CALIFORNIA

California is too large and too varied to cover as a single destination — so we don’t try. Our California coverage focuses on one of the state’s most beautiful and underrated stretches: the Central Coast, from San Diego north through Malibu, Santa Barbara, Montecito, and into the Santa Ynez Valley. This is a part of California that rewards slow travel — a road trip mentality, long lunches, and days with no particular agenda.

Everything here is based on firsthand visits. Nothing is sponsored.

Where we cover in California:

Santa Barbara & Montecito — Santa Barbara is one of the most beautiful small cities in America — Spanish Colonial architecture, a walkable downtown, excellent restaurants, and a climate that makes almost every day feel like a gift. Its neighbor Montecito, tucked into the foothills above the coast, is one of the wealthiest and most quietly glamorous communities in California, with a village feel, world-class hotels, and the kind of effortless luxury that doesn’t announce itself. Together they make one of the best family destinations on the West Coast. Read our full Santa Barbara and Montecito family travel guide for where to stay, eat, and spend your time with kids. Read our full review of our stay Rosewood Miamar Beach in Montecito.

Alisal Ranch — Located 45 minutes north of Santa Barbara in the Santa Ynez Valley, Alisal Ranch is one of the most genuinely fun and distinctive resorts in California. It’s a working cattle ranch that operates as an all-inclusive family resort — horseback riding, fishing, archery, lake activities, and enough programming to keep every age group happy from morning to night. We’ve described it as the closest thing to a summer camp that the whole family — grandparents, aunts, uncles, kids, and babies — can enjoy together. Read our full Alisal Ranch hotel review for the honest picture.

Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip: San Diego to Solvang — One of the classic American road trips, and one that delivers on every mile. The route north from San Diego takes you through Encinitas, along the Malibu coastline, into Santa Barbara and Montecito, and eventually into the Danish-influenced wine town of Solvang in the Santa Ynez Valley. It works beautifully as a family road trip and is manageable in a long weekend or stretched comfortably into a week. Read our full San Diego to Solvang road trip guide for the best stops, timing, and where to stay along the way.

Best time to visit the Central Coast: The Central Coast is genuinely pleasant year-round, but late spring (April through June) and early fall (September through October) are the sweet spots — warm, clear, and far less crowded than summer. July and August bring coastal fog in the mornings along much of the coast, though afternoons are usually sunny. The Santa Ynez Valley wine country is particularly beautiful in October when harvest is underway.