California and the Southwest
When you think of California, you may think of cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles. Here, you will find crowded beaches and 'hipsters'. But it is so much more than that! This state is very diverse. The cities are well worth a visit, but the national parks and desert area that extends from California into the neighbouring states of Arizona, Utah, and Nevada are just as impressive.
Yosemite National Park, for example, is located a bit inland, between San Francisco and Los Angeles. An area with rocks, lakes, and waterfalls. Quite a contrast to the neighbouring Death Valley National Park, which especially impresses with its rocky dry plains and extreme heat. And just down the road, in the desert of the state of Nevada, the city of Las Vegas rises out of nowhere.
Las Vegas is a place like no other. The city is located in the Mojave Desert. Temperatures are therefore high, especially in July and August when the average temperature is 40 degrees Celsius. The evenings bring some relief and that is also when the city is at its most beautiful.