Page 17 - 2025-2026 Travel Guide to California

there’s hiking, biking, sailing, seasonal
skiing, surfing—just about every activity is
available in this state. And the range of
indoor activities is equally exciting, from
contemporary art grazing to vintage wine
sipping, world-class museum and gallery
exhibitions to renowned author readings to
cutting-edge performances of dance, music
and theater. Some of the greatest amuse-
ment and theme parks in the world
entertain kids of all ages here, including
Disneyland, Universal Studios, SeaWorld
and Six Flags, and their intellectual
counterparts such as the Monterey Bay
Aquarium, California Academy of Sciences
and Exploratorium. There’s an activity for
every interest in this abundant state.
Culture and Cuisine
You can immerse yourself in ethnic tradi-
tions of all kinds, such as Japanese tea
ceremonies, festival dances like San Fran-
cisco’s annual Cherry Blossom Festival, or
Mexican like Cinco de Mayo celebrations.
There are indeed others like Chinese New
Year, the Sikh Festival in Yuba City,
Solvang’s Danish Days, the Calaveras Celtic
Faire and Concert in Angel’s Camp and
many more. You’ll also find globe-girdling
pockets of Asian, African, European and
South American communities throughout
the state, where even shopping in the local
market gives the taste of a rich global stew.
And speaking of stew, the California
kitchen is a glorious international melting
pot. In addition to California Cuisine,
which features a celebration of local, sea-
sonal produce in inventive combinations,
eating out in California offers tasty
lessons in global traditions, with restau-
rants serving the cuisines of dozens of
countries, from old favorites such as
France, Italy and China, to relatively new
favorites such as India, Mexico, Thailand
and Vietnam, to rising stars like Peru.
With so much to love, how can you not
fall under the spell of California? Whether
you arrive planning to spend a week or a
month, you’ll find an inexhaustible trea-
sure trove of riches awaiting. So be
prepared. You may just decide you need a
lifetime to enjoy them all.
2025-26 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA 15