'California Road Trips' 2024 features eight themed itineraries

The 2024 "California Road Trips" guide, featuring multitalented entertainer Jennifer Hudson on the cover and eight new adventure-filled itineraries, is now available to order at VisitCalifornia.com. Each itinerary begins and ends at one of California’s 27 commercial airports, highlighting how easy it is to fly into any state region to embark on an unforgettable road trip adventure.

Tied to Visit California’s new Ultimate Playground branding, there’s an itinerary catered to each of the eight different California play styles, and the guide includes a QR code that links to an online quiz allowing readers to unlock their personalized play style.

“With scenery that is constantly shifting and consistently beautiful, a California road trip is a great way to experience firsthand the abundance that makes California the Ultimate Playground,” said Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of Visit California. “This year’s guide invites travelers to discover destinations and experiences that align with their individual style of play and to pursue playfulness while exploring the Golden State.”

Cover star Hudson, an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony) winner, moved to Los Angeles when she launched “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” a daytime talk program that films in Burbank. Hudson has fully embraced her California surroundings, embarking on road trips up and down the coast and experimenting with new activities.

“I’ve always been a busybody,” said Hudson. “Doing a lot, coming up with big, bright ideas. But being here, there is so much you can do. And it’s never too late to learn.”

The impact has been substantial. The council members embarked on two specially curated FAMs, one highlighting Southern California with stops in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, the other focused on Northern California with visits to San Francisco and Santa Cruz. Both ended in Monterey. Beyond the FAMs, council members played an active role in training agents by sharing their product knowledge with over 1,100 travel advisors. Their efforts also included 675 posts across various social media platforms, generating significant engagement and driving interest in California. Lastly, this council was essential in helping with the development of two new itineraries, in partnership with Infinity Holidays, reaching over 4,000 advisors in its network.

This initiative exemplifies the power of collaboration in the travel industry, presenting California as The Ultimate Playground for Australian travelers. The members of the first California Agency Advisory Council will continue to share their love of California and updates with their agency networks. A new council will be formed with a new group of agents in fiscal year 2024-25.

Since moving to Southern California, Hudson has taken a swimming lesson with Olympian Ryan Lochte and learned to ski with another Olympian, Jonny Moseley. She has also gone horseback riding and whale-watching, and her thirst for discovery has led her on multiple road trips.

The itineraries featured in the 2024 California Road Trips guide cover every corner of the state. A few highlights include:

• “Canvassing California History,” a 640-mile trek that begins in Sacramento and transports motorists back to the Gold Rush era — with stops at Lassen Volcanic National Park and Mt. Shasta.
• “The Fun Zone: Los Angeles, Disneyland, and Mountains,” a five-day trip that starts at Long Beach Airport and takes travelers east to Big Bear and south to Newport Beach, with multiple laughter-filled stops along the way.
• “Adventures from the East Bay to the Sierra Crest,” a weeklong journey that provides towering trees, epic views and countless opportunities to hike, bike, kayak and work up an appetite.

Each of the eight itineraries includes a QR code linking to an extended, detailed version available on the California Road Trip Republic hub at VisitCalifornia.com/Road-Trips.

The guide closes with Jennifer Hudson’s California Questionnaire, in which she reveals her top shopping destinations, her favorite California song, her preferred way to play in California and how her ultimate dream day would unfold.

The free, one million-circulation 2024 California Road Trips guide is available a VisitCalifornia.com/travel-guides and at California Welcome Centers beginning May 8, 2024. The publication will also be distributed in summer issues of Travel + Leisure, Real Simple and Food & Wine.