For information on the state as a whole, log on to the California Tourism website at www.visitcalifornia.com. U.S. and Canadian residents can receive free travel planning information by mail by calling tel. 800/862-2543. Most cities and towns also have a tourist bureau or chamber of commerce that distributes information on the area.
To learn more about California's national parks, contact the Pacific West Region Information Center, National Park Service, 1111 Jackson St., Suite 700, Oakland, CA 94607 (tel. 510/817-1300; www.nps.gov). Make reservations at national park campsites -- including Yosemite -- via the website www.recreation.gov, or call tel. 877/444-6777 within the U.S. (for international calls dial tel. 001-518-885-3639).
For information on state parks, contact the Department of Parks and Recreation, P.O. Box 942896, Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 (tel. 800/777-0369; http://cal-parks.ca.gov). Thousands of campsites are on the department's reservation system and can be booked in advance by calling ReserveAmerica at tel. 800/444-7275 or logging on to their website at www.reserveamerica.com.
To read blogs about travel within California, try www.gocalifornia.about.com. Numerous national travel blogs cover the state, including www.localgetaways.com; www.gridskipper.com; www.realtravel.com; www.travelpost.com; www.travelblog.org; and www.worldhum.com.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
