinations have in common besides their home state: we don’t plan on it, but something can always go awry before or during our travels. With a travel insurance plan from Allianz Global Assistance, you can pack peace of mind for any California getaway without taking up any room in your carry-on. We recommend taking a moment to find the right travel insurance plan for your itinerary and budget. Renting a car for your trip? Get a quote for rental car insurance.

Here is a closer look at how California can be everything to everyone…

The Couples Getaway

You subscribe to Wine Spectator, enjoy entertaining friends and family, and love being outdoors. Some are OK with their wine poured from a box, but you prefer yours served with a story — and preferably by the very person who grew the grapes. If this is you and your significant other, then it sounds like Napa Valley is calling for what can be a peaceful and picturesque anniversary getaway trip. Napa is home to 400-plus wineries, Michelin-star restaurants-a-plenty, and quaint B&Bs. Plus, it’s super convenient, located less than an hour drive from San Francisco. Best of all, Napa Valley, Sonoma County, and surrounding towns including Yountville offer more than flights of Cabernet Sauvignon and fresh charcuterie boards for your enjoyment. You can also book a hot air balloon voyage, relax at the spa, enlist in a culinary boot camp, and paddleboard over the Napa River.²

The Ladies Weekend 

When you and your friends conjure up the ideal California escape, it’s not about where you go, but who you see. In that event, a trip to Tinseltown makes sense, as do a visit to TCL Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard, a wide-eyed saunter down the Walk of Fame, and a double-decker tour to see celeb homes of past and present. If you and your friends want to dine with the stars in Hollywood and L.A., prime spots include Catch LA, the Restaurant at the Chateau Marmont, and The Palm Beverly Hills.³ Make sure you have a reservation or a hook-up.

If your group wants to live the lifestyle of the rich and famous for a day or more, book a room at The Hollywood Roosevelt, a Spanish Colonial Revival-style hotel with an A-lister pool scene and a throwback bowling alley. On a budget? Book your trip at the Magic Castle Hotel, a moderately-priced and strategically located landing spot that includes in-room kitchens and a free breakfast.⁴

It’s a once-in-a-lifetime trip. And you and your friends might even see what’s-his-name from that TV movie you used to love in college reading scripts in a coffee bar.

The Multi-Generational Urban Adventure

When you have to build a sensible itinerary for everyone from grandpa to the grandkids, a city might be your best bet. Southern California boasts two thriving urban destinations with something for everyone. Start your journey in Los Angeles — you may have heard of it — a booming metropolis with four million people and major attractions including the Getty Center. Here, the oft-changing gardens are as much of a draw as the world-class art collection. (Also come for the sweeping city views, as LA looks picture-perfect from this post-modern perch on smog-free days.)⁵ Additionally, if you like your stars to be stellar phenomena as opposed to divas, visit the Griffith Observatory to peek through one of the many public telescopes or attend a star party.⁶

Sports outings are another option that serve up fun for children and seniors alike. Depending on the season and your tastes, you can grab a ticket to watch the LA Lakers or Clippers at the Staples Center, see who’s throwing out the first pitch at Dodger Stadium, or attend one of the country’s top college football rivalries: USC vs. UCLA.

Just 130 miles south of LA is San Diego, which is chock full of Mexican cultural influences and home to among the world’s most beautiful beaches. Rent a minivan for the whole family and brave the world-famous SoCal traffic on I-5 or, better yet, climb aboard Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner for around $40 each and enjoy the smooth three-hour ride. (Pro tip: on your way to San Diego, spend a day in Disneyland, the original Anaheim theme park where you’ll find eight magical areas to explore with your kiddos.)⁷

No California vacation with San Diego on the itinerary is complete without a trip to the zoo, an all-ages go-to. The San Diego Zoo’s marquee attractions include the world-famous giant panda exhibit and a sky tram that provides an aerial view of the park’s myriad wildlife. Pro tip: The zoo is located in Balboa Park, a West Coast relative of NYC’s Central Park, so be sure to check out the many trails.⁸

After a long walk through the hilly terrain, fill up by bellying up at one of the numerous trucks and stands making up the city’s thriving street food scene. SanDiegoFoodTrucks.com will even help you track down your lunch or dinner. And when you don’t have to wait for a table, everyone is happy.⁹ If you want to cook up your own daily special, head over to Ocean Beach Farmers Market on a Wednesday afternoon, where farm-fresh produce shares the aisle with street performers, musicians, and more.¹⁰

The Reunion Ski Weekend

Welcome to California, one of the few spots on earth where you can surf and ski. Thanks to the slopes and trails carved into the Sierra Nevadas and the Coastal Range, you can hang 10 in Malibu or Santa Monica and take a short trip to shred some snow. But let’s focus on skiing, where former classmates and friends can tackle Double Diamonds together or brave the bunny hill while clinging on to one another awkwardly. Popular resorts include Palisades Tahoe, home to the 1960 Winter Olympics and located by Lake Tahoe, as well as Southern California’s Snow Summit Ski & Snowboard Resort and neighboring Big Bear Mountain, which accommodates beginners. And unlike prom, posting framed pictures of your reunion group above the mantle is 100% optional.¹¹

The Adventure Travel Camping Getaway

Do you like your vacations hands on and a little rough around the edges? Good. Do you want to see the sunset and sunrise without walking outside? Even better! You have to begin the camping discussion with Yosemite National Park, which comprises nearly 748,000 acres in Central California among the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Known for its expansive 7-mile-wide canyon, the El Capitan other-worldly-looking granite monolith, and North America’s largest waterfall, the nearly 130-year-old park draws four million visitors each year. With 1,500 available campgrounds, you can rent a modest cottage or pitch a tent under the shade of a towering Giant Sequoia. Or you can opt to soak in the great indoors at the Majestic Yosemite Hotel, complete with fine dining options, hot tub, and pool. The closest airports to Yosemite accommodating commercials flights include Fresno-Yosemite International and Merced International, both of which are just about an hour drive away.¹²

Other destinations to consider for hiking, backpacking, and all-around adventure include UNESCO World Heritage Site Redwood National Park, where 2,000-old trees are the natural attraction, as well as Big Sur, which features coastal campgrounds on Native American lands first inhabited by the Ohlone, Esselen, and Salinan.¹³

The 55-Plus Paradise

You’ve worked hard for this: a California vacation where you alone set the itinerary. You love your kids and grandkids, but you want a vacation filled with stuff you want to do. Palm Springs is a prime destination for active adults who want to do grown-up activities, from hitting the links on top courses designed by Pete Dye and Robert Trent Jones, to exploring Moorten Botanical Gardens’ gorgeous blooms, and taking in the VillageFest on Thursday nights — a street fair complete with entertainment, merchants, food, and more.¹⁴

Wow, we’ve covered a lot of ground — more than 160,000 sq. miles, to be sure. And we haven’t even mentioned all the trips that can bring you to the San Francisco Bay Area, Gold Country or the Mojave Desert adventure. So, the next time you need to plan a trip, start out west and discover how California has an itinerary for every traveler.

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