What is California mostly known for?
From Silicon Valley to Yosemite, California blends innovation, beauty, and culture into one iconic destination.
California is more than a destination - it's a feeling. There is a breezy sense of freedom in the ether as you navigate redwood trees or sip a cup of coffee on a sun-bleached sidewalk. Everything is different depending on where you are in the state; yet it all comes together in a radiant way that is hard to pin down unless you have experienced it first-hand.
You do not require a lot of things to do to enjoy everything that comes with California. Sometimes it is the smallest things that make the trip — an unexpected view, a bite of food that feels like it is tattooed in your memory, or a conversation with a person that shifts your perspectives. Prior to heading out on a cruise, to enjoy an aspect of the Golden State can be a great part of the trip.
Tech and Academic Hubs
Silicon Valley is the world leader when it comes to innovation. Not only are large firms like Apple or Google located here, but there are interactive museums and startup incubators. Visitors can observe spaces like Tech Interactive in San Jose, or even attend a public event by one of the area's brilliant firms or universities.
As added value, start-ups and research facilities make Silicon Valley a hotbed of ideas and research, with institutions like Stanford University, and UC Berkeley paving the way. Each of these universities provides public tours and talks around the projects that case tomorrow’s digital technology, and are happy to let visitors explore and see their work. For the traveler interested in technology and entrepreneurship, the stories and tours are an excellent way to launch their California journey.
Cultural diversity and festivals
The beauty of California's allure is embedded in the cultures that make it home. Across the state you will find communities shaped and experienced from Asia, Latin America, Europe, and Africa — all intermixed and creating an exclusive ambience. Walking through areas like Little Tokyo, Chinatown, or the Mission District will expose you to new cuisine, various languages and generations of traditions and practices.
Festivals bring these stories to the surface. Lantern parades, street food fairs, heritage music events and dance performances reflect a part of California's personality. For visitors that don't reside in California, festivals are more than events — they are expressions of communities, everyday life, and community pride, rich cultural experiences beyond the simple spectacle.
Adventure and outdoor activities
If you appreciate the great outdoors, California offers a vast assortment of environments for your expeditions. Up north they have snow laden mountain tops for skiers and boarders in winter and desert parks like Joshua Tree have rock formations, trails, and that sweet wide-open view. It doesn't matter how you want to enjoy the outdoors, there is a place that allows for movement, breathing, and appreciation of nature.
If you are towards the coast, the focus may be water and wind. Snag a kayak in the warm of a cove. Rent a paddleboard on a calm morning. Simply walk alongside the waves; no planning needed - you are part nature. Often times travelers realize that being outside in these quiet focused ways are useful to relax before they board their cruise ship and leave those lands behind.
