California spans extremes — from the hottest place on Earth at Death Valley’s Badwater Basin to the towering giant redwoods of the northern coast, from Hollywood’s glitz to the isolated beauty of the state’s national parks. Whether you’re exploring Los Angeles museums like the Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits or the Grammy Museum, discovering San Francisco’s quirky attractions from Alcatraz Island to the legendary Tonga Room tiki bar, or venturing into wilderness areas where Roosevelt elk graze in Prairie Creek Redwoods, California rewards travellers who explore beyond the postcard clichés.
Death Valley offers otherworldly landscapes from the technicolour badlands of Artists Palette to the stunning views from Dante’s View and the surreal photo opportunities at Zabriskie Point. Meanwhile, the coast delivers everything from the opulent excess of Hearst Castle to practical guides for day trips from San Francisco to Monterey and Carmel, ferry connections to Sausalito, and understanding whether attractions like the California Academy of Sciences require advance tickets. These articles provide honest, practical guidance for experiencing California’s diverse attractions — covering urban museums, natural wonders, ferry routes, ticket prices, opening hours, and the kind of planning details that help you make the most of the Golden State’s sprawling geography and overwhelming choice of experiences.
Los Angeles travel articles
- Is there a direct flight from Los Angeles to Rarotonga?
- A first-time visitor’s guide to the Page Museum in Los Angeles.
- How West Hollywood became the gay capital of Los Angeles.
- Complete guide to the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda.
- How to visit the USS Battleship Iowa at the Port of Los Angeles.
- A practical guide to visiting the Petersen Automative Museum in Los Angeles.
- Planning a visit to the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles.
- Joining the runners at Runyon Canyon.
- What to expect at Griffith Observatory in the Hollywood Hills.
San Francisco travel articles
- Review of the Tonga Room tiki bar in San Francisco.
- How much does the San Francisco to Sausalito ferry cost?
- Why the audioguide makes a visit to Alcatraz Island special.
- Embracing touristy San Francisco at Fisherman’s Wharf.
- Planning a visit to the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco.
- What to know before visiting the California Academy of Sciences.
- Complete guide to day tours to Monterey and Carmel from San Francisco.
- What’s the point of the Wave Organ in San Francisco?
- Visitor guide to Fort Point by the Golden Gate Bridge.
- Get interactive at the Exploratorium in San Francisco.
Death Valley travel articles
- A visit to Death Valley – the hottest place on earth.
- Why Dante’s View may be the best view in California.
- A practical guide to Zabriskie Point in Death Valley.
- How to tackle Artists Palette in Death Valley National Park.
- Walking on the salt pans of Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park.
Travel articles from elsewhere in California
- Inside Hearst Castle – the most expensive home ever built.
- The Grove of the Titans – seeing giant redwoods in Jebediah Smith Redwoods State Park.
- The best times to spot Roosevelt Elk at Elk Meadow in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.
- Visiting the Museum of Western Film History in Lone Pine.
- Why you should take the drive up through the Eastern Sierra to Whitney Portal.
