California Vacations
The Pacific coast: a California vacations must-see
Your California vacation
Are you picturing the Golden Gate Bridge or the Hollywood sign? Or a wine country getaway to Napa or Santa Barbara? From stargazing on Rodeo Drive to Griffith Observatory, a California vacation is exciting from San Francisco to Los Angeles and Palm Springs to San Diego. Bring the family to Disneyland or horseback ride through Yosemite National Park. Drive through Joshua Tree National Park and the star-studded streets of Hollywood.
Orbitz can help you get the lay of the land, with top 10 attractions, the best time to score discounts on California travel and insider scoop from waterfront eateries to tiny comedy clubs.
San Diego
San Diego Vacation Packages
Days Hotel - Hotel Circle
Flight + Hotel
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Wyndham Garden San Diego
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Humphreys Half Moon Inn & Suites
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San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina
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The Dana On Mission Bay
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Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina
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Ramada Inn & Suites-Gaslamp/Convention Center
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The Westin Gaslamp Quarter San Diego
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Paradise Point Resort and Spa
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Hard Rock Hotel San Diego
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BEST WESTERN PLUS Island Palms Hotel & Marina
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Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego
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Hyatt Regency Mission Bay
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Catamaran Resort & Spa
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Best Western Yacht Harbor Hotel
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San Francisco
San Francisco Vacation Packages
Parc 55 Wyndham San Francisco - Union Square
Flight + Hotel
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The Opal San Francisco
Flight + Hotel
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Orchard Garden Hotel
Flight + Hotel
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Holiday Inn SAN FRANCISCO-FISHERMANS WHARF
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Hotel Tomo, a Joie de Vivre Hotel
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Omni San Francisco Hotel
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Fairmont San Francisco
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The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square
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Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites SAN FRANCISCO FISHERMANS WHARF
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Hotel Carlton, a Joie de Vivre Hotel
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InterContinental MARK HOPKINS SAN FRANCISCO
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Bay Landing Airport Hotel
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Grand Hyatt San Francisco on Union Square
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BEST WESTERN PLUS Tuscan Inn at Fisherman's Wharf
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Hotel Union Square
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Orange County
Orange County Vacation Packages
Atrium Hotel Orange County Airport
Flight + Hotel
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Anabella Hotel
Flight + Hotel
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BEST WESTERN PLUS Raffles Inn & Suites
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Anaheim Marriott Suites
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Red Lion Hotel Anaheim
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Hyatt Regency Orange County
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Anaheim Marriott
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Laguna Hills Lodge
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Anaheim Portofino Inn and Suites
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La Quinta Inn & Suites Orange County Santa Ana
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Fairfield Inn by Marriott Anaheim/ Disneyland Resort
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Ramada Plaza Hotel Anaheim
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BEST WESTERN PLUS Anaheim Orange County Hotel
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Cortona Inn and Suites Anaheim Resort
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Lemon Tree Hotel & Kitchen Suites
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Los Angeles
Los Angeles Vacation Packages
Hacienda Hotel
Flight + Hotel
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Best Western Carriage Inn
Flight + Hotel
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Crimson Hotel Manhattan Beach
Flight + Hotel
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Holiday Inn LOS ANGELES-INTL AIRPORT
Flight + Hotel
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Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel
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La Quinta Inn & Suites LAX
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BEST WESTERN Pasadena Royale
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The Wave Hotel Manhattan Beach
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Millennium Biltmore Hotel
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Radisson Hotel at Los Angeles Airport
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Wingate by Wyndham Los Angeles International Airport LAX
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The Westin Los Angeles Airport
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Hollywood Historic Hotel
Flight + Hotel
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Custom Hotel, a Joie de Vivre Boutique Hotel
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San Jose
San Jose Vacation Packages
Ramada Silicon Valley
Flight + Hotel
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County Inn
Flight + Hotel
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Hotel Aria
Flight + Hotel
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San Jose Airport Garden Hotel
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BEST WESTERN PLUS Silicon Valley Inn
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DOLCE HAYES MANSION
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Arena Hotel
Flight + Hotel
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Hyatt Regency Santa Clara
Flight + Hotel
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Four Points by Sheraton San Jose Downtown
Flight + Hotel
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Fairmont San Jose
Flight + Hotel
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Wild Palms Hotel Sunnyvale, a Joie de Vivre Hotel
Flight + Hotel
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La Quinta Inn San Jose Airport
Flight + Hotel
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Campbell Inn
Flight + Hotel
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Holiday Inn SAN JOSE - AIRPORT
Flight + Hotel
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Summit Silicon Valley Hotel
Flight + Hotel
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Carmel
Carmel Vacation Packages
Colton Inn
Flight + Hotel
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Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa
Flight + Hotel
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BEST WESTERN Beach Dunes Inn
Flight + Hotel
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Casa Munras
Flight + Hotel
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Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa
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Hotel Abrego
Flight + Hotel
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BEST WESTERN PLUS Beach Resort Monterey
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The Normandy Inn
Flight + Hotel
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Holiday Inn Express AT MONTEREY BAY
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Sea Breeze Inn and Cottages
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Otter Inn
Flight + Hotel
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BEST WESTERN PLUS Monterey Inn
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Mariposa Inn and Suites
Flight + Hotel
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InterContinental THE CLEMENT MONTEREY
Flight + Hotel
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Clarion Hotel Monterey
Flight + Hotel
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Flights to California
| Departure | Arrival | Travel dates | Round-trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | Los Angeles | Sun, Jan 27 - Mon, Jan 28 | $144 |
| Los Angeles | San Francisco | Wed, Jan 23 - Sat, Jan 26 | $138 |
| Portland | San Diego | Tue, Feb 5 - Wed, Feb 6 | $108 |
| San Francisco | Orange County | Wed, Feb 27 - Fri, Mar 1 | $146 |
| Portland | Sacramento | Sun, Jan 20 - Thu, Jan 24 | $138 |
| Los Angeles | San Jose | Tue, Feb 19 - Tue, Feb 26 | $138 |
| Portland | Ontario | Tue, Feb 19 - Wed, Feb 20 | $156 |
| San Francisco | Palm Springs | Tue, Feb 12 - Wed, Feb 13 | $138 |
| Portland | Oakland | Sat, Mar 2 - Tue, Mar 5 | $138 |
| Portland | Burbank | Wed, Jan 16 - Wed, Jan 23 | $138 |
| San Diego | Fresno | Wed, Jan 16 - Thu, Jan 17 | $118 |
| San Francisco | Santa Barbara | Thu, Jan 24 - Tue, Jan 29 | $168 |
Best time to take a vacation to California
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If you plan a California vacation in Southern California, expect sunshine and warmer weather year-round -- especially across Los Angeles, San Diego and Palm Springs. Northern California is more varied – San Francisco temps average between the mid 50s and high 60s, while Wine Country can sink into the 40s (winter) and peak in the 80s (summer). And you probably won't see snow in California, unless you're in Lake Tahoe or on a movie set.
Snag lower rates in California from mid-September to mid-November, and then again during winter after Christmas. Summer is peak season across California, especially in San Francisco and Wine Country. Join the paparazzi and celebrities during award season in Los Angeles (mid-January to late February) or the non-stop neighborhood festivals in San Francisco throughout summer.
Insider tips for California travel
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Fuego at the Hotel Maya – A Doubletree Hotel (Long Beach)
Enjoy waterfront dining with great views of the Long Beach skyline and the spectacular Queen Mary. And be sure to order sangria (red or white) and guacamole!
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Grandview Park (San Francisco)
Climb to the top of this park in the Sunset District for stunning views of the Pacific Ocean, the Golden Gate Bridge and downtown San Francisco.
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Beachcomber Café (Newport Coast)
Hike through Crystal Cove State Park to find this California gem. Enjoy blackened swordfish tacos and margaritas with views of the ocean, Newport Coastline and Catalina Island. And if you hear a bell, look closely – it means another patron spotted dolphins.
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Comedy and Magic Club (Hermosa Beach)
See if Jay Leno can make you laugh at this tiny Hermosa Beach club -- nearly every Sunday night he tests his pre-show material. Buy tickets well in advance, the show sells out quickly.
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Armstrong Redwoods State Forest (Guerneville)
Beyond popular Muir Woods, venture further north to see towering, ancient redwood groves. This intimate forest is home to the 310-foot Parsons Jones Tree, and the Colonel Armstrong Tree, estimated to be over 1,400 years old. Set up camp at the adjacent Austin Creek filled with rolling hills, oaks and open grasslands.
California highlights
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Monterey Bay Aquarium
See ocean life from a new vantage point at one of the largest aquariums in the country (and the world). Home to over 500 species of animals and plants, take behind-the-scenes tours, plus enjoy daily activities and programs. Bring the little ones to the Splash Zone for interactive fun.
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Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco)
This iconic structure, a 1.7 mile span between San Francisco and Marin County, draws 9 million visitors each year. While you can see the bridge from several points across the city, the best views are on the pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly paths that run the length of the bridge.
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Disneyland (Anaheim)
Bring your little mermaids to Ariel's Undersea Adventure, and Padawans to Jedi Training Academy. Join the Disney Princesses and fanfare down Main Street USA at Mickey's Soundsational Parade.
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Hollywood Sign
While Hollywood may not be a movie-making hub today, the Hollywood sign and its famous city still leaves visitors star-struck. See which celebrities have gold star status on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and compare your hand and foot prints with screen legends outside Grauman's Chinese Theater.
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Yosemite National Park
This American behemoth draws the bivouacking crowd to hundreds-of-thousands of acres of hiking, biking, rock climbing, horseback riding, fishing and more. Get awe-struck on dramatic terrain steeped in waterfalls, streams and Giant Sequoia trees.
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San Diego Zoo
This 100-acre zoo is home to more than 4,000 animals, both rare and endangered, along with over 700,000 exotic plants. Craving a safari? Travel about 35 miles northeast to the Safari Park, where more than 3,000 animals can be seen in their (almost) natural habitat.
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Wine Country
Distinguish tannins from tears in Napa and Sonoma valleys in Northern California, home to over 400 wineries. And don't forget Southern California -- as the movie "Sideways" (shot in Santa Barbara County) showed, there's plenty of wine down south, too.
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Hearst Castle (San Simeon)
This former residence of media magnate William Randolph Hearst was gifted to the residents of the State of California in 1957. Ogle this massive estate's 165 rooms, Casa Grande and three guest houses. Take a night tour during spring and fall, when docents dressed in 1930s clothing occupy the grounds
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Snow Resorts
When the peaks start collecting snow, Californians (and visitors) hit the slopes. With five distinct regions in the state, and over 25 resorts, snow seekers can find skiing, snowboarding and cross-country skiing. Ski season typically begins in late October/early November, but check the ski report with the resort in advance.
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Alcatraz Island
This former military and federal prison in the San Francisco Bay held notable criminals like Al Capone and the "Birdman of Alcatraz." Only accessible via a private ferry company (Alcatraz Cruises), visitors can tour the island and prison. For the stout of heart, there is even a night tour.