Nathan Yan / Stocksy United
California
Twinkling cities, misty redwood forests, sun-kissed beaches, a creative local food scene and an adventurous attitude: California is instantly captivating.
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Attractions
Must-see attractions for your itinerary
Yosemite & the Sierra Nevada
Yosemite means "killer" in the Indigenous Miwok language, and in today's parlance it's indeed an impressive, awesome site. Everywhere you look in Yosemite…
San Francisco
When Frederick Law Olmsted, architect of New York's Central Park, gazed in 1865 upon the plot of land San Francisco Mayor Frank McCoppin wanted to turn…
Los Feliz & Griffith Park
With eyes on both the galaxy above and palm-flanked boulevards below, the Griffith Observatory hovers above LA like a hulking spacecraft. This is one of…
The Haight & Hayes Valley
Was it the fall of 1966 or the winter of ’67? As the Haight saying goes, if you can remember the Summer of Love, you probably weren’t here. The fog was…
North Beach & Chinatown
If you look close today at the clinker-brick buildings lining these narrow backstreets, past the temple balconies jutting out over bakeries, acupuncture…
North Beach & Chinatown
No one could have predicted the cultural force City Lights would become when it first opened in 1953. Sure, it had a proletarian ethos suggested by its…
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
When the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art expanded in 2016, it was a mind-boggling feat that nearly tripled the institution's size to accommodate a…
North Beach & Chinatown
If you want to really see San Francisco, head to Coit Tower, a 1933 art deco beaut designed by Arthur Brown, Jr. and Henry Howard that sits high up on…
Planning Tools
Expert guidance to help you plan your trip
Best Things to Do
California has a reputation for sunshine, beaches and palm trees, but there's much more to see in the Golden State. Here are California's top things to do.
Read articleThings to Know
California's sun-drenched parks, beaches and cities are a huge draw for tourists but where to begin? Here's what you need to know before you go.
Read articleTransportation
California may be besotted with cars but that's not the only way to see the Golden State. Here's everything you need to know about getting around California.
Read articleMoney and Costs
California has a lot to offer travelers and unfortunately, the price tag to match. But there are ways to visit on a budget if you know how!
Read articleBest Road Trips
These ultimate California road trips take you from sea to mountains and through desert and redwoods.
Read articleArticles
Latest stories from California
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Destination Practicalities
11 things you need to know before visiting CaliforniaSep 14, 2023 • 6 min read
Destination PracticalitiesEverything you need to know about getting around CaliforniaSep 14, 2023 • 11 min read
ActivitiesThe best things to do in California that no one has told you about yetSep 9, 2023 • 7 min read
Train TravelLos Angeles to San Francisco by sleeper train? It's happening in 2024May 4, 2023 • 4 min read
Guidebooks
Purchase our award-winning guidebooks
Get to the heart of California with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.
