California, MD Road Trips

Human settlement in California goes back 50,000 years; California was home to 30 different tribal groups prior to the arrival of European explorers in the 1500s and now over 120 tribes are left. The first Europeans to discover what is now California were the Spanish and Portuguese. Spanish colonialism was established through twenty-one missions built throughout California by the late 1700s. These missions still survive today, stretching from San Diego on the Mexican border to Sonoma in the northern San Francisco Bay Area. After the Mexican War for Independence in 1821, California became a part of Mexico for 25 years until 1846, when many of its residents declared a sovereign nation (the California Republic, also called the Bear Flag Republic) before it was annexed by the United States in 1846, and has since then had an image as the "land of opportunity" and the final destination of luck-seekers. The 1848 discovery of gold in the Sierra Nevada mountains kicked off the California Gold Rush, and California's non-native population surged from 15,000 to over 300,000 within two years. People who moved to California during the Gold rush were often called "49ers", a term that was adopted as the name for the San Francisco football team. California became a state in 1850, and its population has increased steadily since then. Los Angeles, a city which once boasted one of the longest streetcar networks in the world, boomed through defense contractors and later converted to a "freeway" city after the streetcars were dismantled.

As the most geographically and culturally diverse state in the U.S., California offers an endless amount of things to see and do; even when you think you've experienced everything in one area of the state, a short trip to another part has plenty more to offer. Incredible and unique scenery, some of the most recognizable landmarks in the world, centuries old historical sites, unending cultural and entertainment options – no matter where your interests lie, California will almost certainly offer it. From white-sand beaches to snowcapped mountains, with lush forests and arid deserts in between, no other state offers such a wide a variety of natural landscapes as California does. California hosts the largest number of U.S. national parks with a total of nine. The most famous of these is Yosemite National Park, featuring thundering waterfalls and geological behemoths like El Capitan and Half Dome. The surrounding Sierra Nevada also hosts nearby Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks which are both home to some of the world's largest living organisms, the giant sequoia. Redwood National Park in the far northwestern corner of the state and the surrounding area feature the world's tallest species of trees, the coast redwood. Tired of forests? The California desert is the site of some of the hottest and most arid places on Earth. Death Valley National Park is the location of the highest ever recorded temperature on the planet. If deserts are not your thing, beaches and California are practically synonymous.

Ski at one of the great resorts near Lake Tahoe or Big Bear. Try your hand at surfing or work on your tan in Orange County or Santa Monica. The long coastline offers some great California scuba diving. Go winetasting at one of the countless vineyards dotting Wine Country. Climb a mountain and camp in the Sierra Nevada or Shasta Cascades. See California's amazing wildflowers. From March through May, the California Wildflower Hotline at +1 818 768-3533 offers the latest information on the best places to view wildflowers throughout Southern and Central California. The hotline and website are updated every Thursday evening. More than 90 wildflower sites are included. The hotline, founded in 1983, is run by the Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers and Native Plants. Listen to music at the Northern California Blues Festival. The fastest growing festival of its kind comes in June to Sacramento County around Father's day each year and usually features a spectacular line-up of Blues artists. Event benefits Through the Mind, a non-profit providing free alternative mental health to America's Veterans. Visit one of the many theme parks, such as Disneyland or Six Flags Magic Mountain.

California doesn't have a single, well-defined cuisine of its own, but rather has a remarkably diverse food scene defined by its large population of immigrants of varied ethnic backgrounds and its access to one of the most productive agricultural regions on this side of the planet. The culinary style referred to as Californian cuisine or California fusion focuses on imaginative fusions of other cuisines, typically with heavy attention to presentation and an emphasis on using freshly prepared local ingredients, and has been somewhat subsumed into the general trend of "New American" cuisine. Even diners and small mom-and-pop fast food grills have elements of fusion cuisine, as it is common in California for they to serve both burgers and Mexican food. Californians take fresh food for granted. Most food you will eat in California was harvested within 300 miles (480 km) of your plate, with the exception of certain cereals and tropical crops. California is the leading global source of tree nuts (almonds, pistachios, walnuts) and also leads North America in the production of dairy products and many kinds of fruits and vegetables. Out-of-season crops are usually imported from South America, especially Chile and Brazil. With such bounty for restaurants to draw upon, almost any dish you can imagine can be found somewhere in California. The cuisines of the Americas and Asia are heavily represented, and those of nearly every other country are also available to a lesser extent.

Generally, alcohol is available in more places in California than it is in other states. A person with valid ID of age can purchase alcohol at supermarkets or liquor stores; these are regulated by the state but not owned or controlled by them. All but the smallest communities have restaurants or bars that sell beer. Some places are permitted to have a bar in one part of their establishment, and six-packs of beer for sale and offsite consumption in another part. California is known for its fine wines and gourmet beers. As of March 2026, there are 154 established American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) across the state of California, which is the highest number of any state. Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino are premier wine districts north of San Francisco, but there are others in the Central Coast region (Paso Robles, Solvang) and even down near Temecula where suitable microclimates have been found. The inland Central Valley region (especially near Lodi) has hotter summers and traditionally produced inexpensive bulk wines, but quality has been improving with winemaking innovations. For beer, California also has a lot of microbreweries. Sierra Nevada, in Chico, is one of the biggest microbreweries in North America. In the Central Coast the mid-sized brewery Firestone Walker in Paso Robles is a good addition to the local wineries in the area; Ventura has had several microbreweries over the years. In San Diego, Stone Brewing Company offers a great variety of beers that can be purchased throughout the state.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO IATA) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX IATA) are the most popular entry points with a wide variety of flights from Europe, East Asia, India, Oceania (Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Tahiti, etc.), Latin America and from various cities in the U.S. on a variety of U.S. and foreign flag carriers. To a lesser extent there are also direct flights from the Middle East (Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, UAE) to Los Angeles. They are however also the most crowded and the SFO-LAX route is one of the busiest air corridors in the world causing frequent delays due to congestion. Delays at San Francisco airport due to fog are also somewhat common. If coming from within the U.S. and from Mexico there are other alternate airports in California that are less crowded and may be closer to your final destination. They are: Los Angeles area – Hollywood-Burbank Airport (Bob Hope Airport) (BUR IATA) in Burbank (closest to Hollywood and Downtown Los Angeles), John Wayne Airport (SNA IATA) in Orange County (closest to Disneyland & Knott's Berry Farm), Ontario Airport (ONT IATA) in Ontario (closest to Joshua Tree and the Inland Empire deserts), and Long Beach Airport (LGB IATA) in Long Beach. San Francisco Bay Area – Oakland Airport (OAK IATA) in Oakland (closer to Downtown San Francisco than SFO), San Jose Airport (SJC IATA) in San Jose (closest to Silicon Valley), and Sonoma County Airport (STS IATA) in Santa Rosa (closest to Wine Country).

California is the third largest state of the U.S. by area (after Alaska and Texas). It compares in size with Sweden. However, getting around California can be simple. In addition to interstates and US highways, California has one of the most expansive state highway systems in the United States. As with all long-distance trips in the United States, a car is generally the best way to get around and see destinations, especially rural ones. However the trip from the northern end of California to the southern end can take well over ten hours as the state's varied and in places rugged terrain can pose obstacles to the road network. The coast routes (State Route 1 and U.S. 101) are much slower and windier than Interstate 5, and GPS travel estimate times may be inaccurate, especially on Highway 1. Most California drivers are courteous and careful (although speeding is rampant), and the safety and ease of driving in California is comparable to most wealthy countries. Exceptions may be found in the most congested areas of San Francisco and Los Angeles — where potholes, road rage and reckless driving are commonplace — and some country roads in mountain ranges. Information about vehicle collisions and other non-congestion traffic problems on highways are reported online at chp.ca.gov/traffic. Traffic congestion is tracked by most online map sites. Gasoline prices are more expensive than in other parts of the U.S.; consider public transit in highly populated areas such as the Bay Area where prices are especially high.

Due to California's proximity to the international boundary with Mexico, visitors should be cautious while in areas near the border. Beware Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) checkpoints and patrols. CBP is legally allowed to stop you or your vehicle solely in order to inquire about your citizenship and residency status within 100 miles (160 km) of any international border (in this instance, the US–Mexico border). Non-whites, and especially Latinos, should expect to be profiled, targeted, and harassed by these government agents. Know where you are at all times. Follow good safety procedures and use common sense when making decisions. Do not pick up hitchhikers. If the person is undocumented or carrying drugs, you could be mistaken for a trafficker. Keep valuables, including spare change, out of sight and lock your vehicle. Avoid traveling in well-marked but unofficial "trails." Avoid hiking or camping in areas of major border activity. If you are visiting a national or state park, consult park staff to help plan backcountry travel in safer areas. Thousands of U.S citizens visit the state of Baja California, Mexico from California every year, with the majority of travelers returning from an enjoyable experience. However, a minority of travelers do experience difficulties and serious inconveniences while traveling to Mexico. Before traveling to Mexico, ensure that you have the proper documentation and are familiar with the recommendations for foreign travel from the U.S.