Best Time to Visit

The West Coast can be visited any time of the year, depending on what events/activities you’re interested in.

• If you're looking to celebrate essential American holidays like Fourth of July, New Year and Thanksgiving, the West Coast is probably one of the best places to get stuck into the festivities. Blessed with beaches, nature and vibrant cities, this region is tailor-made for weekend getaways and beyond.
• Spring is a lovely time to visit the USA's west coast, especially California, where the temperatures start to warm up, flowers bloom and wildlife thrives. With mild, sunny days, spring is perfect for trying some outdoor activities or setting off on an extended hike in one of the many national parks.
• Halloween: On the 31st of October, the USA dons a spooky atmosphere all in the name of Hallows Eve. If you want to celebrate the all-American way, why not check out the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval or head to hipster Portland, a city that does pretty much everything with flair! 
• Thanksgiving: Celebrate one of the biggest holidays of the year on the West Coast! This may be one of the busiest times of year to travel, but the ambience throughout California, Oregon and Washington is special. If you want to skip the holiday crowds and Black Friday sales, get away from it all in one of California's wine regions. 
• The Coachella Music Festival is the main highlight of Spring, whereas Summer brings the pop-culture favourite Comic Con in San Diego

Best place to visit during fall : Yosemite National Park 

Winter : December to February

• While the East Coast and other parts of the USA can get pretty cold this time of year, the weather stays very mild down at sea level on the West Coast. In northern parts of western USA, ski season begins, and resorts get packed with travellers that want to hit the slopes. On the West Coast you don't need to choose between sand and snow, you can do both! 

Essential dates

• Christmas: Discover Christmas magic on the West Coast at a ski resort in Bear Valley or Lake Tahoe.
• New Year: To see in the New Year with a bang, head to cities like Los Angeles or Portland. Alternatively, if you want a quieter affair, whisk yourself off to the Big Sur for some camping and hiking. 

Best place to visit during winter : Death Valley

Spring : March to May 

• Considering that the West Coast has some of the best national parks in the world, spring is the perfect time to head outdoors. Even if you don't consider yourself much of an adventurer, you can still enjoy the region's gorgeous nature. Along with Yosemite National Park, some other national parks to look into for your spring vacation on the West Coast include Sequoia National Park, Olympic National Park and Mount Rainier National Park. 

Essential dates

• Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival: Head to San Francisco and see spring come to life with pink flowers in Japantown. 
• St. Patrick's Day: Check out the festivities and parades in major cities like Portland, Sacramento or Los Angeles. 
• Coachella: Get your hands on some tickets for one of the biggest and most coveted music festivals to see some of the world's best musicians and performers. 

Best place to visit during spring : Take a road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway

Summer : June to August

• As the hot climate descends on the West Coast, it's time to hit the beach! As you can imagine, great minds think alike, so there will be plenty of travellers also hoping to do the same. Lucky for you, thanks to a generous coastline, there's more than enough sand and sea to go around. You can plan a trip to California's world-famous oceanfront piers or explore the peaceful solitude of Oregon's stunning beaches. 

Essential dates

• Independence Day: Experience the Fourth of July celebrations with sizzling barbecues, parades, fireworks and other festivities up and down the West Coast. 
• Comic-Con: Any pop culture fan worth their salt wants to experience this huge celebration at least once before they leave their mortal body behind.

Best place to visit during the summer : Seattle

Uniquely Popular For

• Get ready to discover one of the most scenic regions in the world. The West Coast is rolling in coastal beauty, vineyards, spots to watch wildlife and places to have a breathtaking outdoor adventure. 
• Glamorous cities, incredible national parks, picturesque drives, food, live art, respect for diverse cultures, love for nature, coffee houses, the cowboy way of living, quaint beaches, casinos

For beach bums

• Santa Monica, California 
• Big Sur, California
• Monterey, California
• Cannon Beach, Oregon
• Gold Beach, Oregon For an outdoor adventure 

For an outdoor adventure

• Yosemite National Park, California 
• Mendocino, California
• The Dalles, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
• Joseph, Oregon
• Cottage Grove, Oregon
• Leavenworth, Washington 
• San Juan Islands, Washington 
• Ellensburg, Washington 

For city lovers

• Spokane, Washington
• Olympia, Washington
• Seattle, Washington
• San Francisco, California
• Santa Barbara, California
• San Diego, California
• Portland, Oregon 

General Tourist Attractions

• Hiking trails in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
• Hiking and surfing along the rocky coastline of the Big Sur
• Pop into the glitz and bling of Las Vegas
• Drive around in the streets of Portland to discover some great tasting and cheap food.
• Hike to the Horseshoe Bend at the Grand Canyon National Park for a spectacular view of sunrises and sunsets.
• Explore the pristine beaches, go whale watching on their migratory path or try hang gliding and surfing in San Diego.
• Take the Rubicon trail that leads to the Emerald Bay State park, and ultimately to the glistening waters of Lake Tahoe
• Yosemite National Park: Depart from San Francisco and make your way through California's famous Gold Rush Country towards Yosemite National Park. On reaching your destination, you'll have a chance to explore a little before enjoying dinner in your rustic mountain lodge. 
• Mammoth Lakes: As you make your way to Mammoth Lakes, you'll cover some incredible ground. Experience the Sierras of Tuolumne and iconic sights like Tenaya Lake. When you reach Mammoth Lake, you can take a gondola ride up into the mountains. 
• Ansel Adams Wilderness - Named in honour of a famous nature photographer, the Ansel Adam Wilderness is an area in the Sierra Nevada region and is renowned for the Devil's Postpile National Monument. 
• Lake Tahoe - Choose your own family adventure on Lake Tahoe. Go hiking or kayaking, or simply enjoy a picnic beside the crystal blue water. 
• Seattle: Meet your guide along the Seattle waterfront and take a ferry across Elliott Bay towards Bainbridge Island where your adventure really begins. 
• Olympic National Park: In Olympic National Park you can show the kids the moss-draped Hoh Rain Forest which looks like something out of a fairytale. Enjoy a little bit of sand and sea at Ocean Shores, and following an afternoon at the beach, enjoy some more family time over dinner in Astoria. 
• Portland: Next, it's on to the exciting city of Portland. It may be the city of hipsters, but it's a fun place for families too. Make sure you get hold of delicious treats like Voodoo Doughnuts. 
• Mount Rainier National Park: Spend the day visiting Mount Rainier National Park. There won't be enough time to climb this famous mountain, but you can still explore some of the stunning trails in the area. 

Memorable Pursuits

• Explore the Redwood National Park in California by enrolling in a ranger-led tour which includes nature walks, kayaking and tidepool walks, all of which are free.
• While at the Yosemite National Park, add Glacier Point, Taft Point, Mariposa Grove, Yosemite Valley, Sentinel Dome, El Capitan and Half Dome to your list.
• Make sure to head over to Dante’s view to fully exploit your visit to the Death Valley (Nevada).
• San Francisco: After exploring this beautiful city on foot, enjoy dinner on Fisherman's Wharf while overlooking the bay and stop by the Golden Gate Bridge.
• Tuolumne: Pass through the foothills of Sierra Nevada, stopping by at a local farm and some vineyards on the way to Tuolumne to get a real taste of central California. 
• Yosemite National Park: Explore the unique rock formations, deep valleys, alpine meadows and wilderness of this famous national park. 
• Sacramento: Walk Sacramento's charming historic district hand-in-hand. You'll find 60 restored Gold Rush-era buildings, wooden sidewalks and cobblestone streets and antique lamps, all of it perfect for those cute couple pictures! 
• Lake Tahoe: Lose yourselves to mesmerizing colours of blue and green. You'll remember Lake Tahoe's crystal blue waters and towering peaks forever. 
• Sonoma: There's no better way to end your getaway together than in Sonoma. What could be more romantic than a sunset in the vineyards of Californa's wine country?  
• Seattle: Diamonds may be forever, but in Seattle, USA's Emerald City, who needs sparkly rocks when you can have lush green scenery? 
• Portland: Discover one of USA's most dynamic cities! Portland is a little bit of everything: cosmopolitan but charming, and ever-so-cool without trying too hard. It's great for discovering food, the arts and culture! 
• Cascade Mountains: Explore the astonishing landscapes of Columbia River and Multnomah Falls. 
• Willamette Valley:  For the pioneers that followed the Oregon Trail, Willamette Valley was the "Promised Land." Find out what brought them here all those years ago. 
• Redwood National Park: Have you ever seen trees that grow to almost 300ft? You have to see California's redwood country to believe it. 
• San Francisco: End your vacation by exploring the sights and attractions of San Francisco. Have dinner together by the ocean and stroll below the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. 
• Head over to the world-famous Hollywood Walk of Fame, and stop by at the Hollywood Sign and the Hollywood Boulevard while in Los Angeles. You can also visit the L.A. County Museum of Art and the Paul Getty Center while you’re at it.
• Make sure to check out the exquisite live art scene in Seattle, especially the Venue and the Centre on Contemporary Art.
• While in San Francisco, explore the Golden Gate Bridge and the Muir Woods from there onwards on foot – and make sure to take your walking shoes. Also, check Fisherman’s Wharf, Alcatraz, Haight Street, Lombard Street off your list.

Something Leisurely

• Watch the sunrise and the sunset at the Grand Canyon, which is spectacularly wholesome. Take a winery/vineyard trip to any of the plethora of vineyard estates in Napa Valley.
• In San Francisco, you might be exploring Fisherman’s Wharf and visiting the infamous Alcatraz to the next, where you’re wandering around Haight Street and having brunch in the Castro District – it’s a city that is welcoming and warm, making it the perfect place for us travellers to explore.
• In the winter months, you can actually head out skiing to Lake Tahoe and snowboarding on the slopes nearby, whilst in the summer you can chill out and relax in the piping hot sun soaked shores of the lake itself.
• If you’re a wine lover (like me) – you’re just going to love Napa Valley! Filled to the brim with wineries and vineyards
• Make sure to pack your hiking boots and check out some of the very best hikes that are well worth an explore, especially around Abiqua Falls and Opal Creek.
• Enjoy the amazing art scene at Seattle, discover the natural beauty that’s a stone throw from the city itself (via the ferry) and chow down on the most amazing sourdough and clam chowder.
• Drive the California coast and discover some of the state’s most impressive natural sites.