California Vacation Planning For Your Perfect Getaway

If you’ve ever tried planning a California vacation, you know the excitement can quickly become overwhelming. With so many must-sees, hidden gems, and wildly different opinions on what’s “can’t miss,” it’s easy to lose yourself in a sea of tabs and travel tips.

That’s where we come in. Unlike most travel agencies in California, Salt & Wind Travel specializes in crafting personalized California vacations that go far beyond the typical tourist experience.

As your California travel insiders, we cut through the noise to craft a trip that’s uniquely yours, filled with local flavor, seamless logistics, and those just-for-you moments you’ll talk about for years.

Our team handles every detail, from the first “what if?” to the last sunset, so you can actually savor your vacation instead of managing it.

Well, the path of least resistance would be to contact us and have us plan your California trip for you. If you want to do some research before that or plan it yourself, you’ll want to check out our California road trip travel guide and our California wine country travel guide.

California is a state the size of Italy with a ton of geographic and topographic diversity. That means the weather varies a lot, from the snowy weather in the Sierra to the extreme heat of Death Valley.

In general, you can travel to California any time of year, so long as you’re prepared for the weather in the region where you’re headed.

These are our favorite times to travel in the significant parts of California:

• Napa and Sonoma: If only for the beauty of the vines, we like wine country best from early Spring through harvest in the Fall. Winter can get rainy and colder across this part of the state; however, it is pretty quiet, so it can be an excellent time to travel if you want to avoid crowds.

  Summer is hot and busy across most of Napa and Sonoma but knows that the areas near the ocean (namely, Carneros and the Sonoma Coast) can get foggy and chilly almost any time of year.

• San Francisco: The biggest mistake we see non-locals make when they travel to San Francisco? They visit in the summertime expecting it to be balmy and sunny.

  The city by the bay is often socked in with fog for most of the summer, with temperatures in the low 50s and a good deal of wind. Our favorite time of year to travel to San Francisco is in the Fall, from September through November, when the weather is often warm and sunny.

• Big Sur And California Highway 1: Of all the regions we work in California, Big Sur has been the hardest hit by overtourism. Therefore, we highly recommend you follow all road signs and not pull off or walk any marked paths. And please don’t stop to take a photo of the Bixby Bridge unless you can safely pull aside and stay out of the way of oncoming traffic.

  To contribute to the local economy, we highly recommend you eat, shop, and stay overnight at one of the many local businesses in the region. Though most people travel to this region in the summer, the weather can be pretty foggy from late May through late July. So, if possible, we recommend you visit the shoulder seasons — March to May and September to November.

• Santa Barbara and Paso Robles: We’re always fans of visiting the central coast wine regions of Santa Barbara and Paso Robles, as the crowds and weather are relatively consistent throughout the year. However, the weather is best during the shoulder seasons — March to May and September to November.

• Los Angeles: The issue with the enormous metropolis that is Los Angeles is not when to visit (the weather is pleasant year-round) but how to deal with getting around as it’s large and doesn’t have excellent public transportation. Check out our tips for driving in California for a bit of insight.

• Palm Springs: As it’s a desert climate, Palm Springs's weather can vary drastically from winter to summer. The weather can get quite frigid in the winter (with frost at night) and unbearable in the summer (with triple digits temperatures), so we recommend you visit in the Spring or Fall.

• San Diego: The weather is nice in San Diego year-round, but we feel it’s best during the shoulder seasons — March to May and September to November.

Unfortunatley there's no one-size-fits-all answer. California is as diverse as the travelers we serve, and the “best” place truly depends on your group and your travel style.

For some, the best place might be the sun-kissed beaches of Santa Barbara or San Diego, perfect for families who want a blend of relaxation and adventure. Couples may fall for the romance of Napa and Sonoma's wine country, with its rolling vineyards and candlelit tastings. Food lovers can dive deep into Los Angeles or San Francisco's world-class culinary scenes, while friends seeking a sense of adventure might opt for a road trip along Highway 1, hiking in Yosemite, or exploring the creative neighborhoods of LA and the Bay Area.

We believe the magic of California lies in its variety: from redwood forests and mountain escapes to coastal towns and vibrant cities, there's a corner of the Golden State that's just right for every traveler. That's why we don't do cookie-cutter trips.

Instead, we get to know your group – whether you're a family, a couple, a group of friends, or a collection of food and wine enthusiasts – and craft a personalized itinerary that matches your interests, pace, and vibe. Our goal is to help you design a California vacation that feels "best" to you.

Foreign travelers going in and out of California must have valid passport and any necessary visas.

It’s not required by law, but we always suggest you have travel insurance. There are various services for providing trip insurance, and note that many credit cards (such as Chase Sapphire and AmEx) include travel insurance as part of a trip purchase. Check with your credit card to confirm.

The whole state of California is in the Pacific Time Zone in the United States, meaning it is 3 hours behind the East Coast. From March through October, California follows Daylight savings. Also, in California, the 12-hour clock is used, meaning that we use both AM and PM for times.

Here are a few of our go-to apps when we travel around California:

• Curb The easiest way to hail a taxi in California is to use this app.

• Google Maps Use the “offline” function to navigate a map without using up your data plan.

• Google Translate download the languages you want to go between, and you’re all set!

• QuickMap If you are driving in California, you’ll want to use this app to stay on top of road conditions.

• Uber or Lyft These are the primary rideshare services available in California.

• XE Currency Converter Use this app to keep track of the exchange rate.

Voltages and frequencies are the same in California as they are across the United States (110 volts). You'll need a three-prong plug and use a power adapter if coming from almost anywhere outside North America.