Our California travel guide is written for travelers who want to eat and drink their way across our home state. California is almost too big for one trip, from Sierra peaks and giant sequoias to surf towns, wine country, and the desert, with some of the best food and wine in the country tying it all together. The trick is to choose your corner and go deep.
This guide covers where to go region by region, plus two ways Californians actually travel the state: wine country and the classic road trip. It’s built on a lifetime of living, eating, and driving here, not a guidebook.
Why Trust Us
California is home. Salt & Wind is based in the Eastern Sierra town of Mammoth Lakes; our team is Californian, and planning trips across the Golden State is one of the things we do most.
We’ve crisscrossed Highway 1, worked our way through the California national parks and the lesser-known state parks, and driven the desert roads and mountain passes, so the guidance here comes from firsthand experience. Our founder, Aida, still makes a point of hitting both Yosemite and Highway 1 every year.
We travel for the food and wine first and hold WSET Level 2 wine credentials, which come in handy in a state with more than 170 wine regions. Every hotel, restaurant, and experience we recommend is one we’ve been to in person or booked for clients, not one we pulled off a list. We design fully custom itineraries rather than resell packages, so our advice stays honest about what’s worth your time.
One note: California is vast, and seasons, wildfire conditions, and park access change through the year. Use this guide to shape your thinking, then confirm the details close to your trip, or let us do it for you.
Explore California by Region
California changes completely as you cross it, so we plan around regions. Here’s how each one is different and who it suits.
Far Northern California covers the wild top of the state, from the Mendocino coast and the towering redwoods to the remote Lost Coast. It’s for travelers who want dramatic coastline, old-growth forest, and far fewer crowds.
Sierra runs up California’s mountainous spine, from the granite of Yosemite and the alpine lakes of Tahoe to Mammoth and the wide-open Eastern Sierra. It’s the pick for hikers, skiers, and anyone chasing big nature and mountain-town calm.
Bay Area centers on San Francisco and reaches north to Marin, Point Reyes, and Tomales Bay. Come for a world-class food city, dramatic coast, and easy day trips (and hop over to Wine Country for nearby Napa and Sonoma).
Central Coast strings together Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara along Highway 1. It’s the most scenic stretch of coastline in the state and the heart of a classic road trip.
Southern California spans Los Angeles and the beaches down to San Diego, plus the desert escapes of Palm Springs and beyond. It’s sunshine, culture, and coast, with a great food scene in every city.
Explore California by Trip Type
Some of the best California trips are organized by theme rather than geography. These two guides cross the whole state:
California Wine Country is your home base for tasting across the state, from Napa and Sonoma to Paso Robles, Santa Ynez, Monterey, and the Sierra Foothills.
California Road Trips maps the state’s classic drives, from Highway 1 and the Pacific Coast to the Eastern Sierra byway and Gold Country.
Sample California Itineraries
The best California trips pick a lane rather than trying to see it all. A few routes our travelers love:
- The classic coast: Highway 1 from the Bay Area through Big Sur to Santa Barbara.
- Northern California food & wine: San Francisco, Napa, and Sonoma.
- Sierra & national parks: Yosemite, Mammoth, and Lake Tahoe.
- Southern California sun: Los Angeles, the desert of Palm Springs, and San Diego.
Each works on its own or as a building block for something longer. We tailor the pace, the lodging, and the reservations to how you like to travel.
California Food & Wine
California is a food-and-wine powerhouse, from farm-to-table dining and 400-plus specialty crops to more than 170 wine regions. Start with the iconic foods of California, the top California wine regions, and our wine tasting tips.
Planning Your California Trip
A good California trip starts with choosing your region and planning your drive. These guides cover the essentials:
California Travel FAQ
When is the best time to visit California?
It depends on the region. Late spring (May to June) and fall (September to October) are ideal statewide, with warm weather and thinner crowds. Summer is peak for the Sierra and the coast, winter is ski season in Tahoe and Mammoth, and the desert around Palm Springs is best from fall through spring.
How many days do you need in California?
Plan at least a week to do one region well, for example the Central Coast or the Bay Area plus wine country. Two weeks lets you combine a coastal drive with a national park or the desert without rushing. California is too big to see in a single trip, so we help travelers choose.
Do you need a car in California?
For most trips, yes. Outside of San Francisco, the best of California, national parks, the coast, wine country, is spread out and made for driving. A rental car (or private driver for wine country) is the norm.
Which part of California should I visit?
It depends on the trip you want. Far Northern California for the redwoods and wild coast, the Sierra for mountains and parks, the Bay Area for city and coast, the Central Coast for the classic Highway 1 drive, and Southern California for beaches, cities, and desert. Many trips combine two.
Is California expensive to visit?
It can be, but it spans every budget. Coastal cities and wine country run higher, while the Sierra, the desert, and inland towns offer better value. We build trips to match the experience you want at the budget you have.
Plan Your California Trip With Us
You’ve been inspired. Now let us do the heavy lifting. Book a complimentary Discovery Call and a Salt & Wind travel planner will map out a trip worth taking, plus a quote to make it happen. No cookie-cutter itineraries, no tourist traps. Start Planning →
Starting to plan? A few links we trust:
- Apartments: Use code SaltandWindTravel/AM when booking with Plum Guide.
- Hotels: Book high-quality stays at Booking.com.
- Tours: Book in-depth tours with Context Travel.
- Free Bucket List: Grab our California bucket list.
- Shop: See our favorite travel essentials.