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Written by Cheyenne Bradley
The land of dreamers, sunshine, movie magic and innovation, California, or “the Golden State” as it’s known, is the ultimate playground. With vibrant beaches filled with street performers and surfers, multicultural flavours of Mexican, East Asian and European influence and action-packed sports arenas, California holds the world in one place.
In California, culture pulses through every street. Stalls of fresh fruit and sizzling taco stands sit along boardwalks where surfing is a way of life. California promises endless adventure, and the state is also home to the most national parks in the whole of the US.
This is where towering mountains meet venerable wine production, and the glamour of celebrity meets traditional cattle ranches; California is awe-inspiring and for everyone. From the bright lights of Los Angeles to the picturesque San Luis Obispo, California invites you to join in on the sun-soaked optimism it is so famous for.
Here is our insider California guide to help you plan your next escape.
Why you need to visit California
World-class beaches
The sunny optimism surrounding California beaches is unlike anywhere else. Over 1,350 kilometres of sand are filled with shops, food stalls, dancers and beach volleyballers. At Huntington Beach, known as Surf City USA, waves break around the pier, while hordes of surfers, surf schools, and even dogs catch consistent waves. Surfing is a religion here.
Walk past the “End of the Trail” Route 66 sign at Santa Monica Beach to find a pier of rides, gift shops and diners. Freshly squeezed lemonade is sold to those in line for one of 12 rides. Boardwalk cafes, gift shops, budding musicians and street performers make a thriving atmosphere at Venice Beach, home to Venice Skate Park and the famous Muscle Beach, where the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger have trained.
Revered wine country
As the world’s fourth-largest wine producer with some of America’s most celebrated wine regions, California is synonymous with world-renowned pours. Responsible for roughly 81 per cent of wine production in the United States, coastal hills and inland valleys provide unique growing conditions, meaning the state cultivates over 100 grape varieties. Cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay are California’s stars, both bold and fruit-forward – a staple for the industry.
Napa Valley, home to over 400 wineries, is renowned for cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay and merlot. Sextant Wines in Paso Robles’ pinot and chardonnay have a crème brulee finish, and the Kamal Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon beat a $250,000 pour in a blind-tasting competition.
Celebrity culture
California is synonymous with chasing big dreams. A place of new beginnings and opportunity, the concept of the “California Dream” has long represented ambition and fame. Hollywood, since the early 1900s, has been flocked to by those following their film and television dreams. Today, it’s the heart of the industry – home to film studios, record labels and award shows.
It is easy to be starstruck by the sheer celebrity of it all, as A-listers shop at local grocers, lounge in dive bars and cheer alongside passionate fans at a packed, electrifying LA Lakers NBA game. With Los Angeles immortalised in film and television, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame quite literally at your feet, a trip to California guarantees a brush with celebrity.
Where to stay in California
Dream Hollywood, by Hyatt
Located between Sunset and Hollywood Boulevards, this movie-worthy stay feels at the centre of it all. The rooftop pool and restaurant boast views of the Hollywood sign, Los Angeles skyline and mountains. Rooms light orange with sunset, and under the festoons of Dream Rooftop the short rib/brisket blend burger steals the show.
Madonna Inn
A legend in San Luis Obispo, over-the-top eccentric charm and quirkiness are celebrated here. Resembling a castle, each room is uniquely themed. The restaurant fills with customers dressed up, matching the extravagant vibrant chandeliers and pink velvet seats, as they savour a large slice of the famous and fluffy pink Champagne cake.
Vespera Resort on Pismo Beach, Autograph Collection
Sitting on what feels like an undiscovered stretch of Pismo Beach, this coastal beach-house-like haven is the perfect place to unwind. The smell of crisp, fresh sea air is the first thing you’ll notice, followed by relaxing music echoing from the pool overlooking serene waters.
Sandbourne Santa Monica, Autograph Collection
Steps from the famous Santa Monica Beach and pier, this feels like a quintessentially Californian hotel: palm trees line the entrance to coastal-inspired grand white exteriors and golden orange interiors. The pool looks out to the beach, making for a stay that emphasises sun, sand and sea.
Hyatt Regency San Francisco
An ultra-modern, expansive lobby and glass elevators lead to rooms with exceptional bay views in the heart of the Financial District. Part of the San Francisco skyline since 1973, everything here feels grand – the rooms, the views and a rotating rooftop lounge.
Kimpton Alton Fisherman’s Wharf, an IHG Hotel
Overlooking Fisherman’s Wharf, this upscale stay is home to ABACÁ, a contemporary Filipino-Californian restaurant, which created the yuzu flat white, the best coffee in San Francisco. Inspired by Australian coffee, the black cardamom balances the yuzu’s sweetness, and the white chocolate shines so all ingredients are heightened.
Where to eat and drink in California
Ka’teen
To eat fresh food drawing inspiration from the Yucatán Peninsula, diners walk into what feels like a jungle hidden in a dimly lit corner of Hollywood glowing with fireplaces. Hand-picked by local farmers, the esquites (Mexican street corn salad) are creative – smothered in a thick coconut cream instead of butter for a creamy, lasting flavour. A local favourite in LA.
peasants FEAST
A warm welcome makes it clear that this family-run restaurant is inspired by Solvang’s tight-knit community. Full of heart, farm-to-table comfort food includes the local butternut squash soup starter, which is smooth and cosy. Alongside a freshly squeezed lemonade, the mac and cheese is wonderfully crunchy, covered in herbed breadcrumbs.
Sextant Wines
Patio tastings with large, fresh salads feel like you’re in a family backyard, but set among acres of vineyards in California’s Central Coast. The 100-year-old general store perfects the Sextant Bar, a sweet treat like a smore, but a brownie of gooey, warm butterscotch. The Kamal Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is inventive, with complex layers of fruit and earthy flavours.
Superba Food + Bread
The smell of fresh bread fills the air at this Los Angeles cafe, whose creed is that food is made to be shared. A cold, sweet Spanish latte in hand, the choice of warm butter and salt, charred eggplant, fresh cheese or smoked trout bread becomes a delicious dilemma. One of the best places to eat in LA.
Dalida
Chefs Laura and Sayat Ozyilmaz’s multicultural roots inspire an elevated Eastern Mediterranean menu that leaves a lasting impression at this San Franciscan joint. The octopus and sujuk is briny and bold, cooked, pressed and sliced. They’ve also perfected a 12-hour lamb shoulder tandoor that is a showstopper; it’s next-level fall-apart tender.
Bar Shoji
The long line of locals outside this chic Japanese bar in San Francisco is a testament to how well it celebrates the bay’s diverse food scene. The Noguchii cocktail stars a smooth wagyu-washed Japanese whisky and pairs with edamame covered in lots of spicy garlic, and a beef brisket burger served on a sizzling cheese fondue plate.
Things to do in California
Take a Lowrider tour of Los Angeles
In the passenger seat of a baby blue 1964 Impala Lowrider, smooth leather, open skies and a premium sound system set the tone for a timeless, low-to-the-ground tour through Los Angeles. Cruise in style with Lowrider Tours through Venice and Santa Monica Beach, along Rodeo Drive and into Beverly Hills.
Hike the Hollywood sign
Although the Hollywood sign towers over Los Angeles, hiking trails through Griffith Park are quiet and relaxing. Sage and wildflowers scent the air as you pass goats, art installations and mansions. At the summit, Los Angeles looks back at you, and it feels like you’re on top of the world.
Take a horseback ride at Santa Margarita Ranch
Creek crossings and open mountains on horseback resemble stepping straight into the Old West. At the family-run Central Coast Trailrides, a friendly horse waits for you at the 14,000-acre working cattle Santa Margarita Ranch. Gallop wide fields and golden hills alongside deer, wild turkey, cows and scurrying squirrels.
Bike across the Golden Gate Bridge
It’s windy, but breathtaking views of San Francisco, Alcatraz Island and the Pacific Ocean make biking the Golden Gate Bridge worth it. There’s no shortage of e-bike rentals at Blazing Saddles, so pedal through the beachfront Crissy Field, journey atop the giant and end at the charming waterfront town of Sausalito.
Catch the show Dear San Francisco
An acrobatic circus show, Dear San Francisco is a high-flying, emotional love letter to the city at the historic Club Fugazi. An intimate audience gasps at stunts as dancers perform cirque-style flips in what feels like a revolutionary storytelling of how San Francisco, known for its welcoming culture, shaped them.
Explore Sensorio
When the sun sets in Paso Robles, Sensorio lights up. Colourful pathways and local orchestral pieces blend art, technology and nature at California’s largest immersive art exhibition. One of seven exhibits, at Field of Light, 100,000 solar-powered lights mimic colourful desert wildflowers over rolling hills, for a dreamy and magical night.
Interact with robots
In Los Angeles and San Francisco, it’s like living in the future, ordering a self-driving car and getting food delivered by a beeping robot. Home to tech genius and innovation, it feels normal to locals.
The newest addition, Waymo, is nerve-wracking until it isn’t. The self-driving white Jaguars, with roof racks of cameras and spinning sensors, are robot-powered and unlocked by a few taps on your phone. Beginning as an experiment to make roads safer without human error, public rides began in 2024. Now, they’re everywhere, and provide a glimpse into what may be possible worldwide one day.
As the wheel turns on its own, it’s surreal not having a driver. A screen shows you a map of the ride, and sensors include figures representing pedestrians on and off the sidewalk. You’d be right to be cautious, but after the Waymo slows over speed bumps and never speeds, you become convinced of the natural driving and safety of the ride.
On sidewalks, food delivery robots beep through crowds, using sensors and artificial intelligence to deliver food with the goal of sustainability and convenience. With names and faces, they’ve become a part of the urban landscape, a glimpse into what the future of technology could do for us.
The best time to go to California
Spring (March – May)
Spring is paradise for the outdoorsy type. When temperatures warm, the “super bloom” is what locals rave about, as hillsides transform with vibrant colours of blossoming desert flowers. Palm Springs feels like summer, and a scorching sun hits Coachella and Stagecoach festivals. Flowers bloom over San Francisco’s Lombard Street, and streets are bustling with noise as the California mid-state fair in Paso Robles draws visitors from all over.
Fall (September – November)
Fall brings mild mornings, warm days and crisp evenings. Known as “crush” season, vineyards buzz as workers race to pick grapes at peak ripeness. When you’re not hearing the crunch of leaves at your feet, “trick or treat” echoes the streets through October, and the smell of pumpkin pie oozes from windows during Thanksgiving. Beaches and wineries are as busy as ever. Sports lovers thrive, with the NFL in full swing and NBA and NHL seasons beginning.
Winter (December – February)
California’s temperatures drop to varying degrees in winter. Deep snow in Lake Tahoe and Sierra Nevada creates ideal skiing conditions. Yosemite National Park becomes a magical blanket of snow. Sunshine persists through rainy moments in Santa Barbara, Pismo Beach and Palm Springs. Oceans bring more swell, but surfers remain. Christmas cheer and ice-skating rinks light up cities, and migrating grey whales come ashore for birthing along coastlines.
Summer (June – August)
Summer in California is something to behold. The weather is hot and dry, but that doesn’t stop mountain trail hikers. As days lengthen, beachgoers thrive. Food stalls selling chili-covered mangoes are plenty, and surfers are dotted along shores. June Gloom brings dense morning fog from the ocean, but by mid-morning the sun shines. Fourth of July celebrations mean fireworks light up entire cities, with roars of Americans sounding like a chorus.
How to have a family holiday in California
California feels custom-made for family road trips. The best way to see California is on the open road with its blend of laid-back towns and bustling cities for the family to enjoy. In just one day, watch the sun rise over the ocean, wander through vineyards at a world-class winery and explore lush national parks.
In Los Angeles, cruise along palm-lined streets before journeying up the coast. On the wide open road, Santa Barbara is a 1.5 hour drive away. Wrapped in red-tiled roofs, it has a Mediterranean feel with small-world charm.
Just 40 minutes up the coast is the Danish Capital of America, Solvang. Windmills and cobblestone streets might make you mistake it for a sun-drenched corner of Denmark. Kids will delight in the tasty butter cookies from Olsen’s Danish Village Bakery and enjoy a ride through town on the Solvang Trolley.
Driving up the 101, as El Camino Real mission bells line the historic route, the air fills with the smell of the salty freshness from Pismo Beach. A coastal hideaway, this expansive stretch of quiet beach makes for a relaxing stay. Thursday nights host over 100 vendors at the five-block-long San Luis Obispo Farmers’ Market. Humble Oven’s wood-fired pizza stall serves a mouthwatering sliced focaccia and a homemade ranch dip. With no drive-through establishments, San Luis Obispo relishes in the old-school with historic charm and slow living. The nearby Paso Robles is a hidden gem of over 200 wineries.
Two hours north is the coastal town of Monterey, perfect for a fresh seafood lunch at Paluca Trattoria on Old Fisherman’s Wharf, where the television show Big Little Lies was filmed. Another two-hour picturesque drive between redwoods and mountains leads to San Francisco. Entry is windy and steep, but this iconic city provides the grand finale for an unforgettable family road trip.
