Visit California unveils 2026 Visitors Guide featuring Mandy Moore

Visit California has officially unveiled the 2026 California Visitors Guide, a 196-page, free travel resource designed to inspire travelers while supporting destinations and partners across the state. Featuring Mandy Moore as the 2026 cover star, the guide blends cultural storytelling, itinerary-driven planning tools and timely travel themes to meet consumers where they are, while creating meaningful touchpoints for the tourism industry.

At its core, the 2026 guide reinforces California’s role as an endlessly explorable destination — one where iconic experiences and lesser-known gems coexist and where regional partners play a central role in shaping the visitor journey.

A strategic moment: Route 66 and the power of storytelling

One of the guide’s most timely features is its in-depth exploration of Route 66, marking the highway’s centennial in 2026. The guide highlights California’s stretch of the storied route, from desert landscapes to its iconic beachside conclusion, providing essential stops, historic landmarks and inspiration for road trip travelers. For destinations and industry partners along the route, this presents a powerful opportunity to align with a nationally recognized milestone and capture travel interest at scale.

Curated experiences for today’s traveler

The 2026 edition reflects evolving traveler expectations by pairing inspiration with usability. Highlights include:

• An insider’s handbook spotlighting California’s lesser-known experiences

• “Five Vacation Vibes,” a set of curated itineraries designed to appeal to a wide range of travel styles

• A dedicated feature on the Eastern Sierra, positioning the region as a must-visit destination for nature lovers in 2026

• Gold medal-worthy snow getaways featuring athlete-recommended destinations

• Practical trip-planning guidance, including seasonal timing, logistics and local tips to help visitors maximize their time in California

Together, these elements create a guide that not only inspires but also actively supports conversion from dreaming to booking.

Distribution designed for reach and impact

The Visitors Guide continues to serve as one of Visit California’s most widely distributed owned media assets. In 2026, the guide will be available:

• In print and online

• At California Welcome Centers and regional tourism offices

• On visitcalifornia.com

• Polybagged in March with Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine and Real Simple

This multichannel distribution ensures sustained visibility with high-value travel audiences while extending reach well beyond California’s borders.

For California’s tourism partners, the Visitors Guide remains a cornerstone asset — one that elevates regional storytelling, supports destination marketing efforts and provides a trusted planning tool for consumers. The 2026 edition, in particular, offers new alignment opportunities around Route 66, seasonal travel and experiential itineraries that reflect how people are traveling now.

As Visit California continues to evolve its owned media ecosystem, the California Visitors Guide remains a critical connector between inspiration, planning and partnership, helping ensure California stays top of mind for travelers in the year ahead.