After a lifetime of living in and exploring this gorgeous state, I’ve broken down the differences between Northern California and Southern California to help you choose which region to visit!

The best beaches in Santa Barbara range from long stretches of sandy coastline to secluded beaches with a backdrop of tall cliffs.

Santa Barbara restaurants are a treat for the tastebuds! There is an abundance of local restaurants, many of which serve local, farm-to-table dishes and drinks.

An ideal Santa Barbara day trip includes visiting some of the main attractions, eating at some of the best restaurants, and ending the day with an ocean sunset!

Palm Springs in summer is HOT. Despite the intense heat, Palm Springs in summer is a unique trip I recommend experiencing at least once!

Whether you’re looking for something outdoorsy and adventurous, relaxing and luxurious, or something in between, there’s truly an almost endless list of things to do in Santa Barbara.

California’s long coastline makes for an excellent San Francisco to San Diego road trip with ocean views, charming beach towns, and some of the most famous cities in the world.

If you’re having a difficult time picking hotels in Santa Barbara or which areas to stay in Santa Barbara, this guide will help you find the perfect place for your trip!

Joshua Tree National Park is just about a one-hour drive from Palm Springs, which makes for an ideal day trip. This one-day itinerary from Palm Springs to Joshua Tree contains things to do in Joshua Tree, places to eat, and activities around Joshua Tree.

Wildflowers are gorgeous and always a treat to find, but sometimes it’s nice to visit a planted flower field that guarantees great blooms. This list includes both wildflowers and non-wildflowers!

Find unique things to do in California that you may not have heard of before! From a garden estate to animatronic dinosaurs to a butterfly preserve, there is no shortage of unique California activities on this list.

This is a full three-day weekend getaway itinerary of the best things to see, eat, and do in Santa Barbara! You can also use this as a guide for one day in Santa Barbara if you are just visiting for a day trip.

Santa Barbara is one of those places that is great all year round! Summer is the most popular time to visit, but winter might just be my favorite time to be in Santa Barbara.

There is no shortage of things to do in Palm Springs! It’s one of my favorite places in California because of its unique architecture, lively and colorful culture, and desert charm.

Desert X is a series of contemporary art installations spread throughout Coachella Valley. Sharing all the exact locations, photos, and tips for each Desert X 2023 art installation!

There are so many unique things to do in Solvang, California and it’s the perfect place to visit for a day trip from Santa Barbara. Solvang is one of the most charming towns in California with its Danish buildings and food (try the aebleskivers!).

California has an abundance of activities and places to visit up and down the state. It is, of course, most known for the stunning, long coastline it boasts along the West Coast.

Santa Barbara is one of my favorite places to take photos. There is such a wide variety of photo spots – some are incredibly unique to Santa Barbara that you won’t be able to capture anywhere else.

Any road trip along the California coast is perfect, but if you’re looking for something that you can do in one day, this is it!

I lived in San Diego for 2 years and ate my way through North County. I frequented the less expensive restaurants since we weren’t exactly swimming in extra cash – mostly in Encinitas – but this list includes cheap eats, fancier restaurants, and good old pubs/breweries.