Destination

California Travel Guide

As a native Californian, I’m a bit biased, but believe it’s the most exciting state to visit in the USA. There is a reason why California is often romanticized in movies and popular culture – this place is bursting with sunshine and a sense of adventure! From great weather, fantastic theme parks, fascinating history, stunning National Parks and adventurous hiking spots – there is so much that this spectacular place has to offer!

You’ll be amazed by the natural beauty of the Redwood forest, Joshua Tree, and Big Sur. And you’ll love exploring major cities like San Diego, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Add to that great food, amazing road trips, cool camping spots, and incredible sightseeing opportunities – California is one of my favorite places in the world.

Best Time To Visit

California actually has a late summer, so you’ll be surprised with some colder, gloomy weather in May and June. July to September is when things start to heat up. October is my all-time favorite month in Southern California. You get the BEST sunsets and have a nice balance of warm and cool weather.

Festival season starts in April with Coachella and Stagecoach, but runs pretty much all year long! There’s also Lightning in a Bottle, Outside Lands, CRSSD Festival and KAABOO. Aside from music festivals, you’ll find everything from the Hot Air Balloon Festival in my hometown, Temecula, to San Diego Food & Wine Festival, to the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Don’t let the winter months put you off visiting – California has the best weather year-around!

Check out The Best Time to Travel to California for complete details!

What To Expect

Language: English is the main language spoken in California, however, it’s a huge melting pot of cultures. Spanish is spoken widely, especially in Southern California.

Currency: The currency used in California is the US Dollar.

Credit Cards and ATMs: You can pay for pretty much everything with your card in California. There are plenty of ATMs around, and most stores accept Mastercard, Visa and AMEX.

Plugs: The plugs in the USA are Type A and B. The standard voltage is 120 V, and the standard frequency is 60Hz. I recommend buying a universal adapter (make sure it has surge protection) and using a converter for hair dryers and hot tools.

Safety: Safety anywhere in the USA is relative. There are definitely some cities like Los Angeles where you need to be aware of your surroundings and use your best judgment. However, as a general rule, it’s a safe destination to travel! If you’re going to road trip around the state, always take extra precautions and let a friend or family member know where you’re headed and when you expect to arrive.

Travel Guides

Bucket List experiences

California Coast

Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip

San Diego

Hit the Beach

Palm Valley

Palm Springs

Colorado Desert

Joshua Tree National Park

Orange County

Disneyland

Temecula / Napa Valley

Wine Tasting

San Francisco

Explore the Bay Area

Indio

Coachella Music Festival

Yosemite

Explore National Parks

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