United States

California; home to foggy San Francisco, sunny San Diego, and snowy Lake Tahoe; home to liberal vegans and In-N-Out’s minimalist meat-lovers menu; home to John Steinbeck, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and as of recent, funny guy Conan O’Brien… not to mention 36,756,666 residents that call California home because its terrestrial and cultural diversity make this coastal state a place of such immense opportunity, it doesn’t take long to find the Californian in you.

You can travel California by bus, train, or even rollerblades, but with the fine summer weather, the cheap gas, and the infinite destinations, California’s easiest to explore by wheel. So pack the car, open the sunroof, and let the Golden State in.

Heading from North to South, follow the 101 through the towering trees of the Redwood National Park, and if you’ve been driving for a while - or have never seen these giant, perennial beasts, you might want to reserve some lodging and spend a few days hiking the labyrinth of beach, prairie, and forest trails this 38,000 acre park covers.

Once you’ve spotted your share of elk, bald eagles, and star fish, head six hours south to wine-country Napa valley for a more palatable taste of nature. Trade your binoculars for crystal stemware, hiking boots for heels and immense redwoods for quaint grape vines; spend your mornings watching the hot air balloons float overhead (or find yourself in a basket high-above!) your afternoons horseback, and your evenings on wine tours sipping everything from aromatic cabernet sauvignon’s with a hint of toasted vanilla oak to a dry Riesling leaving you with a lingering taste of tangerine on your tongue and a smile on your lips. Despite being one of the premier travel destinations of the world, Napa Valley has remained a quaint (be it opulent) town, not to be missed.

From the expansive Napa vineyards, take a short hour and a half drive to the bustling, parabolic streets of San Francisco. Spend your day shopping in Union Square or head to the bohemian haven Haight & Ashbury and try on vintage clothing. If this is your first SF visit, you’ve got to see the sights: take a tour of the historic Alcatraz prison, grab a bowl of classic clam chowder on the Pier, skip across the Golden Gate Bridge, and take a drive down the most crooked road in America, the colorful, brick laid Lombard Street.

From San Francisco, the opportunities are seemingly infinite; find yourself surfing in Santa Cruz or head south to Hollywood and laugh along with Ellen Degeneres in real-time. Or, if you’re ready to stretch your legs and ditch the car, going on a walking tour from Inn to Inn experience California for every Golden Poppy it has to offer. Founded by Tom Courtney, Walkabout California encourages adventurers to pack light and experience the area with an intimacy that one can only get when traveling by foot. Combining the comfort of civilization with the transcendentalism of Nature, Courtney’s guidebook maps out various trails that take you from inn to inn, allowing you to explore the Mendocino Coast and the breathtaking Sierra Nevada by day, and relaxing in a sauna beside a unique cottage by evening.

But don’t take our word for it. Be inspired by Real Travelers travelbyrv who recently enjoyed their road trip across the Golden State:

“Not a huge travel day today - 100 miles or so. Left San Jose and arrived in San Fran around lunch time. On the way we passed a big jetty full of sea lions. Yesterday the elephant seals on the beach and this morning the sea lions… just awesome. We got out of the RV and took some pics and marvelled for a bit. What a great thing to see - hundreds of sea lions in their natural habitat.. what a noise they made.. and what a smell!” (more…)

Whatever you’re seeking, be it towering mountains, energetic cities, a gentle countryside, or just a really great burrito, you’re sure to find it- and probably quite a bit more - in California.

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Walkabout California
San Francisco Hotels

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Looking for an exciting, music filled getaway, and don’t mind a hot climate? Head to Austin Texas this summer. It’s going to be hot: pack light clothes, some comfortable shoes, a cowboy hat, a toothbrush…but leave the Ipod behind, because Austin is not only the capital of Texas, but renowned as the Live Music Capital of the World, and you’re going to want to soak this up.

Home to the Texas Longhorns, this University Town in Central Texas receives an average of 300 days of sun, boasts of world famous summer festivals, over 200 live music venues and outdoor parks, and a progressive community that loves their quirky shopping centers as much as their hiking trails. Texas may conjure images of John Wayne and twang music, George W. and tumbleweed, but Austin’s mod and vigilant urban scene is an anomaly eager to defy any traditional expectations.

Start your weekend early and fly in on a Thursday afternoon; check-in, drop your luggage, step into your swim trunks, and purge yourself of salty fingers and airplane-clam with a dip in Barton Springs, a 1,000 foot long spring-fed pool that maintains a comfortable year-round temp of 68 degrees. Toss a Frisbee disc, check out the Botanical Gardens in the 360-acre Zilker Park, or simply soak up some U.V. rays until the sun sinks and a hankering stomach requires satiating. From there, settle into a romantic dinner for two before a five-course menu at the local connoisseur favorite Jeffrey’s Restaurant and Bar, or for something more casual, roll up your sleeves for some savory ribs, classic potato salad, and a margarita filled happy hour at Austin’s lakeside County Line BBQ.

If the night feels young, hit one of the ubiquitous music venues bumping on any night of the week or peruse South District’s eclectic shops for vintage jewelry and outdoor art shows. For something more upscale, head downtown to 2nd street district for the trendy shops or don a tie or a fancy dress and let a ballet performance enchant your evening. But whatever you do, rest easy; the morning, before the heat hits and limbs grow lazy, is the perfect window to adventure into Austin’s outdoor scene. Explore the Barton Creek Greenbelt by foot or bike, kayak around Lady Bird Lake, or practice your golf-swing on some of the nation’s most esteemed courses.

Real Travelers Dungroovin enjoyed their trip to Austin last summer, especially listening in on the music scene:

“At night we soak up the live music that is literally everywhere, in bars, on patios, in restaurants, in gardens, parks, city squares, rock, jazz, blues, folk C&W whatever you desire, it’s a great great place.”

On any given night, Austin’s going to be vibrant and loaded with entertainment, but when a city that’s known for its electric nightlife throws a party, you don’t want to miss it. Thousands flock to Zilker Park for the three-day world famous Austin City Limit Music Festival (Oct 2-4th). Featuring 130 bands across 8 stages, Austin’s music scene culminates into a cultural celebration of world music with local cuisine, arts and crafts, so awesome PBS made a television show to keep the tradition going all year round. The Austin Film Festival (Oct 22-29th) features film premiers, advanced screenings, and independent films; film and screenplay seminars and competitions draw actors and aspirers alike in this annual week long celebration of animation.

Start planning your trip!

Austin Holiday and Tourism Guide
Austin Hotels

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