California

Few things improve a California road trip faster than spotting steam rising against a mountain backdrop. The state’s…

By Abigail Cox · Jun 12

Some Los Angeles food landmarks survive on nostalgia alone. Philippe The Original keeps drawing crowds because the whole…

By Abigail Cox · Jun 11

California has no shortage of famous bakeries and dessert spots, but Marie’s Donuts in Sacramento has achieved something…

By Clara Peterson · Jun 9

California is famous for creative nightlife and themed dining experiences, but The Cauldron Spirits & Brews in Buena…

By Clara Peterson · Jun 9

California has a way of making even a simple day trip feel like you have wandered into another…

By Clara Peterson · Jun 6

If you think California is only surf towns, palm trees, and freeway exits, this list is about to…

By Clara Peterson · Jun 6

If you love the thrill of discovering music and movies in person, Amoeba Music in Hollywood feels almost…

By Clara Peterson · Jun 5

Streaming is easy, but it never delivers the little thrill of pulling into a lot, tuning your radio,…

By Abigail Cox · May 31

If your idea of a summer getaway involves mountain air, laid-back lake views, and enough quiet to hear…

By Clara Peterson · May 29

California is famous for dramatic coastlines and oversized landmarks, but its small towns are where the state really…

By Abigail Cox · May 22

California is packed with family hikes that feel far bigger than the effort required to finish them. One…

By Abigail Cox · May 21

If you think California’s redwood magic always comes with crowds, traffic, and packed boardwalks, Portola Redwoods State Park…

By Clara Peterson · May 15

If you think a hot dog is just a quick boardwalk snack, Japadog at the Santa Monica Pier…

By Clara Peterson · May 13

If you think you know swap meets, Anaheim Marketplace is ready to completely change your expectations. This massive…

By Abigail Cox · May 12

If you have ever driven through California’s Sierra foothills hoping to stumble onto a breakfast place that feels…

By Clara Peterson · May 12

If you think you can pop into Cannery Row Antiques Mall for a quick browse, think again. This…

By Abigail Cox · May 10

Some breakfasts are good, and some are the kind you keep thinking about all day. At Hank’s Creekside…

By Clara Peterson · May 7

There are pretty places, and then there are places that make you stop and wonder if what you’re…

By Abigail Cox · May 5

Some hikes demand effort, but this one wins you over almost immediately. At Muir Woods National Monument, the…

By Abigail Cox · May 5

California gets reduced to big-ticket icons so often that it is easy to forget how much of its…

By Clara Peterson · May 5

If you have been dreaming about a place where ocean views, pine forests, and storybook streets all meet,…

By Clara Peterson · May 5

Some California walks impress you for a few minutes, then fade from memory. The Moonstone Beach Boardwalk in…

By Clara Peterson · May 4

You do not expect to find a full-on Tuscan-style medieval castle rising out of Napa Valley wine country,…

By Abigail Cox · May 3

Tucked along the Central Coast of California, the Copper Cafe and Bakery at the legendary Madonna Inn in…

By Clara Peterson · May 3

Tucked into North Beach, The Stinking Rose turns garlic into a full-blown celebration, right down to its world-renowned…

By Clara Peterson · Apr 29

In a corner of Rocklin where Granite Drive hums awake before sunrise, there is a small shop that…

By Clara Peterson · Apr 23

Craving a golden, perfectly crisp fish fry with ocean air in your face? Malibu Seafood delivers that experience…

By Abigail Cox · Apr 21

Slip off the freeway and fall into that easy roadside rhythm where hot coffee, hearty plates, and familiar…

By Abigail Cox · Apr 21

Craving seafood that tastes like the coast itself—without the crowds or the hype? California’s best under-the-radar shacks deliver…

By Abigail Cox · Apr 20