Travel Planning

Practical California trip planning: seasons, routes, transport, budgets and first-time advice.

California Mountain Driving: Snow Chains, Passes, Altitude and Seasonal Road Closures

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California mountain driving is not difficult because every road is extreme. It is difficult because conditions can change the meaning of the same road. A summer highway through the Sierra Nevada can be closed in winter, a two-hour drive to a snow destination can take much longer after a storm, and a rental car that … Read more

California Food Guide for First-Time Visitors: 20 Foods and Eating Experiences Worth Trying

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California does not have one cuisine. It has agricultural regions, immigrant neighborhoods, fishing ports, wine country, desert resort towns and cities where a taco stand and a tasting-menu restaurant can be part of the same day. For a first-time visitor, the best food strategy is not to chase a checklist of famous restaurants. It is … Read more