California Travel Guide

California is the number one most visited state in the U.S. and for good reason. Known for its sunny beaches, film-worthy cities, jaw-dropping coastline, world-class vineyards, and epic national parks, California is one of the most exciting places to travel on Earth. There’s truly something for everyone here.

If you love National Parks, California has more than any other state!

Discover unearthly landscapes in Death Valley, the towering monoliths of Yosemite, or the largest trees on Earth in Sequoia and Redwood National Parks. Road trippers can enjoy what is possibly the most scenic drive in the country along the Pacific Coast Highway. Wine connoisseurs should make a beeline for Napa, Sonoma, or Santa Barbara. For perfect beaches, head to sunny SoCal cities like San Diego or Malibu. And don’t miss a chance to explore major cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Destinations

death valley

redwoods

California Basics

State Nickname: Golden State

Capital City: Sacramento

Timezone: Pacific Standard & Pacific Daylight

Climate: Varies widely from arid desert to alpine tundra

Major Airports:
Los Angeles (LAX)
San Francisco (SFO)
San Diego (SAN)
Sacramento (SMF)
San Jose (SJC)
Oakland (OAK)

Local Cuisine: Cal-Mex burritos & tacos, California pizza, avocado toast, sourdough, seafood, In-N-Out

Notable Wildlife: Black bears, mountain lions, elk, bighorn sheep, zebras (yep, you read that right), rattlesnakes, seals, whales, sea otters, and other sealife

Fern Canyon in Redwood National & State Parks, California

Best Time to Visit

SUMMER
Summer brings large crowds to California’s cities and major attractions. The weather ranges from nearly perfect in southern cities like San Diego, to scorching in areas like Death Valley, to consistently foggy in San Francisco. Summer also marks the start of wildfire season on the West Coast.

AUTUMN
This is a lovely time to visit California. Early autumn can still be warm enough to enjoy the beaches, and temperatures throughout the rest of the state are generally comfortable. Wine country is at its peak in the fall, but for most other areas in California, autumn sees fewer crowds.

WINTER
Southern California has very mild, or even warm, winters. However, cities further north and some National Parks see cold weather and snow in the winter. This is a great time to visit California to avoid crowds.

SPRING
Spring is one of the best times to visit California for mild weather and before the busy tourist season begins. If you’re headed to Southern California, you might want to avoid visiting in the foggy months of May and June (known as May Gray and June Gloom).

california road trip playlists

Synthwave, Dream Pop, and Electropop genres combine to create a vibe inspired by LA nightlife and neo-noir films like Drive. Featuring artists like Billie Eilish, Cannons, The Marías, Massive Attack, and more.

Genres: Dream Pop, Synthwave, Electropop
Featured Artists: Billie Eilish, Cannons, St. Vincent, Suki Waterhouse, The Marías, Massive Attack, & more.

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The perfect playlist for your trip to Big Sur or the California Coast. The vibe is Retro Pop mixed with Blues Roots, Soft Indie, and a little bit of Feel Good Summer. Inspired by the Big Little Lies soundtrack and featuring artists such as Michael Kiwanuka, Leon Bridges, Alabama Shakes, and more.

Genre: Retro Pop, Blues Roots, Soft Indie
Featured Artists: Michael Kiwanuka, Leon Bridges, Alabama Shakes, Miya Folick, The Last Shadow Puppets, Fleetwood Mac, & more.

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Inspired by San Francisco's Summer of Love to create a Psychedelic Rock vibe. Featuring 1960s icons like Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, and The Zombies as well as modern artists like Tame Impala and The Claypool Lennon Delirium.

Genre: 1960s Rock, Modern Psychedelia
Featured Artists: Jefferson Airplane, The Zombies, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Sweetwater, Tame Impala, Mystic Braves & more.

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