How to Travel to California

Kevin: Flickr.com

The Golden State offers outdoor enthusiasts a variety of activities through all four seasons. Go swimming at the beaches in the summer, hike through national parks in the fall, ski snow-filled resorts in the winter and marvel at desert blooms during the spring. There are as many ways to reach California as there are vacation attractions.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Car Train ticket Plane ticket
Car
Train ticket
Plane ticket

Step 1

Prepare. For a comprehensive source of California Travel, browse the Visit California website, whose link is under Resources. It contains maps, trip ideas, visitors guides and built-in search to find what you need. In addition, it links to more specialized sites about individual locations.

Step 2

Drive. Routes into California from the east include Interstate 80 to get to the Bay Area, and I-10 and I-40 to reach Los Angeles. From the northwest, take I-4 or the more scenic Pacific Coast Highway. In any case, this is the only mode of transportation that allows you to pack all your gear and to tow a camper or boat. It also lets you stop when you see a convenient hiking trail or soothing lake. Driving does take a while and may tire you out by the time you reach your destination.

Step 3

Ride Amtrak. Rail travel often takes longer than driving but allows you to sit back to watch the passing scenery. You can check in up to three bags of gear, plus carry onboard two more, with each piece weighing up to 50 pounds. With a USA Rail Pass, you'll stop at several destinations over a selected period; for example, you might visit a hiking trail in Napa Valley before sunning yourself at a beach in Southern California. See the link in Resources for more information.

Step 4

Fly. California offers at least a dozen airports with frequent connections to cities in the United States and around the world. While this is the fastest way to reach a destination, it is often the most expensive and offers the least allowance for outdoor equipment. Not only do you have to contend with weight limits and additional baggage fees, but anything that can be seen as a weapon, from Swiss Army knives to tent stakes, cannot be carried on. Consider the cost of renting equipment at your destination rather than lugging it around.

Resources

Article Written By Aurelio Locsin

Aurelio Locsin has been writing professionally since 1982. He published his first book in 1996 and is a frequent contributor to many online publications, specializing in consumer, business and technical topics. Locsin holds a Bachelor of Arts in scientific and technical communications from the University of Washington.

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