Are you thinking about relocating to the Golden State? If so, you might be wondering what cities are worth checking out. Let’s take a closer look at seven of the best places to live in California.

1. San Diego

Looking to live near the beach? If so, then you might want to get in touch with the best San Diego Realtor to see what they have to offer now. With its 31 beaches, the city is a great choice for families, surfers, and anyone who wants to live in a city with access to plenty of beaches. San Diego (and the rest of SoCal) is known for its warm year-round temperatures, making it the perfect spot to live for anyone who loves sunshine and warm weather.

Not only is San Diego one of the best California destinations to relax, but it also offers so much to see and do. With San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, and Legoland, it can be an ideal spot for both singles and families. The city is also known for its restaurants, bars, and nightlife in the world-known Gaslamp Quarter.

2. Sacramento

Sacramento is considered one of the top places to live in California. One reason for this is that it’s actually affordable — at least by California standards, that is, with the average home price costing less than $500,000 as of 2021. The state’s capital city is home to numerous hiking trails, craft breweries, and music venues. The old Sacramento Waterfront offers events, dining, shopping, and more.

3. San Francisco

Despite being one of the most expensive cities in the United States, San Francisco is one of the best places to live in California. The city is known for its cultural flare and is home to many tech companies. There are also a number of tourist attractions, including the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, Alcatraz Island, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

On the downside, San Francisco is lacking when it comes to outdoor space and has a bad traffic situation.

4. San Jose

Founded in 1777, San Jose is the oldest civilian settlement the state has to offer. Today, San Jose’s Silicon Valley is home to tech companies like Facebook, Apple, and Google, making it an ideal place to live for people who work in the IT industry.

With lower housing prices and crime rates than San Francisco, San Jose is one of the best places in the state to live.

5. Santa Barbara

Known to offer some of the best weather in the state (and arguably, the world), Santa Barbara is a great place to live. This Spanish-style beach town offers 12 public schools, making it a perfect choice for families.

The city is home to UC Santa Barbara, one of California’s top universities, making it a popular place for college students. The coastal town is perfect for beach lovers and surfers, while the downtown area is home to bars and restaurants.

6. Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe is one of the nicest places to live in Northern California if you want to live in a beautiful mountain town and enjoy winter. Skiing and snowboarding are the town’s biggest attractions. With a year-round population of less than 22,000 people, it offers a small-town vibe and is ideal for those who enjoy colder temperatures.

7. Santa Monica

With its location near Los Angeles, Santa Monica is a coastal city with so much to see and do. Some might even call the city paradise. It’s home to the Santa Monica Pier, which offers a family-friendly amusement park that features an iconic Ferris wheel. The city also has great nightlife, making it an ideal place for young singles to live.

These are just seven of the best places to live in California. That being said, there are 1,571 cities in the Golden State. You’re bound to find one that you’ll love to live in!

It’s time to up your travel photography game. Our lead photographer for Europe shows you how.

Wherever your travels will take you this summer, your vacation is the perfect chance to take stunning photos you’ll treasure forever. And you don’t have to be a professional photographer to capture all the gorgeous sights and memorable experiences you’ll encounter on your trip.

In the first part of my two-part travel photography guide, I took you through the kit you should consider taking with you, whether it’s a great phone like the iPhone 13 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra or a dedicated camera like the Canon EOS R5 or Leica M11.

Now, I’m going to take you through some of the best tips you should keep in mind while circling the globe — to help you come back with some glorious travel shots, instead of a boring bunch of holiday snaps.

Get to know your kit

Learning how to operate your camera will not only help you get better, more creative shots, but will help you snap those shots quicker, as you won’t have to fiddle around with settings. Some of the most exciting travel shots can come and go in a split second, so whether you’re capturing the running of the bulls in Pamplona or a snowboarder launching off a mogul in Switzerland, you’ll need to learn to shoot quickly.

Get out of automatic mode

Spend time with your camera in manual mode before you go away. Learn how to change shutter speed, aperture, ISO speeds and white balance, and experiment with what happens to your images when you change these settings. A good camera will be able to capture some great shots in auto mode, but when you want to get creative with long exposures, you’ll need to take manual control of the settings.

Shoot in raw

If your camera has it (and most do), shoot in raw format. Yes, it creates bigger files, but memory cards are so cheap now that it’s worth carrying an extra couple of 32GB cards with you. Raw shooting allows you to change white balance after your shot, and capture more details in the very bright and very dark areas, letting you tone down any blown-out skies or lighten some shadows in Photoshop.

Although it’s always best to get the shot right when you first take it, raw processing gives you much more flexibility to rescue a shot that’s not quite right.

Do your research

Search for your location on Google and visit travel websites to find out more about where you’re going. Not only will that help you make the most of your trip, you may find out about local events or particularly photogenic locations you may otherwise have missed.

You might also find out about photography restrictions that may land you in hot water — as a general rule anywhere, avoid photographing government buildings, and if you’re unsure, ask permission.

Search for your destination on Instagram or on photography websites such as Flickr and 500px for inspiration on what to see. It’s handy to get an idea of the shots other people have taken — either to replicate them yourself, or to avoid taking the same generic shot the Internet has seen hundreds of times before.

Take time to compose

Good composition will make or break a photo, and unlike white balance or color tone, poor composition cannot be fixed in post processing. The morning light bouncing off that rustic church won’t count for much if you’ve accidentally chopped off the spire in your hurry to take the shot.

Play with angles

A generic shot of a popular spot can be transformed into an unusual and creative artwork simply by changing your angle. Take a moment to look at the scene before you shoot and don’t be afraid to move around to get the best angles. Struggling with a beach scene? Walk further down the coast to find boats, nets or rocks that might add foreground interest. Shooting in the city? Get up a tall building for dramatic urban cityscapes. Even just kneeling down and shooting from below can make a difference.

Don’t be afraid of the dark

Just because the sun has gone down, it doesn’t mean your photography needs to stop. It’s a great time to get creative with slow shutter shots. Long exposures blur motion, turning regular car headlights on a city street into creative, abstract light trails, streaking through the darkness. Use a narrow aperture — f12 to f20 — and a long exposure to turn points of light into gorgeous starbursts.

You’ll need to secure your camera firmly in place — with a tripod — and if you’re playing with exposures longer than a few seconds, you’ll need to be careful about the breeze or people walking by adding any vibrations. If you want to do long exposures in the daytime, you’ll need a dark neutral density filter, such as the Big Stopper by Lee Filters, to let you take minute-long exposures in the middle of the day.

If you’re shooting on a modern camera — especially with a larger, full frame sensor — then you can also likely increase your ISO speed above 3,200 without seeing too much degradation from image noise. Coupled with a wider aperture of f2.8 or more, you may have more luck shooting handheld scenes in low light. If this is a priority for you, cameras that also offer in-body image stabilization (like the Canon EOS R5) should be on your list; this stabilization lets you use slower shutter speeds without needing a tripod.

Be a people person

It’s often the people you meet as much as the places you see that makes traveling and exploring so interesting. People make fantastic subjects to photograph, whether they’re wandering the streets, relaxing or hard at work.

Naturally, not everybody will want to be photographed so, out of politeness if nothing else, it’s a good idea to ask the person’s permission beforehand. It’ll help if you do your research and learn a few key phrases of the local language to not only ask permission, but be able to understand the response. If they say no, it’s important to respect that.

Set your alarm

The middle of the day may be the nicest time to wander around Tuscan streets, grab a hot chocolate on the mountainside or order a third cocktail on the beach, but the midday sun doesn’t usually offer the best light for dramatic photographs.

It’s the early morning light, casting its long, golden shadows that will really make a place look its most beautiful. Setting your alarm for sunrise on holiday may seem like the worst thing in the world, but it’s worth trying — even just once — to see what sort of shots you get. Scout out locations beforehand to make sure you don’t waste the precious early hours trying to find somewhere to shoot.

Revisit the scene

When you stumble upon a particularly picturesque scene, don’t just visit it just the once. While a bay may look delightful in the daytime, it will look different again at night, with all the lights of nearby buildings stretching out across the water. If you know a great spot, do your best to come back to it to find out when it looks best.

Play with processing

Although you should always try to get the best shot you can when you first take it, some well-placed post processing can turn a good photo into a great one. If you’re shooting raw files you’ll need to process them anyway, so it’s worth trying out a few of the sliders in Adobe Lightroom while you’re at it.

With your raw files, the first thing you’ll need to do is correct the white balance. Have a play with the color temperature slider and see what tone suits best. Summer evening shots will benefit from a warmer color tone, while chilly February city streets will look best with something a bit cooler.

Toning down the highlights can help keep a bright sky under control, while lifting the shadows will help make darker areas more visible, without affecting too much of the rest of the scene. It’s important not to go overboard on this, as it can make your images look a little unnatural. From that point on, have a play with your editor of choice and see what you like. There’s no one right way to edit your shots — no matter what anybody says — it’s all about what you prefer.

Do your own thing

Sure, rules such as “take the lens cap off before shooting” should always be followed, but never be afraid to try an unusual angle, play with your settings or experiment with new editing techniques in Lightroom.

If everybody always followed the exact same format, everybody’s photography would look the same. Use these rules as guidelines and play with angles, settings and editing as much as you want to find what works for you.

From its breath-taking mountains to its bustling metropoles to its mouth-watering cuisine, Japan is a tourist’s paradise for many people. Part of the country’s charm is just how different the culture is to Western visitors – but this very same selling point can prove a challenge if you arrive unprepared.

Not only can you find local customs and ways of doing things difficult to understand (especially if your Japanese is lacking!), but you may also inadvertently offend the locals. Plus, Japan is not renowned for being a budget destination, so employing the basic tips and tricks outlined below can help you to travel safely, affordably and efficiently.

1) Get an eSIM card

Access to an internet connection at all times is your cheat code to finding the best food, translating a tricky phrase and avoiding getting lost in a new and bewildering city. The best way to stay connected while away is with a Japan eSIM card, which can be purchased before you depart for the entire duration of your stay. These ingenious innovations are already preinstalled on the latest handsets and can be remotely activated within minutes simply by scanning a QR code. For 24/7 internet access on your own terms, an eSIM card can’t be beaten.

2) Take the train

We’re all familiar with Japan’s famous bullet trains, and for intercity travel, there’s no better way to get around. Clean, fast and extremely efficient, trains are stress-free but not super affordable, so you can lighten the financial load by buying a rail pass. The Japan Rail Pass is the most popular option and allows unlimited travel on all Japan Railways (JR) trains, though you should be aware that JR aren’t the only service provider in the country, so it’s not an all-access acquisition. Having said that, the services with which it is compatible are usually sufficient.

3) Book accommodation long before you go

Japanese cities are notorious for their dense population and affordable accommodation can often be at a premium, so it’s sensible to look into where you want to stay well in advance. This way, you’ll avoid extortionate last-minute prices – or, worse, a lack of availability altogether. Plus, Japan has some of the most idiosyncratic accommodation options on the planet, so planning in advance can afford you the opportunity to stay in temples, capsule pods and other unusual locales.

4) Carry cash

Even though Japan has a (very well-deserved) reputation of being a tech mecca, that doesn’t mean it’s a completely cashless society – far from it. In fact, many restaurants, ramen bars and cafes will only accept cash, so it’s a good idea to carry a healthy supply of banknotes with you at all times. Indeed, as with traveling to any overseas destination, taking a variety of local currency and more than one international debit or credit card (which doesn’t charge fees), as well as storing them in different parts of your luggage or your person, is key to avoiding unpleasant outcomes in the case of theft or loss.

5) Take advantage of tax back

Many visitors to Japan are unaware that the country’s tax system offers a cashback loophole exclusively for tourists. All purchases of non-perishable goods (meaning clothing, technological gadgetry etc.) costing ¥5,000 or more (excluding tax) are eligible for a 10% tax refund. To make sure you don’t miss out on yours, be sure to take your passport whenever you head out for some retail therapy, since you’ll need this when claiming. It’s necessary to make your claim in the same shopping mall, street or other place where you made the purchase, so it makes the most sense to go directly to the nearest tax back station with your goods, the receipt and your ID to receive your rebate immediately.

6) Brush up on your Japanese etiquette

Last but not least, it’s vital that you behave in line with what’s expected of you as a visitor to the country. Japanese society is built on respect and decorum, but certain customs may be different from those to which you are accustomed. For example, did you know that crossing your chopsticks is frowned upon, and planting them in your rice is an omen of death? There are unwritten rules surrounding almost every aspect of daily life, from eating sushi and taking the train to visiting a Japanese home and dress codes. Do your homework before you go away to avoid unintentionally offending others.

Japan is a vibrant destination, packed to the brim with incredible sights, smells and foods. To make sure you get the most out of your visit, follow these simple tips to travel Japan like a pro.

Here are the most important things to know before catching a flight for your next trail-running adventure

Running a trail running race overseas can be a fun experience both for what’s the same about trail running everywhere—the spirit of community and the ability to run through awe-inspiring places—and everything that is wonderfully different—different languages, aid station provisions, course markings, and wildlife.

“I think there are a lot of things that are different, especially the little nuances,” says Mike Wardian, a Hoka-sponsored runner who has run in 42 different countries. “A lot of the things are the same, too. I mean, it’s still running, it’s still endurance, it’s just navigating the little things.”

I’ve been fortunate to run trail running races all over the world—including events in the majestic Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, the lush forests of the Korean Demilitarized Zone in South Korea, and the rugged splendor of the Alps in and around Chamonix, France. While running through wild, natural places in each of those races certainly brought plenty of thrills, ultimately what makes trail running in an international destination special is interacting with the people—both the locals organizing and running the race and the other tourist runners.

In every one of my experiences, I’ve encountered a common universal pattern among runners who come from different cultures and languages. We’re all pursuing shared passions, all doing the same thing for similar reasons, no matter where we come from. (And yes, just like it is back home in the U.S., there are the non-runners who just don’t get it, shake their heads in disbelief, or simply don’t care enough to pay attention.)

“Obviously, when you’re racing, you want to have your best possible race, but it’s also a great way to embrace the culture,” says Wardian. “It’s great to engage with the people, but it’s also about getting a chance to see people in a place that’s not necessarily a tourist destination. You could be in the middle of a little village in China, or on an island off the coast of Africa, and the locals might not speak your language, but they appreciate what you’re doing.”

With recreational running booming globally, new trail races are popping up all over the place. This rising trend of destination trail running trips is making the world a much smaller place for runners. If you’re a runner with a passport, a sense of adventure, and eager to experience new places, here are eight essential tips to know before chasing mountain trails around the world.

1. Expect the Unexpected

No matter what race you plan to run—a race along the Great Wall of China, jungle trail running in Costa Rica, or running across Iceland—treat your trip like the unique international experience that it is. Prepare to race to your heart’s desire, but be realistic and know that you’ll encounter dozens of quirky details that could impact your racing performance.

Aside from dealing with jet lag, race logistics, and challenging weather conditions, you might find yourself running through fields with livestock and sharing the trails with local villagers or long-distance hiking tourists. Try to maintain a good attitude, take lots of pictures, and enjoy every moment. Years from now, you won’t remember where you placed or what your time was, but you’ll remember the local people, the views, the local culture, and the post-race celebration.

“One time when I was doing a race across the Gobi Desert in China, we encountered these long-haul truckers, and they couldn’t believe that we were running across the desert,” Wardian says. “They stopped and kind of forced us to have tea with them. And it wasn’t part of the race plan, but when you’re there, you’re like, ‘Hey, I’m going to have this experience because I might never have this kind of thing happen ever again.”

2. Respect the Local Environment

One of the beautiful aspects of trail running around the world is the exposure to wild and fragile landscape features that make our planet such a beautiful place. And while traveling in airplanes to faraway destinations isn’t necessarily an eco-friendly pursuit, gaining a greater appreciation for the environmental challenges of each region can be impactful.

Be sure to be as delicate as possible as you enjoy the privilege of tramping through forests, over mountains, and alongside waterfalls, lakes, and rivers, and do your best to follow sustainable tourism guidelines. Consider offsetting your carbon footprint, limit your use of water and energy on your trip, and learn about and respect the Indigenous cultures of the places you are headed.

3. Take Carry-on Luggage

Last year, Tara Savage, an American trail runner who lives in Bangkok, Thailand, arrived in Chamonix, France, a week before the CCC 100K race, but her luggage did not. She purposely planned her travels so she’d have plenty of time to get rest and get acclimated to the local scene. After five stressful days of calling the airline and tracking her bag—as well as borrowing gear and buying new stuff—her luggage finally arrived the day before the race.

Even if you check a bag, be sure to carry your running and racing essentials—trail running shoes, race-day kit, hydration pack, and the items on the race’s mandatory gear list—in a carry-on bag that never leaves your sight.

4. Pack Your Own Fuel

Just as you would with a domestic race, it’s wise to travel with your own energy gels, sports drink mixes, and other race-day nutritional needs. You’re not likely to find the same brands or flavors on aid station tables or in the local shops of your race destination. And if you’re someone known to suffer from gastrointestinal distress, trying something new during a race can be a recipe for disaster.

The first time I ever tried Science in Sport (SiS) Go Isotonic Energy Gel was during a trail race in Switzerland I had picked up at the pre-race expo. Although they didn’t bother my stomach, the flavor and consistency were different than what I was used to, and as a result, I only consumed one during the race and paid the price when my glycogen stores got depleted and I bonked during the second half of the race.

“Sometimes what’s promised by a race director isn’t what you actually get at an aid station,” Wardian warns. “Like UTMB, there’s a full pasta meal available with hot tea and sugar. Other times, you show up to an aid station at a race in a jungle and they don’t have anything to drink but, instead, show you where you can drink from a waterfall. It’s really a matter of being prepared and being able to take care of yourself.”

5. Rehydrate, Refuel, Rest

Flying on an airplane can push you into dehydration and fatigue, and if you’re not careful, you might not catch up in the days before your race. Do your best to keep drinking fluids and electrolytes on your flight (just don’t overdo the alcohol!) and continue as soon as you land at your destination.

Even if you loathe airline food, don’t skimp on meals during your trip, even if that means eating a healthy meal in an airport during a layover or as soon as you land in your destination.

As for sleeping, the best way to avoid jet lag is to sleep as much as possible on overnight flights and then immediately adapt to the new time zone of your destination without mid-day naps. In other words, fight off sleepiness and stay awake until after your evening meal so you can fall asleep the first night in the new destination and begin the next day on the new schedule. Compression socks are also essential for wearing post-race on a long-haul flight.

6. Carry Local Currency

I once bought a candy bar and a Coke from a small trail-side pub during a 50K race in the English Lakes District and it helped rejuvenate me during a big gap between aid stations. The cafe was a cash–only operation that didn’t accept credit cards, so if I hadn’t packed a few British pounds in my pack, I would have been out of luck and bonked even harder. While you can rely on your credit card or a payment app on your phone in many countries, it’s wise to take at least some cash in the local currency for unexpected situations—especially during a race.

7. Pack Trekking Poles

Even if you don’t run with trekking poles in the U.S., it’s wise to take them on your international races. While most domestic races are generally set on runnable trails, overseas races almost always have very steep uphills and descents. Running-specific collapsible poles—such as the Leki Cross Trail FX Superlite or Black Diamond’s Distance Carbon Z—usually aren’t on the mandatory gear list of a race but I’ve found them to be essential. Running poles can reduce the impact of your feet and lower legs and help you run more efficiently on steeper terrain. Just make sure you add them to your checked bag, as you cannot carry-on trekking poles.

8. Other Important Travel Tips

Don’t forget international power converters that will allow you to power-up your phone, watch and other electronics in your hotel. Consider taking a small power bank in your race pack so you can charge your phone when it runs low on juice. Pack a rain jacket and a large black garbage bag, even if you don’t think it’s going to rain. Carry your passport during your race, have a digital copy on your phone and email a version to yourself. Most of all, maintain a good attitude and keep a good sense of humor because things can (and will) ultimately go sideways in ways you didn’t anticipate. And, always, always carry some toilet paper in a plastic bag in your pack.