Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, Fort Bragg in Northern California

California

Travelers to California visit its wine regions, cities, beaches, mountains, lakes, amusement parks, and historic sites. Snowy ski areas and warm deserts bring winter visitors, surfing and water sports attract summer vacationers, and national parks including Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Death Valley, and Redwood are year-round attractions. From the cliffs of Big Sur to the farms of the Central Coast and the shores of San Diego, California is a vacation destination for all.

One of Our Favorite Hotels in California

One of Our Favorite Hotels in California

A lake surrounded by trees in autumn and distant hills
This Cozy Mountain Town Is California's Perfect Fall Getaway—and It's the 'Apple Capital of Southern California'
Scenic view of a forested area in autumn with mountains in the distance
I've Visited California for 20 Years—and This Mountain Town Is the Best Place to See Fall Foliage
A coastal view featuring Morro Rock a prominent volcanic plug in Morro Bay visible from the road and beach
It’s Whale-watching Season in California—This Small Town on the Central Coast Is the Best Place to See Them
View of Santa Catalina Island showing Avalon Bay filled with boats and the surrounding hillside town
This Destination Is Known as the ‘Caribbean of California'—With Turquoise Waters, Snorkeling, and a Mediterranean Climate
Hotel balcony with outdoor seating and view of palm trees a dome structure and the ocean in the background
This Laid-back Surf Town in Northern California Is Getting a Brand-new Hotel With Stunning Ocean Views, a Rooftop Deck, and 4 Restaurants
Street scene in Carmel California with storefronts and pedestrians
This Travel Pro Swears By This Charming Coastal California Town For a Perfect Fall Getaway
A vintage car parked near a white building with palm trees in a sunny street corner
This Is California’s ‘Last Great Beach Town’—and It Has One of the Most Peaceful Beaches in the State With No Crowds
A colorful painted hillside adorned with religious and inspirational text surrounded by decorative buckets and colorful details
This Tiny Desert Town Was Just Named the Best in the U.S.—and It's Surrounded by Hot Springs, Hiking Trails, and Great Mexican Food
Aerial view of a coastal city with a long pier extending into the ocean hills visible in the background beach and buildings in foreground
This Beach Town Is California's Best-kept Secret, According to a Local—and It Has a Taco District and Easy Access to One of the State's Best National Parks
A scenic building surrounded by a vineyard and garden paths
13 Best Small Towns in California, According to Locals and Experts
A fruit tree growing in an openair underground garden with stone walls and a gridded metal roof above
You Can Find an Underground Garden in California—and It Has Hand-carved Caves and Blooming Citrus Trees
Outdoor view of a modern villa resort with a water feature and cactus landscaping at sunset
This New 10-acre Desert Escape Has Private Pools, Sleek Villas, and Concierge Service—and Its Just Minutes From Joshua Tree
Scenic coastal bridge with an adjacent road spanning cliffs over a beach with ocean waves
I Live in California and This Is the Most Underrated Part of the State—With a Stunning Stretch of Highway
Two streetcars on a track near San Francisco Ferry Building with clock tower people nearby
This City Was Just Named California's Most Expensive Tourist Destination—but Here's How to Visit on a Budget
A coastal view with a bridge extending alongside a beach and ocean
This Is California’s Most Underrated Road Trip—and It Travels the State’s Oldest Highway
A serene lake with a hill in the background, surrounded by grass and trees
I've Visited Southern California for 20+ Years—and This Is the Most Charming Small Town in the Region
San Luis Obispo in California
I’ve Visited California’s Central Coast for 20 Years—and This Is the Most Charming Small Town in the Region
A group or people river rafting.
This Little-known California River Has Some of the Country’s Best Rafting—Here’s What You Need to Know
Garlic display at a festival with a large garlic sculpture, surrounded by crates of garlic bulbs and under tented structures
The Largest Garlic Festival in the World Is Back—and Yes, There's Still Garlic Ice Cream
Beachfront view with buildings and a pier, a coastline spanning into the distance
This Southern California Beach Has the Highest Bacteria Rates in the State—and It's One of the Dirtiest in the U.S.
A scenic coastal highway bordered by mountains on one side and the ocean on the other
This Scenic Coastal Route in California Is Open Again After the Wildfires—but There Are Rules for Drivers to Follow
Sabrina Carpenter near a dressing room setup with a chair labeled Sabrina and clothing racks
You Can Live Out Your Pop Star Dreams With Sabrina Carpenter Thanks to a New Airbnb Experience—but You Have to Act Fast
Street and city buildings with mountains in the background in Riverside, California
California Is Under a 2-day Heat Advisory—What to Know About the Severe Weather Conditions
A scenic resort in a mountainous area with a pool surrounded by forest and overlooking a valley
This All-inclusive Luxury Resort in Big Sur, California, Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Just Got a Major Refresh
Alcatraz Island viewed from the water
Trump Wants to Turn Alcatraz Into a Working Prison—but Here's Why It'll Remain a National Landmark
An outdoor pool area with lounge chairs umbrellas and desert mountains in the background
A New Hotel Near California's Joshua Tree National Park Has 65 Impressive, Steel-frame Units Built to Look Like Shipping Containers
A walkway inside Crystal Cave displaying stalactites and stalagmites, located in Sequoia National Park
A Famous Site in California's Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Is Reopening in May For the First Time Since 2023
Sunset at cypress point lookout, 17 mile drive near Carmel, California
7 Best State Parks in California—Including a ‘Mini Yosemite’ and an Ancient Redwood Forest
view of flowers in the foreground and in the background a windmill with blue sky
These 8 Small Towns in California Look and Feel Just Like Europe—From a Danish Village to the Rocky Coastline of England
Aerial view of Montage Healdsburg
This Wine Country Resort Feels Like a Modern Treehouse—and It Has Vineyard Yoga, Grazing Goats, and Gorgeous Valley Views
Poolside lounge chairs and umbrellas set against a sunset with a scenic backdrop and fencing
L.A.’s Favorite Ski Town Just Got a New Hotel—and It Has Cute Midcentury Modern Design, Lakeside Views, and the Best Pizza Restaurant on the Mountain
A woman standing by the seashore.
California's Central Coast Has a New Marine Sanctuary—and It Protects Important Species Like Sea Otters, Blue Whales, and Abalone
Outdoor scene with wooden barn, white tower structure, chairs around a fire pit, and palm trees on grass
Travel + Leisure Readers' 15 Favorite Resorts in California of 2025
An aerial view of the historic Hotel del Coronado, situated by the Pacific Ocean, featuring its iconic red rooftops and surrounding palm trees
One of California’s Most Iconic Hotels, on Coronado Island, Has a Private Beach, 5 Neighborhoods, and a Nobu Restaurant—and It Just Got a $550-million Renovation
Aerial view of Mustard Blossoms in Napa Valley
California's Iconic Wine Region Is Covered in Bright Yellow Flowers Right Now — Here's How to See Them
Coastal resort with white buildings and cliffs
T+L's First In Review of The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara
Glamping Accommodations at Ventana Campground in Big Sur, California
24 Best Places to Go Glamping in California—Including Vintage Airstreams and Tiny Cabins
People interacting with Baymax at the Hamada Bot Shop setting
Disney Has Asian American Culture Hidden in Plain Sight—How to Find the Best Eats, Experiences, and More
Sierra Nevada Mountains, Sierra Nevada Range, Fall colors, Eastern Sierra's Fall, Fall with water, lake with boats, red canoe on lake, Crystal Crag, Twin Lakes - Mammoth Lakes
I've Lived in California My Whole Life — and These Are the Most Affordable Destinations in the Golden State
An outdoor area with multiple tents surrounded by trees and paths
This New Northern California Resort Has 40 Chic Glamping Tents Amid Towering Redwoods, a Swim Club, and Its Own Natural Wine
View of Salt Creek Beach, in Dana Point, Orange County, California
A Local's Guide to the Best Beach Towns in California—With Epic Surfing, Beloved Seafood Restaurants, and Storybook Charm
Rooftop pool with lounge chairs, umbrellas, and plants, surrounded by city views
There’s a Mini-Vegas in Downtown L.A. You Didn’t Know About—Here’s a Look Inside
Interior of the Ruth Bancroft Garden
This Tiny California Garden Was Named the Most Beautiful in the World
Living room with wood furniture and built-in bookshelves, decorative fireplace, and patterned wallpaper
First In: T+L's Review of Hotel Wren in Twentynine Palms, California
Woman on the beach, Ten Bay beach, Eleuthera island, Bahamas.
This Stunning U.S. Beach Has the Calmest Waters on Earth, New Report Finds
View of the Grand Californian Hotel with Disneyland Monorail passing by, depicting the exterior and surrounding greenery
I've Been Going to Disneyland for Over 30 Years and This Is Its Best Hotel—Here's Why
Alila Vineyard in Napa Valley
This Semi-private Jet Company Has a New Route to Napa Valley—and Fares Start at $189
Entrance to a desert hot springs hotel in California
3 Friends Found a Crumbling Resort in California and Brought It (and an Entire Town) Back to Life
View of vineyard
How to Plan the Perfect Trip to Healdsburg, California
JSX private plane
This Semi-private Jet Company Just Launched a New Route Between 2 Popular Summer Destinations—and Fares Start at $259
Overhead view of dishes served at Mattei's Tavern
America's Best Small Food and Culture Town Is Just 2.5 Square Miles — With 27 Wineries, New Bars and Restaurants, and a Gorgeous Luxury Hotel
A crowd at a festival during sunset
California's 'City of Festivals' Gets 348 Days of Sunshine a Year—Here Are the Best Things to Do There
Mount Shasta standing above beauitful Lake Siskiyou
I've Lived in California My Whole Life — and These Are the Best Mountain Towns in the State
Southern California beach with Santa Monica pier in background
17 Best Beaches in Southern California
Cabins and fire pit
You Can Stay in a Forest Cabin on the Doorstep of One of America’s Best National Parks — Here’s What It’s Like
Exterior of Farmhouse Inn
This Gorgeous Boutique Hotel in Sonoma County, California, Has Fireside Wine Tastings Every Day and Freshly Baked Cookies Every Night
San Francisco, California
This California City Was Named the Culinary Capital of the U.S. — Here's Why
Boardwalk in Venice Beach
Once Excluded From Beaches, This Is How L.A.’s Black Surf Community Is Reclaiming the Waves
Horses at Greenhorn Ranch
You Can Get a True 'Yellowstone’ Experience at This California Dude Ranch With Horses, a Saloon, and Western-inspired Chef-crafted Meals
Aqua Viva lounge space at the Conrad Los Angeles hotel
There Are 20,000 Free Hotel Rooms for L.A. Wildfire Evacuees From Hilton and American Express — How to Apply