California Now Podcast

In celebration of harvest season, this episode of California Now Podcast is dedicated to vintages and vineyards. Host Soterios Johnson learns the best way to swirl, sip, and savor from Anna McPeck, co-founder of the tour operator West Coast Wine Country. McPeck shares essential tips on making the most of a wine country excursion, and highlights some of her favorite stops in the Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Anderson Valley, and beyond. Katie Hayward, owner of Uncorked Wine Tours in Paso Robles, delivers a customized itinerary for this buzzy Central Coast city, offering tips on what to see, where to stay, and how to get around town. Listeners looking for more info on great wine experiences should check out the California Wine Month hub.

Meet an anonymous Michelin inspector and learn how he helped anoint 90 California restaurants with coveted stars In an unprecedented move, California Now Podcast host Soterios Johnson does not introduce listeners to one of his guests during this episode. That’s because Johnson’s first interview is with a Michelin inspector—an anonymous restaurant critic who goes undercover to determine which establishments receive one, two, or three stars. It’s a fascinating look behind the scenes at a revered restaurant establishment, and the timing couldn’t be better since Michelin recently released its 2019 California Michelin Guide, the first statewide collection of restaurant reviews in its long history. Our guest—we call him “Mr. Inspector”—shares all sorts of insights about what it takes to make the grade, and why California is such a dynamic dining destination. Food is a focal point for his second guest, too. Aida Mollenkamp, the host of Food Network’s Ask Aida and the editorial director of Salt & Wind Travel, leads listeners on a Central Coast road trip that begins in Los Angeles, stops in Ventura and Santa Barbara, and ends in Paso Robles. Along the way she points out the best places to grab strawberries, oysters, Pinot Noir, tri-tip, and much more. The episode also includes an insightful conversation about LGBTQ travel in California. Scott Gatz, the CEO and founder of the travel site Gay Cities, discusses the Golden State’s long history as a welcoming destination. He and Johnson talk about some of California’s most popular gay-friendly cities—including the Castro in San Francisco, West Hollywood, and Palm Springs—as well as some lesser-known locales.

Join host Soterios Johnson as he explores America’s largest urban cultural park: Balboa Park in sunny San Diego. Jennifer Davies, a Director of Cultural Tourism for the San Diego Tourism Authority, shares insights about the park’s 17 museums and 1,200 acres, putting the entire experience into perspective. Davies maps out an ideal itinerary for a fun-filled, family-friendly day. Think model trains, organ music, and a sculpture garden picnic. Plus, she shares insider tips to get the most Balboa bang for your buck. The episode shifts to a blissful note thanks to John Wogan, Special Projects Editor for Travel + Leisure, who discusses the burgeoning trend of wellness vacations. Find out his selections for California resorts focusing on self-improvement, spiritual awakening, spa luxury, and more. Wrapping things up, Johnson is joined by David Sobon, founder of Wide Open Walls, an annual outdoor arts festival in Sacramento. Sobon shares why the 11-day celebration in August is a must-see, and he explains how to best experience Sacramento’s 85-plus murals any time of year. Pro tip: Subscribe to the Visit California e-newsletter to stay abreast of all the latest updates in California travel.

Join California Now Podcast host Soterios Johnson on this special road trip edition as he drives along Highway 99 through the heart of the Central Valley. His journey begins in Bakersfield, located on the Kern River two hours north of Los Angeles. Bakersfield is the home of a true country music mecca—Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace—and has the highest concentration of Basque restaurants in the United States. Johnson samples both during his time there. His next stop is Fresno, where he tours a one-of-a-kind garden where citrus trees grow 25 feet underground. After an award-winning Fresno taco or two, Johnson continues north to Stockton, where he enjoys just-picked cherries and peach pie from a family-owned farm stand. Johnson then drives to Lodi, a historic wine region and home of Jessie’s Grove Winery, founded in 1889. After sampling some Zinfandel and Cinsault, Johnson settles in for the evening at Wine & Roses, a scenic hotel located just down the road. To order a copy of California Road Trips: 50 Life-Changing Adventures, a high-end publication that includes more about this itinerary (and 49 others), please visit Amazon.com. 

On the first-ever road trip edition of the California Now Podcast, host Soterios Johnson gets out of the studio and explores Southern California’s awe-inspiring night sky. His stargazing adventure begins in sunny San Diego: After selecting the perfect set of wheels, Johnson jets to the Fleet Science Center to get a sense of our solar system and learn the best practices for star sighting. Then it’s time to dig into some earthly delights (hold the hot sauce) at Roberto’s Taco Shop before heading east toward the desert. A stop in the mountain town of Julian provides the opportunity to visit a bed-and-breakfast, that caters to amateur astronomers. Just before sunset, Johnson arrives in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the only International Dark Sky Community in the state of California, to enjoy a guided tour through the universe. After a luxurious night at La Casa Del Zorro, Johnson drives through Joshua Tree National Park—he takes the less-traveled Southern Entrance and as a result enjoys relative solitude—as he continues on to learn about a star party in Twentynine Palms. To order a copy of California Road Trips: 50 Life-Changing Adventures, a high-end publication that includes more about this itinerary (and 49 others), please visit Amazon.com.

In episode 20 of the California Now Podcast, we set off to sea with Patti Schick of Hornblower Cruises as she discusses whale watching with host Soterios Johnson.  Schick shares what to expect when embarking on a whale watch and her favorite ocean life experience of all time.Next up, Erin Ballinger of BringFido.com shares her quick tips for making the most of traveling with your pup. Then we head to Calaveras County, which may not be the best-known wine region in California, but its roots run deep. In fact, it was the state’s largest producer of wine from 1890 to 1900. Johnson discusses the region’s winemaking traditions with Stephen Kautz, President of Ironstone Vineyards. Kautz, a true insider, explains why the area in and around Murphys creates some of the country’s best grape-growing conditions. Kautz takes us on a virtual tour of Ironstone’s operation as well as some of his favorite places to visit in Gold Country.

Forbes Travel Guide recently released its Star Awards Winners, and California spas landed at the top of the rankings. In episode 19, Amanda Frasier, Executive Vice President of Standards & Ratings, shares some of her top choices for pampering in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Napa Valley, and more. Get ready to discover hidden gems like California’s “Serengeti” and a park with more than 700 caves with travel writer Ann Marie Brown. For our final stop, the Executive Director of Mission San Juan Capistrano, Mechelle Lawrence Adams, joins the podcast. Learn about the Orange County property’s rich history and why March is the best time to visit. Hint: It involves some very famous songbirds.

Episode 18 of the California Now Podcast begins in the epicenter of Mid-Century Modern design: Sunnylands. The center’s director, Janice Lyle, guides host Soterios Johnson through a tour of the estate’s rich history. Next up, Johnson breaks out the horseradish and lemon wedges for an oyster-themed lightning round with Hunter Lewis, Editor in Chief of Food & Wine. From picnic tables to high-end restaurants, Lewis dishes on the best spots to enjoy bivalves on the half shell. Travel insider Pauline Frommer rounds out the episode by highlighting her favorite free—and nearly free—activities in California.

Join host Soterios Johnson as he gets to know a Northern California region that has shown incredible resilience: Butte County. This corner of the Shasta Cascade region is recovering from last year’s Camp Fire—and your vacation dollars will play a huge role in helping it bounce back. After that, our host learns about Temecula from a local: Thom Curry, co-owner of the Temecula Olive Oil Co., reveals his favorite things to do and places to go in this Inland Empire mecca. Curry recommends places to go for dinner, wineries that are worth a visit, and an essential activity in the region: hot-air ballooning. The episode wraps up with San Diego magazine editor-in-chief Erin Glenny, who encourages visitors to get outdoors, hit the beach, do some yoga, and enjoy the vibrant cultural scene.

Our podcast guests often rave about one very special way to experience California: a classic road trip, where the destination and the journey are one and the same. We’ve compiled some of our favorite chats from the past six months, covering everything from great dining to epic views to quirky diversions.