USA - California
by David Sutcliffe
When I was younger I was always drawn to California. The birthplace of the ‘Skate-Punk' counter culture - a mix of skateboarders, anarchists and punk rockers (I was young!) - it was perhaps my spiritual home, which I made my actual home for 2 years.
San Francisco makes a perfect starting point for this huge State. Very cosmopolitan and bohemian, it is perhaps the most European feeling city in the USA. Often ranked as one of the 3 most beautiful cities in the world (the others being Sydney & Cape Town), the ‘City by the Bay' is relatively small and easy to explore on foot. Take in Fisherman's Wharf, Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Union Square (for the shopping) and Lombard Street (the city's most crooked street).
A classic way of seeing California is to then pick up a hire car and drive down US Highway 101. But, before you head south towards Los Angeles & San Diego, take a short trip north to the Napa Valley for the wines and cuisine.
You would be well advised to break up your journey towards LA in order to get the most out of your trip. I would suggest one stop in the Monterey area and then another in the Santa Barbara region before arriving in the huge sprawl that is Los Angeles.
There are some that would argue that you should just keep on driving and just see LA in your rear-view mirror! That would, in my opinion, be a shame. The city has seen quite a renaissance in recent years; Hollywood for example is a much more happening place again, shedding it's rather seedy image of late, and is worth a couple of nights stay in one of the new funky hotels. You can also see my old hometown of Huntington Beach!
Beyond LA, and just before you cross the border into Mexico, lies my favourite California city - San Diego. Often missed by visitors to the Golden State, San Diego offers the attraction of the best climate in California, all the benefits of a city, plus a beach! Everything is better here - the city is cleaner, the locals more friendly, the ocean is warmer and the beaches are emptier. Plus you can visit San Diego Zoo and take a journey into Mexico at Tijuana.
You can easily extend your stay in California to include Yosemite and Mammoth National Parks and Death Valley. Also, just across the state line into Nevada awaits Las Vegas............