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As San Francisco had one of its worst years for tourism and wildfires have decimated some of the most beautiful regions of Los Angeles, travelers may be opening their eyes to new destinations in the “Golden State”.
Home to new lavish resorts and world-class eats, there are 3 California getaways on the rise, perfect for a memorable vacation this year.
Whether it be wine country, small coastal gems, or the first-ever resort coming to an overlooked SoCal city, vacationers should keep an eye on this trio of up-and-coming gems to avoid the chaos of California’s major cities.
3 up-and-coming California getaways you should visit in 2025:
Elk: Northern California’s New Hotspot
A case of the winter blues can make you feel stuck in a rut, so what’s more fitting than paying a visit to Elk?
This blip on the map along the famous Pacific Coastal Highway (PCH) is more than a road trip pit stop for beef jerky and Big Gulps; it’s a place you’ll want to arrive hungry and stay a while.
Receiving 2 stars from Michelin Guide is Harbor House, anchoring the city’s surging food scene. Here, you’ll get the VIP treatment with divine entrees such as ‘Slowly-grilled Halibut‘ and ‘Abalone poached in sake, calhikari rice, offal‘.
Better yet, when you’re feeling overstuffed, you can head straight to your room as Harbor House, the restaurant, is located inside the Harbor House Inn.
Seen as Big Sur 2.0, this small town on the rise is one of California’s most picturesque coastal gems.
Albeit NorCal’s beaches can be a bit nippy, to say the least, the scenery is astounding. Check out Greenwood State Beach to see what I mean.
Nature is completely untamed here, and the town couldn’t be more authentic without the eyesores of fast food chains.
Instead, you can mingle with locals at dim-lit dives like Beacon Light By The Sea.
Chula Vista: San Diego’s Last Frontier
Chula Vista is more than a suburb; it’s soon to be a destination on its own, yet already boasting its own unique culture where chill San Diego vibes meet Tijuana delights without needing a passport.
Home to nearly 300,000 residents, including myself, I’ve never understood why I constantly get a stink-eye when I tell “San Diegans” where I live.
Truth is, I love it!
While many tourists visit downtown San Diego’s buzzing Gaslamp Quarter for late-night ragers, Chula Vista’s 3rd Avenue is a great alternative with a much calmer atmosphere for the “happy crowd” at numerous breweries and up-and-coming restaurants like locally hyped Tuétano Taquería, Canelo Alvarez’s recently opened lines-out-the-door taco shop El Pastor Del Rica, and my new favorite, Lime in the Coconut, for the city’s best cocktails.
There are countless Tijuana-inspired taco shops here, being so close to the border, and yes, it’s home to the O.G., Tacos El Gordo – so insanely delicious, it’s rumored to be raking in $5 million per month in their Vegas location!
Sorry, Gordon Ramsay.
As incredible as Chula Vista’s food scene may be, the claim to fame for 2025 will be the city’s first-ever resort, Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center, overlooking the San Diego Bay and only 7 minutes from downtown San Diego.
It’s set to open in ‘late spring 2025′ at an undisclosed date.
Chula Vista is often mischaracterized as a border town, but that’s only if you haven’t been to the Eastlake district.
Check out Mountain Hawk Park, one of my favorite hidden gems overlooking staggering mountains and the scenic Otay Lakes that I would assume less than 1% of San Diego tourists know about.
Murrieta: SoCal’s New Wine Country Hideaway
Temecula is SoCal’s version of Napa, lined with chateau wineries and a charming downtown. Despite being more low-key than Napa, Temecula can draw a crowd, and traffic is unbearable.
The neighboring town of Murrieta is the place to be with a picturesque main strip, wineries like Wine Ranch Grill and Cellars with far fewer crowds, and a newly revamped resort that easily became one of my favorite California stays.
Here is what the perfect day in Murrieta looks like:
Take a nice stroll through downtown Murrieta and grab a delicious latte at The Crafted Scone, holding an impressive 4.6 Google Rating.
Head over to Toast for brunch, where they serve mimosa flights and sinfully delicious Crab Cake Benedict.
Relax for a few hours at Murrieta Hot Springs Resort, whether as an overnight guest or Day Pass holder. Make use of over 20 pools open 24/7 to soak in or a Roman Spa just like you’d find in Europe.
Cap off your day with a flawless meal at the resort’s very own Talia Kitchen, which is truly one of the best meals I’ve ever had.
Ask for Isis and indulge in the chef’s latest dish I had the pleasure of sneak-previewing, Prime Back Loin Center Cut Local Swordfish.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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