California
vacations are the most popular
destination vacations in the U.S.
according to the Travel Industry
Association. More people take
vacations in California than in any other
USA destination, with Californians
being 85% of travelers within the state
for vacation trips (measures as 50 miles
or greater with overnight stay.
As
trends go, recent studies suggest that
Americans are planning their trips more
spontaneously. They are booking their
reservations online more and more and
making those reservations in shorter
windows of time than previously. Adults
with children have gained additional
interest in traveling with their kids.
Grandparents and extended families are
increasingly taking trips together and
more single women are venturing out on
vacations. It's a brave new world and
California makes the vacation experience
possible for all segments.
A
factor in the popularity of California
vacations and travel is the price of gas
and difficulty in flying. As airport
security procedures require people to
strip off some of their clothes, remove
items from the suitcases, get the
computer notebook into a plastic bin,
throw the carry on suitcase onto the
conveyor belt and take off the shoes,
plus be prepared for a body search, the
good old days of airline travel are not
as fun as they once were. As the bag of
nut or pretzels and the soda are offered
to sustain you on a flight, some
airlines are considering charging an
extra fee for window or aisle seats.
It takes
a full day (or more) to drive 1,000 miles
from Southern to Northern California.
New air routes have opened up regions
for those who simply can't spare the
time to drive. For Californians
and those nearby, it's convenient to hop
in a car and drive but many Californians
are taking to the air as traffic in and
out of major cities slows to a crawl.
Whatever your preference for getting to
California or traveling within the state
on a vacation, you can see a lot of
attractions in a small radius of cities
such as Los Angeles.
There
are so many options
for pleasure and business travel
in and out of California, including Las Vegas casinos,
a favored California getaway weekend--but Las
Vegas doesn't have the coastline,
temperate climate and the beautiful California
Beaches that still garner the
longest stay for those taking a
vacation.
If you
examine the facts about
California--it includes 58 counties featuring
over 1,000 miles of California
beaches, several sets of mountain
ranges with lakes and elevations
assuring a winter ski season, desert
resorts, massive expansive of
land both enjoyed for
agricultural interests (ag tours)
and as California State Parks and
National Parks, then
you'll see that California has a lot
to celebrate.
As tourists and families seek new
experiences,
California vacations need not be the
traditional trip to the beach.
California theme parks, trips to
the mountains in the
California winter vacation, Ag
Tours, food, flower and wine
festivals are increasing in
popularity. Many
pack their bags to attend the Garlic
Festival in Gilroy, the Artichoke
Festival in Castroville, Strawberry
Festivals in Oxnard and Arroyo
Grande and the Rose
Parade in Pasadena. With thousands
of festivals and events offered on a
weekly basis, tourists and travelers
have more on their plates to taste
than ever before.
Some tourists
simply like to
"California Shop". It is reported
that Japanese shoppers fly into Los
Angeles or Orange County airports to
spend a few days shopping at South
Coast Plaza, Rodeo Drive or other
mega-shopping complexes. It's an interesting
California vacation idea but isn't
for everyone.
Theme
parks such as Disneyland bring
tourists and family vacationers from
around the globe to the original
Disney experience with its newer
California Adventure an added draw.
Cruise ships depart several ports in
California, including Long Beach,
San Diego, San Pedro's Port of Los
Angeles and San Diego. The cruise
ship industry continues to expand
with many cruise providers offering
3 to 10-day excursions along the
California Coast, to Baja Mexico and
even Alaska.
If you
are seeking some great ideas for
California vacations, look no
further than this site to explore
the many geographic regions and
attractions, amusements, shopping,
lighthouses, missions, wineries and
beaches that make California
Vacations the Number One choice!
