TRAVEL GUIDE: CALIFORNIA

Downtown L.A.; The Golden Gate Bridge; The California coastline

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

Tahoe

Ventura County

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

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
Historic Mission Inn
Hyatt Carmel Highlands
Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa
Rancho Las Palmas Resort
Terranea Resort
Miyako Hybrid Hotel
The Resort at Pelican Hill
Miramonte Resort & Spa
Hotel La Jolla
Montage Laguna Beach
Parker Palm Springs

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.

STAYCATIONS
Top 10 Getaways from San Francisco
Take a little trip without the hassle of long-distance travel and airports. Take a train or hop in the car and getaway for a weekend to any of these nearby destinations.

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.

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

Guides for other parts of the world

(Updated: 10/25/10 CT)

TOP ROMANTIC DESTINATIONS

When you're in love, there's a desire to share it with the world, and it's a big world out there. From Aspen, Colorado to Venice, Italy, here are some of the most romantic destinations on the planet where you can create enough memories to last a lifetime.

BUSINESS IN SAN DIEGO

Beautiful San Diego, with its famous beaches, is enjoying a booming economy and thriving tourism industry. Find out everything you need to know about where to stay, where to eat, what to do and how to get around in this sunny seaside city.