California: A Firsthand Travel Guide
California is really several trips in one: the glamour of Los Angeles, laid-back beach towns, world-class theme parks, and San Diego, all tied together by some of the best food in the country. I have spent a lot of time here, and here is how I would plan it.
Los Angeles
I love Malibu. Nobu, Soho House, and Malibu Farm are all worth it. For a first-timer’s LA, do the classics: Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Rodeo Drive, and the Hollywood Sign, though a good local knows the quieter spots for a much better photo than the crowds get.
But my personal favorite, and it is wonderfully low-key, is Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach. I have spent so much time there. My favorite thing to do in LA has always been simple: stay right on the beach and walk The Strand with a coffee in hand. That is the LA most tourists never see, and the one I send people to.
The theme parks
Southern California is theme-park country, and Disneyland is not the only one worth a day:
- Disneyland, in Anaheim, the headliner. See my Disneyland guide for how to plan it.
- Universal Studios Hollywood, a working movie studio and theme park in one, with the famous Studio Tour, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and Super Nintendo World. It pairs naturally with an LA stay.
- Legoland California, in Carlsbad just up the coast from San Diego, the best park for younger kids (roughly ages 2 to 12) and an easy add to a San Diego leg.
For a parks-focused trip I would stay close, in Anaheim the Grand Californian is the pick, and staying in Orange County is a great low-key alternative that is still near the parks. If the parks are just one day of a bigger trip, do not overthink the hotel, just Uber or drive over.
San Diego
San Diego is kick-ass and worth its own few days. On the way down, stop in Oceanside for great food and a hit of Top Gun nostalgia. In San Diego itself, do not miss La Jolla (the coves and the sea lions), the world-famous San Diego Zoo, and the iconic kissing statue on the waterfront. LA and San Diego are only about two hours apart, so they combine beautifully into one trip.
The food is a reason to go
Wherever you are, eat well. California’s food scene is incredible top to bottom: legendary donuts, some of the best Mexican food in the country, and a serious lineup of Michelin-star restaurants. Tell me how you like to eat and I will build the list around it.
The thing that makes or breaks California is timing. In a city like Los Angeles, rush hour can turn a short hop into a one to two hour crawl, so the order you do things in matters as much as the things themselves. Add a theme-park day that needs its own reservations and ride planning, the long drives between regions, and a car you cannot skip, and the pieces only work when they are sequenced right, which is exactly what I handle.
Why plan California with me
California is big, and the magic is in stringing the right pieces together: the beach town, the parks, the city, and San Diego, in the right order and at the right pace. I map the route, match you to the right hotels with any VIP recognition available, and fill in the food and the low-key local spots most visitors miss. I plan every step in English or Español.