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Official California Travel Guides

The 2024 California Visitor’s Guide: The Best of California is a testament to the Golden State’s playful spirit, featuring “58 Reasons Why California Is the Ultimate Playground” and scores of travel tips from passionate locals. Tourism industry businesses and DMOs are invited to  view online or order print publications at no cost .

In an exclusive interview with Zoey Deschanel, the actor, musician and mother of two recalls some of her fondest memories of growing up in California, while sharing insights about the state’s creative energy and reminiscing about the landscapes that still inspire her. The Golden State is also a wonderful place to visit for travelers of all interests, ages and abilities, as readers will discover in the guide’s diverse features. Highlights include:

"On Trend: California Aperitifs,” which features refreshing pre-dinner cocktails made with local produce  “Next-Level Glamping,” inviting readers to ditch the tent in exchange for soft-adventure getaways  “8 New Trails to Explore,” showcasing freshly constructed paths in California’s parks  “Sustainable Sips,” a guide to some of California’s eco-friendly wineries “Plan-Ahead Travel Guide,” where readers can learn how to score a spot at the state’s most coveted attractions  “6 Fabulous Film Locations,” a jet-setting guide from movie scout Lori Balton “Deep Thoughts at Séc-he,” highlighting the luxe pampering and cultural insights found in Palm Springs "Meet 9 California Ski Insiders,” featuring some of the snow experts who work at California’s iconic ski resorts "California Shopping: A to Z Guide,” a comprehensive guide to shopping throughout the Golden State

The 2024 California Visitor’s Guide: The Best of California also includes detailed information about the state’s 12 travel regions, including maps, listings, and four “Splurge vs. Save” charts that highlight experiences for every budget.

The free 500,000-circulation publication is available at California Welcome Centers, regional tourism offices, and online at VisitCalifornia.com/travel-guides . It will also be distributed in March with three Dotdash Meredith publications: Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine, and Real Simple.

Road Trips Guide & Map Bundled with the new Visitor's guide are two publications that inspire visitors to explore the state and extend their stays. Visitors looking to explore California’s open roads can also pick up the most recent California Road Trips Guide. The 60-page magazine features three-time NBA champion, dad and Napa Valley winery owner Dwyane Wade, who shares his favorite getaways around the Golden State. You’ll also find 13 fun-filled itineraries that start and end at different airports, making it super easy to focus your adventure in any region of the state.

The California Official State Map is yet another valuable resource for those looking to travel within the state. The foldout map is infused with editorial insights about noteworthy drives throughout the state and also lists mileage information, car rental options and California Welcome Center locations.

Order and view today.

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2023 California Visitor’s Guide Celebrates Diverse Offerings & Insider Travel Tips

Free 196-page guide features Jessica Alba on cover

• 2023 California Visitor’s Guide Celebrates Diverse Offerings & Insider Travel Tips Print
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Jan. 31, 2023) – The 2023 California Visitor’s Guide: The Best of California is now available, featuring 196 pages covering everything from family getaways and theme park snacks to snow adventures and the state’s many Native-led tourism experiences.

Just in time for National Plan for Vacation Day , celebrated annually on the last Tuesday of January, readers will discover travel tips from passionate locals, helpful maps and detailed information about each of the state’s 12 travel regions. “The diversity of voices, destinations and recommendations included in this free visitor’s guide is proof there is something for everyone to enjoy in California,” said Caroline Beteta, president & CEO of Visit California. “The Golden State celebrates the diversity of our culture, geography, cuisine and experiences, and this guide is full of inspiration to help you plan your next adventure.” A cover story with actress-entrepreneur Jessica Alba is a testament to California’s welcoming atmosphere and diverse offerings. Alba shares her favorite aspects of the state in an exclusive interview, noting “California has a way of inspiring people to reach for the stars.” The Honest Co. founder also discusses her upbringing, what prompted her to start an eco-friendly home goods business, and why she considers California a magical destination. Echoing the announcement of Visit Native California in September 2022, the publication opens with “Celebrate Native American Culture in California” – featuring cultural tourism experiences such as the new Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument in Santa Cruz County and the Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza opening in Palm Springs. Other issue highlights in the 2023 California Visitor’s Guide: The Best of California include:

• “All-Access Family Getaways,” a mom-led article celebrating how today’s families come in all shapes, sizes and capabilities.
• “33 Amazing (and Free!) Things to Do,” a six-page feature revealing zero-cost activities across the state – such as stargazing at Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, or an up-close encounter with elephant seals along the Central Coast.
• “California State Parks: An A-to-Z Guide” features a remote beach that appears to be covered with bowling balls; a photogenic ghost town that includes nearly 200 abandoned buildings; a lava springs site that you can only access via boat; a slot canyon you need to squeeze through; and numerous places to rock climb, kayak, hike and more.
• “5 California Snow Adventures” unveils custom itineraries for various types of powderlovers.
• “Golden Age” is a feature showcasing California’s position as a premier destination for craft beer fans.

The issue closes with “The Road Ahead,” a reminder that California is the ultimate road trip destination – and with more than 79,000 electric charging stations, the Golden State is leading the country in this mode of sustainable transportation. The free 500,000-circulation guide, as well as the new 2023 Official State Map, is available at California Welcome Centers, regional tourist offices and online at visitcalifornia.com/travel-guides . ### ABOUT VISIT CALIFORNIA: Visit California is a nonprofit organization with a mission to develop and maintain marketing programs – in partnership with the state’s travel industry – that keep California top-of-mind as a premier travel destination. For more information about Visit California and for a free California Official State Visitor's Guide, go to visitcalifornia.com . For story ideas, media information, downloadable images, video and more, go to media.visitcalifornia.com .

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Visit california & kind traveler launch regenerative tourism program to empower travelers to give back to communities across the golden state, california invites visitors to explore major new attractions and openings in 2023.

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Publicized and idealized all over the world, California has a formidable reputation as a terrestrial paradise of sun, sand and surf, also boasting fast-paced, glitzy cities, primeval old-growth forests and vast stretches of deserts. While it’s been the source of some of the country’s most progressive movements, from the protests of the Sixties to modern environmentalist, civil rights and various reform activities, its economy has only just started to recover from the 2008–12 state budget crisis, bankruptcy narrowly avoided. Nonetheless, California’s GDP remains bigger than that of most European countries, and regardless of its economic ups and downs, the “Golden State” retains an unbreakable grip on the world’s imagination, thanks in large part to Hollywood.

Brief history

Bakersfield and the san joaquin valley, the bay area, california climates, the central coast.

• California's Deserts

The Gold Country

Northern coast california.

• California's Northern Interior

Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks

Sierra national forest, the wine country, yosemite national park.

California is far too large to be fully explored in a single trip – much will depend on what you’re looking for. Los Angeles is easily the biggest and most stimulating city: a maddening collection of diverse neighbourhoods, from the Mexican and Japanese enclaves downtown and family fun of Disneyland to the glitz of Beverly Hills and craziness of Venice Beach, knitted together by miles of traffic-clogged freeways. To the south, the more conservative metropolis of San Diego has broad, welcoming beaches, great food (featuring delicious tacos considering its proximity to Mexico) and a renowned zoo, while further inland, the deserts, most notably Death Valley, make up a barren and inhospitable landscape of volcanic craters and saltpans that in summer becomes the hottest place on earth. Heading north, the central coast is a gorgeous run that takes in lively small towns such as Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz.

California’s second city, San Francisco, is a European-styled jewel whose wooden Victorian houses and steep hills make it one of the world’s most distinctive and appealing cities. To the east, mesmerizing national parks include Yosemite, where waterfalls cascade into a sheer glacial valley, and Sequoia/Kings Canyon with its gigantic trees, as well as the ghost towns of the Gold Country. North of San Francisco the countryside becomes wilder, wetter and greener, peppered with volcanic tablelands and verdant mountains.

Every trip to California is unique and that's why it's essential to stay protected. With our go-to travel insurance provider, Heymondo , you get great value and 24/7 support wherever you are.

As you might expect, a car is necessary for exploring much of California (see our feature on the best California road trip routes). A city such as Los Angeles couldn’t exist without the automobile, and in any case driving down the coastal freeways in a sleek convertible is too much fun to resist. And if you plan to do any long-distance cycling, travelling from north to south can make all the difference – the wind blows this way in the summer, and the ocean side of the road offers the best views.

Spaniard Juan Cabrillo first sighted San Diego harbour in 1542, naming it California after an imaginary island from a Spanish novel, but in 1602 Sebastián Vizcáino bestowed most of the place names that still survive; his exaggerated description of Monterey as a perfect harbour led later Spanish colonizers to make it the region’s military and administrative centre. Father Junípero Serra first established a small Catholic mission and presidio (fort) at San Diego, and by 1804 a chain of 21 missions, each a long day’s walk from the next along the dirt path of El Camino Real (The Royal Road), ran from San Diego to San Francisco. Native Americans were either forcibly converted to Catholicism or executed, with disease killing off those who managed to survive the Spanish onslaught.

Mexico gained its independence in 1821, taking control of California, but Americans were already starting to arrive, despite the immense difficulty of getting to the Mexican state – three months by sea or four months by covered wagon. The growing belief that it was the Manifest Destiny of the United States to cover the continent from coast to coast, evident in the imperialist policies of President James K. Polk, soon led to the brief Mexican-American War. By January 1847 the Americans controlled the entire West Coast, and Spanish-speaking Californios were gradually marginalized. In 1850 California became the 31st state.

The Gold Rush of 1849 made not just California, but insured that the American West would be colonized in a matter of decades. A mere nine days before the signing of the treaty that ended the Mexican-American war, flakes of gold were discovered in the Sierra Nevada, leading to a rush of prospectors from all parts of the world. It took just fifteen years to pick the land clean of visible gold, and the transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869, linking the gold fields to the rest of the USA. Due to cut-rate rail prices and the lure of a dry, toasty climate and bountiful citrus groves, hordes of newcomers came from the Great Plains to Southern California and helped make Los Angeles the state’s biggest city. Thanks to this migration, along with periodic real-estate booms and the rise of the film industry, California became the nation’s fastest-growing state. Heavy industry followed during World War II, in the form of shipyards and aeroplane factories.

As home to the Beats in the 1950s and the hippies in the 1960s, California was at the leading edge of global cultural change. The economic counterpart of this shift also developed when Proposition 13, in 1978, augured a national trend to dramatically cut taxes at the cost of government solvency (not resolved until the passage of Proposition 30 in 2012 signalled a dramatic reversal). The 1980s saw further right-wing gains, with a string of laissez-faire Republican governors, and the 1990s crash-landed in economic scandal, a depressed housing market, rising unemployment, gang violence and race riots in LA – compounded by earthquakes, drought and flooding.

Some of the glow has further come off the golden state in the twenty-first century, but countless new migrants – many from Latin America – continue to arrive. One of these immigrants, Austrian Arnold Schwarzenegger, had the good fortune to become a well-paid action movie hero before taking his place as 38th California governor, and the misfortune to rule during the recent, severe economic recession, which helped weaken the state’s economy and pop the unemployment rate above twelve percent. By 2013 the Democrats had a majority in both houses of the state legislature, and Jerry Brown, the Democratic governor who replaced Schwarzenegger in 2011, signed a balanced budget for the state, its first in years, ushering in what Californians hope will be the beginning of a sustained recovery.

The vast interior of California is split down the middle by the Sierra Nevada (Spanish for “snowy range”), or High Sierra, a sawtooth range of snow-capped peaks that stands high above the semi-desert of the Owens Valley. The wide San Joaquin Valley in the west was made fertile by irrigation projects during the 1940s, and is now almost totally agricultural.

The flat, colourless oil town of BAKERSFIELD is the unlikely home of the country’s largest community of Basque descent, and one of the liveliest country music scenes in the nation. During the late 1950s and 1960s it become known for its distinctive “Bakersfield Sound”, a far less slick and commercial affair than its Nashville, Tennessee counterpart, epitomized by the gutsy honky-tonk of local artists such as Merle Haggard and Buck Owens. Even today the city serves as something of an alternative to the glossy country pop coming from Tennessee, and Bakersfield’s honky-tonks are jumping every weekend night, when Stetson hats and fringy shirts are the required apparel and audiences span generations.

Of the nearly seven million people who live in the vicinity of San Francisco, only one in eight lives in the city itself. Everyone else is spread around the Bay Area, a sharply contrasting patchwork of mostly rich and some poor towns dotted down the peninsula or across one of the three impressive bridges that span the chilly waters of the exquisite natural harbour. In the East Bay are hard-working Oakland and intellectual Berkeley, while south of the city, the Peninsula holds the gloating wealth of Silicon Valley. To the north across the Golden Gate Bridge is the woody, leafy landscape and rugged coastline of Marin County, a combination of ostentatious luxury and copious natural beauty.

Berkley (named after the English philosopher-theologian George Berkeley) is dominated by the University of California, one of America’s most famous places of learning, especially known for progressive politics. The very name of Berkeley conjures up images of dissent and it remains a solidly left-wing oasis, although today the campus prides itself on its high academic rankings and Nobel-laureate-laden faculty. Sproul Plaza, in front of the school’s entranceway, Sather Gate, is where the Free Speech Movement began. Stroll the campus’s tree-shaded pathways or join the free student-led tours that leave from the elegant Campanile (Mon–Sat 10am, Sun 1pm).

The campus’s grand buildings and thirty thousand students give off an energy that spills south down raucous Telegraph Avenue, where dishevelled vendors peddle rainbow bracelets in front of vegetarian restaurants, pizza joints and book- and music stores. Just off it is the now-quiet People’s Park, a site of almost-daily pitched battles between protestors and police in the Sixties and early Seventies, part of the revolt against the Vietnam War.

Older academics congregate in Northside, popping down from their woodsy hillside homes to partake of goodies from Gourmet Ghetto – the restaurants, delis and bakeries on Shattuck Avenue, including the renowned Chez Panisse (see p.897). North of here, on the hills, Tilden Regional Park has good trails and a fine rose garden. Along the bay itself, at the Berkeley Marina, you can rent windsurfing boards and sailboats, or just watch the sun set behind the Golden Gate.

Marin County

Across the Golden Gate from San Francisco, Marin County is an unabashed introduction to Californian self-indulgence in wonderful natural surroundings: a pleasure zone of conspicuous luxury and abundant natural beauty, with sunshine or fog, sandy beaches, high mountains and thick redwood forests. Though in the past the region served as logging headquarters, the county is now one of the wealthiest in the USA, attracting young professionals to its swanky waterside towns.

Burt Bacharach could easily find SAN JOSE today by heading south from San Francisco and following the heat and smog that collects below the Bay. Although one of the fastest-growing cities in California, it is not strong on identity – though in area and population it’s close to twice the size of San Francisco. Sitting at the southern end of the peninsula, San Jose has over the last three decades emerged as the civic heart of Silicon Valley. Ironically, it’s also acknowledged as the first city in California, though the only sign of this is the unremarkable eighteenth-century Mission Santa Clara de Asis, on the pleasant campus of the Jesuit-run Santa Clara University.

The area’s most famous landmark is the relentlessly hyped Winchester Mystery House, 525 S Winchester Blvd, just off I-280 near Hwy-17, a folly of a mansion built by Sarah Winchester, heiress to the Winchester rifle fortune following her husband’s death in 1884, to appease the spirits of those killed with the weapons. The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, 1660 Park Ave, houses a brilliant collection of Assyrian and Babylonian artefacts, while the revamped Tech Museum of Innovation, downtown at 201 S Market St, contains hands-on displays of high-tech engineering as well as an IMAX theatre.

Sports in the San Francisco Bay Area

The Oakland Athletics play at the usually sunny Oakland Coliseum (T510 638 4900, W), which has its own BART station. The San Francisco Giants play at gleaming AT&T Park, where home runs sometimes land in the bay.

By the time you read this, the resurgent San Francisco 49ers will have relocated to Santa Clara in the South Bay, where you may have to pay around $100 per seat. The struggling Oakland Raiders share the Oakland Coliseum (Wraiders.com) with the Athletics.

The Golden State Warriors play at Oracle Arena in Oakland, next door to the Oakland Coliseum.

The formidable San Jose Sharks play at the SAP Center in San Jose.

The San Jose Earthquakes, draw respectable crowds at collegiate Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara.

The climate in southern California features seemingly endless days of sunshine and warm, dry nights, with occasional bouts of winter flooding. Coastal mornings can be hazy or overcast, especially in May and June. In San Francisco it can be chilly all year, and fog rolls in to spoil many a sunny day, though you can expect extreme variations in the Bay Area as a whole (you’ll soon see why the locals talk about “microclimates” around here). Much more so than in the south, winter in northern California can bring rain for weeks on end. Most hiking trails in the mountains are blocked between October and June by the snow that keeps California’s ski slopes among the busiest in the nation.

Between Los Angeles and San Francisco, the four hundred or so miles of the Central Coast are home to a few modestly sized cities and lined by clean, sandy beaches and dramatic stretches of cliffs and capes. Of the various highlights, Big Sur is one of the most rugged and beautiful stretches of coastline in the world, Santa Barbara is a wealthy resort full of old and new money, and Santa Cruz is a coastal town with multiple identities. In between, languorous San Luis Obispo makes a good base for visiting Hearst Castle, the hilltop palace of publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst. Almost all of the towns grew up around the original Spanish Catholic missions, many of which feature their original architecture – Monterey, 120 miles south of San Francisco, was California’s capital under Spain and Mexico, and briefly the state capital in 1850.

While not an official geographical designation, wild and craggy BIG SUR is the de facto regional name for the ninety miles of rocky cliffs and crashing seas along the California coast between Hearst Castle and the Monterey Peninsula; the breathtakingly unspoilt area extends inland for about twenty miles, well into the Santa Lucia Mountains. Running through this striking terrain is exhilarating Hwy-1, carved out of bedrock cliffs hundreds of feet above the frothing ocean and opened in 1937. Resist the temptation to bust through Big Sur in a single day, though; the best way to enjoy its perfect isolation and beauty is slowly. Leave the car behind as often as you can and wander through its numerous parks, where a mere ten-minute walk can completely remove you from any hint of the built environment.

Santa Barbara

Beautifully sited on gently sloping hills above the Pacific Ocean, SANTA BARBARA’s low-slung Spanish Revival buildings feature red-tiled roofs and white stucco walls, while its wide, golden beaches are lined by palm trees along a curving bay. State Street, the main drag, is home to an appealing assortment of diners, bookshops, coffeehouses and nightclubs.

The quintessential California beach town, SANTA CRUZ, 75 miles south of San Francisco, is sited at the foot of thickly wooded mountains beside clean, sandy beaches. Its strong hippie vibe and university-town status provides a sharp contrast to the upscale resort sophistication of Monterey Peninsula across the bay.

California's Deserts

The hot and forbidding landscape of California’s deserts exerts a powerful fascination for adventurous travellers. The two distinct regions are the Low Desert in the south, the most easily reached from LA, containing the opulent oasis of Palm Springs and the primeval expanse of Joshua Tree National Park; and the Mojave or High Desert, dominated by Death Valley and stretching along Hwy-395 to the sparsely populated Owens Valley, infamous as the place from which LA stole its water a hundred years ago.

It is impossible to do justice to this area without a car. Palm Springs can be reached on public transport from LA, but only the periphery of Joshua Tree is accessible and it’s a long hot walk to anywhere worth seeing. You can get as far as dreary Barstow on Greyhound and Amtrak, but no transport traverses Death Valley, understandably so in the summer.

Since 1999 the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (commonly known simply as “Coachella”), has been held across several stages at the Empire Polo Club south of downtown Indio at 81-800 Ave 51 (25 miles southeast of Palm Springs). The massive three-day rock and alternative music festival is packed with big-name artists and is wildly popular, despite the high cost of attending. The Stagecoach Festival (stagecoachfestival.com) is the outdoor country music festival “cousin” of Coachella, typically taking place one week later at the same venue.

Death Valley National Park

DEATH VALLEY – famously known as the hottest place on earth – is a place where sculpted rock layers form deeply shadowed, eroded crevices at the foot of silhouetted hills, their exotic minerals turning ancient mud flats into rainbows of sunlit iridescence. Throughout the summer, the temperature averages 112°F and the hot ground can reach near boiling. Better to come in spring, when wild flowers are in bloom and it’s generally mild and dry. The central north–south valley contains two main outposts, Stovepipe Wells and Furnace Creek, site of the visitor centre.

Dante’s View, 21 miles south on CA-190 and ten miles along a very steep access road, offers a fine morning vista in which the pink-and-gold Panamint Mountains are highlighted by the rising sun. Near Stovepipe Wells, some thirty miles northwest of Furnace Creek, spread fifteen rippled and contoured square miles of ever-changing sand dunes. The most popular sight, though, is the surreal Scotty’s Castle, forty miles north of Stovepipe Wells, built in the 1920s as a luxury desert retreat; tours take in the decorative wooden ceilings, indoor waterfalls and a remote-controlled player piano.

When travelling through this shadeless, desiccated area, be careful about heading out in the middle of the day (when the danger of heatstroke is at its worst), and always carry plenty of water for both car and body.

Joshua Tree National Park

Covering a vast area where the high Mojave meets the lower Colorado Desert, JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK is one of the most magical and intriguing of California’s national parks. Almost 1250 square miles have been set aside for the park’s ragged and gnarled namesakes, which aren’t trees at all, but a type of yucca, similar to an agave. Named by Mormons in the 1850s, who saw in their craggy branches the arms of Joshua pointing to the promised land, Joshua trees can rise up to 40ft tall, and somehow manage to flourish despite the extreme aridity and rocky soil.

This unearthly landscape is ethereal at sunrise or sunset, when the desert floor is bathed in red light; at noon it can be a furnace, with temperatures topping 125°F in summer. Still, the park attracts campers, day-trippers and rock-climbers for its unspoiled beauty, gold-mine ruins, ancient petroglyphs and striking rock formations.

A visit to Keys Ranch (reservations recommended on 760 367 5555) provides a testament to the difficulty of making a life in such a difficult environment, but if you’d rather wander around the national park by yourself, there are many options: one of the easiest hikes (3 miles, foot-travel only) starts one and a half miles from Canyon Road, six miles from the Twentynine Palms visitor centre, at 49 Palms Oasis. West of the oasis, quartz boulders tower around the Indian Cove campground; a trail from the eastern branch of the campground road heads to Rattlesnake Canyon, where, after rainfall, the streams and waterfalls break an otherwise eerie silence among the monoliths.

Moving south into the main body of the park brings you to the Wonderland of Rocks, which features rounded granite boulders that draw rock-climbers from around the world. One fascinating trail climbs four miles past abandoned mines to the antiquated foundations and equipment of Lost Horse Mine, which produced around five million dollar’s worth of gold and silver between 1894 and 1931 (in today’s money). You can find a brilliant desert panorama of badlands and mountains at the 5185ft Keys View nearby, from where Geology Tour Road leads down to the east through the best of Joshua Tree’s rock formations and, further on, to the Cholla Cactus Garden, a quarter-mile loop through an astonishing concentration of the “jumping” cholla cactus.

The vitreous blue expanse of Mono Lake sits in the midst of a volcanic desert tableland in the eastern shadow of Yosemite National Park. This science-fiction landscape holds two large islands – one light-coloured (Paoha), the other black (Negit) – surrounded by salty, alkaline water. Strange sandcastle-like formations of tufa – calcium deposited from springs – were exposed after Los Angeles extended an aqueduct carrying water diverted from the lake’s feeder streams into the Mono Basin through an eleven-mile tunnel. Mono Lake is the primary nesting ground for the state’s California gull population – twenty percent of the world’s total – and a prime stopover for hundreds of thousands of grebes and phalaropes.

Around 150 years before techies from all over the world rushed to California in search of Silicon gold, rough-and-ready “forty-niners” invaded the GOLD COUNTRY of the Sierra Nevada, about 150 miles east of San Francisco, in search of the real thing. The area ranges from the foothills near Yosemite to the deep gorge of the Yuba River two hundred miles north, with Sacramento as its largest city. Many of the mining camps that sprang up around the Gold Country vanished as quickly as they appeared, but about half still survive. Some are bustling resorts, standing on the banks of whitewater rivers in the midst of thick pine forests; others are just eerie ghost towns, all but abandoned on the grassy rolling hills. Most of the mountainous forests along the Sierra crest are preserved as near-pristine wilderness, with excellent hiking and camping. There’s also great skiing in winter, around the mountainous rim of Lake Tahoe on the border between California and Nevada.

One of the highest, deepest, cleanest and coldest lakes in the world, Lake Tahoe is perched high above the Gold Country in an alpine bowl of forested granite peaks. Longer than the English Channel is wide, and more than 1000ft deep, it’s so cold that perfectly preserved cowboys who drowned more than a century ago have been recovered from its depths. The lake straddles the Nevada state line as well and lures weekenders with sunny beaches in the summer, snow-covered slopes in the winter and bustling casinos year-round.

Lake Tahoe skiing

Lake Tahoe rivals the Rocky Mountains in offering some of the best downhill skiing and snowboarding in North America. Although skiing is not cheap – lift passes can cost well over $60/day and ski/snowboard rental $30–35 – most resorts offer decent-value pass/rental/lesson packages or multiday discounts, especially if booked in advance online. Cross-country skiing is also popular, with rentals around $20 and trail passes in the region of $15–30.

Downhill skiing

Reachable by shuttle from Southshore, 2 miles from the casinos, or via the gondola on Hwy-50, next to the state line 775 586 7000, skiheavenly.com. Prime location and sheer scale (85 runs and 29 lifts) make this one of the lake’s most frequented resorts, and it also offers the highest vertical skiing served by a lift in the area.

Squaw Valley USA

Squaw Valley Rd, halfway between Truckee and Tahoe City 530 583 6955, squaw.com. Thirty-three lifts service more than 4000 acres of unbeatable terrain at the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics. Non-skiers can take the cable lift and use the ice-skating/swimming pool complex for the day.

Cross-country skiing

Royal gorge.

Soda Springs, 10 miles west of Truckee 530 426 3871, royalgorge.com. The largest and best of Tahoe’s cross-country resorts has 204 miles of groomed trails.

Spooner Lake

Nevada, at the intersection of Hwy-50 and Hwy-28 775 749 5349, spoonerlake.com. The closest cross-country resort to South Lake Tahoe has lake views and 63 miles of groomed trails.

The fog-bound towns and windswept, craggy beaches of the northern coast that stretches all the way to the Oregon border is better suited for hiking and camping than sunbathing, with cool temperatures year-round and a huge network of national, state and regional parks preserving magnificent redwoods, the tallest and among the oldest trees on earth.

Bigfoot Country

Willow Creek, forty miles east of Arcata, is the self-proclaimed gateway to “Bigfoot Country”. Reports of giant 350- to 800-pound humanoids wandering the forests of northwestern California have circulated since the late nineteenth century, fuelled by long-established Native American legends, but weren’t taken seriously until 1958, when a road maintenance crew found giant footprints. Thanks to their photos, the Bigfoot story went worldwide. However, in 2002, the bereaved family of Ray L. Wallace claimed he made the 1958 footprints, a hoax they had promised to keep secret until after his death. But the number and variety of prints (more than forty, since 1958) still points to a Bigfoot mystery, and the small Willow Creek-China Flat Museum (bigfootcountry.net) in Willow Creek has details of Bigfoot’s alleged activities, as well as local Native American artefacts.

California's Northern Interior

The remote northern interior of California, cut off from the coast by the Shasta Cascade range and dominated by forests, lakes and mountains, is largely uninhabited. I-5 leads through the heart of this near-wilderness, forging straight through the unspectacular farmland of Sacramento Valley to Redding – the region’s only buses follow this route. Redding makes a good base for the Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity area and the more demanding Lassen Volcanic National Park. Mountaineers and the spiritually minded flock to Mount Shasta, which is close enough to the volcanic Lava Beds at the very northeastern tip of the state for them to be a long but feasible day’s car trip.

Relatively free from smog and overbuilt freeways, SAN DIEGO is the second most populous city in California – affluent and libertarian, but also easy-going and friendly. In 1769 it was the site of the first Spanish mission in California, but the city only really took off with the arrival of the Santa Fe Railroad in the 1880s. During World War II the US Navy made San Diego its Pacific Command Center, but since the end of the Cold War the military sector had reduced dramatically; San Diego has since become a biotech industry hub and is home to telecommunications giant Qualcomm, founded here in 1985. However, it is San Diego’s reputation as an ocean-oriented “resort city” that provides much of its current appeal, its long white beaches, sunny weather and bronzed bodies giving rise to the city’s well-deserved nickname, “Sandy Ego”.

Balboa Park

Less than two miles northeast of downtown, sumptuous Balboa Park is one of the largest museum enclaves in the USA, as well as a delight for its landscaping, traffic-free promenades, and stately Spanish Colonial-style buildings. Near the centre, the Spreckels Organ Pavilion (concerts Sun 2–3pm; free; Wsosorgan.com) is worth a look as the home of one of the world’s largest organs, with some 4500 pipes. Most of the major museums flank El Prado, the pedestrian-oriented road that bisects the park.

Automotive Museum

Classic motorcycles and cars, among them a 1948 Tucker Torpedo – one of only fifty left.

Museum of Man

Huge anthropological museum containing Maya and Native American artefacts and Egyptian relics.

Natural History Museum

1788 El Prado. Fabulous collection of fossils, hands-on displays of minerals and exhibits on dinosaurs and crocodiles.

Reuben H. Fleet Science Center

1875 El Prado. Vast child-oriented museum of science-lite amusements with an IMAX theatre.

San Diego Museum of Art

Containing a solid stock of European paintings, from the Renaissance to the nineteenth century; highlights includeHals and Rembrandt.

Timkin Museum of Art

Gallery containing a stirring collection of Russian icons and paintings including Rembrandt’s Saint Bartholomew, Jacques-Louis David’s portrait of Cooper Penrose and Cranberry Harvest, a masterpiece by Eastman Johnson.

Mission Beach and Pacific Beach

The biggest-name public beaches in San Diego are Mission Beach, the peninsula that separates Mission Bay from the ocean, and its northern extension, Pacific Beach – nightlife central for coastal San Diego. Enjoy nursing a beer at one of the many beachfront bars, or rollerblade or bike down Ocean Front Walk, the concrete boardwalk running the length of both beaches. A mile north of Pacific Beach’s Crystal Pier, Tourmaline Surfing Park, La Jolla Boulevard at Tourmaline Street, is reserved exclusively for the sport, as well as windsurfing – but no swimmers are allowed. If you don’t have a board, a good alternative is a few miles north at Windansea Beach, a favourite surfing hot spot that’s also fine for swimming and hiking alongside the oceanside rocks and reefs.

San Diego’s gourmet food trucks

Don’t leave San Diego without sampling the city’s dynamic food truck scene; these ain’t your average kebab vans. Always check Twitter feeds (listed on the websites) for the latest locations, times and menus (see also sdfoodtrucks.com).

Devilicious deviliciousfoodtruck.com. Already a San Diego institution, with its signature butter-poached lobster grilled cheese sandwich a real treat.

Miho Gastrotruck mihogastrotruck.com. Top-quality farm-to-table truck, with an ever-changing menu that might feature Californian salmon tacos and fried chicken with biscuits.

Super Q Food Truck superqfoodtruck.com. Hickory-smoked BBQ comes to San Diego; magnificent brisket, pulled pork and crispy sweet potato fries.

Tabe BBQ tabebbq.com. Some of the best Asian-fusion street food in the whole country: think char-grilled pork or beef marinated in a traditional, spicy Korean sauce.

San Diego Zoo

Easily one of the city’s biggest and best-known attractions, San Diego Zoo lies immediately north of the main museums in Balboa Park and is generally regarded as the country’s premier zoo. It’s an enormous place, and you can easily spend a full day or more here, checking out major sections devoted to the likes of chimps and gorillas, sun and polar bears, lizards and lions, and flamingos and pelicans. There’s also a children’s zoo, with walk-through birdcages and an animal nursery, and the Koalafornia Adventure, highlighting Australian animals, added in 2013. Take a guided bus tour early on to get an idea of the layout, or survey the scene on the vertiginous Skyfari, an overhead tramway. Bear in mind that the zoo’s beloved giant pandas Bai Yun, Gao Gao and their offspring spend a lot of time sleeping or being prodded by biologists in the park’s Giant Panda Research Station. If you have access to a car you might want to consider visiting the associated San Diego Safari Park at Escondido (35 miles north) – combo tickets are available.

The southernmost of the Sierra Nevada national parks are Sequoia and Kings Canyon. As you might expect, Sequoia National Park contains the thickest concentration – and the biggest specimens – of giant sequoia trees found anywhere, something that tends to overshadow its assortment of meadows, peaks, canyons and caves. Kings Canyon National Park has comparatively few big trees, but compensates with a gaping canyon gored out of the rock by the Kings River as it cascades down from the High Sierra.

Sierra National Forest, sited between Kings Canyon and Yosemite national parks, offers a chance to hike and camp in near-complete solitude. Planning is essential, though – public transport is nonexistent, and roads and trails can often close due to bad weather.

The popular Shaver Lake and Huntington Lake area, rich in campgrounds, soon give way to the isolated alpine landscapes beyond 9200ft Kaiser Pass. The sheer challenge posed by the rugged, unspoiled terrain of adjoining John Muir Wilderness can make the national parks look like holiday camps, though the area can get surprisingly busy (for a wilderness) in the summer. You can bathe outdoors at nearby Mono Hot Springs, or head for Mono Hot Springs Resort, near Edison Lake, which has indoor mineral baths along with primitive cabins.

The warm and sunny hills of Napa and Sonoma valleys, which run almost parallel to each other an hour north of San Francisco, are by reputation at the centre of the American wine industry. In truth, less than five percent of California’s wine comes from the region, but what it does produce is America’s best. In summer, cars jam the main arteries as visitors embark on a day’s hectic tasting.

Napa Valley wineries

Almost all of Napa Valley’s wineries offer tastings, though not all have tours. There are more than three hundred wineries in all, producing wines of a very high standard, so your taste should ultimately determine the ones you visit.

Beringer Vineyards

Napa Valley’s most famous piece of architecture, the gothic “Rhine House”, modelled on the ancestral Rhine Valley home of Jacob Beringer, graces the cover of many a wine magazine. Expansive lawns and a grand tasting room, heavy on dark wood, make for a regal experience. Tasting $20, tour $30.

Chateau Montelena

Smaller but highly rated winery, nestled below Mount St Helena. The Cabernet Sauvignon in particular is acquiring a fine reputation. Tasting $20, tour $30.

Clos Pégase

A flamboyant upstart at the north end of the valley, this high-profile winery amalgamates fine wine and fine art, with a sculpture garden around buildings designed by postmodern architect Michael Graves. Tasting $15.

Goosecross Cellars

It’s well worth taking time to locate this friendly family-run winery, tucked away off Yountville Cross Rd. Crush-time is fun and its Chardonnay especially good. Tasting $20, tours by appointment ($30).

Sonoma Valley wineries

Nearly fifty wineries are scattered across the Sonoma Valley but there’s a good concentration in a well-signposted group a mile east of Sonoma Plaza, down East Napa Street. Some are within walking distance but often along quirky back roads, so take a winery map from the tourist office and follow the signs closely.

Bartholomew Park Winery

This lavish Spanish Colonial building is surrounded by some great topiary in the gardens and extensive vineyards. The wines are relatively inexpensive vintages that appeal to the pocket and palate alike. There’s a good little regional history museum, too, that also provides an introduction to local viticulture. Tasting $10.

Benziger Family Winery

Beautiful vineyard perched on the side of an extinct volcano next to Jack London State Park. There are five or six daily tram tours through the fields ($15) with

an emphasis on viticulture, or a self-guided tour introducing trellis techniques. Tasting $10–20; tour $40. Daily 10am–5pm. Tours 11.15am, 12.45pm & 2.15pm.

Buena Vista Carneros

Oldest and grandest of the wineries, founded in 1857, whose wine has re-established a good reputation after some slim years. The tasting room, a restored state historical landmark, features a small art gallery. Tasting $10 including glass, tours from $30.

Noted for its “gutsy, unapologetic” Zinfandel and advertising a “no wimpy” approach to the wine business, this unpreten­tious winery is particularly friendly and easy-going. Well-known to locals for its summer BBQs. Tasting $15, tour $15.

Put simply, Yosemite Valley, nestled in YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, and created by glaciers gouging through the canyon of the Merced River, is one of the world’s most dramatic geological spectacles. Just seven miles long and less than one mile across, it’s walled by 3000ft near-vertical cliffs, streaked by tumbling waterfalls and topped by domes and pinnacles that form a jagged silhouette against the sky. At ground level, grassy meadows are framed by oak, cedar and fir trees; deer, coyotes and black bears abound. You can visit any time of year – even in winter when the waterfalls ice over and most trails are blocked by snow.

In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln signed into law the landmark Yosemite Grant, which set aside Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove for public use and preservation. In 1890, Yosemite became the third national park in the USA, thanks in great part to the campaigning work of naturalist John Muir, a Scottish immigrant who spearheaded the conservation movement that led to the founding of the Sierra Club.

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"California is a dream destination, from star-gazing in LA and sipping world-class wines in Napa, to marvelling at the national parks, and even diving into Disneyland, the happiest place on earth."

Travel Director

Take a city tour of San Francisco

San Francisco is one of the most incredible destinations in California, and we’ll take you on a sightseeing tour of all the highlights from the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and the scenic Fisherman’s Wharf dotted with sea lions, to the bustling Union Square, the gorgeous 1,500-acre Presidio Park and the historic neighborhoods like North Beach and Chinatown.

See the quaint Carmel-by-the-Sea

This charming Monterey city is a little slice of heaven, famed for being dog-friendly and home to an inspiring community of artists. With over half of the residents once devoted to the arts (Clint Eastwood was the town’s Mayor!), you’ll find writers, poets, actors and musicians at every turn as you stroll down Ocean Avenue lined with cafés, boutiques and galleries.

Take a scenic drive through Napa Wine Country

As one of the world’s most famous wine regions, you’ll love driving through the beautiful hillside vineyards and countryside scenery of Napa Valley. We’ll even stop at a local winery to explore their stunning vineyards, learn all about the process of winemaking, and of course, enjoy a tasting of the finest Napa Valley wines.

Visit Yosemite National Park

California is renowned for its spectacular national parks and Yosemite is the jewel in its crown. This UNESCO-listed park is packed with wonders, from cascading waterfalls, blooming meadows and emerald valleys, to the iconic El Capitan, glowing in the setting sun. We’ll even stay overnight in a cosy lodge just a stone’s throw from Yosemite Falls.

Discover 'The Salad Bowl of the World' in Salinas Valley

You’ll dive into the world's salad bowl with a Local Specialist, as you take a private farm tour to learn all about the advanced farming techniques and fruit and vegetable production in the incredible Salinas Valley. Admire the lush crops, discover the fascinating history of the valley, and taste some fresh produce for yourself.

Our top 5 things to do in California

There are so many incredible places to visit in California and we’ll show you the very best of the state, from the Golden Gate Bridge to Salinas Valley.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art

As the largest art museum in the western United States, the LACMA is not to be missed. Over a million visitors wander the halls every year, marvelling at the diverse collections, including Asian art, Islamic art and Latin American art, with pre-Columbian masterpieces and contemporary works from the likes of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.

Autry Museum of the American West

The glory days of the Wild West may be over, but they live on in the Autry Museum in Los Angeles. You’ll discover over half a million artworks and artefacts from the American frontier, ranging from Western film memorabilia and a replica movie set of an Old Western town, to Annie Oakley’s engraved golden pistols, and a mahogany saloon with a roulette wheel.

California Science Center

Located in Los Angeles, the California Science Center is one of the most hands-on museums you’ll find in the country. From the world’s largest display of Lego art and the space shuttle Endeavour, to a 7-storey IMAX theater, high-wire bicycle, climbing wall, earthquake simulator, and a virtual reality exhibit, this museum is hours of fun.

Best museums in California

Our California tour packages will show you where to find the most fascinating museums in the state, from amazing aquariums to the story of the American West.

Avocado Toast

If you love avocados, you’ve got to visit California. These creamy green delights have been mashed, sliced and spread on toast in California for over a century, and it’s only in the last few decades that this trendy dish really took off around the world. Just ask your California guide where to find the very best avocado toast and lose yourself in avocado heaven.

Hailed as the signature dish of San Francisco, this seafood stew was developed by Italian immigrants in the late 1800s. Cioppino is traditionally made from the catch of the day, like shrimp, squid, scallops, clams, crab and fish, then melded with a tomato and wine sauce. Be sure to mop up every last drop with a piece of crusty sourdough bread. Delicious!

Known as ‘California’s Cut’, tri-tip is a Santa Maria style barbecue that takes a triangle cut of top-block sirloin and grills it to perfection. It can be sliced into steaks or cooked as a whole block, but either way, the meat is juicy, tender and packed with flavor. Pair it with Santa-Maria style salsa and grilled garlic bread and you’ve got the ultimate Californian dish.

Best food in California

With multicultural influences, fresh produce and farm-to-table experiences, California’s dining scene is truly special and our California holidays will show you where to taste the best.

What to pack for California

With miles of golden, sunny coastline, you can’t resist taking a dip in the ocean or soaking in a pool on your California tour.

Reusable water bottle

California is one of America’s greenest states and you can help reduce your environmental footprint by refilling your own bottle at free water stations around the state.

Big appetite

With so many diverse cuisines and everything from gourmet fine dining to delicious food trucks, prepare to loosen your belt when you travel California.

Sun protection

With almost 300 days of sunshine a year, you’ll need to stock up on sunscreen and bring your sunglasses and a hat on your California trip.

A warm jacket

Despite the heat and sunshine, it can get cold in some parts of California, especially the misty redwood forests, so come prepared with a cosy jacket.

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Northern California Travel Guide

Northern California is home to wild coastlines, pastoral landscapes, and incredible adventures. Whether you head out for a day or a week-long road trip, there’s something to be discovered for everyone.

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Yosemite national park san francisco napa valley north coast and beyond carmel mendocino lake tahoe avenue of the giants, suggested road trip itineraries, helpful resources, + use this link for $55 off your first airbnb booking. + grab the best hotel rates on booking.com . + consider booking a tour for one of your day trips via viator . + need travel insurance i recommend world nomads . + not sure how to plan a trip check out this 5 part travel planning series ., travel products, ps — are you booking a trip soon use my booking checklist.

These are the sites I use most to book my own trips. Using the links below is a great way to support Bon Traveler’s travel journalism at no extra cost to you . If you need help organizing your itinerary, get my free travel itinerary template here .

1. Book Your Flights

Use Skyscanner to find the best flights. It searches 100s of airlines and websites across the globe to ensure you’re not missing out on any route options or deals.

2. Book Your Accommodations

Use Booking.com for hotels and guest houses. They have the biggest inventory and consistently offer the best rates.

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Use Viator or Get Your Guide to find the best tours and experiences. They are my favorite tour search engines. I always check both as their inventory varies depending on the destination.

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Use Discover Cars or Rentalcars.com to find the best car rental deals. I recommend comparing rental agency reviews on Google to ensure you are booking with the best company in that destination, as the reviews are often more accurate than the car rental search engines.

5. Don’t Forget Airport Lounge Access

Get a Priority Pass membership to gain access to 1,400+ VIP lounges and airport experiences worldwide. The Priority Pass app is the first thing I check when I have a layover. I’ve been a member for over a decade, and having a comfortable place to relax before and between flights makes air travel so much more enjoyable.

6. Don’t Forget Travel Insurance

I never leave the country without travel insurance. It provides comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong (ie. illness, injury, theft, and cancelations, etc.). I use it frequently for my travels to stay protected.

My favorite companies that offer the best coverage and rates are:

• World Nomads (best for all-around)
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The Ultimate Los Angeles Itinerary, Mountain Hikes, Seaside Bike Rides, and Fresh Seafood Included

Discover the best hotels, restaurants, and things to do in Los Angeles with this highly curated guide to the city.

Best Time to Go

Things to know, how to get around, best hotels, best restaurants, things to do, best shopping, neighborhoods to know, apps to download.

Los Angeles, at around 500 square miles, is the largest city within Los Angeles County which includes more than 100 cities and communities. Known for its entertainment industry, miles of coastline, mountains, shopping, sports, ethnic diversity, and culture of creativity, L.A.'s vibe ranges from upscale to hip to surf-casual and everything between, defying a label for the city as a whole. Several areas comprise Los Angeles, mainly Downtown (DTLA), the Westside, West Hollywood, Hollywood, the Beach Cities, and the Valley, with other communities within those districts. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), served by all major airlines, is about 16 miles from Downtown. Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), also known as Bob Hope Airport, is located about 20 minutes north of downtown. Union Station is the main railway station in Los Angeles, and it's the largest railroad passenger terminal in the western United States.Visitors seeking outdoor activities can choose mountain hikes, seaside bike rides, golf, boating, surfing, or just enjoying the sunshine. Spectator sports abound, and depending on the season, there's basketball, football, baseball, and soccer. Live theater, film complexes, museums, and art galleries provide opportunities for cultural activities. The Los Angeles dining scene boasts elegant restaurants, casual outdoor cafes, and ethnic foods that include Mexican, Chinese, Japanese, Ethiopian, Korean, Italian, Israeli, and many more. Fresh seafood from local waters and produce from California's farms are always available.

Pacific Standard Time. (Daylight Savings Time is observed seasonally)

Year-round moderate temperatures, low humidity, and cool evenings make any month a good time to visit Los Angeles. Summers are warmer, especially in the Valley, while coastal areas see cooler temperatures and often begin with morning clouds that burn off to sunny afternoons. Rainfall is generally less than 20 inches annually, with December through March considered the wetter months.

Summer is popular with vacationers, and with miles of beaches, there's always room for your blanket and umbrella. The 26-mile bike path along the coast from Torrance Beach to Pacific Palisades gets a bit more traffic in summer, but bikers, joggers, walkers, and skateboarders happily share the scenery and ocean breezes year round. In winter, Los Angeles is the perfect escape from colder climates when visitors can trade their down jacks for sweaters or windbreakers.

Los Angeles is known for its car culture, although public transportation is available in most areas. The city is infamous for its freeway traffic, and visitors are advised to keep this in mind when planning outings around the city.

There's a lot of ground to cover and so much to see. If time allows, book a hotel in the area you want to explore. You'll get to experience different neighborhoods, and you'll save time getting around. Get familiar with the "big picture" of Los Angeles while you make plans to get a better idea of where your destinations are located.

The weather varies from the coastal towns to the inland valley, and the temperature difference can be 20 degrees or more. Check the weather and keep a light jacket handy.

Metro Rail Lines: Six light rail and subway lines connect various locations within Los Angeles. Check the online map , website , or use the GoMetro mobile app for planning.

Metro Bus System: Local, Rapid, Express services are available throughout the Los Angeles area, with nearly 200 different lines. Many connect to Metro Rail stations. Visit the Metro website for details .

DASH Bus Service: Los Angeles Department of Transportation operates frequent bus service in DTLA and in 27 neighborhoods. Visit the DASH website for details.

Driving: Hundreds of miles of freeways connect various sections of Los Angeles and can be efficient for traveling. Plan your route, avoid commuter rush hours, and expect some traffic to get the most out of driving in Los Angeles. GPS apps will be helpful.

Uber, Lyft, taxis: You can let someone else worry about directions, parking, and traffic by using your preferred app.

Union Station: (800 North Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012) is a major transportation hub for Amtrak, Greyhound Bus, auto rentals, taxis, Metro bus, light rail and subway, Metrolink heavy rail service, Megabus, and Zipcar.

Transportation from Los Angeles International Airport

LAX FlyAway Bus Service provides regularly scheduled non-stop service to several locations. Check the website for current schedules.

Taxi Service : Taxis may drop passengers off at their terminals on the Upper/Departures level. Arriving passengers may get taxis at three locations: next to Terminal 1 (either by walking or taking the free shuttle to LAX-it. ), inside Parking Structure 3 (between Terminals B and 3), or at the far end of Terminal 7, outside of baggage claim.

Ride-sharing Apps : Lyft, Opoli, and Uber are the authorized providers for LAX. They can drop off passengers at terminals on the Upper/Departures level. Arriving passengers may be picked up at the LAX-it lot next to terminal 1. Walk or take the free LAX-it shuttle.

Rental Cars : Offices are located off airport. Shuttles meet arriving passengers under the purple "Rental Car shuttles" sign on the Lower/Arrivals level islands.

Public Transportation: Several public transit providers serve LAX, including L.A. Metro , Santa Monica Big Blue Bus , Torrance Transit , and Beach Cities Transit .

Hotel Shuttles : Many major airport area hotels provide courtesy transportation from LAX terminals. Shuttle stops are located on the Upper/Departures level by Red curbside pylons.

Metro C Line at Aviation Station: Wait at the Pink Shuttle sign on the Lower/Arrivals level and board "Metro C Line (formerly Green Line) Shuttle."

Downtown DTLA

Intercontinental los angeles downtown.

Address: 900 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90017 Phone: (800) 424-6835 Book Now

In the center of downtown, this 73-story hotel boasts spectacular views and a convenient location. Its Spire 73 rooftop lounge is the tallest open-air bar in the Western Hemisphere, and a sushi bar, steakhouse, and buffet restaurant offer quality dining and service.

Hotel Figueroa

Address: 939 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015 Phone: (213) 627-8971 Book Now

This historic hotel opened in 1926 as lodging for professional women and has since seen major renovations that maintained its original Spanish Colonial style. Comfortable rooms, art-filled lobby and corridors, a coffin-shaped outdoor pool, restaurants, and cocktail lounges welcome visitors to its 268 rooms and suites.

The Wayfarer Downtown LA

Address: 813 S. Flower Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017 Phone: (213) 285-4400 Book Now

Convenient, comfortable, and budget-friendly, The Wayfarer features private rooms, shared rooms, a rooftop bar, cocktail lounge, and an entertainment venue. It's a new way to stay in Los Angeles, perfect for solo travelers.

Address: 819 South Flower Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017 Phone: (213) 623-9904 Book Now

Located in the Financial District, this hotel includes a spa, fitness center, restaurant, and bar. Complimentary breakfast, a business center, and free Wi-Fi are among the hotel's amenities. The hotel is conveniently located near the 7th Street Metro Center.

Beverly Hills/Century City

Beverly Wilshire, a Four Seasons Hotel

Address: 9500 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90212 Phone: (310) 275-5200 Book Now

Overlooking Rodeo Drive, this elegant hotel is a Los Angeles classic. Accommodations include plush guestrooms, specialty suites, and even a rooftop veranda. Guests dine at Wolfgang Puck's Cut steakhouse, the poolside cafe and bar, or The Blvd, an all-day restaurant and lounge.

Intercontinental Los Angeles Century City at Beverly Hills

Address: 2151 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067 Phone: (310) 284-6500

Views of downtown, the Pacific, and Beverly Hills from private balconies create a luxurious L.A. experience. Convenient to shopping, entertainment, and business centers, the hotel offers a spa, fitness center, pool, California cuisine at Mari, and Copper Lounge for cocktails.

Fairmont Century Plaza

Address: 2025 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067 Phone: (310) 246-4770 Book Now

This completely reimagined mid-century modern hotel is located in the heart of Century City, offering 351 guest rooms and 49 suites, all with private balconies. A guest-only private rooftop pool and bar as well as four dining options make the hotel an ideal destination just blocks from Beverly Hills and Westfield Century City shopping center.

West Hollywood WEHO

West hollywood edition.

Address: 9040 West Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90069 Phone: (310) 953-9899 Book Now

This stunning, modern hotel by Ian Schrager features 190 guest rooms, 48 suites, two penthouses, and 20 luxury residences. Expansive outdoor terraces offer views of Los Angeles and the Hollywood Hills. Amenities include a luxurious spa, fitness center, and a variety of dining spots including the popular Ardor and The Roof, for tropical-inspired cocktails and panoramic vistas.

Pendry West Hollywood

Address: 8430 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90069 Phone: (310) 928-9000 Book Now

In the heart of the iconic Sunset Strip, the Pendry features 149 luxury guest rooms, 40 Pendry Residences, rooftop pool and bar, fitness center, and multiple food and beverage concepts helmed by famed Chef Wolfgang Puck. Spa Pendry offers signature treatments and customized services in a comfortable, healing environment.

Kimpton La Peer Hotel

Address: 627 N. La Peer Drive, West Hollywood, CA 90069 Phone: (213) 296-3038 Website

Set in the walkable Design District neighborhood steps from the intersection of Melrose Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard, this hotel is stylish, comfortable, and tasteful. A secluded pool, 105 luxury guest rooms and suites, restaurants, and courtyard cocktail lounge make it a local favorite.

Hollywood Area

Dream hollywood hotel.

Address: 6417 Selma Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90028 Phone: (323) 844-6417 Website

The hotel's stylish mid-century modern guestrooms and suites are conveniently set near Hollywood's attractions, with panoramic views from its rooftop pool, restaurant, and cabanas. Dine at the rooftop Highlight Room, Tao Asian Bistro, or Beauty & Essex.

Kimpton Everly Hotel

Address: 1800 Argyle Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90028 Phone: (213) 279-3532 Website

This hip boutique hotel boasts a ground-floor coffee bar, outdoor pool, hosted evening social hour and morning coffee, yoga mats, and in-room Chromecast streaming devices. Pet-friendly accommodations, room service, and dining at Jane Q complete the picture.

Hollywood Historic Hotel

Address: 5162 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90038 Phone: (323) 378-6312 Website

Dating to 1927, this newly reopened Hollywood landmark is on the National Register of Historic Places. Located near Paramount Pictures and Raleigh Studios, many of the hotel's rooms offer views of the Hollywood sign. Its walkable neighborhood boasts cafes, restaurants, and shops.

The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel

Address: 7000 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90028 Phone: (323) 856-1970 Website

Located on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, this hotel offers luxury and style along with a stunning David Hockney outdoor pool and cafe. Guests enjoy cocktails at the Spare Room, the hotel's prohibition era-style lounge with vintage bowling alley, and dinner at Nancy Silverton's The Barish, an Italian steakhouse.

Address: 1730 N. Western Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90027 Phone: (323) 672-8990 Website

A serene oasis off a busy intersection in trendy Los Feliz, Cara Hotel's local craftsmanship and food sourced from nearby farms make it a true California experience. Its 60 rooms, dressed in white with wooden accents, come with balconies overlooking the courtyard tranquility pool lined with palm trees. Under 10 minutes from iconic LA sights such as the Griffith Observatory, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the Greek Theater, Cara is an ideal base for first-time LA visitors but will likely be a spot you'll want to return to.

Beach Cities

Shutters on the Beach

Address: 1 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90405 Phone: (310) 458-0030 Website

Understated luxury in New England style beachfront rooms and suites defines the hotel, just steps from the sand. Spa, pool deck with cabanas, and excellent dining options make a stay at Shutters memorable. Choose from Coast, 1 Pico, or the Living Room for food and drinks with a Pacific view.

Beach House, Hermosa Beach

Address: 1300 The Strand, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 Phone: (310) 374-3001 Website

As close to the beach as a hotel can get, this oceanfront boutique offers 96 studio suites, most with views of the Pacific. Patios, balconies, fireplaces, fitness center, refrigerators, and outdoor hot tub are among the amenities. Complimentary Wi-Fi and continental breakfast are included.

Hotel Erwin

Address: 1697 Pacific Avenue, Venice, CA 90291 Phone: (310) 452-1111 Website

Overlooking the Pacific and the lively Venice boardwalk, the Hotel Erwin's rooms, suites, and balconies provide comfort and a front-row view of the action. The High Rooftop Lounge is the place to be for sunset, with creative cocktails and delicious menu offerings. Erwin's Kitchen + Cocktails serves breakfast and dinner.

Address: 8639 Lincoln Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90045 Phone: (888) 435-5070 Website

Hotel June is set in a prime location minutes from LAX, Playa Del Rey Beach, Playa Vista, Venice Beach, and Marina Del Rey as well as restaurants, shops, and parks. An expansive pool surrounded by lounges and the Caravan Swim Club offering Baja-inspired dishes and creative cocktails make Hotel June a destination as well as a convenient airport hotel.

Malibu Beach Inn

Address: 22878 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265 Phone: (310) 651-7777 Website

Set along Malibu's coastline with views of the Pacific, this boutique hotel offers 47 guest rooms, a restaurant, and an on-site spa suite. Hike Malibu's nearby trails, spend time at the exclusive beach, or just enjoy watching the waves and relaxing to the sounds of the surf.

Hilton Los Angeles Universal City

Address: 555 Universal Hollywood Drive, Universal City, CA 91608 Phone: (818) 506-2500 Website

A block from the entrance to Universal Studios, this hotel offers a complimentary shuttle to make it even more convenient. Outdoor swimming pool, whirlpool, and fitness center are among the amenities included. Poolside dining, Coffee Corner, and Cafe Sierra are dining options, and at the Atrium Lounge, beverages and snacks are served each evening along with live piano music.

The Garland

Address: 4222 Vineland Avenue, North Hollywood, CA 91602 Phone: (818) 980-8000 Website

This boutique hotel, created by actress Beverly Garland in 1970, is set on seven acres in the heart of Los Angeles. Now updated, its guestrooms, suites, and kids rooms boast modern decor, and its restaurants offer new menus. Free trolley rides to Universal Studios, CityWalk, and Universal City Metro Station are a favorite amenity.

Downtown L.A.

Address: 521 West Seventh Street, Los Angeles, CA Phone: (213) 225-6285 Website

Q Sushi offers traditional omakase served in a serene atmosphere by talented chef Hiroyuki Naruke. Fresh fish flown in from Japan and presented simply creates a memorable dining experience at his small downtown sushi bar.

Address: 2121 East Seventh Place, Los Angeles, CA 90021 Phone: (213) 514-5724 Website

Delicious and creative Italian dishes served in a lively warehouse-style atmosphere make Bestia a top spot. From pizza to pasta with a tasty selection of antipasti, Bestia's food is memorable and the experience is fun.

Address: 500 Mateo Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013 Phone: (213) 232-4966 Website

Fresh ingredients and a variety of cooking techniques showcase Middle Eastern foods that include flatbreads, spreads, hot and cold small plates, salads, and more. Cuisines of Israel, Morocco, Turkey, and Egypt are represented with style and attention to detail.

Address: 923 East Third Street, Suite 109, Los Angeles, CA 90013 Phone: (213) 626-8888 Website

This contemporary Asian restaurant is helmed by Top Chef winner Mei Lin who skillfully blends the cuisines of Japan, Korea, China, and more into tasty seafood and meat dishes. Set in the Arts District, the decor is modern and the food is creative.

Howlin' Rays

Address: 727 North Broadway #128, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Phone: (213) 935-8399 Website

From a successful food truck to a Chinatown location, Howlin' Rays has been serving Nashville hot chicken to his fans in Los Angeles since 2016. Diners choose their favorite level of heat from Country (no heat) to Howlin' (HOT), and side dishes include fries, slaw, pickles, and collard greens.

Beverly Hills/Century City/West Hollywood

Jean-georges beverly hills.

Address: Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, 9850 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 Phone: (310) 860-6666 Website

This elegant spot is known for exquisite service and cuisine helmed by chef Jean-Georges. His eight-course tasting menu is lovely, and with wine pairings, the experience is sublime. Reservations required.

Address: 176 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 Phone: (310) 385-0880 Website

Excellent service, inventive seasonal dishes, and sleek atmosphere define this Wolfgang Puck restaurant. The cuisine and style have consistently earned awards, including two Michelin stars.

Address: 10250 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90067l Phone: (213) 310-8000 Website

In addition to an array of wines, cheeses, meats, seafood, baked goods, and more, Eataly offers several dining spots. Il Pesce Cucina presents fresh seafood by acclaimed team from Michelin-starred Providence, chef Michael Cimarusti and Donato Poto. Terra , on the third floor rooftop, features seasonal ingredients prepared on a wood-burning Italian grill. La Pizza & La Pasta serve the best of those Italian favorites. Reservations suggested.

Address: 3850 Main Street, Suite A, Culver City, CA 90232 Phone: (424) 298-8540 Website

This ultra-creative restaurant successfully combines Cali-Asian flavors with influences of the Lowcountry of the Southeast. Delicious and artistically plated dishes, modern atmosphere, full bar, and outdoor patio make this a popular spot.

E.P. and L.P.

Address: 603 N. La Cienega Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90069 Phone: (310) 855-9955 Website

This restaurant features an Asian-fushion menu, rooftop bar with views of the Hollywood Hills, and Las Palmas rooftop with Tulum-inspired dishes and cocktails.

Address: 9010 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, CA 90069 Phone: (310) 307-3932 Website

This stylish restaurant on West Hollywood's restaurant row offers coastal European cuisine for fine dining and late-night cocktails. Chef Michael Fiorelli draws inspiration from the classics of Italy, Greece, France, and Spain capturing the spirit of dining on a Mediterranean vacation.

Strings of Life (S.O.L)

Address: 8535 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, CA 90069 Phone: (310) 734-7190

This all-day Australia-inspired casual spot serves specialty coffees, fresh baked goods, sandwiches, breakfast dishes, salads, burgers, and more under the direction of Culinary Director Monty Koludrovic with Pastry Chef Jaci Koludrovic.

Address: 9040 West Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90069 Phone: (424) 310-1572 Website

Showcasing vegetable-forward dishes in a beautiful setting, Ardor's menu includes a balance of meat and plant-based dishes. Award-winning Chef John Fraser combines fresh local organic ingredients with international techniques in such dishes as crudo, ceviche, and as an example, Harrison Ranch Chicken with vegetables a la Grecque. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch.

Address: 1680 Vine Street, Los Angeles, CA 90028 Phone: (323) 416-1280 Website

Chef Adam Perry Lang has created a contemporary steakhouse with seasonal produce-driven dishes to complement his famous dry-aged beef. Creative lighter fare is served along with modern steakhouse favorites and a world-class wine and cocktail program.

Address: 904 North Sycamore Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90038 Website

This chic restaurant set in Hollywood's Media District serves California-inspired French bistro cuisine along with an extensive bar program for dinner and late-night dining. The menu includes roast chicken, seafood, steak tartare, and a 32-ounce dry-aged rib-eye steak.

Address: 5955 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90038 Phone: (323) 460-4170 Website

Seafood in creative presentations that are both gorgeous and delicious is the focus of this prix-fixe dining experience. Led by James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Cimarusti, this Michelin-starred restaurant is the place for special dinners and superb service.

L' Antiqua Pizzeria da Michele

Address: 1534 North McCadden Place, Los Angeles, Ca 90028 Phone: (323) 366-2408 Website

Pizza, pasta, salads, and a wide variety of appetizers make this more than a pizzeria, although the pizza has a great following. Breakfast and brunch specialties are favorites too, as are the cheese and charcuterie boards.

Beach Cities/West Side

Address: 101 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90401 Phone: (310) 319-3111 Website

This lively bistro at the Fairmont Miramar serves fresh, local ingredients in Mediterranean-style preparations. Open all day, they offer happy hour specials and an exceptional selection of international and domestic cheeses.

The Rose Venice

Address: 220 Rose Avenue, Venice, CA 90291 Phone: (310) 399-0711 Website

Modern California cuisine in a casual atmosphere. Great baked goods, indoor/outdoor dining; extensive takeout selection.

Cafe del Rey

Address: 4451 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, CA 90292 Website

Serving cocktails, brunch, lunch, and dinner with views of the marina, Cafe del Rey focuses on local ingredients, fresh seafood, prime steak, and seasonal vegetables. Friendly, professional service and inviting atmosphere make it a popular local spot.

Little Sister, Redondo Beach

Address: 247 Avenida del Norte, Redondo Beach, CA 90277 Phone: (424) 398-0237 Website

South Bay locations in Redondo Beach and Manhattan Beach (also DTLA ) serve Southeast Asian cuisine in a seasonally evolving menu. Favorite dishes include green papaya salad, a variety of spring rolls, Vietnamese crepe, and shaky shaky beef.

Address: 13301 Ventura Boulevard, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 Phone: (818) 788-4868 Website

Operating in the San Fernando Valley for more than 62 years, Casa Vega began on Olvera Street downtown. An extensive menu of Mexican favorites, cocktails, beers, and wines served in a friendly, festive atmosphere.

Address: 11941 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, CA 91604 Phone: (818) 760-3348 Website

One of L.A.'s top Japanese restaurants, Asanebo has been recognized with Michelin stars. Traditional sushi and sashimi in addition to their signature dishes like halibut truffle, toro tartare, ceviche, and more are served along with a selection of sake, beers, and champagnes.

Address: 800 West Olympic Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90015 Website

This entertainment complex features movie theaters, a concert hall, restaurants, convention center, and special events. The Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles, JW Marriott, and Staples Center are adjacent to the complex.

Staples Center

Address: 1111 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90001 Website

This multi-purpose arena hosts concerts and sports events for the Kings (NHL hockey), Lakers, Clippers (NBA basketball), and Sparks (WNBA basketball).

Music Center

Adrian Rudd/Travel + Leisure

Address: 135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Website

This performing arts center includes the Los Angeles Opera, Ahmanson Theater, Mark Taper Forum, L. A. Master Chorale, L. A. Philharmonic Orchestra, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Dining venues include Abernethy's, Cocina Roja, cocktail lounges, and casual cafes.

Address: 221 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Website

A contemporary art museum with more than 2,000 works, The Broad includes a permanent collection and special exhibits. General admission is free, but reservations are recommended and can be booked online. A standby line is available, and waiting time varies.

Downtown LA Walking Tours

Address: 600 West 9th Street, #603, Los Angeles, CA 90015 Website

Offering both public and private tours, the knowledgeable and engaging guides take visitors through L.A.'s highlights including filming locations, historic sites, and landmarks. Stories and background details on the locales make the tours entertaining and educational.

Grand Central Market

Address: 317 South Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013 Website

More than a hundred years old, the market offers a variety of vendors for produce, meats, cheeses, baked goods, coffee, ice cream, prepared foods, and more. It's a popular spot for takeout or for a quick bite at the adjacent outdoor tables.

Beverly Hills/Culver City

The original farmers market.

Address: 6333 West Third Street, Los Angeles, CA 90036 Website

A historic landmark and home to specialty markets, restaurants, prepared foods, produce, and more, the Original Farmers Market is a favorite for both locals and visitors. Baked goods, ice cream, coffee, and ethnic dishes keep the market hopping from breakfast through dinner.

Sony Pictures Studio

Address: 10201 West Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA 90232 Website

Their two-hour guided walking tour takes guests through a working studio where movies and TV shows are filmed. There's also a three-hour VIP Lunch Tour. Tours are presented on weekdays only, and reservations are required.

Getty Center

Address: 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90049 Website

This striking hilltop white travertine building houses permanent collections, special exhibits, and a magnificent garden as well as an excellent restaurant and casual cafe. Admission is free and there is a charge for parking. Check the website for visiting information.

Melting Pot Food Tours

Address: 8484 Wilshire Boulevard, #515, Beverly Hills, CA 90211 Website

Sampling and tasting along the way, guests learn about the various ethnic foods of Los Angeles neighborhoods including East L.A. Latin Flavors, Thai Town, and Little India. Visit the highlights of Old Pasadena or enjoy tapas and paella on La Espanola VIP Tour.

Griffith Park

Tobiah Lui/Travel + Leisure

Address : 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027 Website

Set in the Santa Monica Mountains on more than 4,210 acres, Griffith Park is one of the country's largest municipal parks. Activities include hiking, bicycling, camping, horseback riding, swimming, golf, picnicking, and tennis. The Greek Theater outdoor concert venue, Travel Town Museum, Griffith Observatory, and Los Angeles Zoo are part of Griffith Park.

Universal Studios Hollywood

Address: 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608 Website

This theme park and studio includes rides, shows, attractions, and tours of sound stages and movie sets. Adjacent CityWalk offers shopping, restaurants, entertainment, theaters, and iFly, a vertical wind tunnel.

Hollywood and Highland

Address: 6801 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90028 Website

The Hollywood Walk of Fame, Dolby Theater (home of the Academy Awards), restaurants, shops, entertainment, and views of the Hollywood Sign attract visitors to this famous corner. You'll probably encounter costumed characters from favorite films for Instagrammable selfies.

South Bay Beaches

Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach Website

White sand shores, cool breezes, and ocean waves welcome swimmers, surfers, and sunbathers to the beaches of the South Bay. Restaurants, outdoor cafes, shops, and fishing piers in each city attract visitors to the beaches during the day and, after sunset, to the nightlife in town.

Santa Monica Pier

Address: 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401 Website

A classic arcade, amusement park rides, shops, and dining venues line the pier, the official beginning of Route 66. Watch the sunset, visit the aquarium, fly on a trapeze, or just enjoy people watching on the always lively pier at the end of Colorado Boulevard.

Venice Beach

Venice Boulevard and Ocean Front Walk Website

Browse the kitschy shops or street vendors, watch skateboarders at Venice Skatepark or workouts at Muscle Beach Gym, stop for a bite to eat, or just stroll along the Strand to enjoy the unique atmosphere of Venice. A few blocks inland, take a walk along the canals, crossing quaint bridges, and ogling homes that range from tiny cottages to contemporary mansions.

Malibu Wine Safari

Address: 32111 Mulholland Highway, Malibu, CA 90265 Website

Sample delicious Malibu wines while you explore the vineyard aboard a custom-built open-air Safari vehicle. Enjoy the scenery and the wines as you meet up with zebras, water buffalo, alpacas, bison, and Stanley the Giraffe.

Warner Bros. Studios

Address: 3400 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, CA 91505 Website

Visitors can explore a working studio, backlots, and sound stages on guided tours, including a special Classics Tour that focuses on the Golden Age of film and TV. Casual dining and souvenir shopping are available. Purchase tickets in advance of your visit on the studio website.

Descanso Gardens

Address: 1418 Descanso Drive, La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011 Website

Gardens include the Rose Garden, Japanese Garden, Camellia Collection, Oak Forest, Ancient Forest, and displays of native and edible plants. Ride the Enchanted Railroad through the gardens, stop at the gift shop, or enjoy a casual meal at Cafe Descanso.

NoHo Arts District

Address: Magnolia Boulevard at Lankershim Boulevard, North Hollywood, CA 91601 Website

This small but thriving arts community boasts theaters, cafes, shops, live music, art galleries, dance studios, acting workshops, and a Saturday farmers' market. The Valley location is convenient to a Metro Red Line station, making it easy to visit and probably contributing to the ongoing development of the area.

Address: 7th Street and Figueroa, Los Angeles, CA Phone: (213) 955-7170 Website

Shops include Nordstrom Rack, H & M, Zara, Pink, Sunglass Hut, and MAC Cosmetics. Concerts, kids' activities, films, and special events add entertainment. A variety of casual eateries and free Wi-Fi are available.

Address: 700 South Flower Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017 Phone: (213) 454-4926 Website

Spanning a downtown city block, this center includes Macy's, Nordstrom Local, a 24-hour Fitness Center, and a variety of eateries. The Sheraton Grand Hotel is in the center, and the 7th Street Metro station is conveniently nearby.

DTLA Fashion District

Amanda Blackard/Travel + Leisure

This favorite area for bargain hunters and shopping fans includes the Flower Market, the largest in the United States, the Fabric District, Gallery Row, and Santee Alley's open air shops. The district is open to the public as well as the trade.

DTLA Jewelry District

Nearly 5,000 retail jewelry businesses feature diamonds, gold, silver, beads, watches, pearls, gemstones, and custom jewelry designers. Buyers paying wholesale prices can save about 50% compared to retail.

Citadel Outlets

Address: 100 Citadel Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90040 Phone: (323) 888-1724 Website

Everyone loves a bargain, and there are many to be found among the more than 130 designer and brand name stores at the outlet mall in the City of Commerce. Stores include Armani, Hugo Boss, Carters for Kids, Coach, Disney, Kate Spade, Oakley, and Vans.

Beverly Center

Address: 8500 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048 Phone: (310) 854-0070 Website

This pet-friendly center offers valet and self-parking in a newly renovated eight-story building. Designer shops, restaurants, specialty boutiques, and entertainment are featured in this popular shopping destination.

Westfield, Century City

Address: 10250 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90067 Phone: (310) 277-3898 Website

Nordstrom, Macys, Bloomingdales, and a variety of specialty and designer stores along with Eataly, Din Tai Fung, and other eateries attract shoppers to this newly renovated mall. The walkways, furnishings, and inviting plazas make browsing a favorite activity.

Address: 189 The Grove Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90036 Phone: (323) 900-8080 Website

This stylish shopping center is renowned for its retailers that include Barneys New York, Apple, Crate & Barrel, Shinola, and more, along with dining and a 14-screen art deco movie theater. Fountains, an exclusive concierge service, and concerts attract visitors as well as shoppers.

Hollywood & Highland

Address: 6801 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90028 Phone: (323) 817-0200 Website

Restaurants, shops, entertainment in the midst of Hollywood glamour describe Hollywood & Highland. Stores include Skechers, Forever 21, Victoria's Secret, Hot Topic, and more. A variety of restaurants, cafes, and dessert spots are available.

Universal City, CA 91608

Address: (818) 622-9841 Website

Adjoining Universal Studios theme park, this two block stretch of shops, restaurants, souvenirs, and entertainment is a popular date-night and family-friendly destination. Live music, dancing, and movie theaters are part of the fun.

Del Amo Fashion Center

Address: 3525 West Carson Street, Torrance, CA 90503 Phone: (310) 542-8525 Website

This three-level luxury mall in Torrance includes a new Nordstrom, Macys, Anthropologie, AMC movie theater, and dining at Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar, P.F. Changs, Lemonade, Pink's Hot Dogs, and many more. Natural lighting and open areas make shopping there a pleasure.

Santa Monica Place

Christian Hundley/Travel + Leisure

Address: 395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, CA 90401 Phone: (310) 260-8333 Website

Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, Disney Store, Coach, Free People, and a host of popular retailers attract shoppers to Santa Monica Place. There's dining, concierge service, and a children's museum.

Westfield Topanga & The Village

Address: 6600 Topanga Canyon Boulevard,Woodland Hills, CA 91303 Phone: (818) 594-8732 Website

Located in the Canoga Park area of the San Fernando Valley, the indoor Westfield mall and outdoor Village include luxury stores, boutiques, spa, salons, and a Costco warehouse. Visitors can dine at The Cheesecake Factory, Il Fornaio, Larsen's Steakhouse, and more.

Sherman Oaks Galleria

Address: 15301 Ventura Boulevard, Sherman Oaks, CA 91430 Phone: (818) 382-4100 Website

This open-air business and lifestyle center includes office space as well as retail and entertainment space. The mall has been a shooting location for several films including "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" and "Valley Girl."

Within each major section of Los Angeles are neighborhoods with their own character, style, and dynamics. We describe several here, and with the ever changing nature of the city, you're likely to discover other interesting communities as you explore Los Angeles.

• The Arts District, formerly an industrial area, is becoming home to galleries, studios, media companies, and hip dining spots.
• Chinatown is the place for a variety of restaurants, shops, herbal stores, antiques, and bustling alleys.
• The Fashion District is the center of the apparel industry, with wholesalers, designers, retailers, and bargain shopping.
• Olvera Street at Historic El Pueblo is the birthplace of Los Angeles where visitors finde Mexican food, crafts, music, and cultural events.
• Brentwood/Bel Air - upscale homes, UCLA, shops, restaurants, and Getty Center on a hilltop overlooking the area.
• Beverly Hills is the place for designer shops on Rodeo Drive, top restaurants, and elegant homes.
• Century City's high-rise buildings and Westfield Mall define the neighborhood once dominated by 20th Century Fox Studios.
• Culver City's restaurants, galleries, and Sony Picture Studios make this eclectic neighborhood worth a visit.

Hollywood/West Hollywood

• Hollywood & Vine, the Hollywood Walk of Fame sidewalk stars, Hollywood & Highland complex, Hollywood Bowl, and Chinese Theater define its role in show business.
• West Hollywood's Design District, Pacific Design Center, restaurants, walkable streets, and Sunset Strip nightlife make it a must-visit neighborhood.
• Los Feliz is a blend of hip and historic, with Frank Lloyd Wright homes and eclectic eateries.
• Silver Lake's trendy cafes, street art, music venues, architecture, and walking trails add to the appeal of this residential neighborhood.
• The South Bay area includes Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Redondo Beach, all with white sand beaches, shops, restaurants, nightlife, and a relaxed vibe.
• Santa Monica's amusement park on the pier, its walkable streets, stores, restaurants, and hotels make it a popular destination.
• Malibu is known for its exclusive beaches, opulent homes, celebrity sightings, and ocean views as well as its hiking trails and canyons.
• San Pedro offers an aquarium, fresh seafood at waterfront restaurants, the Battleship USS Iowa, and Ports o' Call Village for shopping and browsing.
• North Hollywood (NoHo) is not in Hollywood, but the north end of the Valley, with entertainment, restaurants, and the Great Wall of Los Angeles art mural.
• Studio City is known for movie studios, including CBS Studios, NBC, and Warner Brothers.
• Ventura Boulevard boasts trendy restaurants, boutiques, and vintage shops.
• For hiking and outdoor activities, there's Wilacre Park and Fryman Canyon Park.

Los Angeles weather — temperature, cloud cover, humidity — varies significantly over the large area of the city. Coastal areas are generally cooler, and mornings are often cloudy with clearing by early afternoon, mainly a feature of early summer weather. The valley and inland areas are warm and dry, often as much as twenty degrees warmer than the coast. Most of the annual rainfall occurs in winter.

The following are average Fahrenheit lows and highs by month.

January 46 - 67 February 48 - 69 March 49 - 69 April 51 - 72 May 55 - 74 June 59 - 78 July 62 - 84 August 64 - 85 September 62 - 83 October 57 - 79 November 51 - 72 December 46 - 68

Discover Los Angeles app : Provides information on daily events, accommodations by neighborhood, film locations, and free Wi-Fi locations.

Google Maps : Useful for navigating, directions, and trip planning.

Uber & Lyft : Let someone else do the driving.

Open Table and Resy : Provide restaurant reviews, locations, cuisine, and reservations.

Transit : The official Metro Los Angeles app helps plan your trip with options that include public transportation, bikeshare, scooter, and rideshare.

Universal Studios Hollywood Mobile app : Navigate the park and CityWalk with interactive maps, wait times, show times, and more.

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The Family Vacation Guide

California Family Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting With Kids

posted by Charmaine Cortes on February 21, 2023 // last updated on February 28, 2023

California is a top place to visit with family for a vacation. There are a wide variety of attractions and things to do , including amusement parks, the beach, hiking, and other outdoor activities with your kids. However, organizing a trip with children might be challenging. To keep it simple, we have created this comprehensive California family travel guide.

Plan when you’d like to travel first. If you have young children, schedule your trip for the spring or fall when it’s cooler because California can get very hot in the summer. It may be preferable to come during the off-season because some locations, such as Disneyland, can be quite congested during peak tourist season.

There are several choices available when it comes to lodging. Hotels, rental homes, and campsites are all at your disposal. Think about what matters most to you and your family when selecting your choice because each has its advantages.

Let’s get started:

5 Reasons Why California Is the Perfect Family Vacation Destination

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A Family-Friendly State

There are several locations you may visit throughout your vacation that you can all enjoy, including wineries and craft breweries. This is because there are so many family-friendly activities! 

This is a reasonable justification for adults to try something children will also like without the complimentary samples. Some pubs provide excursions and kid-friendly areas where the entire family can discover more about the origins and methods used to make the drinks. 

With the kids’ input, the entire family will be more enthusiastic about the schedule. So, why not brainstorm some ideas as a family before you leave and see if there are any activities you’d want to include?

Diverse Landscapes

No matter what kind of trip you’re searching for, California has many exciting and different landscapes to discover. Something is always available to fit your preferences, whether you desire a beach vacation or a mountain experience. 

If your family is filled with thrill-seekers, go skiing in the Alps or explore the vibrant metropolis of San Francisco, where you can view well-known landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge. 

There are several top-notch beaches along the California coast where you can unwind and spend time with your family if you’re all about relaxation. To keep things fresh, sprinkle in a few day visits to neighboring sights.

A Disneyland Resort

Disneyland, the magical land of childhood dreams, is the perfect vacation spot for families. Even the adults can’t help but get caught up in the fun and excitement of the park. 

One thing is for sure, a vacation with Mickey and his pals is a surefire way to make your kids happy. Whether you spend the whole trip at Disneyland or just a few days, it’s a great option. 

But don’t just take my word for it. Go ahead and plan your trip. It’s a vacation that will be worth it, trust me! 

Disneyland offers a variety of packages and promotions that can help you save money and make the most of your time there. So, whether you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime trip or a more casual getaway, Disneyland is a family-friendly destination that’s sure to please.

Beautiful Beaches

When you think of California, beautiful beaches are the first thing that comes to mind. They’re just as unique as you imagine. One of the most popular spots in Venice Beach. It’s a lively area with a world-famous boardwalk, perfect for a day out. 

You’ll find fun stuff there, like street performers, artists, and food vendors. It’s a great place to stroll, people-watch, and pick up a souvenir.

But if you’re looking for something a little more off the beaten path, Glass Beach is worth a visit. You might have heard of it. It’s known for the sea glass that washes up on the shore. It’s not your typical beach with golden sands, but it’s still pretty special. 

The glass is the result of years of trash dumping in the area, but now it’s a unique feature that attracts visitors from all over. You’ll find thousands of pieces of colored glass smoothed and polished by the ocean. It’s something to see.

So whether you’re looking to relax on the beach, check out some street performers, or hunt for sea glass, California’s beaches have something for everyone. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can always try surfing, kayaking, or beachcombing. There’s so much to do and see. It’s no wonder it’s a favorite spot for families and travelers.

National Parks

California is the place to be for nature lovers! With nine national parks, you’ll have plenty of options for outdoor adventures. From Joshua Tree to Channel Islands National Park, Yosemite, and Death Valley National Park, each park offers unique landscapes and experiences. 

Whether hiking, camping, or just taking in the views, you’ll find something you’ll love. Just make sure to plan to make the most of your trip. Kings Canyon National Park is another great tourist attraction.

With so much space to explore, you can create the perfect adventure for your family. So pack your bags, lace up your hiking boots, and get ready to discover the beauty of California’s national parks!

Summer is typically the most favored season to travel to Southern California. Nevertheless, California enjoys excellent weather year-round, so you may travel at any time you like.

Depending on what you’d like to do, where you wish to travel, and the amount of time you have, there are better times to visit California. While there are apparent reasons why the summer months are attractive, peak time may result in higher pricing and more people.

Best Time to Visit California to Avoid Crowds

May through September are the summer months when most tourists visit California. In the summertime, tens of thousands of visitors travel to California to enjoy the state’s numerous exciting activities in LA, San Diego, and the coastal towns, as well as to surf the Pacific Ocean, go trekking, and visit its national and state parks. 

The off-peak months of fall and spring are the best times to visit California if you wish to escape the city’s congested traffic. You will appreciate your vacation in California more because there will be fewer visitors on this trip.

Even the Angeles National Forest is crowded in peak times. So plan accordingly.

Best Time to Visit California for Best Prices

When businesses anticipate visitors coming, they frequently raise their rates. Even though there are many enjoyable things to do in California in the summer, this is typically the most costly time of year to travel there.

If you’re planning a major trip, consider that prices for hotels, restaurants, and retail outlets will increase from June through mid-August. If you want to travel on a budget, visit California in the fall, spring, or winter.

For the best travel and lodging rates, we advise visiting California around April–May or September–late November.

Nevertheless, if visiting California’s coastal cities is on your schedule, you should go in the summer. During this season, many travelers visit Huntington Beach to see some international surfing.

Best Time to Visit California for Hiking and Beaches

Most people come to California to enjoy its well-known beaches, such as the stunning beaches in San Diego or those on the north shore in Santa Cruz and Big Sur. Summertime is the best season for beach activities like whale viewing.

North California’s nature trails are lovely in the summertime but wet and chilly the other three times of the year.

California is a diverse state with a varied climate, making it a perfect destination all year round, depending on where you go and when you can experience various weather conditions.

In the northern part of the state, you’ll find cities like San Francisco that experience a relaxed, coastal climate. This means you can expect temperatures to be mild, with average highs ranging from the mid-50s to the low-60s in the winter and the mid-50s to mid-60s in the summer. 

It’s not uncommon to experience fog in San Francisco, especially in the summer, so pack a light jacket or sweater, even if you’re visiting during the warmest time of the year. Moving down the coast, you’ll find cities like Los Angeles with Mediterranean climates. This means you can expect warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. 

Average temperatures in the summer months range from the low-70s to the low-80s, while in the winter, temperatures range from the mid-50s to the low-60s. 

It’s common for the LA area to experience occasional rain during the winter, so pack accordingly. If you head to the desert regions of California, such as Palm Springs, you’ll experience a hot, arid climate. 

Summer temperatures in this area can reach well into the 90s and even 100s, while winter temperatures can still reach into the 70s. This area of California experiences very little rainfall, so bring plenty of sunscreens and hydrate often if you’re visiting during the warmer months.

You can expect a cold, snowy climate in the mountainous regions of California, such as Lake Tahoe. Winter temperatures in this area can drop well below freezing, while summer temperatures are cool and pleasant, with average highs in the 70s. If you’re visiting this area in the winter, pack warm clothing and gear for outdoor activities, such as skiing and snowboarding.

In conclusion, California has a range of climates, so be sure to research the weather conditions in the area you’ll be visiting and pack accordingly. Whether heading to the cool coastal regions, warm deserts, or snowy mountains, you’ll have an enjoyable time in California.

Deciding on the perfect time to spend in California depends on a few things. It can be something like what type of traveler you are, your interests, and your budget. California is a vast and diverse state, with so much to offer, from bustling cities to stunning natural parks, pristine beaches, and world-famous theme parks .

If you want to see as much as possible quickly, consider a week or two. During that time, you can hit up some major cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles, check out popular attractions like Disney California Adventure Park or Universal Studios, and even take a road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway to see the breathtaking coastline.

But, if you’re looking to take it slow and immerse yourself in the state’s culture, a month or more would be ideal. This gives you enough time to explore different regions, try new activities, and savor the local cuisine. 

You could spend a week or two in San Francisco, drive to Los Angeles to visit Hollywood and the beaches, then head further south to San Diego. From there, you could explore the deserts of Joshua Tree National Park or visit wine country in Napa Valley.

Ultimately, the perfect time to spend in California is up to you and what you hope to get out of your trip. Whether it’s just a quick getaway or an extended adventure, there’s something for everyone in the Golden State.

Raging Waters

San Jose, Sacramento, and San Dimas are the locations of California’s three water parks in the Raging Waters network. These muddy, wild dream worlds provide exhilarating water rides that guarantee family-friendly enjoyment.

The biggest water parks in California can provide you with a beautiful day of fun if splashing, diving, and tumbling are your style.

The largest, Raging Waters-San Jose, is located on 23 acres and has over 60 rides, so whether you’re searching for a rush or just somewhere to unwind, this is the spot for you.

Your group may pause for lunch and recharge for an evening of fun thanks to the on-site eateries that serve delectable snacks and meals, like pizza, milkshakes, and ice cream.

Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge is a must-visit destination for anyone visiting California. It’s a beautiful, iconic structure that attracts millions of visitors annually. Whether you’re an architecture buff, a photographer, or just looking for a great place to snap some fantastic photos, the Golden Gate Bridge offers something. 

You can stroll along the bridge’s pedestrian walkway, taking in the stunning views of San Francisco Bay and the city skyline, or rent a bike and make the most of your time there. 

If you want to get up close and personal with the bridge, consider taking a guided tour to learn about its history, construction, and design. Whatever you decide, visiting the Golden Gate Bridge is an experience you’ll never forget!

Legoland California

Plan a California family vacation full of fun, education, and entertainment at Legoland, California, in Carlsbad. Tailored for families with kids aged 2-12 but thrilling enough for adults who love to play, the theme park has rides and attractions for everyone. 

Help ninjas defeat the Great Devourer on Lego Ninjago The Ride or admire famous Star Wars scenes made entirely of Lego bricks at the Lego Star Wars Miniland Model Display. Younger kids can enjoy playing, building, and exploring in areas dedicated to them. 

Take advantage of the Legoland Water Park with its water slides and interactive play structures for a relaxed and fun time. Get ready to dive into the world of Lego and make unforgettable memories at Legoland California!

Santa Monica Pier

A renowned icon in Santa Monica, California, the Santa Monica Pier provides a unique mix of amusement and excitement. The pier juts out into the Pacific Ocean and is home to several activities, including an aquarium, an adventure park, and several eateries and stores.

Sea Crest OceanFront Hotel

The Seacrest OceanFront Hotel in Pismo Beach, California, is the perfect spot for families with kids. You’ll love the stunning ocean views from many rooms and suites. And the best part? You’re just steps away from the beach!

The hotel offers a variety of rooms to choose from, including standard rooms, suites, and oceanfront rooms. They’re all spacious and well-appointed, with comfortable bedding, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. Some rooms even have balconies or patios to enjoy a peaceful outdoor space.

At the Seacrest OceanFront Hotel, you won’t have to leave for a good meal. The restaurant serves delicious California-style cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, all made from fresh, local ingredients. After dinner, head to the bar and lounge area for a drink.

For the kids, the Seacrest OceanFront Hotel has a lot to offer. You’ll love the large outdoor pool and spa, and the hotel provides beach chairs and umbrellas for lounging on the sand. 

Plus, you’re close to popular attractions like the Pismo Beach Pier, the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, and the Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove.

The Saguaro Palm Springs

The Saguaro Palm Springs awaits your arrival for a unique and vibrant vacation experience. This hotel in Palm Springs, California, will blow you away with its Southwestern-inspired design, colorful artwork, and excellent hospitality. 

You’ll stay in spacious rooms and suites that are both comfortable and stylish, fully equipped with all the amenities you need for a fantastic trip.

Take advantage of the hotel’s large outdoor pool and spa area. Take a dip, soak up the sun, or unwind in the hot tub. The hotel’s restaurant and bar also invite you to enjoy delicious meals and drinks throughout the day.

The Saguaro Palm Springs puts you right in the heart of Palm Springs, making it easy for you to explore the city. You’ll be close to all the top attractions, shopping, and dining, and you can easily walk or take a short drive to many popular spots.

In short, The Saguaro Palm Springs offers you a fun and relaxed desert getaway. You’re sure to have a fantastic time with its vibrant atmosphere, spacious rooms and suites, and central location.

Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego

Families looking for a vacation will love the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego. This hotel in the heart of San Diego boasts stunning views of the city and the bay. You’ll choose from a wide range of rooms and suites, including family-friendly options that provide ample space.

The hotel offers two outdoor pools, including a rooftop pool with panoramic city views. Stay fit and relaxed at the hotel’s fitness center and a full-service spa. The hotel’s variety of dining options, such as its casual restaurant and its fine dining restaurant, will satisfy your hunger and thirst throughout the day.

Located close to many of San Diego’s top attractions, such as the San Diego Zoo, Legoland, and the USS Midway Museum, the hotel will please families traveling with kids. The hotel also provides a kids’ club and a game room, ensuring kids always have fun and excitement.

In short, the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego offers a comfortable, convenient, and memorable stay for families in San Diego. With a wealth of amenities and activities and a central location, your family will have a fantastic vacation experience.

You can determine the cost of a hotel in California by looking at several factors such as location, season, room type, and amenities offered. 

On average, budget-friendly hotels cost between $75 and $200 a night, while luxury hotels can cost over $400. Tourist hotspots like San Francisco and Los Angeles usually have higher hotel rates.

To get the best deal, compare prices and research different hotels before making a reservation. Consider the hotel’s location, amenities, and room type. Also, consider the season, as prices can skyrocket during peak travel and holidays.

By being proactive, you can find a hotel in California that fits your budget and meets your needs. Whether you prefer a budget-friendly or luxurious escape, California offers a wide selection of hotels for all travelers.

Mission BBQ

Mission BBQ is a well-known US barbecue restaurant with outlets in many states, including California. The establishment is renowned for its patriotic ambiance, which involves singing the national anthem daily, paying tribute to veterans, and serving military personnel.

Mission BBQ has multiple sites in California, each providing a friendly setting and delectable food. 

Anyone who likes barbecue should consider Mission BBQ, whether they’re searching for a family supper or a casual lunch with friends. The restaurant is a practical choice because it provides catering services for events and gatherings.

The term “Thai Inter” probably refers to Thai food, which is well-liked in California and globally. Thai food frequently uses spices like fish sauce, lemongrass, and chili peppers and is noted for its strong taste and aromatic scents.

Several Thai restaurants in California provide a broad range of foods, including traditional Thai favorites like pad Thai, green curry, and tom yum soup. Several restaurants offer meals that can be altered to accommodate various tastes and preferences, letting you pick your favorite ingredients and manage the amount of heat.

For foodies in California, Thai cuisine is an intelligent and delectable option, whether you’re searching for a quick lunch or a romantic supper. 

Nicolletti’s Pizza California

Local Californian restaurant Nicolletti’s Pizza is probably known for its mouthwatering, hand-made pizzas. A mainstay of the American eating scene is pizzerias like Nicolletti’s Pizza, which provide informal dining alternatives for groups of friends, families, and individuals.

You can anticipate finding a wide selection of pizza toppings and varieties at Nicolletti’s Pizza, including traditional choices like pepperoni and mushroom and custom pies with distinctive materials and flavor profiles. 

Most pizzerias provide a variety of sides in addition to pizza. Nicolletti’s Pizza is a fantastic option for everybody, whether getting a fast bite or having a family meal.

Napa Valley

Napa Valley, a stunning and attractive location just north of San Francisco, is well-known for its rolling hills, vineyards, and top-notch wineries. Take a gorgeous drive across the valley, stopping at several wineries to sample regional wines and see how wine is made.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

On the Monterey Bay coast, you may visit this famous site to get up close and personal with the incredible aquatic life that inhabits the area. See water life worldwide, including jellyfish, sea otters, and colorful fish.

Yosemite National Park

This stunning national park provides chances for hiking, camping, and outdoor exploration and is situated in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Camp out beneath the stars, go on a trek, or drive around the park.

Six Flags Magic Mountain

Seven Flags In Valencia, California, there is a theme park called Magic Mountain. It is renowned for its spectacular roller coasters and other exhilarating activities. 

More than a dozen roller coasters can be found at Magic Mountain, including the well-known “Goliath” and “Twisted Colossus,” ranked among the greatest in the world. 

Magic Mountain has a range of additional activities in addition to roller coasters, such as performances, gaming, and food establishments. 

Six Flags Magic Mountain is guaranteed to deliver a remarkable experience, whether you’re a thrill seeker or just searching for a great day out with loved ones.

There are many possibilities for vacation travel in California. For convenience and flexibility, rent a vehicle. Take the bus or train for cheap, environmentally responsible travel. Uber or Lyft are two ridesharing services you should consider. 

Use a cab, especially if traveling with a large group or at night. To tour cities that encourage cycling, rent a bike. Or go for a walk to see a city on foot. To make sure your vacation goes smoothly, do some research in advance.

Getting to California for your vacation depends on where you start, how much you want to spend, and how you want to travel. Some popular options include:

The most widely used way to get to California is by air, which is perfect for long-distance journeys. Major airports, such as LAX, SFO, and SAN, are in California.

Driving is a practical choice if you live close to California. This allows you to take your car, which can be helpful for families with young kids or those who want to explore California at their own pace.

Bus or Train

Take a bus or train to California to save money and be environmentally friendly. Amtrak offers train service to cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego.

If you have the time, taking a road trip to California is an exciting and memorable experience. You can visit multiple states and attractions along the way.

To ensure a smooth trip, plan and research your travel beforehand, considering any restrictions or regulations for your preferred mode of transportation.

Teach the Children to Gather and Stop Immediately

The terrifying moment your child dashes into a busy parking lot before you can grasp her hand is something that many parents have gone through. 

In reality, it’s effortless to prevent that horrible situation from occurring. Even tiny babies may be trained to come group together when Mom calls.

Tell Your Kids to Stay Together

As your family goes through congested areas, instruct your kids to stay close to you. Inform your children that it’s their responsibility to stay up with you and that it’s not your job to keep up with them. Teach kids that they must remain able to see their parents in busy areas. 

They shouldn’t ever relocate, so they can’t see their parents or change locations/rooms without you.

Supervise Children Near the Water

If they are close to a water source, constantly keep a check on them. When they are grown, train them to swim. Also, ensure they abide by safety precautions like avoiding rushing near the water and refraining from plunging into shallow water.

Stranger Safety

Children should be taught not to interact with or take anything from strangers. Ensure kids know the importance of never sharing personal information with strangers, including names, addresses, and phone numbers.

Avoid Unfamiliar Areas

Make sure you are prepared and equipped before hiking or visiting a new location. This includes taking adequate food and drink, dressing appropriately, carrying a map or GPS device, and donning suitable footwear and apparel. Stay on the path, and always share your goals with someone.

California is great for families with kids. It offers many adventures and discoveries. To ensure a safe trip, follow the tips outlined in this article.

Protect kids from the sun with sunscreen and clothing. Supervise them in water and teach water safety. Plan and inform someone when exploring new areas. Remember to always keep your emergency contact information on you and instruct your children to do the same. Ensure kids sit in appropriate car seats and educate them on first-aid and emergency procedures. Avoid high-crime areas, especially at night. Teach safe wildlife behavior.

In conclusion, California is a fantastic destination for families. Follow these tips for a safe and enjoyable trip. Proper planning creates memories that last a lifetime. So, pack your bags and go to California!

More about our TFVG Author

Charmaine Cortes

California Tourist Information Welcome Centers

There are 21 California Tourist Information Centers available to assist the state’s visitors and travelers. They’re staffed with friendly people who are happy to provide suggestions for local attractions and accommodations. In support of California tourism, the centers are stocked with copies of the 2023 California Visitors Guide, as well as maps, coupons, and more. 

Also, if you’re planning to visit a specific California city but are unsure what’s located in the same vicinity, this California cities list can help your research.  Just locate the city you’re visiting on the alphabetical list, and then find other cities that are in the same area. 

You can also learn about the different California areas and what they have to offer by clicking on a navigation button at the top of this page.  Plus, there’s a handy California tourist map on the home page that sets out the state’s various areas for your trip inspiration and planning purposes.

Locations for the 21 brick-and-mortar centers are set out on this California Tourist Information Welcome Centers map , where from north to south you’ll find:

Anderson Welcome Center 1699 Hwy. 273 Anderson, CA 96007 (530) 365-1180 [email protected]

Truckee Welcome Center 10065 Donner Pass Road Truckee, CA 96161 (530) 587-8808 [email protected]

Auburn Welcome Center 1103 High Street, Suite 150 Auburn, CA 95603 (530) 887-2111 [email protected]

El Dorado Hills Welcome Center 2085 Vine Street, Suite 105 El Dorado Hills, CA 95762 (916) 358-3700 [email protected]

Santa Rosa Welcome Center 9 Fourth Street Santa Rosa, CA 95401 (800) 404-7673 [email protected]

Fairfield Welcome Center 1 Jelly Belly Lane Fairfield, CA 94533 (877) 793-7386 [email protected]

San Francisco Welcome Center PIER 39, Building “B” 2nd Level San Francisco, CA 94133 (415) 716-5897 [email protected]

Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center 2510 Highway 203 Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546 (760) 924-5500 [email protected]

Gilroy Welcome Center (in Gilroy Premium Outlets shopping center) 8155-6 Arroyo Circle Gilroy, CA 95020 (408) 842-6436 [email protected]

Salinas Welcome Center 1213 North Davis Road Salinas, CA 93907 (831) 757-8687 [email protected]

Pismo Beach Welcome Center 333 Five Cities Drive, #100 Pismo Beach, CA 93449 (805) 668-7354 [email protected]

Ridgecrest Welcome Center 880 N. China Lake Blvd. Ridgecrest, CA 93555 (760) 375-8202 [email protected]

Barstow Welcome Center 2796 Tanger Way, Suite 106 Barstow, CA 92311 (760) 253-4782 [email protected]

Yucca Valley Welcome Center 56711 Twentynine Palms Highway Yucca Valley, CA 92284 (760) 365-5464 [email protected]

Ontario Welcome Center (in Ontario Mills Mall) One Mills Circle, Suite 1054 Ontario, CA 91764 (909) 980-2019 [email protected]

Cabazon Welcome Center 48750 Seminole Drive, #100 Cabazon, CA 92230 (951) 922-3000 [email protected]

Los Angeles Welcome Center (in Citadel Outlets shopping center) 100 Citadel Drive, Suite 480 Los Angeles, CA 90040 (323) 888-1724 [email protected]

Torrance Welcome Center (in Del Amo Fashion Center – Main Level, Entrance #1) 3525 Carson Street Torrance, CA 90503 (424) 392-7495 [email protected]

San Clemente Welcome Center (in Outlets at San Clemente shopping center) 101 W Avenida Vista Hermosa #190 San Clemente, CA 92672 (949) 535-2323 [email protected]

Oceanside Welcome Center 928 North Coast Highway Oceanside, CA 92054 (760) 721-1101 [email protected]

San Diego Cross Border Express Welcome Center 2745 Ortay Pacific Drive San Diego, CA 92154 (619) 940-8101 [email protected]

Photo of California Welcome Center Sign by Shoshanah via flickr (Creative Commons); and Photo of Welcome to California Road Sign by formulaone via flickr (Creative Commons).

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