The Golden Gate Bridge

Helios House

”Playing Alvy Singer in 1977’s Annie Hall, Woody Allen famously described Los Angeles as a place whose only cultural advantage...” More

San Francisco Federal Building

”The dramatic new building is situated on a stubbornly bleak stretch of Mission Street. Designed by Thom Mayne, of the...” More

Santa Monica Civic Center Parking Structure

”A skyscraper, city park, baseball stadium, hotel, museum, parking garage, restaurant, and more—all of them iconic, all of them green...” More

Alinder Gallery

Billy Shire Fine Arts

Elizabeth Paige Smith Atelier A+R

”In addition to designing the space for neighboring shop Dewey, Paige Smith is one of Abbot Kinney Boulevard's top gallerists...” More

Getty Villa

”Amid controversy about the provenance of some of its classical antiquities, Los Angeles's Getty Villa opens after a 12-year renovation....” More

Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens

Royal/T

”'The 10,000-square-foot, Japanese-themed space houses a contemporary art gallery, a shop with artist-designed toys and clothing—and a café where the...” More

SF Recycling & Disposal Inc.

”Not only do they recycle everything from beer cans to house paint (which its workers pick up in alternatively fueled...” More

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

Bambuddha Lounge

”...Buddhist-themed...” More

Bar Marmont

Bourbon & Branch

”...a swanky speakeasy...” More

Café Du Nord

Cantina

”Cantina's Sidecar uses only local ingredients - Qi White Tea liqueur, Osocalis brandy, and lemons handpicked from the owner's mother's...” More

The Edison

”Playing Alvy Singer in 1977’s Annie Hall, Woody Allen famously described Los Angeles as a place whose only cultural advantage...” More

Library Bar

Mandrake

”Mandrake attracts Culver City gallery hoppers who are drawn by the cozy wood-paneled tavern, great DJ-mixed tunes and a space...” More

Movino

The Penthouse at the Huntley Santa Monica Beach Hotel

”In a suburb comprising mostly low-level shops and two-story homes, this ultramodern 18th-floor hotel bar is an unexpected gem. High...” More

Ritual Supper Club

Seven Grand

Stone Rose Lounge

Tosca Café

Butterfly Beach

Horseshoe Beach

North Avenue Beach

Pebble Beach

”Carmel is a beachy home away from home to me. It’s...” More

Pfeiffer State Beach

Santa Monica Beach

”Perhaps the most unusual designee in this year’s 10 Best Public Spaces...” More

Silver Strand State Beach

”Named for its shimmering oyster-strewn shore, this stretch is also scattered with sand dollars, cockles, and scallops. Hotel del Coronado...” More

Venice Beach

William Randolph Hearst State Beach

Zuma Beach

Ojai Culinary Studio

Foxtail

Le Club San Francisco

Opera

Stingaree

”San Diego’s 70 miles of coastline has always lured visitors, but in the past several years, the urban landscape has...” More

Teddy's

Temple Nightclub

”Even dance clubs around the world are putting their own spin on going green. ...” More

Vessel

Downtown Art Walk

”Playing Alvy Singer in 1977’s Annie Hall, Woody Allen famously described Los Angeles as a place whose only cultural advantage...” More

The Strawberry Music Festival

Climb the Filbert Steps

Griffith Observatory

”Playing Alvy Singer in 1977’s Annie Hall, Woody Allen famously described Los Angeles as a place whose only cultural advantage...” More

Monterey Bay Aquarium

”'Several of the exhibits—the three-story kelp fore...” More

Venice Beach Boardwalk

X²

”the world’s first “fourth-dimensional” ride...” More

Hearst Castle

The Bunny Museum

”...a collection of some 23,000 bunnies...” More

California Academy of Sciences

”A skyscraper, city park, baseball stadium, hotel, museum, parking garage, restaurant, and more—all of them iconic, all of them green...” More

Exploratorium

The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA

”Playing Alvy Singer in 1977’s Annie Hall, Woody Allen famously described Los Angeles as a place whose only cultural advantage...” More

The Getty Center

Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)

”Playing Alvy Singer in 1977’s Annie Hall, Woody Allen famously described Los Angeles as a place whose only cultural advantage...” More

M.H. de Young Museum

”Although its collection is a tad out of balance (strong on New Guinea art, historical American paintings, and Anatolian kilims;...” More

Museum of Contemporary Art, LA

”Playing Alvy Singer in 1977’s Annie Hall, Woody Allen famously described Los Angeles as a place whose only cultural advantage...” More

Museum of Design Art and Architecture (MODAA)

Museum of Jurassic Technology

Oakland Museum of California

The San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

SFMOMA

”Wagner says she can feel the town returning to life—Valencia Street's mélange of traditional Latino businesses cheek by jowl with...” More

Music Center/Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County

Yoshi's

Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve

Buzzard's Roost

”The hike through Big Sur is challenging with lots of switchbacks. ...” More

Death Valley Hiking and Biking trail

”The 1.8-mile-long Death Valley hiking and biking trail starts in the village, runs through stunning natural salt sculptures, and ends...” More

Ecology Trail

Inspiration Point

Lake Sonoma

Last Chance Trail

Meditation Mount

Mount Shasta

”This stunning snow-capped peak...” More

Shelf Road Trail

Silverado Trail

Stow Lake

Abbot Kinney Boulevard

”Once home to artists and bohemians, Abbot Kinney Boulevard is experiencing its most upscale renaissance to date, with one-of-a-kind boutiques...” More

Gallery Row

”Playing Alvy Singer in 1977’s Annie Hall, Woody Allen famously described Los Angeles as a place whose only cultural advantage...” More

Tehrangeles

”Tehrangeles thoroughfare, Westwood Boulevard, is home to on of the biggest communities of Persians outside of Iran. ...” More

Desert Rain

View Lounge (Space Bar)

Balboa Park

Crissy Field

”an airfield-turned-recreation-area-and-bird-refuge in the Presidio. Here, you could spend hours watching the kiteboarders skim over the waves—and crash spectacularly into...” More

Golden Gate Park

Kit Carson Park

Maritime Park

Muir Woods

Racetrack Playa

”People have long scratched their heads...” More

Safari West

Wild Animal Park

Chateau Potelle

”Have a picnic on the mountaintop grounds after tasting the wines....” More

Conservatory of Flowers

Di Rosa Preserve

”For the impressive art collection....” More

Lagunitas Brewing

”Try the potent Undercover Investigation Shutdown Ale...” More

Soda Springs Winter Resort

”Atop snow-smothered Donner Summit, less than two hours from Sacramento, this 1930's-era hill packs a lot into its 200 acres....” More

Walt Disney Concert Hall

”Playing Alvy Singer in 1977’s Annie Hall, Woody Allen famously described Los Angeles as a place whose only cultural advantage...” More

Bay City Bike

Terra del Cuore

”A Tuscan-style villa in Napa with two guest cottages, a boccie court, indoor and outdoor pizza ovens, walking trails, a...” More

Venice Bikes & Skates

Jade Theater

”San Diego’s 70 miles of coastline has always lured visitors, but in the past several years, the urban landscape has...” More

Glide Memorial United Methodist Church

”...'church without walls'...” More

Hollywood Forever Cemetery

”Playing Alvy Singer in 1977’s Annie Hall, Woody Allen famously described Los Angeles as a place whose only cultural advantage...” More

Mission Santa Inés

”What makes a perfect escape? Whether it's a hidden California wine valley, a white-sand beach in Mexico, or a not-to-be-...” More

Self-Realization Fellowship

Hayground Organic Gardening

SRD International

21 Arrondissement

”With a mix of chic hotels, creative chefs, and sty...” More

826 Valencia (Pirate Store)

”Here you can buy glass eyes and striped sailor shirts while contemplating a huge vat that turns out to be...” More

Alabaster

All Purpose

Alpha Gear for Gents

Amoeba Music, LA

”Playing Alvy Singer in 1977’s Annie Hall, Woody Allen famously described Los Angeles as a place whose only cultural advantage...” More

Amoeba Music

”Oh, and Amoeba Music in the Haight, which is so good that a guy in Antwerp asked me about it....” More

Andante Dairy

”From the bloomy, buttery Nocturne to the nutty, melting Picolo, Soyoung Scanlan makes unbelievable cow’s- and goat’s-milk cheeses...” More

Artists & Farmers

Avedano’s

”At Avedano’s, co-owners Tia Harrison, Melanie Eisemann and Angela Wilson are serious about humanely and often locally raised meat; sustainability...” More

Babette

”As long as I'm in the neighborhood, I visit a few favorites: Lang Antiques, for its ravishing heirloom jewels; Babette...” More

Baby Donut Co.

”This Los Angeles shop lets you customize your doughnut...” More

Baksheesh

”With a mix of chic hotels, creative chefs, and sty...” More

Bart's

Bay Tree Bookstore

Beard Papa, LA

Berkeley Farmers' Market

Boccalone Salumeria

”This summer he is opening Boccalone, a salumeria in San Francisco’s Ferry Building, to sell his line of cured sausages....” More

Bouchon Bakery

”For perfect pressed sandwiches, pastries, cookies and, on weekends, amazing doughnuts....” More

Café Cacao

Candystore

Candy Store

”Diane Campbell and her husband, Brian, comb the country for icons of American kitsch to fill the shelves at the...” More

Carrots

Chameleon

Citizen:Citizen

”In September, the Patels are scheduled to open a Citizen:Citizen in San Francisco's Mission District, and next year they plan...” More

Citizen Cupcake

”This offshoot of Citizen Cake in San Francisco sells mini versions of cake classics....” More

City Lights Books

”In the year of love, I visited San Francisco, and ...” More

D'Angelo Bread

”Walking around, I discovered D'Angelo Bread, which has an incredibly moist seed-studded multigrain bread called Rudolf Steiner (presumably after the...” More

Decades and Decades Two

”One shopper’s castoffs are another’s treasures—and a great way to help save the planet....” More

Del Mar Plaza

”20 terrific getaways—one “Save” and one “Splurge” idea for 10 U.S. cities...” More

Denizen Design Gallery

Den

”Across the street, and in a radically different frame of mind, Den offers Midcentury Modern furniture. In fact, the whole...” More

Des Kohan

De Vera

Dewey

”Hollywood stylists Maya Lieberman and Gretchen Patch stock covetable imports like L'Autre Chose from Italy and Pour la Victoire from...” More

Diane von Furstenberg

”DVF uses frosted-glass panels and mirrored ceilings to create a glam Hollywood backdrop for her updated classics and fine jewelry...” More

dosa818

”Playing Alvy Singer in 1977’s Annie Hall, Woody Allen famously described Los Angeles as a place whose only cultural advantage...” More

Echo Park Time Travel Mart

”Playing Alvy Singer in 1977’s Annie Hall, Woody Allen famously described Los Angeles as a place whose only cultural advantage...” More

Empiric

Enoteca Wine Shop

Erin Martin

Être Beauté

Être Sonoma

Family

”Playing Alvy Singer in 1977’s Annie Hall, Woody Allen famously described Los Angeles as a place whose only cultural advantage...” More

Farmers Market

Ferry Building

”Even if you miss the famed farmers’ market held here every Saturday, there are plenty of other reasons to swing...” More

Ferry Building Marketplace

Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market

Fiona's Sweetshoppe

Fitzsu

Flats

Flora Grubb Gardens

”Coffee gives people a reason to come in even when ...” More

Flounce

”One shopper’s castoffs are another’s treasures—and a great way to help save the planet....” More

George

Giant Robot, LA

Gosar Ranch Mountain Mama Wheat

”Chef Joseph Wrede of Taos’s Joseph’s Table goes nuts for the stone-ground organic whole wheat flour ...” More

Grand Central Market

”The Grand Central Market is a labyrinth of stalls selling tamarind candy, mole, and turquoise jewelry. Zero in on Sarita's...” More

Gregg Fleishman Studio

Gump's

Hairport

”Most airports have showers that you can use for a small fee. A few worth checking out: the Hairport at...” More

Harputs

H.D. Buttercup

”The 100,000-square-foot, solar-powered world bazaar comprises more than 50 high-end furniture and accessory manufacturers. Celebrities known for their savvy style...” More

Hollyhock

Indie Collective

Jeanine Payer

”Conley drops me on Market Street, where I order a delicate silver bracelet from Jeanine Payer, a jeweler with a...” More

Jefferson West

JEP boutique