Top California destinations include coastal towns in Southern California, romantic getaways, family vacations, great spas and other weekend spots.
Read MoreDay Trips in Southern California
Home to so many large urban centers, Southern California is also incredibly rich in diverse ecosystems that range from deserts to mountaintops.
Read MoreWeekend Getaways from San Diego
Browse relaxing spa resorts, beach hotels, golf getaways and city hotels, with driving times from San Diego.
Read MoreBest Weekend Getaways from Los Angeles
Plan a weekend trip from LA to one of these beautiful beaches, hotels, resorts, romantic inns and spas.
Read MorePlaces to Visit in Southern California
Whether you are looking for a relaxing beach holiday, action-packed adventures, historic attractions, or family fun, Southern California ticks all the boxes.
Read MoreThings to Do in Ventura, California
Ventura is a relaxed weekend destination with great beaches, restaurants and attractions.
Read MoreThings to Do in Southern California
If you are planning a vacation with many different things to do, family fun, as well as diverse history and art to discover and appreciate, then Southern California is the place to visit.
Read MoreRomantic Getaways in Southern California
Whether you are looking for a luxury hotel or an affordable cottage hideaway, there are many great choices in Southern California.
Read MoreDay Trips from San Diego
San Diego is an ideal springboard to the many and varied cities, beaches, national parks, and historic attractions of Southern California.
Read MoreDay Trips from Los Angeles
Plenty of excellent destinations are only a short drive away, including beautiful nature reserves, educational museums, and some of the best theme parks in the world.
Read MoreDay Trips from Orange County
Southern California’s Orange County offers some of the most beautiful coastline in the state, and a rich inland empire history centered on America’s second gold rush, the citrus industry.
Read MoreCalifornia Vacations
California felt like a long, unfolding breath. One coast, a thousand moods, fog rolling over cliffs, sunlight dripping through vineyards, desert wind humming against canyon walls. I remember driving with the windows down, the sky wide and weightless, and thinking, “This is where beauty meets you without trying.”
What stayed with me were the shifts: redwoods rising like cathedrals, a coffee cup warming my hands in a seaside town, the quiet of an empty trail just after rain. I wandered from tide pools to taco stands, mountain roads to city corners strung with lights, and I left feeling open—like California had invited me to stretch, to soften, to be.
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Whether you’re dreaming of coastal drives, quiet beaches, high desert stillness, or slow mornings in small towns that feel like postcards, these guides gather the California that lingered with me, spacious, soulful, and always lit with something golden.