A new year brings new beginnings, and in California, a destination constantly reinventing itself, that means you should expect plenty of innovation. Step into the new year with a resolution to explore more of the Golden State with this list of openings to look forward to in 2022.
Museums & Exhibits
Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco
Expected to open in the fall in San Francisco’s trendy Dogpatch neighborhood, the Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco will display works from emerging Bay Area artists and international talent in an 11,000-square-foot space. You can preview the facility in January during the FOG Design+Art Fair.
Designed by the Pritzker Prize-winning architect Thom Mayne, the Orange County Museum of Art will find its permanent home at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in the heart of Costa Mesa. This $93 million, 53,000-square foot facility will feature 25,000 square feet of exhibition space––twice as much as its former Newport Beach location. The museum’s inaugural exhibition is the California Biennial 2022, scheduled for October of 2022.
Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture of the Riverside Art Museum
Though most may know him for his comedy, Cheech Marin is one of the foremost collectors of Chicano art in the country. In partnership with the Riverside Art Museum and the City of Riverside, his collection will be on display at the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture of the Riverside Art Museum. Located in downtown Riverside adjacent to the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, the center will feature hundreds of paintings, drawings, photographs, and sculptures by artists including Patssi Valdez, Sandy Rodriguez, and Carlos Almaraz. The center opens May 8th.
Tupac Shakur “Wake Me When I’m Free”
Set in a 20,000-square-foot museum-like space in Los Angeles, Tupac Shakur “Wake Me When I’m Free” is an immersive experience, taking guests on a sensory journey through the late rapper’s music, art, and activism. The exhibit will also display poetry and never-before seen artifacts from Shakur’s personal archives. The installation will debut January 21 at The Canvas, adjacent to L.A. LIVE, and is expected to run for six months.
Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza & Museum
Located in downtown Palm Springs, the Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza and Museum will showcase the culture, history, and artifacts of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. The building was largely inspired by Agua Caliente traditions, pulling design elements from pottery, basket weaving, as well as the natural beauty of the desert landscape. An outdoor Oasis Trail, education center, and garden are also available to guests.
Attractions & Family Fun
SeaWorld San Diego’s Emperor Dive Coaster
Named after the adorable Emperor Penguin, SeaWorld San Diego’s brand-new coaster is a true triple threat. The eponymous ride will be the tallest, fastest, and longest dive coaster in California when it opens in March. With a 143-foot drop, riders will feel like they’re freefalling as they soar up to 60 miles-per-hour through a series of loops on the state’s only floorless dive coaster.
This all-new amusement park will feature 17 acres of pure family fun, complete with seven Sesame Street-themed rides and an interactive musical play area. The Chula Vista park, which is set to open in March, is located about 15 miles south of downtown San Diego, and will boast 11 water attractions, including Big Bird’s Beach’s 500,000-gallon wave pool. Stop for a photo op with Elmo and the gang while exploring the interactive Sesame Street Neighborhood, composed of 123 Stoop, live shows, and an award-winning daily parade.
Wonder Woman Flight of Courage
In Valencia, Six Flags Magic Mountain’s newest attraction and record 20th coaster, Wonder Woman Flight of Courage, will officially take flight in summer 2022. Located in the park’s DC Universe area, Flight of Courage will be the tallest and longest single-rail rollercoaster in the world. Thrill seekers will soar 13 stories high at top speeds of 58 mph.
Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins
Nicknamed for their petite size and bluish feathers, this summer these adorable pint-sized penguins will take up residence at Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. The only aquarium in the Western U.S. to house these pint-sized penguins, Birch has constructed a 2,900-square-foot exhibit featuring an 18,000-gallon pool where visitors can observe the penguins socializing and building nests.
This recently opened exhibit at the Santa Barbara Zoo showcases some of Australia’s most beloved creatures. Within the 15,000-square-foot immersive habitat, guest follow a one-way path, walking past free-roaming kangaroos, emus, and wallabies. The exhibit is adjoined with a neighboring aviary that features three species of native Australian birds: the sulphur-crested cockatoo, tawny frogmouth, and laughing kookaburra.
Topgolf is coming to Southern California early 2022, bringing with it state-of-the-art driving ranges, great food, and lots of HDTVs. Ontario’s 14-acre location will feature a three-level driving range, an entertainment venue, 102 hitting bays, and accompanying restaurant and bar. At The Lakes in El Segundo, golfers will see the former nine-hole course reconfigured and upgraded. Climate-control bays, a three-level driving range, two restaurants, a pro shop, clubhouse, and patio will also be available.
Part bowling alley, part restaurant, part event space, Pinstripes is making its way to the Westfield Topanga shopping center this year. As part of the mall’s 180,000-square foot expansion, Pinstripes will be situated among some of Los Angeles’ premier shopping destinations, including Hermès, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Golden Goose. The entertainment hub will offer Italian and American cuisine, wine, and cocktails with bowling and bocce ball.
Fort Ord Dunes State Park Campgrounds
The new Fort Ord Dunes State Park campground in Monterey Bay is scheduled to open in 2022, marking California's first new coastal campground in 30 years. The project will add 98 new campsites––45 RV campsites and 43 tent campsites––as well as ten walk-in/bike-in style campsites accessible from the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail, along the coast of Santa Cruz county. What’s more, campers will find a campfire center/amphitheater with a traditional fire ring and fully equipped audio-visual facilities.
Coming this spring, the Presidio Tunnel Tops is the soon-to-be newest extension of the Golden Gate Recreation Area. Built on top of the Presidio Parkway Tunnel, the 14-acre national park expansion will connect the historic center to Crissy Field. Features include wheelchair-friendly paths, gathering spaces, a plaza, and a sprawling garden with nearly 200,000 plants. Besides providing views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and Angel Island, this sprawling outdoor space is free to the public and hosts a two-acre “Outpost” where children can play in a wilderness-inspired area made to represent the area’s diverse ecosystems.
New Hotels
The LINE SF, San Francisco
Situated at the intersection where South of Market, Civic Center, and the Tenderloin converge, this 12-story, 236-room boutique hotel’s design was inspired by New York’s iconic Flatiron Building. The sleek, sophisticated hotel will house four unique dining experiences, including a rooftop solarium with a bar and library. For furry companions, a pet spa and dog run facility are also available onsite.
Stanly Ranch Auberge Resort, Napa Valley
Slated to open in late February, this 700-acre private ranch in Napa offers 79 standalone cottages and suites surrounded by sweeping vineyards and rolling hills. As a fully working ranch, guests can expect seasonally driven menus with ingredients straight from the hotel’s onsite garden. Guests can head over to the Halehouse Spa for top-of-the-line wellness programing, such as oxygen therapy, cryo body contouring, and detox algae wraps.
Little House by SoHo House, West Hollywood
Located near its booming Sunset Boulevard social club, Little House will be home to 34 stylish rooms in the heart of West Hollywood. Scheduled to open early this year, the hotel was designed in the palette of the city, with dusty tones and California native plants throughout the spacious courtyard bar. Other features include a House Studio space, Club Lounge, restaurant, and spacious rooftop overlooking the Hollywood Hills.
Conrad Los Angeles at The Grand LA
The Conrad Los Angeles estimates debuting April in 2022 at The Grand LA, a Frank Gehry-designed mixed-use space in downtown that will include 176,000 square feet of retail and dining space. The high-rise hotel will feature 305 chic rooms complete with floor to ceiling windows with views of the city. An expansive rooftop terrace and California-inspired cuisine is also planned. Feel like a walk? Guests are only a short stroll away from the Museum of Contemporary Art, The Broad, and Walt Disney Concert Hall.
The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern Auberge Resort, Los Olivos
The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern once served as a stagecoach stop dating back to 1886. Today, it has been painstakingly restored to its former glory with the addition of new thoughtfully designed buildings. This Los Olivos institution sits on 6.5 acres in the Santa Ynez Valley and will include 67 clapboard covered cottages and guestrooms adorned with farm-inspired furnishings and gold accents. The Inn is slated to open early in 2022 and will feature an outdoor pool with an accompanying bar, cabanas, fire pits, a signature spa, and event space.
Tetra Hotel Autograph Collection, Sunnyvale
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley in Sunnyvale, this modern hotel opening this month will offer a relaxing space for techies and travelers alike. Tetra will be connected to the neighboring AC Hotel by a covered open space and a podium deck that will serve as a joint outdoor dining and lounge area. It will include 186 rooms and 14 suites, as well as a restaurant serving seasonal dishes inspired by the Bay Area’s eclectic culinary scene.
Sensei Porcupine Creek, Rancho Mirage
Nestled in the foothills of Palm Spring’s Santa Rosa Mountains, Sensei Porcupine Creek sits on a 230-acre private estate in Rancho Mirage. When it opens early this year guests can expect a personal experience tailored to their precise needs, whether that be a yoga class, nutritional consultation, or spa treatment. An exceptionally manicured 18-hole golf course is also available, along with a swimming pool, tennis courts, and a clubhouse. Celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa will oversee the food and beverage program.
