Personalized trips to California
for independent travelers

California is a dream destination. Spanning over 800 miles of coastline from Mexico to the Pacific Northwest, its borders are bursting with ways to explore. Grab a taco al pastor on the east side of Los Angeles, hike to the top of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, take a road trip from San Francisco into wine country, or pay a visit to the world's tallest trees: the sky is literally the limit. 

When is the best time to visit? 
Believe the hype: California is blessed with great weather year-round, by all definitions. In the dead of winter, you'll find beachgoers sunning themselves in San Diego, snowboarders zig-zagging down the slopes of world-class resorts, and hikers enjoying local trails from the central coast to the Mexican border. Every season has its perks, of course—summer brings access to high-altitude national parks like Yosemite, spring brightens the desert with wildflowers, and fall is the perfect time for wine tasting and leaf-peeping in Napa Valley. 

Where should I go in California?
California is one of the largest states in the US, and you'll find that the options for adventure match its expansive square mileage. You'll likely fly into Los Angeles or San Francisco, two cities equally deserving of cultural and culinary exploration—but where you go from there depends on your interests. Los Angeles makes an ideal base for beach-hopping from Malibu to Coronado, or for travelers keen on visiting desert destinations like Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park. San Francisco is the gateway to the splendor of northern California's mountains, lakes, and rugged coast. 

How many days do I need?
Spend at least one full week in California if you want to do the Golden State justice. With seven days, you have plenty of options for how to spend your time, keeping in mind the fact that you'll likely be spending at least a few hours of your trip in the car getting from place to place. 

In a week or more, you can do a deep dive into Los Angeles or San Francisco, or get an overview of both in a combined trip. Take a coastal drive up world-famous Highway 1, with stops in charming Santa Barbara and dramatic Big Sur. Spend a winter week skiing fresh powder in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. And seven days is just the beginning—California is vast and varied enough to accommodate multiple weeks of diverse travel experiences.