California: Culinary
All Dreams Welcome
In San Francisco, ingredient-driven menus reign supreme. With some of the nation’s best produce at their fingertips, chefs in the City by the Bay create edible magic,...
As the megawatt star when it comes to celebrities, L.A. naturally attracts chefs who want to make a big splash too. Household names like Wolfgang Puck—whose legendary...
With the Pacific Ocean and San Diego Bay at its doorstep, San Diego defines waterfront dining. Travel the coast to get a taste—literally—of what the region has to offer...
8 California Food Trends
California has always been a trendsetter when it comes to the culinary arts—from its extraordinary array of ethnic fare to its cutting-edge,...
In an era of cramped flights without meals—when even a free bag of peanuts feels like a luxury—one thing has improved about airline travel: Airport food...
The California Questionnaire: David Kinch
Superlatives tend to swarm around David Kinch. His signature restaurant, Manresa, earned its ...
There’s nothing quite like driving the back roads of California’s wine regions and sampling local wines at the source. But a growing number of wineries and winemakers are opting...
A real-life cornucopia, California is one of the world’s most productive agricultural regions. For example, we are by far the country’s top grower of avocados and strawberries. Unofficially, the...
When you come to California, come hungry. This is a state that really knows how to cook. Amazing and innovative chefs sprinkled with Michelin stars work with local farms and artisanal food...
Great L.A. Food Trucks
From gourmet chefs experimenting with tacos to funky ice cream sandwiches, you might be surprised by what you can find on the streets of L.A. Food...
Elegant estates at the end of country roads lined with vineyards? Yes. Low-key wineries housed in converted barns? Yes again. Urban wine trails with hip in-town tasting rooms? Yes, we...
Big Sur Dining
Some of Big Sur’s most beloved restaurants are currently inaccessible due to the road closures...
Juicy heirloom tomatoes and just-picked strawberries. Super-sweet peaches shaped like mini UFOs. Artisanal cheeses, emerald-green olive oils, local wildflower honey—California’s farmers’ markets...
With more than 3,000 wineries statewide, California lets you sample award-winning wines almost anywhere you go. These classic and up-and-coming wine roads—some too packed with wineries to...

With nearly 500 breweries statewide (and probably more by the time you read this), it’s safe to say that the craft beer movement isn’t just booming in California, it’s BOOMING—capital letters...
6 Surprising Settings for Farm-to-Table
These California destinations take the local harvest and get it on the table in delicious fashion for guests to enjoy in situ—perfect for...
From almonds and olives up north to avocados, oranges, and dates in South, the Golden State has a crop (or 10) for nearly every stretch of terrain. After all, ...
U-pick Farms
Apples and berries abound for anyone willing to pick their own fruit at many ...
Trip 3-5 days 10 stops
California's Heartland

This relaxed city has some secret gems that make a pleasing start to your trip. Start at Sundial Bridge, a functional work of art, the remarkable pedestrian bridge, designed by renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, spans the tree-lined, trout-filled Sacramento River in Redding’s Turtle...
This rapidly growing city in the southern Central Valley is full of pleasant surprises. Once known for oil and agriculture, Bakersfield is morphing into a Central Valley hub for arts, culture, and sports, while still offering a glimpse of the region’s past. One fascinating historical site worth...
Sure wine country is romantic, but now it’s a surprisingly great destination for families too, with a growing number of vineyards trading in elegant tasting rooms for kid-friendly fun zones that...
The food scene in California is a head-spinning array of almost every cuisine, with chefs creating globally influenced creations that celebrate the ultimate in fresh, locally sourced ingredients....
World-Class Dining
Chef Alice Waters and her group of idealistic friends didn’t intend to spark a movement when they opened Chez Panisse in Berkeley in 1971; they...
Francis Ford Coppola Winery
Academy Award-winning director Francis Ford Coppola adds his larger-than-life style to his estate-like compound near Geyserville, in the north end...
As one of Temecula Valley Wine Country's signature events, this visually stunning festival attracts 40,000 attendees over three days to enjoy dramatic evening hot air balloon glows and awe-...
Get the Spanish spirit at this colorful event. Stroll the grounds of Gloria Ferrer Caves and Vineyards with a glass of bubbly, and take in a whirl of passionate music, flamenco dancing, and food....
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
After a day exploring the rancher-meets-winemaker town of Paso Robles, or maybe explore Morro Bay, about 30 miles/48 kilometers west on the coast...
Restaurants without walls, California's outdoor farm-to-table experiences bring the freshness of fields, orchards, and artisanal foods directly to your table. Chefs harvest bountiful ingredients...
Winter rains signal the beginning of the North Coast’s astounding mushroom season: the Mendocino region is home to some 3,000 varieties, many of them edible, like the rare candy cap mushroom with...
Dining and Food
When it comes to food, San José goes global. Enjoy a kaleidoscope of ethnic restaurants, including Ethiopian fare at Zeni (try to sit at one of...
In an era of cramped flights without meals—when even a free bag of peanuts feels like a luxury—one thing has improved about airline travel: Airport food...
Smack-dab in the middle of some of California’s finest farm country, Yolo County is a natural fit for all things edible. There are even novel ways to experience them, like a self-guided visit—...
7 Classic California Beach Burgers
There’s never been a scientific study proving that burgers just taste better at the beach. But whether you’re a surfer or a tide pooler,...
5 California Chef’s Table Experiences
California cuisine has long been celebrated for its use of extraordinary ingredients, from sustainably farmed produce and meats to artisanal...
America’s modern craft brewing movement began in California in 1965. A young man named Fritz Maytag was enjoying a pint of Anchor Steam at a local restaurant when the bartender told him it was...