American Express Vacations offers new and improved California vacation packages. California is called the golden state because of its famous gold rush in 1849. But in reality, it is the golden state because of its beautiful climate. This beachside state is known for its laid-back attitude towards life, making it a popular tourist destination. In addition to the beautiful climate of Southern California, this state offers visitors a wide variety of attractions and activities that create a great vacation for people of all ages.
orange county
Southern California is so big and diverse that American Express Travel it has been effectively divided into three areas of interest. The first is Orange County. Popularized by the recent television show, The OC, Orange County contains some of the most popular beaches in the continental United States. These beaches offer surfers some of the best terrain to practice their sport.
On the outskirts of Orange County is one of the most famous children’s institutions ever crazy – Disneyland! This resort has grown quite a bit in the last ten years and is now home to three Disney-owned hotels, the original Disneyland theme park, and a new park called California Adventure. The area is lined with many other hotels that cater to family travelers. And literally down the street from Disneyland is Angels Stadium, home of the 2002 world champion baseball team, the Angles.
the Angels
The next major section of California is the Los Angeles area. Home to large companies, this thriving metropolitan area is home to some pretty famous sights. Stop by Alvera Street to experience the city’s Latin influences and see Union Station. Visit the downtown garment district for some great discount shopping.
Don’t miss the La Brea Tar Pits and the Page Museum, which can be found in Museum Rom, near the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art. See the new Los Angeles Cathedral while visiting Disney Concert Hall, Dorothy Chandler, and the Ahmenson Theatre. With so much to do, you’ll never be on board.
hollywood
About forty minutes from downtown, experience the magic of Hollywood. Your first stop should be Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. You can take a tour of the original theater in all its glory or catch a movie in one of the renovated sections of the theaters. Then head outside to see the hands and footprints of some of the biggest stars that have ever lived. Maybe your hands fit in the prints of Clark Gable or Harrison Ford. Stand where Shirley Temple once danced and Judy Garland sang. See the walk of fame of stars that lines the streets outside the theater. Right next door is the Kodak Theater, where the Academy Awards are held every year. The Kodak Mall is also a delight, offering upscale boutiques, fun dining experiences, and even the popular Build-a-Bear workshop. Across the street from the Chinese Theater is El Capitan, an old-style movie theater with special pre-movie shows and a classic pipe organ that is still played for moviegoers. Along with El Capitan, you can attend the filming of the Jimmy Kimmel Show. In the meantime, you can gaze up at the Hollywood sign, day or night!
The best way to see all of these great Southern California sights is through American Express travel deals. [http://content.onlineagency.com/index.asp?site=5200&tide=753229], which will combine flights, hotels, and car rentals into one great package. This way, travelers can see the amazing wonders of Southern California on their own time. It is not impossible to see everything!