--- title: "California" description: "Independent hotel guides, travel articles, and travel videos for California." canonical: "https://www.indietravelguides.com/en/destinations/california" locale: "en" --- # California Primary place hint: California ## Breadcrumbs [North America](https://www.indietravelguides.com/en/destinations/north-america) > [USA](https://www.indietravelguides.com/en/destinations/usa) > [California](https://www.indietravelguides.com/en/destinations/california) ## Places in this area - [Big Sur](https://www.indietravelguides.com/en/destinations/big-sur) (0 destinations) - [Los Angeles](https://www.indietravelguides.com/en/destinations/los-angeles) (0 destinations) - [Napa Valley](https://www.indietravelguides.com/en/destinations/napa-valley) (0 destinations) - [Orange County](https://www.indietravelguides.com/en/destinations/orange-county) (0 destinations) - [San Diego](https://www.indietravelguides.com/en/destinations/san-diego) (0 destinations) - [San Francisco](https://www.indietravelguides.com/en/destinations/san-francisco) (0 destinations) - [Santa Barbara](https://www.indietravelguides.com/en/destinations/santa-barbara) (0 destinations) - [Sonoma](https://www.indietravelguides.com/en/destinations/sonoma) (0 destinations) ## Hotel Guides - [Spectacular Hotel Views](https://spectacularhotelviews.com/en/rankings/california) (spectacularhotelviews.com) Spectacular Hotel Views is the defintive guide to the world's best hotel views. It has over 600 destination rankings with hotels ranked by view quality, uniqueness, and breadth of availability across the property, has a searchable database of 2,500+ hotels with exceptional views and also allows you to browse by view type. Their California ranking provides a useful guide for finding hotels in California with the best hotel views. ## Travel Guides And Blogs - [Practical Wanderlust](https://practicalwanderlust.com/california/) (practicalwanderlust.com) Practical Wanderlust is a responsible budget travel blog and podcast with practical guides, humor, and social context. Their California travel guide is a helpful statewide resource, combining favorite places with practical tips, tricks, and notable locations to consider. - [Earth Trekkers](https://www.earthtrekkers.com/united-states/california/) (earthtrekkers.com) Earth Trekkers is a family adventure travel site specializing in detailed guides, itineraries, road trips, hikes, and national parks. Their California guide is strong for adventure-focused planning, covering major places such as San Francisco, Yosemite, San Diego, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, and Death Valley. - [ViaTravelers](https://viatravelers.com/destinations/california/) (viatravelers.com) ViaTravelers is a travel media and planning site combining destination guides with practical comparison and itinerary tools. Their 2026 California travel guide offers a well-rounded look at the state’s landscapes, culture, cities, beaches, redwoods, deserts, wine regions, and outdoor appeal. - [2TravelDads](https://2traveldads.com/best-things-to-do-california/) (2traveldads.com) 2TravelDads is an LGBTQ family travel blog focused on road trips, national parks, family travel, and inclusive destinations. Their California article is useful for family and road-trip planning, with ideas spanning national parks, budget travel, beaches, hikes, and city getaways. - [NOMADasaurus](https://www.nomadasaurus.com/things-to-do-in-california/) (nomadasaurus.com) NOMADasaurus is an adventure travel and photography blog with destination guides, sustainable tourism coverage, and visual storytelling. Their 2026 California guide gives travelers a broad and practical list of 25 attractions and activities across the state. - [Our Escape Clause](https://www.ourescapeclause.com/best-places-to-visit-in-california/) (ourescapeclause.com) Our Escape Clause is a travel blog publishing detailed, experience-driven itineraries and guides, especially for Europe, the USA, and road trips. Their California roundup is a helpful planning reference for comparing 25 cities, beaches, and vacation spots across the state. - [The Poor Traveler](https://www.thepoortraveler.net/2017/01/california-5-ways-make-trip-special/) (thepoortraveler.net) The Poor Traveler is a budget travel and itinerary site focused on practical planning, logistics, documents, and value-conscious travel. Their California article offers five practical ways to make a trip more special, drawing on the state’s landscapes, cities, coastline, food, wine, and outdoor settings. - [Nomadic Matt](https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/california-road-trip-itinerary/) (nomadicmatt.com) Nomadic Matt is a long-running budget travel planning site focused on cheaper, longer, and more independent travel. Their 21-day California road trip itinerary is a practical route-planning guide for seeing the state’s main sights over three weeks. - [Trekaroo](https://blog.trekaroo.com/grand-california-road-trip/) (blog.trekaroo.com) Trekaroo is a family travel community and planning resource built around parent-written advice, reviews, guides, and itineraries. Their 10-day family California road trip itinerary is especially helpful for planning a coastal route from San Francisco to San Diego. - [Inside The Travel Lab](https://www.insidethetravellab.com/best-california-road-trips/) (insidethetravellab.com) Inside The Travel Lab is a journalism-led online travel magazine focused on thoughtful guides, cultural context, and sustainable travel. Their California road-trips article gives thoughtful route inspiration and planning context, with ideas stretching from the Sierra Nevada to the Redwood Coast. - [The Family Voyage](https://www.thefamilyvoyage.com/best-things-to-do-in-california-with-kids/) (thefamilyvoyage.com) The Family Voyage is a family travel site focused on practical advice for trips with kids, packing, gear, and itineraries. Their California with kids guide is a practical resource for choosing 10 family-oriented activities around the state. - [Hand Luggage Only](https://handluggageonly.co.uk/8-beautiful-national-parks-in-california-to-visit/) (handluggageonly.co.uk) Hand Luggage Only is a travel, food, photography, and home blog known for visual destination guides and travel inspiration. Their California national parks guide is a visually oriented and helpful resource for visitors interested in eight of the state’s varied landscapes. ## Travel Videos - [Creative Travel Guide](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJDK5Yurrc) (youtube.com) Creative Travel Guide is a YouTube travel channel by a British couple sharing vlogs, travel advice, hotel tours, and trip tips. This guide video is a useful statewide starter list, covering 25 things to do in California for broader trip planning. - [Wolters World](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK-RedwU7FQ) (youtube.com) Wolters World is a YouTube travel channel offering first-hand travel advice, destination tips, and perspectives on positives and drawbacks. This travel advice video gives a balanced California visitor perspective, discussing beaches, parks, cities, food, and practical travel tradeoffs. - [Hungry Passport](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSqRmZy-r8w) (youtube.com) Hungry Passport is a YouTube travel channel offering travel guides and tips for major destinations around the world. This California travel guide video presents ten trip ideas across San Diego, desert areas, Palm Springs, Orange County, Los Angeles, and other statewide highlights. - [Hey Nadine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Xfo6mUFOow) (youtube.com) Hey Nadine is a YouTube travel channel by Nadine Sykora focused on destinations, travel advice, and practical trip expectations. This road trip vlog captures a good group-travel route through California, including Mammoth Lakes, Mono Lake, and Lake Tahoe. - [Joel and Emilia](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FBfKFeoVec) (youtube.com) Joel and Emilia is a YouTube travel channel by Joel Friend and Emilia Beattie focused on global travel and remote adventures. This travel video follows a scenic California coast road trip on the Pacific Coast Highway from Carmel-by-the-Sea through Big Sur.