Los Angeles Times

A longtime travel writer's 10 favorite places to visit in California

LOS ANGELES — What separates our favorite travel destinations from the rest? The way memories linger. If you’re looking for a list — maybe you want to get a taste of California without involving the Hollywood sign — I’ve picked 10 places that resonate most deeply for me. This is the list that, after having covered California travel, nature and culture for more than 30 years, I find myself ...
McWay Falls drops over an 80- foot cliff onto the beach at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park along California Highway 1 on Sunday, May 2, 2021 in Big Sur, California.

LOS ANGELES — What separates our favorite travel destinations from the rest? The way memories linger.

If you’re looking for a list — maybe you want to get a taste of California without involving the Hollywood sign — I’ve picked 10 places that resonate most deeply for me. This is the list that, after having covered California travel, nature and culture for more than 30 years, I find myself reciting most often.

I feel a certain depth in these places, and usually ease too, perhaps because nobody needs to sell them. You show up, take a deep breath, listen a little, have a look around, and you are reminded of what makes California unique.

1. Emerald Bay State Park, Lake Tahoe

I’ve been here

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