California Tourist Guide &#187; California

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California Tourist Information Welcome Centers

California Tourist Guide — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 05:43:19 +0000

There are 14 California Tourist Information Centers available to assist the state’s visitors and travelers with maps, brochures, coupons, bathroom facilities and more. These California tourism centers are staffed with friendly people who are happy to provide suggestions for and directions to local attractions and accommodations, and they are a wonderful resource for making the most of your California vacation, getaway or holiday.

In addition to these state-run resources, most large (and some small) California cities have an independently run Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. Check out this list for additional California tourist information resources, including email addresses and phone numbers for your reference and research purposes.

Also, if you’re planning to visit a specific California city but are unsure what’s located in the same vicinity, this California cities list can be a good place to start your trip planning research. Just locate the city you’re visiting on the alphabetical list, and then find other cities that are in the same area or sub-area.

You can also learn about the different California areas and what they have to offer by clicking on the corresponding buttons under the logo-and-images section at the top of this page. Plus, there’s a handy California tourist map on the home page that sets out the state’s various areas that’s useful for trip planning inspiration and planning purposes.

Locations for the 14 brick-and-mortar centers are set out on this California Tourist Information Welcome Centers Google map, where from north to south you’ll find:

Arcata Welcome Center
1635 Heindon Road
Arcata, CA 95521
(707) 822-3619

Anderson Welcome Center
1699 Hwy. 273
Anderson, CA 96007
(530) 365-1180

Truckee Welcome Center
10065 Donner Pass Road
Truckee, CA 96161
(530) 587-2757

Auburn Welcome Center
13411 Lincoln Way
Auburn, CA 95603
(530) 887-2111

Santa Rosa Welcome Center
9 Fourth Street
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
(800) 404-7673

San Francisco Welcome Center
PIER 39 – Marina Plaza, 2nd Level, Building “P”
San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 981-1280

Merced Welcome Center
710 W. 16th Street, Suite A
Merced, CA 95340
(209) 724-8104

Tulare Welcome Center
4500 South Laspina Street
Tulare, CA 93274
(559) 688-6894

Pismo Beach Welcome Center
333 Five Cities Drive,
Pismo Beach, CA 93449
(805) 773-7924

Oxnard Welcome Center
1000 Town Center Drive, Suite 135
Oxnard, CA 93036
(805) 988-0717

Barstow Welcome Center
2796 Tanger Way, Suite 106
Barstow, CA 92311
(760) 253-4782

Yucca Valley Welcome Center
56711 Twentynine Palms Highway
Yucca Valley, CA 92284
(760) 365-5464

San Bernardino Welcome Center
1955 Hunts Lane
San Bernardino, CA 92408
(909) 891-1874

Oceanside Welcome Center
928 North Coast Highway
Oceanside, CA 92054
(760) 721-1101

Photo of California Welcome Center sign by resedabear via flickr (Creative Commons).

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California Culinary Vacation Ideas

California Culinary Vacation Ideas

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change constantly. Please confirm details
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California Restaurant Weeks

California Tourist Guide — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:12:46 +0000

“Restaurant Week” business and tourism marketing began in 1992. New York City hosted the Democratic National Convention that year, and renowned restaurant reviewer Tim Zagat and Manhattan restaurateur Joe Baum persuaded several of the city’s top restaurants to participate in a coinciding “$19.92 lunches” promotion. As they say on Broadway, it was a smash hit!

Building on that success but now typically repositioned an event to increase business during what might otherwise be “slow” or “off-season” periods, many U.S. cities now offer their own versions of the promotion.

You can use the following California Restaurant Weeks list – primarily populated with 2009 dates at this point – to get a general idea about what California cities and areas are likely offer 2010 Restaurant Week events and when they are likely to do so.

Bolded and italicized notations at the end of some listings indicate the locales that have already stipulated their 2010 dates, and links to more information about specific restaurant week events are provided when available.

Escondido – A great place to visit any time of year, but especially during May 3-15, 2009, when you can enjoy its Restaurant Week offerings.

Huntington Beach – You can surf in for Restaurant Week here May 25-June 2, 2009.

Los Angeles – Known as “DineLA,” this promotion is limited to weekdays only, January 25-30 and February 1-6, 2009. January 24 through February 5, 2010 [link]

Marina – This Central Coast city (near Monterey and Carmel) celebrates Restaurant Week June 4-10, 2009.

Monterey Bay – Monterey Bay Restaurant Week runs October 22-29, 2009.

Newport Beach – Some spectacular restaurants participate in this Restaurant Week, January 18-22, 2009. January 22-28, 2010 [link]

Old Pasadena – Local foodies and visitors can indulge in some award-winning restaurant offerings here June 1-8, 2009.

Orange County – The very first Restaurant Week for this area: April 12-18, 2009. February 28 through March 6, 2010 [link]

Palm Springs – Enjoy Restaurant Week savings here May 31-June 19, 2009. June 4-13, 2010 [link]

Sacramento – Two separate events, the first of which focuses on downtown restaurants – Dine Downtown Restaurant Week during January 10-January 16, 2009 – and the other is a Wine & Dine Restaurant Week event July 4-12, 2009. January 8-17, 2010 [link]

San Diego – “America’s Most Beautiful City” is also hosting two 2009 Restaurant Weeks: January 11-16 and September 13-18. January 17-22, 2010 [link]

San Francisco – Called “Dine About Town” here, it usually runs the last two weeks of January. In 2009, an encore promotion was added for the first two weeks in June. January 15-31, 2010 [link]

San Marcos – This San Diego North County area’s Restaurant Week is September 20-28, 2009.

Santa Cruz – This seaside community celebrates Restaurant Week October 1-8, 2009. [link]

Silicon Valley – Restaurant Week is celebrated in Silicon Valley October 14-21, 2009.

Solvang – Even this tiny tourist enclave gets in the game March 15-19, 2009.

Sonoma County – 2010 is the first year for this foodie haven’s Restaurant Week: February 22-28, 2010 [link]

Stockton – Enjoy this Central Valley city’s Restaurant Week offerings September 19-25, 2010. [link]

California Restaurant Week events offer a great opportunity to enjoy affordable “prix fixe” (set price) meals at some of the state’s top restaurants, so “bon appétit!” or “come and get it!,” whichever works for you. The events are so good, they’re almost worth planning a California vacation — or two — around them!

(Do you know of any California Restaurant Week offerings to add to this list? Please use the contact email address on our “About Us” page (see footer) to share it with us. We’d love to add it to our list.)

Photo of Il Fornaio restaurant in San Jose, CA by atmtx via flickr (Creative Commons).

Related posts:

California Restaurants

Note: Information in this article was accurate
when it was published, but hours, prices, etc.
change constantly. Please confirm details
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California Timeshare Tour Promotions — Vacation Moneysaver!

California Tourist Guide — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:02:38 +0000

An inventive way to save on your California vacation or weekend getaway expense is by participating in a timeshare promotional tour offer. Typically, this means attending an informational presentation for which you’ll be rewarded in some way.

The presentation is designed to introduce you to a timeshare opportunity and, of course, it’s ultimately an attempt to induce you to purchase a timeshare fractional vacation opportunity. The reward usually comes in the form of reduced accommodation pricing and/or free tickets to nearby activities. Meals, cash and/or a chance to win other prizes are also sometimes used to “sweeten the pot” and encourage you to make a timeshare tour part of your California vacation.

In other words, there are companies willing to compensate you for spending some of your valuable vacation time learning about an alternative for future vacations.

This makes sense for some folks, as the rewards can have a significant monetary value. They also may have a genuine desire to learn about the timeshare vacation alternative. Other people view a timeshare tour as intruding into and interrupting their precious vacation relaxation time. They also may be fearful of the process, thinking they’ll encounter a high-pressure sales person who will talk them into an unwise purchase.

Speaking from personal experience, both positions are valid. You should definitely factor your interest, budget, time constraints, sales process comfort level, etc. into the equation if and when you entertain applying this tactic to save money on your California vacation.

Obviously, there are conflicting opinions about the value of a timeshare, as well. If you’re considering spending your vacation dollars on this sort of fractional opportunity, you’ll probably want to investigate the resale market, too, and see what people trying to sell timeshares or fractional vacations have to say about the experience. There’s no shortage of information online, of course, and you should always invest time to conduct proper due diligence when making a significant purchase.

There are various qualifications you must meet in order to qualify for timeshare presentation rewards. Typically, current employment is required, and there’s usually a minimum household income level you must meet. Your spouse or significant-other must also participate in the presentation. Always ensure that you know and comply with all the requirements. Some of the negative comments you might read online seem to be from folks who’ve skipped the “know and comply” step.

Here are a few links to timeshare tour promotional offers in various California vacation destinations to get you started:

Northern California Wine Country Timeshare Tour Vacation – Even if you don’t like to drink wine, you can have a great time in Wine Country. It’s hard to go wrong touring opulent wineries (it’s a bit like touring European castles without the trans-Atlantic flight!), enjoying culinary delights, pampering yourself at a spa or just communing with nature.

San Diego / Carlsbad Timeshare Tour Vacation – Carlsbad is home to Legoland, not to mention some awesome California beaches. Escondido’s Wild Animal Park is nearby, as well, and San Diego is about 45 minutes south while Disneyland in Anaheim is just a bit over that to the north. This is a great home base from which to enjoy all Southern California has to offer!

Palm Springs Timeshare Tour Vacation – The rich and famous have longed enjoyed the oasis of Palm Springs with its outstanding golf, shopping and spa vacation opportunities, and Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Parks are nearby.

Lake Tahoe Timeshare Tour Rewards Program – Skiing and gambling perks in the awesome Sierra Nevada Mountains – what’s not to love?

The California Tourist Guide does not endorse any of the companies linked above nor does it receive any compensation for sharing this information. Only you can evaluate whether attending a timeshare presentation serves your California vacation needs.

If you’d like to enjoy the additional comforts a timeshare vacation often affords (e.g., additional space and a kitchen – great additions to vacation accommodations, in my opinion, especially when traveling as a family) but you aren’t interested in the timeshare presentation experience, you may want to consider California vacation rentals instead.

Photo of Wine Country Road Sign by brianholsclaw via flickr (Creative Commons); Photo of Palm Springs Tram Car by bossco via flickr (Creative Commons).

Related posts:

Note: Information in this article was accurate
when it was published, but hours, prices, etc.
change constantly. Please confirm details
with local contacts before traveling.

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Things to Do in California

California Tourist Guide — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 04:06:46 +0000

What is your idea of fun? Are amusement parks your “thing” or does bird watching make you sing? Do you prefer gambling or golf? Have you always wanted to see a whale or would you rather see the stars? There’s no shortage of things to do in California, and depending on time and/or budget constraints it’s not exaggerating to say you can pretty much do it all here.

Here are some of the California things to do that will be discussed in the guide:

Amusement & Attractions — a) Amusement & Theme Parks; b) Tourist Attractions; c) Zoos, Gardens & Aquariums; d) Miniature Golf; and e) Landmarks & Historic Sites.

Tours & Side Trips — a) Greyline and self-guided Tours; b) Scenic Drives and Walks; c) Railroad Tours & Trips; d) Boat Tours; e) Winery Tours; f) Movie & TV Studio Tours; and g) Hot Air Balloon Trips.

Museums, Galleries, Etc. — a) Museums & Galleries; and b) Cultural and Historical Points of Interest.

Spectator Sports — a) Baseball; b) Football; c) Basketball; d) Hockey; e) Auto Racing; f) Horse Racing; and g) Dog Racing.

Outdoors Activities — a) Golf; b) Tennis; c) Swimming & Surfing; d) Horseback Riding; e) Hiking; f) Bicycling; g) Boating & Fishing; h) Birding; i) Parks/Forests; and j) Water Slides.

Nightlife — a) Bars & Clubs; b) Comedy Clubs; c) Casinos; d) Live Music; e) Live Theatre; f) Movie Theatres; and g) Ballet, Symphony and Opera performances.

Shopping — places to find the unique items for you or your loved ones.

Look through the above list and decide which California things to do sound best to you, and then use that information to decide which California area(s) you want to include in your vacation, holiday or getaway plans.

This California Vacations article may also be of use as you try to decide where to go and what to do.

Photo of Disney’s California Adventure entrance by Pot Noodle via flickr (Creative Commons).

Related posts:

Note: Information in this article was accurate
when it was published, but hours, prices, etc.
change constantly. Please confirm details
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California Wineries

California Tourist Guide — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 04:03:01 +0000

California’s viticulture history dates back to the 18th century, when Spanish missionaries planted the first vineyards to produce wine for religious sacraments. Nearly 300 grape varieties were grown in the state in the early 1900s, when there were nearly 800 California wineries scattered around the state. Growth of the state’s wine industry was stunted on January 16, 1919, when the 18th Amendment brought Prohibition and vineyards were ordered to be uprooted and cellars were destroyed. Although some vineyards converted to table grape or grape juice production and a few remained to produce sacramental wine, most went out of business. By the time that Prohibition was repealed in 1933, only 140 wineries remained in the state.

Following a wine renaissance in the mid-20th century, Californian wine entered the international stage at the 1976 Judgment of Paris wine competition when Californian wines beat out French wines in both red and white wine categories.

Today, ranked by volume, California is the fourth largest wine producer in the world, behind Italy, France and Spain. In 2005, California wineries shipped more than 225 million cases domestically and internationally.

The California Wine Institute divides the state into five major wine producing regions:

North Coast – which includes Napa Valley and Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino counties.

Sierra Foothills – which includes El Dorado, Amador and Calaveras counties.

Central Valley – with wine grape growers found predominantly in Lodi and the San Joaquin valley.

Central Coast – with major appellations in the Livermore Valley, the Santa Cruz mountains and Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.

Southern California – centered around Temacula, a city north of San Diego in the Inland Empire area of the state.

Visitors are often surprised to learn that only about 400 of the nearly 2,800 California wineries are located in the Napa Valley and that roughly half of California wineries produce less than 5000 cases per year.

While the bigger wineries often offer the most interesting tours, you should definitely include some of the smaller ones on your list for tastings. Some wineries are open by appointment only, and in the summer months it can be necessary to make those appointments six to eight weeks in advance. Some wineries offer free tastings, and while $5-10 seems to be typical if there is a charge, some that include a tour and/or food accompaniments will cost more. It’s best to do some advance research and have a plan in place before you venture out to enjoy California wineries.

Since California law criminalizes driving with a blood alcohol concentration at or above .08 percent, one of the best ways to learn about and enjoy this component of your California vacation is to contract with a limousine or tour company and leave the driving to someone else. You should also be advised that state law makes it illegal to have any open container of alcohol in the passenger compartment of a vehicle. Legal drinking age in the state is 21.

Photo of Mondavi Winery in Napa by uzvards via flickr (Creative Commons).

Related posts:

California Culinary Vacation Ideas

California Spa Vacations

Note: Information in this article was accurate
when it was published, but hours, prices, etc.
change constantly. Please confirm details
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California Vacations

California Tourist Guide — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 04:00:03 +0000

As you begin to plan your California vacation, you should take into consideration:

* the amount of time you have available;

* your budget; and

* your interests.

You can then use the California Tourist Guide to design anything from a weekend getaway to a month-long trek from Mt. Whitney (the highest mountain in the contiguous 48 states) to Death Valley (the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere) – two California locales that are amazingly only 136 miles apart.

Since it is such a vast state (158,693 square miles), planning California vacations can sometimes present a bit of a logistical challenge, and you’ll notice that the guide is divided into 11 geographic areas to assist your research. Given unlimited time and resources, you could visit all the state has to offer, of course, but you instead will quite likely need to prioritize and choose among the state’s various areas.

The good news is that it’s easy to plan fun California vacations for you and your traveling companions – even your family dog, if you so choose. In fact, it’s almost hard to plan an “un-fun” California trip!

While most visitors to the state rent a car and secure hotel or B&B reservations at their planned destination(s), some travelers prefer to rent recreational vehicles (RVs) to fill both their transportation and lodging needs. There are also several tour operators that offer organized, “leave the driving to us” transportation and accommodations packages for those who prefer to travel in that fashion.

Visitors often plan their California vacations around the activities that interest them. For example, some choose to golf in California, while others might choose visit California wineries or California amusement parks. Any particular interests you or your traveling companions have should be taken into account as you decide which California area(s) to visit.

For example, golfers will probably want to consider the Central Coast (home of the infamous Pebble Beach course and many others), San Diego and, especially if they’re visiting during the winter or spring, Palm Springs in the Deserts and Inland Empire region. (Palm Springs is too hot for many golfers during the summer.) On the other hand, there are lovely courses in virtually all of the state’s areas, so you shouldn’t limit yourself unnecessarily, either, if golf is not the only thing that interests you.

So, then, are you ready? You simply need to pick an area from the buttons at the top of the page to start planning your California vacations. Let’s go!

Photo of Sandpiper Golf Course in Santa Barbara by dan perry via flickr (Creative Commons).

Related posts:

California Outdoor Adventures

California Amusement Parks

California Beaches

California Bed and Breakfasts

Note: Information in this article was accurate
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change constantly. Please confirm details
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California Vacation Rentals

California Tourist Guide — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 03:57:33 +0000

Depending upon the circumstances of your California vacation…

* whether you are traveling with a large group of family or friends;

* whether you plan to stay in one general area for your entire vacation; and/or

* whether it might be more economical or comfortable for you and your traveling companions…

you may want to consider renting a home/condo instead of arranging hotel accommodations. All the popular California vacation destinations have this lodging resource available, but it’s best to plan in advance as much as possible when you want to pursue it. The availability of California vacation rentals is not as infinite as it is for hotel rooms, and if you are traveling with a large group for a special event – a wedding or family reunion, for example – you’ll want to have your “first choice” available.

If you’ve never explored this lodging option, you may be surprised at all it can offer. Some vacation homes are beachfront and some have pools. Some have fabulous gourmet kitchens and others offer an optional personal chef. Some are massive with multiple bedrooms and baths, while others are more estate-like, offering a large, main home and several smaller guest homes all on the same property.

While there are large, luxurious homes available for group gatherings, the California vacation rentals market also includes a vast selection of smaller homes and condominiums, many of which are near beaches and/or include a water feature like a hot tub. Even if your group is not particularly large – a couple of adults and a few children, for example – this can be a wonderful alternative to trying to fit everyone into a hotel room. And, not only is this lodging option often more comfortable, when you consider the money that can be saved by eating some or all your meals at home, it is often more economical, as well.

Photo of San Clemente Pier vacation rental condos by Dominus Vobiscum via flickr (Creative Commons).

Related posts:

California Lodging

California Hotels

California Timeshare Tour Promotions

Note: Information in this article was accurate
when it was published, but hours, prices, etc.
change constantly. Please confirm details
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California Tourist Attractions

California Tourist Guide — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 03:55:02 +0000

There are so many California tourist attractions, it’s hard to know where to begin. From Sea World-San Diego in the south to majestic Mt. Shasta near its northern border, California is without a doubt a vacationer’s paradise. Because the state is so large, travelers can seldom satisfy all their interests in a single trip, and the California Tourist Guide will help you pick and choose from the various California tourist attractions and help you focus your selections to design a dream vacation.

So, what excites you? Is it a whale watching tour during the day followed by a sumptuous dinner that evening? Would you rather visit a few wineries and enjoy a picnic lunch? Does a hot air balloon ride sound fun or is a mud bath spa treatment your idea of heaven?

How about taking a Segway™ tour of Sausalito? Do art and architecture make your heart sing? Which do you prefer: an afternoon of shopping in San Francisco’s Union Square or browsing through the Mission District’s thrift stores? Would you rather enjoy a glass of wine on a sailboat as the sun sets on the Pacific or does a Santa Cruz surf school sound like a better way to enjoy the ocean?

Would you rather venture to a new locale every day or immerse yourself in one specific area? How long can you stay? What’s your budget look like? Are you visiting during the summer or winter? Do you prefer to set out on your own on foot or by car? Does leaving the driving to an organized tour operator make sense?

Would your family enjoy cruising the Sacramento Delta for a week on a houseboat? Have you always wanted to see the desert in spring? Are you an avid golfer? Have you always wanted to see a television show being taped?

Answering these questions should help you use the California Tourist Guide by narrowing down what area you plan to visit and what California tourist attractions will please you the most.

One last question: Do you plan to stay up late enjoying the nightlife or jog on the beach at sunrise?

Both, you say? Go for it! Just about everything is possible in California. Seriously.

Photo of San Francisco Segway Tours by 177 via flickr (Creative Commons).

Related posts:

Note: Information in this article was accurate
when it was published, but hours, prices, etc.
change constantly. Please confirm details
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California Tourism

California Tourist Guide — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 03:53:00 +0000

California tourism is promoted by the state’s 14 California Welcome and Tourist Information Centers, as well as individual California conventions and visitors bureaus. This California cities list may also be useful for determining the convention and visitors bureaus you wish to contact.

In 2008, the California travel and tourism industry generated $1.6 billion in local taxes and $2.8 billion in state taxes on total direct travel spending of $97.6 billion. California hosted approximately 23.9 million international visitors in 2007, and international visitors contributed more than 19% of all travel spending in the state in 2008. The top five overseas visitor market countries in 2007 were the United Kingdom (765,000 visitors), Japan (675,000), Australia (333,000), South Korea (331,000) and Germany (322,000). In addition to overseas visitors, there were 7.4 million Mexican visitors and 1.2 million Canadian visitors to the state in 2007.

In 2008, California received the second-highest number of international travelers of all the United States. New York ranked first, and Florida was only about 50,000 visitors behind California according to statistics published by The United States States Department of Commerce, Office of Travel and Tourism Industries.

California was the destination of approximately 351 million total domestic and international travelers in 2008. California tourism is the state’s fourth largest employer (providing employment for nearly 1 million residents) and among the top three gross state product export-oriented industries.

Californians themselves are the mainstay of the state’s travel and tourism industry, comprising 86 percent of domestic travel, or 290 million person-trips. Out-of-state visitors account for 48 million person-trips to and through the state, and California’s top domestic markets in 2007 were Arizona, Nevada, Texas, Oregon, Washington and Illinois. (Statistics source: California Travel and Tourism Commission.) California garnered a 10.8% market share of total U.S. domestic travel in 2004, and 20.7% of all overseas travel to America.

Dining, shopping and entertainment are the most popular expenditure-based activities among California travelers. Sightseeing, followed by visiting theme/amusement parks and beach/waterfront activities, are the most popular recreational pursuits.

Photo of San Francisco Cable Car by David Paul Ohmer via flickr (Creative Commons).

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