Hollywood Legends
The Original Maverick
Mavericks Beach is world-renowned for its surf. With waves that can top 60 feet, the iconic surf spot was featured in Chasing Mavericks, starring Gerard Butler about a story of 15-year-old surfing phenom Jay Moriarty. The Half Moon Bay spot became synonymous with daring surf culture when surfer Jeff Clark rode the waves in the 1970s. Today, visitors can see the best surfers in the world compete in the Mavericks Big Wave Invitational.
Going to the Birds
For thriller lovers, it doesn’t get better than a classic Alfred Hitchcock movie. Sonoma County’s Bodega Bay was the backdrop in his famous flick, The Birds. Today visitors can still see The Potter School and St. Theresa’s Church, which were featured in the film.
Cruisin’ Culture
Classic car fanatics will want to cruise on down to Modesto. The city’s classic car culture was immortalized in Modesto-native George Lucas’s 1973 movie, American Graffiti. Each summer the city celebrates Graffiti Summer, featuring a classic car show, parade and music from the era along with special guest appearances.
The Hottest Movie Set
Lights, camera, vacation! Movie fans have been vacationing at the Oasis at Death Valley for decades on a quest to visit location sites “a galaxy far, far, away” from the 1977 movie Star Wars: A New Hope. The majority of the movie’s filming sites are under a 40-minute drive from the Oasis at Death Valley, the only resort in Death Valley National Park.
Jam Time
If you love music, Claremont’s unique Folk Music Center is a must-visit. Owned by Grammy-winning, singer-songwriter Ben Harper’s family, the eccentric museum features a collection of rare and antique musical instruments and artifacts from around the world. The museum offers classes and workshops for budding musicians, a lineup of musical performances from local and international folk performers, and an open mic on the last Sunday of every month. Guests can try out any of the hundreds of unusual instruments, from guitars to didgeridoos. Ben’s mom and recording partner, Ellen, can often be found working the counter.
The Witch’s House
For many, Beverly Hills is a fairytale land, so naturally it should have a Hansel and Gretel style house that draws film buffs in the know. The Witch’s House, or Spadena House, is located on the corner of Walden and Carmelita. Today, it’s most known for its appearance in Clueless, but it was originally built in 1921 as the offices for silent film studio, Willat Studios. The house was moved in 1934 and its storybook look is one of Hollywood’s favorites.
Luxury Landmark
Born on the former site of a 20th Century Studios backlot in 1966, the legendary Fairmont Century Plaza in Century City is where business meets Hollywood – from the Beatles winning big at the 10th annual Grammy Awards to the first Presidential State Dinner ever held outside the White House, hosted by President Nixon to honor the Apollo 11 expedition. After a $2.5 billion renovation, the hotel is poised to continue its A-list legacy throughout the 21st century.
Bison Surprise
During the Golden Age of Hollywood, Catalina Island was a popular filming location and celebrity getaway. In the 1920s, a movie crew brought a small herd of bison to the island and today, the Catalina Island Conservancy maintains the herd that has swelled to 150. Visitors can join the Bison Expedition, a four-wheel adventure, to see American bison in the wild.
Otherworldly Sightings
Bigfoot Sightings
In Northern California’s Siskiyou County, visitors can look for the mythical Bigfoot, or simply head to Happy Camp to snap a selfie with the iconic Bigfoot statue. Travelers can also delve into the Native American spiritual energy on a Mount Shasta vortex tour and dive deeper into the culture at local museums and galleries.
Haunted Hotel
The tiny hamlet of Hopland embraces the paranormal at the Thatcher Hotel. The Victorian hotel was originally established by pioneer William Thatcher in 1890. At the time, the third floor of the property functioned as a bordello and guests swear that a woman in a white dress still roams the halls. Perhaps she’s just intrigued by the hotel’s chic boutique décor or on the search for the natural wines served poolside!
Tahoe Tessie
Loch Ness might have Nessie, but North Lake Tahoe has Tahoe Tessie. Tahoe Tessie is said to live in an underwater lair beneath Cave Rock on Lake Tahoe’s East Shore. Through a partnership with the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center, visitors can play the kid’s game “Find Tahoe Tessie,” which teaches users about climate change and uses augmented reality to help find her. While using the app, players become scientists and can explore Tahoe through local excursions and apply scientific knowledge to help find Tahoe Tessie.
Tuolumne Spirits
When travelers come to Tuolumne, they don’t want to leave, as evidenced by the number of ghost sightings at local hotels. In Jamestown, the oldest town in the county, the National Hotel is the home to Flora, the ghost of a young woman who died of a broken heart. Guests claim she wanders the hotel, moves luggage, plays with the lights and can be heard crying at night. A block away in the Jamestown Hotel, which was once the Motherlode Hospital, the spirit of patient Mary O’Sullivan is said to roam the hotel. Bordering Yosemite National Park, the Groveland Hotel is where the spirit of Lyle lives in room 15, while the Victorian Era Fallon Hotel near Columbia State Historic Park has a young female ghost that walks the grounds.
Rest in Peace
Paris has its famous Pere Lachaise cemetery and Santa Rosa has its own hallowed grounds, the Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery. Believe it or not, it’s the final resting place of Santa Rosa native, Robert Leroy Ripley, the creator of Ripley’s Believe It or Not.
The Legend of the Serpent
Visitors are drawn to Morro Rock in Morro Bay a 576-foot-tall ancient volcanic plug formed over 23 million years ago. The rock is sacred to the Salinan tribe and features in many of their fables including The Legend of the Serpent. In this legend, a dangerous serpent is confronted by Prairie-Falcon and Raven, who seek to defeat it. After a dramatic chase involving clever strategies to evade capture, they lead the serpent to Morro Rock. Here, Prairie-Falcon harnesses power from Morro Rock to use a charm that defeats the serpent, cutting it into four pieces. These pieces become modern snakes, explaining their existence and venomous nature.
Legendary Destinations
Del Norte County
WWII buffs will be surprised by an unassuming farmhouse in Del Norte County’s Klamath. This barn didn’t house livestock, but rather life-saving technology in the form of an early-warning radar defense system that was used in WWII. Art lovers in Del Norte County will appreciate the novelty of the rusty red horses, wagons and cowboy sculptures that line Highway 101 in Smith River. Look closely and you’ll find the pieces are all crafted from horseshoes!
Mythical Mixology
People come to Elk Grove and the Sheldon Inn to relax in the bucolic countryside. But once the weekend hits the historic restaurant's upscale speakeasy, The Velvet Martini Room, shakes up quiet country life with its craft cocktails and live music.
Circus Trees
Discover the whimsical, world-famous “Circus Trees” at Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park. Located throughout the park, these incredible trees were originally grafted and shaped into complex designs by Axel Erlandson, then rescued and transplanted at Gilroy Gardens. The famous Basket Tree, created from six American Sycamores intricately woven together, is the park’s centerpiece. Other impressive specimens include the Arch, the Four-Legged Giant, Oil Well and Zig-Zag.
Sam’s Castle
Built in 1908 in Pacifica, Sam’s Castle has a storied history. In the early 1920s, it housed a speakeasy that was frequently raided during Prohibition. In the late 1920s, the castle did a 180 when bought by a pious couple that hosted Red Cross events at the property. During WWII it was a communications center for the Coast Guard. Today, visitors can tour the beautiful property and learn more about its eclectic history.
Whimsical Destination
Located in Santa Barbara county, Buellton is a small town with whimsy at its core. In one day, visitors can see OstrichLand, one of five remaining ostrich farms in California, visit he Mendenhall Museum with its ode to American road trip culture and close out the day on a high-flyin’ ride at Highline Adventure, which has the longest and fastest zipline course in the state.
The Hide Drogher
Dana Point’s seafaring history is immortalized with The Hide Drogher bronze statue sculpted by F. Benedict Coleman. The piece is located at Blufftop Trail overlooking the harbor. It depicts a 19th century sailor tossing local cowhides from the cliffs below to visiting ships as trade for goods.
All Aboard
On a quiet street of quaint beach houses and mismatched cottages, just off the 101 Highway in downtown Encinitas, you’ll be confronted by the incongruous sight of two enormous boats – most definitely in dry dock since they’re situated two blocks back from the beach. In fact, the SS Encinitas and SS Moonlight have never set sail. Built in the 1920s, the boats have always been homes for landlubbers.
A Whale of a Good Time
Oceanside is full of legends, whether historical legends like Mission San Luis Rey along the El Camino Real, or legends of the ocean. Join Oceanside Whale Watching for a cruise on their newest boat, Nala, to see Humpback Whales, Fin Whales and Minke Whales seasonally, in one of California’s most legendary whale watching spots.