California & Coastal Travel
Featured Travel Guides
Plan your ideal Hawaii trip with this Kauai travel guide covering where to stay, the best things to do, top beaches, restaurants, and expert travel tips.
California’s long coastline makes for an excellent San Francisco to San Diego road trip with ocean views, charming beach towns, and some of the most famous cities in the world.
You can’t go wrong when picking where to stay in Corfu with gorgeous accommodations in every village on the island. This guide covers the best places to stay in Corfu in each region.
An ideal Santa Barbara weekend getaway itinerary of the best things to see, eat, and do in the American Riviera!
Spending two weeks in Italy is an ideal length of time to visit a few of the best destinations in the country. Though there are dozens of places choose from, this two-week Italy itinerary covers four main destinations.
Hi, I’m Kessler!
I’m a California-based travel writer, photographer, and cat lady. I’ve spent my life exploring California and traveling to coastal, beachy destinations around the world.
My travel guides are packed with my first-hand experiences and original photography to help you plan your perfect trip!
As a millennial, I consider trip planning and research a computer task. My goal is for my travel guides to be so detailed that you don’t need to open a hundred different tabs to get the information you need about a destination.
When I’m not traveling, working on a new travel guide, or obsessively planning a trip, I love spending time at home in the San Francisco Bay Area with my husband and our two fluffy kitties, Captain Jack and Sparrow.
Latest Travel Guides
This is my recommended 3-Day Disneyland itinerary (with and without a Park Hopper) to make the most of your Disneyland vacation!
My complete ranking of the 15+ best rides at California Adventure in the Disneyland Resort.
Disneyland has some of the best rides in the world! This is my complete ranking of all 30+ rides in order of worst to first.
Deciding whether to visit Disneyland vs. California Adventure? Disneyland is best for nostalgia and classic characters, while California Adventure is best for excellent food and new attractions.
Visiting Disneyland for the first time? Discover the best rides, where to eat, what to pack, and tips to help you plan the best Disneyland trip.
Discover the best summer destinations in California, from the sunny beaches to the snowy mountains.
Digital Travel Guides
This is a digital, printable list of the 80+ most unique things to do in California. You won't find the usual tourist activities on this list.
From steam trains through redwood forests to desert museums and otherworldly landscapes, this printable checklist is full of unique sights, activities, art, and more!
Whether you're a local Californian or planning your first trip to California, this PDF makes it easy to find unique spots and check them off as you go.
Also included with your checklist is access to an interactive map with organized pins of all the unique things to do in California from the PDF checklist. You can load it into your Google Maps app to access on the road or view it on your computer to plan your trip.
Inside the Download:
Printable PDF checklist in 4 styles (standard letter size, 8.5" x 11")
80+ unique things to do across California
Exclusive interactive map of all the items on the list
Features:
Instant digital download
4 checklist designs to choose from (you get them all!)
A custom, interactive map you can view on your Google Maps app or your computer
How it Works:
You'll receive an email with the download link
Print the PDF at home or save it to your phone/computer
Access the interactive map on your phone/computer
Last updated: March 2026
Plan your perfect California road trip with this 100+ page digital travel guide featuring all the best stops, activities, sights, and detailed itineraries.
Designed to make your road trip planning easier, this Elsewhere Pocket Guide is a downloadable PDF that works offline (no internet or cell service required!) and is formatted for viewing on your phone.
Use it as a guide while planning your itinerary and as a reference while on the road.
Inside the Pocket Guide:
Essential California road trip tips, including advice for navigating the major highways from a California expert.
A curated list of the best stops along the route, complete with recommended activities, restaurants, and accommodations.
Exclusive, detailed 1-day, 3-day, 5-day, 7-day, and 10-day itineraries with activities, estimated driving times, and suggested stops for each day of your trip.
Access to a custom Google Map with 150+ pins, including all stops mentioned in the guide (plus some extras)!
Features:
Clickable Table of Contents and navigation buttons for ease of use.
A mobile-friendly PDF designed for on-the-go use without WiFi or cell service.
Lifetime updates to both the Pocket Guide and Google Map!
Any updates to the guide will be sent to the email you provide at checkout.
Any updates to the Google Map will auto-update on the map.
Perfect for both the planning stage and while on the road.
How It Works:
After checkout, you’ll be directed to a download page and receive an email with a secure link to access the guide.
Save the Pocket Guide to your phone, tablet, or computer for offline use.
Use it as your perfect travel companion for a stress-free and unforgettable San Francisco to San Diego road trip!
This guide is for personal use only and cannot be shared, copied, or redistributed.
Last updated: January 2026
Discover the best summer destinations in California, from the sunny beaches to the snowy mountains.