Tagged: california

How to Avoid Traffic at Yosemite National Park's Entrances

After years of keeping traffic and crowds under control, California's Yosemite National Park has once again become a nightmare to visit, and federal mismanagement is clearly to…

The Best U.S. National Parks to Visit in Summer

Which of the USA’s national parks are at their best in summer?Not all of them. Some get overcrowded and others get overheated (or overcrowded and overheated). If you're looking to…

One Week in Northern California: From Lake Tahoe to San Francisco via Yosemite

California’s coastal Highway 1 gets all the attention (and the tourists), but U.S. Highway 395 may be California’s best-kept road trip secret. This 1-week itinerary follows an open…

Bonkers for Chonkers? Where and When to Spot San Francisco's Sea Lion Celeb

In our era of widespread GLP-1 use, plus-size celebrities have become a rare species. But a breakout star in San Francisco is bucking the trend.An enormous sea lion nicknamed Chonkers…

What's the Cheapest National Park Trip to Take This Year?

The cost of plane tickets is on the rise, thanks to spiking oil prices caused by the war in Iran. Throw in other economic woes such as stubbornly high inflation, and you've got several…

These Pictures of Vintage Motels Will Make You Want to Plan an All-American Road Trip ASAP

After years of having the word "seedy" attached to them as a matter of course, American motels have undergone a renaissance over the last decade or so, writes Ellie Seymour in Vintage…

Exploring Santa Ynez Valley's Wineries—The Personal Way: Review of Sustainable Wine Tours

John, a 30-something Peter Gallagher look-alike and cellar master of Dove Cote Winery, was trying to paint a word picture of how vintners separate wine from its sediment during the…

Best Nude Beaches in the U.S. Revealed

The best nude beach in the United States, according to a recent ranking, is a scoop of sand along California's rugged Big Sur coastline, where the scenery is so stunning it could even…

These Spectacular National Park Photos Remind Us Why Public Lands Are Worth Preserving

Drastic funding and staffing cuts recently affecting the National Park Service suggest that some folks, particularly those currently running the U.S. government, could use a reminder…

From Tarantino's Private Stash to Graveyard Parties, Los Angeles' Movie Screenings Are Worth Traveling For

Seeing a movie in L.A. can be a singular experience—after all, it's the headquarters of American cinema. Because so many people in Los Angeles make movies themselves, revival…

LAX Finally Gets Metro Service: How to Use It to Reach LA

Flying into LAX can feel like landing in a much poorer city than Los Angeles. For many of the 75 million passengers who use LAX each year, the experience is miserable.It's…

Frank Sinatra's Palm Springs: A Tour of His Hangouts

He sang about Chicago and New York, but Frank Sinatra, who would have turned 100 in 2015, usually did it his way at his California home, Palm Springs. You can still visit the places…

Chuckwalla: Some of U.S.'s Oldest Land Becomes Newest National Monument in California

In 1906, the United States Congress passed the Antiquities Act to help prevent the looting and destruction of tribal lands by greedy and careless people. That law is being invoked by…

Oakland Airport's Name Change is Causing "Traveler Confusion" in San Francisco

If you wanted to fly to the San Francisco area's Oakland airport, which airport code would you use during booking? If you said SFO, short for San Francisco Oakland, you'd be flying to…

How to Apply for a U.S. Passport or Visa

Last updated April 6, 2022  Jump to: First-Time ApplicationsJump to: RenewalsJump to: Passport CardsJump to: FeesJump to: Passport AgenciesJump to: Passport & Visa Expeditors All…

Southern California Road Trip Itinerary: Los Angeles to San Diego (Through the Desert) in One Week

Sure, you could just drive Interstate 5 south for 120 miles from LA to San Diego. But what fun would that be? For a true taste of Southern California culture and adventure, take the…

California State Parks That Would Be National Parks Anywhere Else

Updated March 11, 2024 There are nine national parks in California—more than in any other state. From the iconic waterfalls and granite cliffs of Yosemite to the stark desert expanses…

Waterfall Lovers, This Is Your Year: California's Snows to Bring Gushers Worth Traveling For

Two years ago, California's rivers ran so dry that outdoor tour companies that depend on the state's waterways had to close shop in midsummer. But in 2024, the cyclical weather pattern…

Visiting Sunnylands, Palm Springs's Luxury Getaway for Presidents and Royalty

Even democracies have their kingmakers. And in the United States, there have been few more powerful than the Annenbergs. You may not have heard of them, but the people who govern the…

Carpinteria Beach, California: Calm Waters and Clifftop Views on the Central Coast

For decades, the small town of Carpinteria, California, situated along the state’s Central Coast northwest of Los Angeles, has advertised itself as having “the world’s safest beach,”…

The California Wine Region near Los Angeles: Buellton and Solvang

It’s so easy to get caught up in California’s larger, more famous wine regions that people often overlook the lesser-known areas with just as much hospitality and personality. The…

Walt Disney's Los Angeles: The Most Complete Tour Online

Walt Disney was a child of the Midwest, but he never found true success until he settled in California. For 43 years, from 1923 to his death in 1966, Los Angeles was Disney's home…

California Bans Deceptive Resort Fees: See What's Affected and When

The resort fee dam is breaking.California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a new law, SB 478, that reins in the practice of slipping extra fees into travelers' bills.While some media…

Academy Museum in Los Angeles: What's at the Oscar Museum and How to Visit It

Last update: March 10, 2023To most people, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is known, if it's known at all, as the stuffy group behind the Oscars. Within Hollywood's…

Redwood Trees: Where to Find Them, Hike Through Them, and Camp Under Them

Where is the redwood forest? If you had asked that question in mid-19th century California, the answer would have been "Where aren’t there redwood trees?” Some 2 million acres of these…