California has all the ingredients for a Luxury Family Holiday with teenagers. It offers balmy beach towns, desert palms, redwood forests, wine estates and great cities; there is something for all the family in this west coast state. California is brilliant for teenagers with endless beaches, the chance to meet your favourite character at Disneyland; thrilling rides at Universal Studios; the opportunity to get up close to the animals at San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld; or an adventure packed stay at Yosemite. California offers everything for a perfect family travel experience.

What we think you will like!

California offers an intoxicating mix of culture, nature, attractions and glorious beaches.  We would highly recommend a tour of California which starts in San Francisco before taking in the natural wonders of Yosemite National Park.  Drive along the Big Sur coastal highway, continuing via Santa Barbara to Los Angeles, taking in a different excursion if you fancy including San Diego or the 280 mile drive through Mojave Desert to glitzy Las Vegas.

A favourite resort with our families

Santa Barbara is one of America’s best kept secrets. Located 95 miles north of Los Angeles in an oceanfront location on the Pacific Coast Highway, it’s a perfect stop on a California coastal fly drive itinerary. This very relaxed town with its tiled terracotta roofs and white stucco buildings has a decidedly Mexican feel and it is perfectly framed by the San Ynez Mountains and breathtaking coastal scenery. Families are made to feel very welcome at the elegant Bacara resort and spa.  Bacara was created as a haven of calm and rejuvenation, where you can while away the hours lulled by the sea and warmed by the sun. Finding the time for two beautiful golf courses, a tennis centre, three pools and an amazing spa will be made easier as the resort has a very well run kid’s club.

When we think you should go

Most people visit California in the summer between mid-June and August, especially if they are keen to spend time on the beach.  Spring (March through early May) is a marvellous time to visit California. Although it can still be cold at higher elevations, temperatures are comfortable throughout much of the state. California's desert areas are much more pleasant during spring than they are during the scorching heat of summer. Autumn (September through November) is another good time to beat the crowds, and it can be an especially beautiful time to see Northern California and the state's wine regions. San Francisco, often shrouded in fog all summer long, sees some of its sunniest days during its "Indian Summer," which generally lasts from September through October.  If you plan to ski, visit between December and February, when the Sierra Nevada almost always has snow.