iStock International
Thanks mostly to the international glamour of Hollywood and the freewheeling reputation of San Francisco, even those who have never been to California have no trouble picturing the famously diverse state. Equally a source of wonder are the Napa and Sonoma wine regions, the towering redwood forests, the dramatic coastline of Big Sur, the sheer cliffs of Yosemite, and the desolate dunes of Death Valley.
Because the Golden State packs in a larger variety of awesome attractions – from natural and idyllic to urbane and hedonistic – than most countries!
$600+: 7-nt Mexican Riviera cruise w/credit from Los Angeles Royal Caribbean
$399+: Mexican Riviera 7-nt cruise on Sapphire Princess Princess
$149+: Mexico 4-night cruise on Carnival Elation: 86% off Carnival
$174+: Oceanview 4-nt cruise w/bonus: up to 85% off CruisesOnly
$149+: Quick 3-nt cruise to Mexico from San Diego Expedia
$1144+: 14 nt discounted Hawaii cruise on Golden Princess CruiseDealership.com
$119+: Newly-renovated LA waterfront hotel w/$25 meal credit The Portofino Hotel and Yacht Club
$109+: 4-star Los Angeles hotel Hotwire.com
$76+: San Francisco-area hotel on sale Hotwire.com
$38/nt+: Low nightly rates at San Diego hotel near SeaWorld Good Nite Inn SeaWorld
$335/nt+: Top luxury hotel beachfront in Santa Monica Shutters on the Beach
$61/nt+: Anaheim park hotel w/free shuttle to Disneyland Getaroom.com
$65/nt+: Anaheim hotel w/fitness center nr Disneyland Getaroom
$57/nt+: San Francisco hotel nr Union Square w/brkfst Getaroom
$253+: LA 3-nt trip w/free brkfst & air from Seattle Good Nite Inn Calabasas
$296+: San Francisco 4-star hotel nr Union Sq 3 nts w/air Parc Fifty Five Hotel - Union Square
$400+: Stay 3 nts in LA hotel w/airfare from Seattle Residence Inn By Marriott Santa Clarita
$283+: L.A. hotel in Little Tokyo w/garden 3 nts & air Kyoto Grand Hotel and Gardens
$250+: San Francisco hotel near theatre district 3 nts w/air Best Western Hotel California
$274+: San Francisco luxury hotel & spa 3 nts w/air Hilton San Francisco Union Square
$415+: San Diego Bay 4-star hotel 3 nts w/air Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina
$278+: San Francisco 3-nt trip w/flight at Fisherman's Wharf Sheraton Fisherman's Wharf
$103+: Low nationwide holiday flight sale (round-trip). United
$225+: Cheap flights to Portland, OR(round-trip) Major Airlines
$149+: Fall flights to Los Angeles (round-trip) Major Airlines
$168+: Low round-trip flights to sunny San Diego Major Airlines
$210+: Cheap fares to Santa Barbara (round-trip) Expedia
$170+: Low round-trip airfare deals to Lake Tahoe Expedia
$109+: Cheap round-trip flights to San Francisco Expedia
$49+: Cheap fall/winter California flights (one-way) JetBlue
$14+: Low daily car rentals in NYC, Miami & more Hotwire
$10/day+: Airport pickup & dropoff car rental deals CarRentals.com
Under $15: Cheap car rentals in major cities CarRentals.com
