Family Travel, Idyllwild, Wild North Coast

The Golden State’s astonishing variety is on full display in this episode of the California Now Podcast. Travel + Leisure Editor in Chief Jacqui Gifford kicks things with off with a preview of a family trip she has in the works. Gifford, her son, and her husband are planning a getaway that includes attractions in San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, and the Central Coast—and she shares some of her planned stops (and a few essential strategies) for keeping everybody happy and entertained.

After that, podcast regular Ann Marie Brown shines a light on Idyllwild, a tiny mountain village in the Inland Empire that is a big draw for hikers, artists, and discerning diners. Brown, an outdoor enthusiast and author who knows the area very well, recommends some essential experiences in this mile-high city located just a short drive from Los Angeles. 

The episode wraps up with a road trip that includes stops in Mendocino, Fort Bragg, Eureka, Trinidad, and Redwoods National Park. Jessica Wright, aka Bon Traveler, shares some of the discoveries she made while embarking on a recent road trip up the Wild North Coast.

Guests

• Jacqui Gifford, editor in chief of Travel + Leisure
• Ann Marie Brown, author and journalist
• Jessica Wright, editor of Bon Traveler

Resources

Travel + Leisure’s Jacqui Gifford knows the tourism industry as well as anybody on the planet, and she shared some smart strategies for taking a family trip through SoCal.

• Hotel Bel-Air
• Family Vacations
• Hearst Castle
• The Madonna Inn
• San Diego Zoo
• La Jolla Cove
• Belmont Park
• LEGOLAND California
• Santa Barbara
• Funk Zone
• Rosewood Miramar Beach
• Disneyland Resort for younger kids
• Packing tips

If there’s a hiking trail nearby, Ann Marie Brown surely knows about it. She has plenty of insights to share about the outdoorsy town of Idyllwild.

• Idyllwild
• Mount San Jacinto
• Inland Empire
• Humber Park
• Café Aroma
• Plant Food Supper Club
• Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail
• Tahquitz Peak
• Middle Ridge Winery

Jessica Wright’s Bon Traveler blog is a treasure trove of information and inspiration, and she has lots to say about California’s Wild North Coast.

• Mendocino
• Russian Gulch State Park
• Glendeven Inn & Lodge
• Catch a Canoe & Bicycles Too
• Flow
• Café Beaujolais
• Skunk Train
• Fort Bragg
• Princess Seafood
• Avenue of the Giants
• Founder’s Grove
• Eureka
• Lost Coast Brewery
• Trinidad
• Moonstone Grill
• Larrupin Cafe
• Redwoods National and State Parks
• Fern Canyon

About the Host

Soterios Johnson, formerly the local host of National Public Radio’s Morning Edition on radio station WNYC, moved from New York City to Davis, Calif., in 2016 and is just getting to know his surroundings. By combining his journalistic instincts with his personal curiosity, Johnson will use the California Now platform to develop a deeper understanding of his adopted home.