MENTION California and most people think of pampered celebrities living in luxury in Los Angeles or San Franciscans shivering in the summer fog.

Covering nearly 160,000sq miles, California is the third largest US state and boasts scenery and attractions for all tastes, whether you're looking for skiing and snowboarding in Lake Tahoe, a jaw-dropping hike through Yosemite National Park or a star-spotting night on the town in LA.

And with the exchange rate at almost two dollars to the pound now is the perfect time to travel to America's Golden State.

San Francisco, the city by the bay, has it all and is one of the few US cities where tourists and residents can survive easily without a car.

The comprehensive public transport system takes visitors from downtown Union Square - home to the most delicious cheesecake at The Cheesecake Factory - through Chinatown and the Italian district of North Beach to Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39 and Alcatraz before whisking you out to the steep and windy Lombard Street, blustery Ocean Beach or the hippy Haight Ashbury neighbourhood, whether you use the Muni buses and trains or the famous cable cars.

Golden Gate Park is a must with the peaceful Japanese Tea Garden, numerous lakes and open spaces perfect for trying out a spot of baseball or American football, as it spreads three miles west from Haight Ashbury to the Pacific Ocean.

And no trip to San Francisco would be complete without walking across the Golden Gate Bridge.

Painted international orange - with more than 5,000 gallons of paint used every year - and constructed between 1933 and 1937, the bridge connects the peninsula with Marin County and Northern California.

The brisk 1.2-mile walk takes about 30 minutes and provides stunning views of the city and the rocky island of Alcatraz, the former home to one of America's most dreaded high-security prisons, and whose most notorious inmates included Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly.

An hour's drive across the Golden Gate Bridge brings you to Napa Valley, home to some of California's - and America's - best wines.

With many wineries offering free tastings, there are more than 300 to choose from promising something to suit all tastes.

V Sattui is a family-owned winery with award-winning wines, including the Riesling and Gamay Rouge, and a fantastic array of cheeses and breads in the gourmet deli, allowing visitors to sample their wines and enjoy a picnic in the gardens.

Motorists travelling along the Pacific coast down Highway One from San Francisco to LA can take in the sheer cliffs and crashing waves of Big Sur, 90 miles of rocky coast south of Monterey Peninsula.

Los Angeles is the top destination for wannabe actors, writers and celebrities and visitors can walk in the footsteps of the already rich and famous.

Take a stroll down Hollywood Boulevard, complete with stars on the pavement dedicated to everyone from Kermit the Frog to Tom Cruise, and wander past the Chinese Theatre, once the place to hold all film premieres, alongside the Kodak Theatre now the current home to the Oscars.

Unless you have an unlimited budget, window shopping might be the only pastime in Beverly Hills, especially in the designer boutiques on Rodeo Drive, or you can admire the lavish homes in Bel Air.

Santa Monica and Malibu have little of the sprawling skyscrapers that adorn LA's downtown areas, boasting numerous restaurants and galleries, also proving to be a good place to do a bit of star spotting. A couple of hours' drive to San Diego and tourists can enjoy the famous San Diego Zoo and Seaworld attractions or hop across the border into Mexico.

For those wanting to get back to nature and escape city life, Yosemite National Park is the perfect retreat.

At seven miles long and one mile across, Yosemite is simply awe-inspiring with its three-thousand-foot-high cliffs, cascading waterfalls and endless hiking trails. A four-hour drive east from San Francisco, Yosemite Valley was created over thousands of years by glaciers melting and enlarging the Merced River.

The best time to visit is during the spring, when the waterfalls are full and most of the roads and trails have re-opened after the winter snow.

Avid rock climbers will want to test their skills on the sheer face of El Capitan, while walkers may want to trek to Bridalveil Falls, around Mirror Lake or to the top of Vernal and Nevada Falls.

Accommodation in the park needs to be booked in advance as space is limited but there is plenty to choose from, whether visitors want to enjoy the luxurious Ahwahnee Hotel, where the Queen once stayed, or brave the wild and sleep under canvas.

Whatever your itinerary, California offers something for everyone and the relaxed, easy-going lifestyle will ensure you have a holiday to remember.

Where to stay The fabulous five-star Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas (where the hit film Ocean's 11 was filmed) has rooms from $179 (around £90) per night during the week with prices rising for weekend breaks.

Offering fantastic views of San Francisco, the Westin St Francis on Union Square has rooms starting at $269 (£135) p/n.

Standard rooms at The Ahwahnee Hotel, Yosemite National Park, are between $350 and $500 (£175 to £250) per night with suites starting at $700 (£350) p/n.