USA: Five cool California cities

San Diego offers great beaches, people-watching and beachy shops. Photo / Thinkstock

Long Beach

California's top maritime centre is just down the coast from Los Angeles. One of its claims to fame is the historic ocean liner and World War II troop ship, The Queen Mary. Another popular spot is Naples Island with its canals, gondola rides and restaurants.

San Diego

This seaside town offers great beaches, people-watching and beachy shops. Check out the USS Midway Museum - the queue may be long but the wait is worthwhile to view the restored aircraft on the ship's flight deck. Seaworld is one of the most popular theme parks in California, or if you feel like time away from the sand, head to Balboa Park, a collection of gardens. And make sure you eat out - this city has great restaurants.

San Francisco

Visit Alcatraz, America's most notorious prison, enjoy the Golden Gate Bridge, catch a tram to the top of one of SF's highest streets and savour the views. At Fisherman's Wharf, check out the marine life at Aquarium of the Bay, where the only barrier between visitors and the water is a glass tube. If shopping is on the cards, San Francisco has great indie boutiques.

San Jose

San Jose is the capital of Silicon Valley so book ahead for accommodation. Winchester Mystery House is a 160-room Victorian mansion with dead-end hallways. It was built this peculiar way by Sarah Winchester, heir of the Winchester rifle fortune, and apparently guided by spirits of those killed by Winchester guns. Otherwise, try the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum or the San Jose Museum of Art.

Sacramento

Sacramento is the capital city of California, sitting at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers in northern Central Valley. It's free to tour the 19th century Capitol building, plus the city has more than 600 pieces of public art.

Further information: See DiscoverAmerica.com for more on visiting California.