Shasta Cascade
Dotted with volcanoes like snow-capped Mount Shasta and Lassen Peak, with protected wilderness laced with trails and sprinkled with campsites, this region in California's northeast corner is an outdoor-lover's paradise. Enjoy uncrowded parks, blue-ribbon fishing, incredible hiking and biking, and house boating on idyllic lakes. Friendly towns invite you to set a spell, and talk about that trout that just got away.
Gold Country
Warren Beatty and Joe Montana were among the seventh class of inductees into The California Museum's hall of fame, and both were thrilled to be in such good company.
Whether you want to pan for gold or dig through California history, this history-rich region delivers. Explore a historic mining town, watch laws made in the state capitol of Sacramento, tour an art museum, sip Zinfandel at a winery in the Sierra foothills, sample innovative farm-to-table cuisine, then raft the American River -- all in the same weekend.
North Coast
Ben Flajnik looked for love on both The Bachelorette and The Bachelor, and now he's taking us inside one of his heart's true passions – his winery!
Guy Fieri welcomed ET's Christina McLarty into his kitchen to show her where all his culinary magic happens.
Food Network star Guy Fieri is taking us on a tour of his hometown of Santa Rosa, California, ending up at his first restaurant, Johnny Garlic's.
The life of Kerri Walsh-Jennings is full of gold, measured in three Olympic medals and endless rays of sun.
Kerri Walsh-Jennings has stood atop the podium at three consecutive Olympics with beach volleyball partner Misty May-Treanor.
Escape to this romantic dreamscape, where ocean fog twists inland to cool the world's tallest trees in a string of redwood parks. Fishing boats bob in harbors, whales spout offshore, and festivals brighten almost every weekend. Here's the home of artists, as well as a new generation of farmers, chefs, and winemakers in places like the celebrated Sonoma Valley who focus on preserving the land as well as producing great food and wine.
San Francisco Bay
Warren Beatty and Joe Montana were the latest stars to be inducted into The California Museum hall of fame in Sacramento, and we were there as they accepted their honors.
San Francisco's iconic hills and landmarks have been featured in innumerable films and TV shows.
Celebrities are frequent guests of luxury hotels when they travel for business and pleasure.
Millions of viewers watch each week as Cheryl Burke pours her heart and soul into choreography and dancing on Dancing With the Stars. But, her true passion resides in northern California, though, at her dance studio, Cheryl Burke Dance.
Cheryl Burke started out as a little girl in the small California city of Atherton before making it big in Los Angeles.
Jay Leno's love of all things automotive has been well documented, but he's not the only star who has a deep affection for cars.
Kerri Walsh-Jennings has stood atop the podium at three consecutive Olympics with beach volleyball partner Misty May-Treanor.
The life of Kerri Walsh-Jennings is full of gold, measured in three Olympic medals and endless rays of sun.
With elegant Victorians, cable cars, chic boutiques, top restaurants, and the world's most beautiful bridge, San Francisco stands out as one of the world's great cities. Walk in Golden Gate Park to visit museums including the extraordinary California Academy of Sciences; sample other cultures and lifestyles in Chinatown, the Mission, and the Castro district. Beyond the City by the Bay, head east to Oakland and Berkeley, with nightlife, arts, and a cross-cultural vibe. Tour elegant wine country in the Napa and Livermore valleys; have beach-y fun in Santa Cruz, and experience the tech-savvy Silicon Valley and San José, where lunchtime chats turn into the next brilliant invention.
High Sierra
Snowboarder and two-time Olympic gold medalist Shaun White attributes part of his tremendous success to the place where he was born -- California.
Professional snowboarder Shaun White has already won two Olympic gold medals, but he's already got his mind set on a third.
Millions of viewers watch each week as Cheryl Burke pours her heart and soul into choreography and dancing on Dancing With the Stars. But, her true passion resides in northern California, though, at her dance studio, Cheryl Burke Dance.
The life of Kerri Walsh-Jennings is full of gold, measured in three Olympic medals and endless rays of sun.
Kerri Walsh-Jennings has stood atop the podium at three consecutive Olympics with beach volleyball partner Misty May-Treanor.
Trimming California's eastern border, the Sierra Nevada ranks as one of the world's great mountain ranges, with 10,000-foot peaks blanketed by snow in winter and wildflowers in summer. Here you can hike to a waterfall at Yosemite Valley, see giant sequoia trees at Sequoia/Kings Canyon, dive into lapis-blue Lake Tahoe, ski at top resorts like Squaw, Heavenly, Northstar, and Mammoth Mountain, or curl up in a cozy cabin, while the wind blows through the pines outside your window.
Central Valley
Welcome to California's heartland, an agricultural powerhouse stretching over 400 miles through the center of the state. Follow country roads to farm stands overflowing with fresh produce, or wine trails linking lush vineyards. Stop in at friendly towns, with handsome Victorians and classic California bungalows lining sun-dappled streets. Visit the region's major cities, including Bakersfield, Fresno, Stockton, and Lodi, with museums, country music, and leafy parks and gardens.
Central Coast
Cheryl Burke started out as a little girl in the small California city of Atherton before making it big in Los Angeles.
Jay Leno's love of all things automotive has been well documented, but he's not the only star who has a deep affection for cars.
Katy Perry doesn't just sing about being a California Girl. She is one!
From Oprah Winfrey to Gwyneth Paltrow to even the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge -- Santa Barbara attracts the best and brightest from all over the world.
Here's the kind of place where you end up with one thing on your mind: how can I move here? This achingly beautiful region -- a longtime magnet for artists (Edward Weston) and writers (Jack Kerouac, Henry Miller, John Steinbeck) -- stretches for some 400 miles along the coast, with picturesque hamlets like Carmel-by-the-Sea, jagged sea cliffs along Big Sur, the incomparable Monterey Bay Aquarium, and elegant wine country. Come romp on a beach, hike a trail, or relax in Santa Barbara, justly nicknamed 'The American Riviera.'
Los Angeles
Where do the stars travel when they need a quick escape from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood?
Before comedians hit the big or small screen, they make a name for themselves in comedy clubs, and California is home to some of the most famous.
George Lopez is better known for his jokes than his putting, but the funnyman filled us in on one of his favorite pastimes -- golf.
After finding success with standup, his own sitcom and a late-night show, California-native George Lopez is still dreaming big. So what's next for the actor/comedian?
California played host to one of the most notable events of the year earlier this week – the Oscars!
With multiple Oscars and Golden Globe awards, Steven Spielberg went from a California college student to a Hollywood icon, becoming one of the Golden State's adopted sons.
While California native Ben Affleck is still reeling from his Best Picture win at Sunday's Oscars, we're looking at some of the local shooting locations of his acclaimed film Argo.
Celebrities are frequent guests of luxury hotels when they travel for business and pleasure.
World-renowned recording artists often book tour stops in Los Angeles. Some of the venues are just as famous as the singers who grace the stage.
Millions of viewers watch each week as Cheryl Burke pours her heart and soul into choreography and dancing on Dancing With the Stars. But, her true passion resides in northern California, though, at her dance studio, Cheryl Burke Dance.
Cheryl Burke started out as a little girl in the small California city of Atherton before making it big in Los Angeles.
Besides his love for cracking jokes on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and in his stand-up routine, Jay Leno has made no secret of his love for classic vehicles. The collection in his garage is a force to be reckoned with.
Jay Leno's love of all things automotive has been well documented, but he's not the only star who has a deep affection for cars.
Perched atop Mount Hollywood, the Griffith Observatory is a picturesque locale that can be seen in many television shows and movies.
The greater Los Angeles area has served as the backdrop to countless films and television series.
The life of Kerri Walsh-Jennings is full of gold, measured in three Olympic medals and endless rays of sun.
The question in this one-of-a-kind urban mecca isn't what to do, it's how to fit it all in. Start with some star-watching -- in the surf (Matthew McConaughey), in Beverly Hills boutiques (the Kardashians), on a movie set at Universal Studios Hollywood or Warner Bros. back lot tours, or just grabbing a latte around town (Reese Witherspoon). Slip into your own celeb lifestyle with cocktails on a Santa Monica rooftop at sunset or at the symphony in stunning Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Inland Empire
Celebrities are frequent guests of luxury hotels when they travel for business and pleasure.
Besides his love for cracking jokes on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and in his stand-up routine, Jay Leno has made no secret of his love for classic vehicles. The collection in his garage is a force to be reckoned with.
Exploring this region is like getting in on a secret, with undiscovered gems and surprising wilderness in bustling Southern California. Explore the pristine alpine beauty of the San Jacinto and San Bernardino Mountains, where you can splash in lakes in summer, ski and snowshoe in winter). Wine taste at friendly vineyards in Temecula Valley, watch NASCAR racing in Fontana, and shop for bargains in Ontario.
Orange County
Rico Rodriguez plays California native Manny Delgado on ABC's hit Modern Family, but the 14-year-old actor still remembers his first California experience.
While fans know him as the charismatic, wise-beyond-his-years Manny on Modern Family, Rico Rodriguez says that he was once a bit of a wallflower.
ET gets a private tour of Disneyland, a.k.a. "the happiest place on Earth."
Kerri Walsh-Jennings has stood atop the podium at three consecutive Olympics with beach volleyball partner Misty May-Treanor.
It's a surfboard slung under a tanned arm along Huntington Beach, a pair of Mickey Mouse ears on a child's head, a sunset framed by luxurious yachts in Newport Beach. It's "The O.C.," one of California’s -- make that the country's -- most iconic destinations, and it's easy to figure out why, with spectacular theme parks, beach towns, top shopping, sand between your toes, and a year-round smile on your face.
San Diego
Before comedians hit the big or small screen, they make a name for themselves in comedy clubs, and California is home to some of the most famous.
San Diego is not only renowned for scenic beauty -- the Southern California city has also served as the backdrop for countless film projects.
Imagine some 70 miles of sun-drenched coastline and days that hovering around 70°F, and you've got a region that's almost too good to be true. But San Diego County is 100-percent real, with Shamu splashing at SeaWorld San Diego, pandas romping at the San Diego Zoo, kids laughing at Legoland California, and sailboats skimming across sparkling Mission Bay. Culture ranges from contemporary art in posh La Jolla to bustling nightclubs in the Gaslamp District, and a Latin Quarter jazzing it up with food and music from nearby Mexico.
Deserts
Wind-carved sand dunes, night skies glistening with stars, and posh resort towns beckoning like modern-day oases -- this region overflows with both natural wonders and naturally wonderful retreats. Here are some of the state’s most dramatic parklands, including Death Valley and Joshua Tree national parks, and California's largest state park, Anza-Borrego. Whether you want to rock climb by moonlight, swing a golf club, or relax poolside under the palms in Palm Springs, there’s a desert experience to suit your style.
