USA Holidays - California, Arizona, Nevada
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The USA is a place that can be visited year round with a fair chance of getting good weather.
Florida has it right across the calendar and that is also true of parts of America’s Golden West – in particular California, Arizona and Nevada. Set in the south-western corner of the USA they range from summer temperatures topping 35C, temperate springs and autumns and warm winters.
They are three states with huge amounts of attractions to interest right across the family spectrum and because they are neighbouring states they come in a neat touring bundle for anyone with a rented car.
California takes up almost 60% of the USA mainland’s Pacific coastline and, while long and thin, it is a big state. On its eastern border is Arizona, home to one of America’s greatest landmarks, and Nevada, with its huge tracts of desert and Las Vegas – the world capital of gaming.
Holidays in California
After Florida, California has the biggest family following from the UK and is the subject of so many pop songs that evoke surfing, sunshine and a laid-back lifestyle, all things for holidaymakers to get into.
- The coast – the California stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway is one of the most picturesque drives in the world. From the Mexican border it takes travellers past hundreds of kilometres of sand and surfing beaches, Malibu – made famous by Baywatch – and Santa Monica among them. As the road winds through central and northern California the scenery gets more rugged and spectacular at places such as Big Sur.
- The big cities – some of the most famous names in the USA. Los Angeles includes such attractions as Disneyland, tours of movie stars’ homes, revitalised Hollywood plus shopping in upmarket Beverly Hills. In the south of the state, San Diego retains much of its Spanish heritage and even runs a trolleybus service to the Mexican border. An attractive city, San Diego has a Pacific waterfront promenade, a Maritime Museum and one of the finest zoos in the world. The top northern city is San Francisco with its vibrant social life and place as the gay capital of the world. Top attractions are its shops, touring the island prison of Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Fishermen’s Wharf entertainment area.
- The mountains – California has a number of ranges but its most extensive are the Sierra Nevadas in the north east. Centred on beautiful Lake Tahoe this is one of the finest ski areas in the US. Families can ski during the morning and by afternoon be sunbathing on northern California’s beaches.
- The wilderness – California has many wild places to get close to nature. Running south from the Sierra Nevadas, these include Yosemite National Park for its climbing, walking and cycling possibilities, and Death Valley, beautiful but one of the hottest places on earth.
Arizona Holidays
Sunny skies and low humidity make Arizona ideal for a holiday. This varied state includes not only one of the most famous geological features in the world but also retains much of its Wild West heritage.
- Nature’s wonders – the greatest is the Grand Canyon, a mile deep gash in the earth that runs for almost 300 kilometres and is one of the most visited places in the USA. Now a national park the spectacular canyon attracts huge crowds in high summer. The canyon can be viewed in several ways – by fixed wing aircraft, helicopter or on horseback down steep paths to where the Colorado River rages through the canyon. Other northern Arizona highlights include the giant Hopi Native American reservation and mountains around Flagstaff.
- Cities – the major population centre is busy Phoenix with its shops, galleries and museums while nearby Scottsdale is a resort area with excellent hotels and rented accommodation, fine golf courses and a range of museums and tourist attractions.
- Wild in the west – southern Arizona is the place to explore cowboy heritage. This part of the Sonoran desert includes Tombstone where the gunfight at the OK Corral is still fought – but with actors instead of Wyatt Earp – and Bisbee, a restored Victorian town.
Nevada Holidays
While in the US south west, Nevada is not to be missed:
- The desert – there are huge areas of wilderness in Nevada and a great deal of the old cowboy and Native American heritages remain. The state has a variety of ghost towns worth exploring and there are many 4x4 and other tours available into the desert.
- Bright lights – growing ever bigger, glitzier and packed with entertainment is Las Vegas. There is something going on here for all the family from Star Trek exhibitions and theme parks for children during the day; to shows by top stars in the evenings; and casino gaming going on 24-7.
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