Fodors California

Editorial: Douglas Stallings, Editorial Director; Salwa Jabado and Margaret Kelly, Senior Editors; Alexis Kelly, Jacinta OHalloran, and Amanda Sadlowski, Editors; Teddy Minford, Associate Editor; Rachael Roth, Content Manager

Design: Tina Malaney, Art Director

Photography: Jennifer Arnow, Senior Photo Editor

Maps: Rebecca Baer, Senior Map Editor; Mark Stroud (Moon Street Cartography), David Lindroth, Cartographers

Production: Jennifer DePrima, Editorial Production Manager; Carrie Parker, Senior Production Editor; Elyse Rozelle, Production Editor; David Satz, Director of Content Production

Business & Operations: Chuck Hoover, Chief Marketing Officer; Joy Lai, Vice President and General Manager; Stephen Horowitz, Head of Business Development and Partnerships

Public Relations: Joe Ewaskiw, Manager

Writers: Michele Bigley, Cheryl Crabtree, Alene Dawson, Paul Feinstein, Marlise Kast-Myers, Amanda Kuehn Carroll, Denise M. Leto, Kai Oliver-Kurtain, Daniel Mangin, Kathy A. McDonald, Steve Pastorino, Joan Patterson, Andrea Powell, Rebecca Flint Marx, Archana Ram, Juliana Shallcross, Jerry James Stone, Jeff Terich, Ashley Tibbits, Claire Deeks van der Lee, and Clarissa Wei

Editors: Salwa Jabado (lead editor), Alexis Kelly (San Diego editor), Margaret Kelly (San Francisco and Napa and Sonoma editor), Rachael Roth (Los Angeles editor)

Production Editor: Jennifer DePrima

Copyright 2018 by Fodors Travel, a division of Internet Brands, Inc.

Fodors is a registered trademark of Internet Brands, Inc. All rights reserved. Published in the United States by Fodors Travel, a division of Internet Brands, Inc. No maps, illustrations, or other portions of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

32nd Edition

Ebook ISBN9780804143820

ISBN9781101880081

ISSN 01929925

All details in this book are based on information supplied to us at press time. Always confirm information when it matters, especially if youre making a detour to visit a specific place. Fodors expressly disclaims any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, that is incurred as a consequence of the use of any of the contents of this book.

Photo Credits: Cover: Michele Falzone / AWL Images Ltd; Experience California: Littleny | Dreamstime.com; Californias Bet Road Trips: Adeliepenguin | Dreamstime.com; San Diego: Kongomonkey | Dreamstime.com; Orange County and Catalina Island: Kate Fredriksen / Shutterstock; Los Angeles: California Travel and Tourism Commission/Andreas Hub; The Central Coast: Shippee | Dreamstime.com; The Monterey Bay Area: mellifluous, Fodors.com member, San Francisco: holbox / Shutterstock; The Bay Area: California Travel and Tourism Commission / Bongo, Napa and Sonoma: Andrew Zarivny / Shutterstock;The North Coast: Thomas Barrat/Shutterstock; Redwood National Park: iStockphoto; The Inland Empire: Mission Inn Hotel & Spa; Palm Springs: Carol M. Highsmith/Visit California, Joshua Tree National Park: Eric Foltz/iStockphoto; The Mojave Desert: Maksershov | Dreamstime.com; Death Valley National Park: Bryan Brazil / Shutterstock; The Central Valley: gorblimey, Fodors.com member; The Southern Sierra: Clicktrick | Dreamstime.com; Yosemite National Park: spcorley, Fodors.com member; Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks: urosr / Shutterstock; Sacramento and The Gold Country: Feoktistoff / Shutterstock; Lake Tahoe: Mblach | Dreamstime.com; The Far North: NPS

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ABOUT THIS GUIDE

Fodors Recommendations

Everything in this guide is worth doingwe dont cover what isntbut exceptional sights, hotels, and restaurants are recognized with additional accolades. Fodors Choice indicates our top recommendations. Care to nominate a new place? Visit Fodors.com/contact-us.

Trip Costs

We list prices wherever possible to help you budget well. Hotel and restaurant price categories from $ to $$$$ are noted alongside each recommendation. For hotels, we include the lowest cost of a standard double room in high season. For restaurants, we cite the average price of a main course at dinner or, if dinner isnt served, at lunch. For attractions, we always list adult admission fees; discounts are usually available for children, students, and senior citizens.

Hotels

Our local writers vet every hotel to recommend the best overnights in each price category, from budget to expensive. Unless otherwise specified, you can expect private bath, phone, and TV in your room. For expanded hotel reviews and deals, visit Fodors.com.

Restaurants

Unless we state otherwise, restaurants are open for lunch and dinner daily. We mention dress code only when theres a specific requirement and reservations only when theyre essential or not accepted.

Credit Cards

The hotels and restaurants in this guide typically accept credit cards. If not, well say so.

EUGENE FODOR

Hungarian-born Eugene Fodor (190591) began his travel career as an interpreter on a French cruise ship. The experience inspired him to write On the Continent (1936), the first guidebook to receive annual updates and discuss a countrys way of life as well as its sights. Fodor later joined the U.S. Army and worked for the OSS in World War II. After the war, he kept up his intelligence work while expanding his guidebook series. During the Cold War, many guides were written by fellow agents who understood the value of insider information. Todays guides continue Fodors legacy by providing travelers with timely coverage, insider tips, and cultural context.