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Great American road trips
As America's oldest highway marks its centenary, Chris Moss rounds up the options for a US fly-drive.

San Fran's cooler cousin
The alternative spirit is seeping across the bay to Oakland, a once down-at-heel city that's on the up, says Christian Koch.

Speed a factor in star's fiery crash
US police say speed was a factor in the crash which killed 'Fast & Furious' star Paul Walker and his companion north of Los Angeles yesterday.

Fast & Furious star killed in crash
Paul Walker, the star of the 'Fast & Furious movie series, has died in a car crash that killed one other person north of Los Angeles, his publicist said.

Napa Valley dining: Flavour fit for the gods
Jesse Mulligan experiences destination dining at its finest - and most expensive.

Top five things to do in Hollywood
Hollywood is the city of dreams and nightmares for many a wannabe actor seeking fame and fortune.

Five top rides at Disney's California Adventure Park
Disney fans are flocking to the amusement park in droves following its five-year, US$1.4 billion upgrade.

Huntington Beach: Surf City USA
Famed for its incredibly long pier, which surfers love surfing alongside, Huntington Beach has plenty to keep visitors entertained ...

Five top things to do in Santa Monica
The Pacific Coast sand stretches 5.6km between Venice Beach and Malibu and the well-heeled town of Santa Monica sits in the middle facing the best sunsets in California, writes Megan Singleton.

California: Five top Pacific Coast Highway stops
The drive from Los Angeles to San Francisco is only about six hours, but with so much to see on the way, you could make a week of it.

United States: On track in San Fran
A tour of San Francisco becomes a day of history lessons and surf stories when Duncan Gillies discovers his guide, musician Chuck Prophet, is a fellow surfer.

Five free things to do in the Napa Valley
Love the lush and lovely Napa Valley but hate how expensive it can be? You're not the first. Here are some tips to experience it on the cheap.

LA: The place death lives
Megan Singleton summons up the courage to enter the Museum of Death in LA, and ponders the Dark Tourism trend.

Death Valley's stark beauty
You can't breathe. Every breath is difficult. The sun is hot and burns your skin. Your throat needs water. This is Death Valley National Park in California, an easy drive barely two hours from Las Vegas.

Top 5 scary travel experiences
Not one for tracking down experiences that cause stomach-lurching adrenalin rushes? It might be time to doing something that makes your heart leap.

LA: Welcome to South Central
It's famous in hip-hop and notorious for gang violence. So naturally Sarah Gooding had some intimidating preconceptions when approaching South Central Los Angeles for the first stop of her USA adventure.

Top five rooftop bars in Los Angeles
When in LA, join the beautiful people and head to one of the many rooftop bars for a cheeky cocktail or two. Here are five that should be on your to-do list.

Sustainability reinventing the California Dream
Sustainability may be the biggest test for the Golden State, reports Peter Huck.

Springtime in Yosemite
Eveline Harvey is awed by the splendour of a world-renowned national park.

Yosemite National Park, California
Established in 1890, this national park in California's Sierra Nevada mountain range, was designated a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1984. Its spectacular waterfalls, extensive hiking trails and immense granite formations attract millions of visitors each year.

Mariposa County, California, USA
Mariposa, in central California, has in its boundaries the alpine wilderness of Yosemite National Park.

California: Yosemite bows to no man
Mariposa is holding its own against invading human industry, says Michael Dickison.

California's Pacific Coast Highway
This spectacular stretch of coastline is packed with great places to relax, rejuvenate and recharge your batteries.

Venice Beach, Los Angeles, USA
The nature of Los Angeles is revealed along this world-famous strip of coastline.

USA: Road trip in a mobile McMansion
Luxury RVs have all the trappings of penthouse suites, writes Marian Carroll, from marble benchtops to bronze fittings.

Mendocino, California
The stunning Pacific Coast scenery is enhanced by the surrounding bounty of beautiful food, outstanding wine, horse trekking and other activities in Northern California.

Tahoe: Big blue lake in the sky
Lake Tahoe offers mountain beauty paired with casino bustle, writes Pamela Wade.

California: Spanish lullaby
The USA's picturesque Highway 101 leads to one of the prettiest cities in the country.