The writer who's been everywhere shares his 2023 California travel wish list
LOS ANGELES — I've been meandering around California for decades, which is how I came up with the 101 Best California Experiences, a.k.a. the California 101. But it's a big state, there's plenty of ground I haven't covered, and 2023 feels like a year to get out there.
Of course, I'll be alert for new places too. But there are so many long-standing options for exploring, eating and sleeping that demand attention. Here are 18 adventures I'm hoping to cross off my list in the year ahead. You'll find a lot of coastline here, several campgrounds and a trio of museums that debuted in 2022.
1. Hike to the West Point Inn, Mt. Tamalpais State Park
This is a historic, off-the-electrical-grid lodging that most guests can reach only by hiking or mountain-biking to the upper slopes of Mt. Tam. (There is ADA access too.) The was built in 1904 as part of a steam-train tourist attraction known as "the crookedest railroad in the world." The railroad closed in 1930, and the Marin Municipal Water District ended up owning the property. Hikers keep the place busy. There are five cabins ($150 per night), seven guest rooms (which share one bath; $100 to $125 per night) and a kitchen that's open only to overnight guests. (a popular lunch spot), a two-hour hike from either Stinson Beach or Mill Valley.
