The US road trip is a dream for so many people. Visiting the states comes with so many opportunities for adventure and exploration it’s no wonder it’s a massively popular destination for so many UK holidaymakers.
Being such a big, diverse country though, people can often run in the question of where exactly to go and what to do. Do you experience a bit Miami life or do you live it up in LA for a week? We’re going to take a look at two of the most popular US states for UK travellers: Florida vs California. We’re going to compare just what there is to love about each state and hopefully help you decide where you want to explore next. We don’t draw any conclusions here we just wanted to showcase the very best that each state has to offer and we’ll let you decide where your next plane will land.
Florida
Flight time: around 9 hours.
Average summer temperature: between 21 and 28+ degrees.
Florida is an absolute UK favourite. Blazing sunshine in the summer, as well as a humid climate, means you’re not likely to need your coat and there is no shortage of things to do. We’ll outline our top 3 things to do, enjoy and love in Florida.
Disney land and amusement parks
From Walt Disney World Resort to Universal Orlando Resort, Florida is THE place in the US to go for fantastic family days out. Disney land isn’t just for the kids either, some of the rides are for serious thrill seekers and with so many different theme parks in such a small radius, we’re absolutely confident that no-one will be left wanting more.
Miami and the Everglades
How about a day spent gliding through the Florida Everglades? Fly through the water on an airboat and really take in everything the Everglades has to offer. This is the only place on earth where alligators and crocodiles coexist so we’d highly recommend taking it all in. If you’re after a real wildlife experience we cannot recommend the Everglades enough. You can head over to one of the many wildlife experience parks like Shark Valley to get safely up close to some truly astounding wildlife.
Florida Keys
If speeding through the Everglades on an airboat isn’t your thing or even if you just want a change of pace, the Florida Keys are perfect for you. Stunning beaches, the Florida heat and sunshine beautiful scenery. It is the perfect place to relax, explore and chill out. You can head over to Key West in your rental car and go on a yacht tour of the beautiful blue water or you can hit the water yourself with the dizzying array of water sport options. In the Florida sunshine, you’ll be relieved to jump in that cool blue water
California
Non-stop flight time: between 11 and 13 hours.
Average summer temperature: between 21 and 27+ degrees.
California is literally the stuff of films, from Hollywood to San Francisco, California is where it’s all happening. Could you picture yourself walking down Hollywood Boulevard, seeing the Hollywood sign and just taking it all in? Whether you’re after a tech heaven getaway to Silicon Valley near San Francisco or prefer a more laid back, picturesque trip to LA, there is so much to do in California and here’s our top 3.
California’s National Parks
The national parks in California are the perfect places to explore. From Yosemite to Kings Canyon, these parks are iconic, huge, stunning and begging to be explored. From Yosemite to Death Valley these parks are natural wonders. Getting to them is never too bad either and offers a fantastic road trip to compliment your park exploration.
San Francisco to LA road trip
Did someone mention a road trip? Driving from San Francisco to Los Angeles or vice versa is a nearly 400-mile trip you will never forget. This iconic drive follows the Pacific Coast Highway and passes so many stunning landmarks and things to do. From Half Moon Bay to Pismo Beach, you’ll have so many places to stop at along the way don’t be surprised if 400 miles turns into 4000 miles.
Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is the heart of the modern tech industry, from Apple to Google this is the true home of the internet giants. If you’re into technology and just want to see where it all happens then this is the place for you. It originally got its name from the computer chips that were made here but it’s become so much more. From sightseeing to company tours there is so much to see and do here. Silicon Valley is truly a place for the tech hearted but there’s so much more to the area. The Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserves, for example, offer a real stark contrast to the tech with their cool waters, gorgeous scenery and tons of wildlife.
