From San Francisco in the north to San Diego in the south, California offers visitors a wide variety of resort vacations. Hit the Pacific coast beaches, ski the peaks around Lake Tahoe, get your thrills at world-renowned theme parks, dine in cosmopolitan cities, see the famous Hollywood sign or play golf on scenic desert courses. Enjoy a romantic resort getaway in upscale Monterey, have fun wine tasting with friends in Sonoma or bring the entire family to Disneyland!

Anaheim (Best Western Pavilions, Comfort Inn Maingate, La Quinta Inn and Suites Anaheim Disneyland, Tropicana Inn and Suites, Anaheim Camelot Inn and Suites) Select It's all about the theme parks when it comes to a resort vacation in Southern California's Anaheim. Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure are located here, and you'll want to schedule at least one day, if not more, in each park. Other amusement parks include the smaller Knott's Berry Farm, four miles from Disney, and Medieval Times. Accommodations in the area range from budget hotels to grand resorts-something for all tastes and budgets.

Lake Tahoe (Lakeland Village Beach and Mountain Resort, Harrah's Lake Tahoe, Embassy Suites Hotel Lake Tahoe Resort, Harveys Resort and Casino Lake Tahoe, MontBleu Resort Casino and Spa Lake Tahoe) Select Lake Tahoe in the High Sierra actually straddles California and Nevada. Visit the area to play in the great outdoors: ski, snowshoe and snowmobile in the mountains in the winter, or kayak, fish, swim, hike and golf in the summer. All year round, resorts beckon with luxurious spas, fabulous shopping, fun casinos and upbeat nightlife.

Long Beach (The Queen Mary, Hyatt Regency Long Beach) Select Centrally located in the heart of Southern California, Long Beach is about 25 miles south of Los Angeles. Here you'll find nearly six miles of clean, safe beach for frolicking in the ocean, or bike, roller blade or walk on the paved path that parallels it. Also visit the renowned Long Beach Aquarium and the Queen Mary Ocean Liner, docked here since 1967. Catalina Island is a short cruise away.

Los Angeles (Holiday Inn Los Angeles International Airport, Marina Del Rey Hotel, Crowne Plaza Beverly Hills, Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Airport, Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach and Marina Hotel) Select Hurray for Hollywood! This Los Angeles neighborhood has long represented the glitz and glamour of the music, film and television industries. See the famous names on the stars along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, as well as stars' footprints, handprints and signatures in the cement outside of Grauman's Chinese Theatre, site of hundreds of movie premiers through the decades. Other L.A.-area activities include hitting the rides Universal Studios Hollywood and Six Flags Magic Mountain theme parks, shopping in Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive, and walking the boardwalk at Venice Beach.

Monterey / Carmel () Select On California's Central Coast, the Monterey area is known for its craggy coastline, art galleries, up-and-coming vineyards, pretty lighthouses and various bohemian-to-upscale neighborhoods. See sights made famous in John Steinbeck's novels, such as Cannery Row, and kids love the hands-on exhibits at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Orange County (Ramada Plaza Hotel West Hollywood, Holiday Inn Hollywood, The Georgian Hotel, Holiday Inn Santa Monica Beach at the Pier, Beverly Garland's Holiday Inn Universal Studios) Select Craving sunshine? Head to California's Orange County, where the climate is stellar for year-round travel: temperatures average about 78 degrees. Famous beaches here include Huntington Beach, otherwise known as 'Surf City,' and inland there are parks, ecological preserves, gardens and wetlands to explore. Communities like Newport Beach and Costa Mesa offer outstanding opportunities for shopping.

Palm Springs (Best Western Palm Desert Resort, Holiday Inn Palm Springs - City Center, Spa Resort Casino, Palm Mountain Resort and Spa, Desert Springs, A JW Marriott Resort and Spa) Select If golf is your game, you'll love the Palm Springs area of California-there are more than 100 courses here for you to choose from! The desert climate here brings hot summers, but delightfully temperate days the rest of the year. Even if you do visit during the peak of the warm weather, you can always ascend to cooler air via the Aerial Tramway, in mountain wilderness at 8,500 feet above sea level. Most Palm Springs resorts have upscale amenities, like luxurious spas and pretty swimming pools.

San Diego (Beach Terrace Inn, Best Western Beach View Lodge, Days Inn Hotel Circle, Best Western Seven Seas, Mission Valley Resort) Select In the southwest corner of California, San Diego is renowned for its idyllic climate, dozens of miles of pristine Pacific Coast beaches and dazzling array of family-friendly attractions, such as the Wild Animal Park, San Diego Zoo, Lego land theme park (in nearby Carlsbad), and Sea World. You may want to hike or view wildlife in 600,000-acre Anza Borrego Desert State Park, visit the museums in Balboa Park or see the sights in the downtown's historic Gas lamp Quarter.

San Francisco (Holiday Inn Civic Center, Best Western Yosemite Way Station, Comfort Inn Oakhurst, Holiday Inn Express amd Suites Fisherman's Wharf, Yosemite View Lodge) Select Must-see attractions in this bay the Bay City abound: see the crookedest street in America, cruise to Alcatraz Island for a tour of this notorious prison, hop on a cable car, eat dim sum in Chinatown, and snap photos of the famous Golden Gate Bridge. Many resort accommodations in San Francisco offer easy access to these important sights.

San Jose () Select About 45 minutes south of San Francisco, this Silicon Valley city makes a great home base from which to explore Northern California and the Bay Area. With 300 days of sunshine a year, the climate is ideal for outdoor exploration-head west to the Santa Cruz coast or east into the Sierra Mountains. The 100-acre theme park Great America in nearby Santa Clara delights families, and the Winchester Mystery House, built by wealthy heiress of the Winchester Rifle fortune, is filled with bizarre oddities-like the staircase that leads to the ceiling in one of the Victorian mansion's 160 rooms.

Santa Barbara () Select Dubbed the 'American Riviera,' Santa Barbara boasts miles of pretty shoreline, fabulous seafood restaurants, wine trails and microbreweries, and many shopping areas that include one-of-a-kind boutiques, art galleries, trendy hotspots and outlets.

Anaheim  Lake Tahoe  Long Beach  Los Angeles  Monterey / Carmel  Orange County  Palm Springs  San Diego  San Francisco  San Jose  Santa Barbara