Redwood Coast, Favorite Hotels, Sacramento Dining

In Episode 11 of the California Now Podcast, travel writer Alison Bing explains why Lonely Planet named California’s Redwood Coast the top destination in the country. Bing, a self-described “redwoods superfan,” takes host Soterios Johnson on a tour of the gentle green giants. Listen as Bing explores both big-name and lesser-known redwood parks—and shares why Lady Bird Johnson Grove has an extra special place in her heart.

Next up, Johnson challenges Travel + Leisure Editor in Chief Nathan Lump to a rapid-fire quiz on his favorite California hotels. Lump, who has stayed in countless hotels in the state, shares his top picks for best splurge, best oceanfront, best value, spectacular service, and more. The episode ends with a Sacramento restaurant roundup: Local dining critic Kate Washington highlights the tastiest places, from splurge-worthy meals to up-and-coming ethnic spots in the Farm-to-Fork Capital.

Guests

• Alison Bing, travel writer for Lonely Planet 
• Nathan Lump, editor in chief of Travel + Leisure
• Kate Washington, dining critic for The Sacramento Bee

Resources

Lonely Planet travel writer Alison Bing shares why her publication selected California’s Redwood Coast as the top destination in the United States for 2018.

• Lonely Planet: “Best in the US”
• Ferndale
• Trinidad
• Sonoma County
• Muir Woods
• Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
• Colonel Armstrong
• Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve 
• Russian River Wine Region
• Redwood National & State Parks
• Lady Bird Johnson Grove
• Humboldt County
• Crescent City
• Curly Redwood Lodge

Nathan Lump, editor in chief of Travel + Leisure, shares his picks for top California hotels.

• Calistoga Ranch
• Napa Valley
• The Charlie Hotel
• West Hollywood
• Post Ranch Inn
• Big Sur
• Shutters on the Beach
• Santa Monica
• The Peninsula Beverly Hills
• Los Angeles
• Belmond El Encanto 
• Santa Barbara
• Fairmont San Francisco
• The Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar
• The Lautner
• Desert Hot Springs
• Nobu Ryokan
• Malibu
• The Madonna Inn
• San Luis Obispo

Sacramento Bee dining critic Kate Washington discusses where to go and what to order in Sacramento.

• Mulvaney’s B&L
• Ella Dining Room & Bar
• Canon
• Little Saigon
• Com Tam Dat Thanh
• Quán Nem Ninh Hòa Restaurant
• Mediterranean Bakery & Cuisine
• American River Parkway
• Babylon City Market
• Temple Coffee
• The Tower Cafe
• Biba Ristorante
• Solomon’s Delicatessen
• Sacramento Dining

About the Host

Soterios Johnson, formerly the local host of National Public Radio’s Morning Edition on radio station WNYC, moved from New York City to Davis, Calif., in 2016 and is just getting to know his surroundings. By combining his journalistic instincts with his personal curiosity, Johnson will use the California Now platform to develop a deeper understanding of his adopted home.