TRAVEL GUIDE: CALIFORNIA

Downtown L.A.; Alexander Valley in Sonoma; Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs

With a size and economy that exceeds many countries, it's no wonder that one state can offer so much. California encompasses ocean, mountains and desert and plays home to celebrities, laid-back beach lovers and nearly everyone in-between. Come for the Golden Gate Bridge, the Hollywood sign or even the weather. The Gold Rush may long be over, but California will always beckon you west.

Central Coast

Orange County

San Diego

Los Angeles

Palm Springs

San Francisco

Monterey/Carmel

Sacramento

San Jose

Napa/Sonoma

Santa Barbara

Ventura County

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RESTAURANTS

DINING GUIDE
Restaurant Reviews Statewide
Browse our extensive restaurant listings in cities throughout the state to find the best dining in California. It’s all in the details as you read about our favorite cafés, bistros, dining rooms and other fine eateries.
See also Top 10 Lists for select cities
Save Money Dining Out

HOTELS

LIVING IT UP: HOTELS CALIFORNIA
We offer professional reviews and ratings of hundreds of hotels in the Golden State, so you can enjoy the perfect stay:

Central Coast
Los Angeles Area
Monterey/Carmel
Napa/Sonoma
Orange County
Palm Springs
Sacramento
San Diego
San Francisco/Bay Area
San Jose
Santa Barbara
Ventura County

Four Seasons Resort, The Biltmore Santa Barbara

IN-DEPTH HOTEL PROFILES
From seaside fantasies in Santa Barbara to mingling with chic locals in Santa Monica or snowshoeing in Mammoth Lakes, we feature in-depth reviews of California's best, most stylish and luxurious properties—and the occasional off-the-radar oddball:

FEATURED HOTELS
The Huntington Hotel & Nob Hill Spa
Hotel Bel-Air
JW Marriott San Francisco
PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn
The Grand Del Mar
Hotel Los Gatos
The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay
Fairmont Newport Beach
Four Seasons Westlake Village
Lake Arrowhead Resort & Spa
Sofitel Los Angeles
Historic Mission Inn
The Fairmont San Francisco

Read more California hotel profiles

TRAVEL

BUSINESS TRAVEL GUIDES
Got meetings in L.A.? A conference in Anaheim? Business in Sacramento? Read our Business Travel Guides and arrive knowing everything there is to know about restaurants, hotels and off-the-clock diversions, all with the business traveler in mind:

Anaheim/Orange County
Los Angeles
Sacramento
San Diego
San Francisco

More Business Travel Guides

72-HOUR VACATIONS
Wine tasting in Napa, Paso Robles or Temecula. Hiking in Yosemite. Foodie adventures in San Francisco. Skiing in Big Bear. Fun in the sun in San Diego. Whatever your chosen travel destination, California offers something for every kind of traveler, and our 72-hour itineraries guide you to the best sights, restaurants, hotels and everything else you need to know before planning a trip:

Big Bear Lake
Disneyland
Laguna Beach
Los Angeles
Monterey Peninsula
Napa Valley
Newport Beach
Palm Springs
Paso Robles
Sacramento
San Diego
San Francisco
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Wine Country
Sonoma County
Temecula
Ventura & Ojai
Yosemite

More 72-Hour Vacations

CLOSE ESCAPES
Top 10 Getaways from Los Angeles
Looking for a quick escape without having to board a plane? These nearby destinations, from the mountains to the desert, can be easily reached from L.A. by car or train.

TRAVEL SPECIAL
Gaia Napa Valley Golf Getaways
Play at one of Napa Valley's finest golf courses and stay at America's greenest hotel with these two golf packages from Gaia Napa Valley Hotel & Spa, the first LEED Gold hotel in the country.

More Travel Special

TOP 10 ROMANTIC DESTINATIONS
California Wine Country
What could be more romantic than savoring a glass of Chardonnay, cycling through vast vineyards or taking a dawn hot-air balloon ride through Northern California’s wine country? Though beautiful year-round, you'll find yourself especially enchanted in fall, when the region displays its autumn finery.

TRAVEL OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
Shasta Cascade
Enjoy this outdoor enthusiast's haven minus the crowds and need for advance permits. Revel in snow-capped mountains, unspoiled forests, crystal clear lakes and scenic rivers.

Mountain Bike Around Mt. Shasta

Planning a vacation to California? Check out www.visitcalifornia.com

Guides for other parts of the world

* Banner images courtesy of the California Travel & Tourism Commission. From left to right: Downtown L.A. by Anthony Arendt Photography / DRR.net; Alexander Valley in Sonoma County by Gary Crabbe/ DRR.net; Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs.

(Updated: 09/04/09 SG)

72 HOURS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

America's capital city might have started out a swamp, but now it's a destination for tourists and heads of state alike. Whether you're here to inspect the Constitution or to check out artifacts from the first Apollo mission, we'll help you fit it all in.

BUSINESS IN SEATTLE

Once a relatively isolated provincial town, Seattle is now recognized worldwide as the home of high-tech and as a gateway to Asian trade centers. From the charm of its 100-year-old Pike Place Market to its striking steel-and-glass central library, the city lures many a business visitor back as a tourist.

TRAVEL GUIDE: CALIFORNIA

72 HOURS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

BUSINESS IN SEATTLE

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