california travel show

PAT PATTISON'S BEST OF CALIFORNIA BRINGS YOU

TRAVEL ADVENTURES, HIDDEN GEMS, AND MORE

Travel Destinations Videos

Pat pattison's best of california, nationally syndicated travel tv show.

Growing up in coastal Orange County in the ’50s and ’60s,  Pat Pattison  developed a love of all things California and is bringing that passion to fruition in a nationally syndicated travel TV show.

Watch On-Air Road Trip

You can see “The Best of California With Pat Pattison,” an on-air road trip through the Golden State in weekly TV segments. 

Since January 2021, Pat Pattison's Best of California has been appearing in 40 markets, the 30-minute show airs Sundays at 6:30 p.m. on the NTD network, a digital tier 2 channel found in most television packages.

Watch clips for more information about unique and historical travel destinations in Southern California, on  YouTube ,  Facebook  and  Instagram .

Latest Travel Videos

Santa Maria California

Camarillo California

More Travel Blog Posts

Pat Pattison's "Best of California"   IN THE NEWS  

Pat Pattison's "Best of California"  ON A TV STATION NEAR YOU  

L.a. kaza 54.1 (metv).

IPW 2024 in Los Angeles is Just Around the Corner

By Leona Reed 04/05/2024

• Tune in: All-new Visit California TV spots premiere in U.S. and Canada Print
• Share on LinkedIn
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Facebook
• Share via Email

Visit California, along with 43 industry partners and more than 100 California-based brands, is building out a 50,000-square-foot immersive brand experience called the California Plaza in the central area outside the Los Angeles Convention Center. This incredible space will engage IPW attendees on their way to and from the tradeshow, allowing people to maximize networking and engagement and showcase the California lifestyle. Everyone is encouraged to use the plaza to reenergize with food and drink and to network. The multi-day activation will deliver an over-the-top visual extravaganza that stops passersby in their tracks between branded destination engagement areas and a series of activations, food and beverages staged during peak traffic periods, 2-hour windows before and after daily trade show appointments. The Plaza will be open daily from 8 – 9:50 a.m. and 4:10 – 6 p.m. from Sunday May 5 through Tuesday May 7. A special thanks goes out to platinum partners Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, San Diego Tourism Authority, San Francisco, Visit Anaheim and Visit SLO CAL for their generous contributions and efforts to make the plaza a reality

On Saturday, May 4, all California delegates are invited to attend the California Caucus starting with lunch at 12:30 at Los Angeles Convention Center, Room #502 A&B, West Hall. After lunch, Visit California executives and in-market directors will provide information about the global marketing program and offer insights into how best to use available time on the trade show floor and at the California Plaza. An exclusive preview of the plaza will follow immediately after the caucus.

As with past IPWs, Visit California delegates will continue donning the traditional California team color palette of navy blue, neutrals and burnt orange. The visuals help present the California delegation as one unified team. New for this year, the Visit California team will wear all-white Vans sneakers ( women’s , men’s ) to introduce a playful, laid-back vibe to the ensemble. You're encouraged to join in — Vans are not required, any white lace-up shoe will do. Playful charms that attach to the laces will be passed out during the caucus.

We can’t wait to see you in Los Angeles!

• Travel Trade
• Industry Partners
• Publications
• Scandinavia
• United Kingdom

Related Articles

California Luxury Forum Dazzles in West Hollywood

By Leona Reed 11/13/2023

Boost Local Tourism Economies Through California Jobs First

By Dan Smith 03/11/2024

• Partner Opportunities
• Destination Stewardship

Huell Howser

Join Huell Howser as he travels the state to share California's rich history, cultural diversity, natural wonders, and amazing denizens. Whether road tripping on a California highway, exploring downtown Los Angeles, or visiting state parks and fairs, Huell's travel shows, including his signature series "California's Gold" and "Visiting," all have one thing in common: showcasing what makes the Golden State unique.

Watch this show and many more anytime, anywhere on the free PBS App.

• California's Gold with Huell Howser f0
• Visiting with Huell Howser f0

Nathan Yan / Stocksy United

Twinkling cities, misty redwood forests, sun-kissed beaches, a creative local food scene and an adventurous attitude: California is instantly captivating.

Best Time to Visit

Best places to visit, attractions, must-see attractions.

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite & the Sierra Nevada

Yosemite means "killer" in the Indigenous Miwok language, and in today's parlance it's indeed an impressive, awesome site. Everywhere you look in Yosemite…

Golden Gate Park

San Francisco

When Frederick Law Olmsted, architect of New York's Central Park, gazed in 1865 upon the plot of land San Francisco Mayor Frank McCoppin wanted to turn…

Griffith Observatory

Los Feliz & Griffith Park

With eyes on both the galaxy above and palm-flanked boulevards below, the Griffith Observatory hovers above LA like a hulking spacecraft. This is one of…

Haight Street

The Haight & Hayes Valley

Was it the fall of 1966 or the winter of ’67? As the Haight saying goes, if you can remember the Summer of Love, you probably weren’t here. The fog was…

Chinatown Alleyways

North Beach & Chinatown

If you look close today at the clinker-brick buildings lining these narrow backstreets, past the temple balconies jutting out over bakeries, acupuncture…

City Lights Books

No one could have predicted the cultural force City Lights would become when it first opened in 1953. Sure, it had a proletarian ethos suggested by its…

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa

When the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art expanded in 2016, it was a mind-boggling feat that nearly tripled the institution's size to accommodate a…

If you want to really see San Francisco, head to Coit Tower, a 1933 art deco beaut designed by Arthur Brown, Jr. and Henry Howard that sits high up on…

Top picks from our travel experts

The best things to do in california that no one has told you about yet.

Monarch Grove Sanctuary

Central Coast

Between November and February, over 25,000 migratory monarch butterflies cluster in this thicket of tall eucalyptus trees, secreted inland. During peak…

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

Greater Palm Springs

This rotating cable car climbs nearly 6000ft vertically and covers five different vegetation zones, from the Sonoran desert floor to pine-scented Mt San…

Hearst Castle

Perched high on a hill, Hearst Castle is a wondrous, historic, over-the-top homage to material excess. From the 1920s into the '40s, Hearst and Marion…

Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park

Santa Barbara Wine Country

This tiny, off-the-beaten path historic site shelters pictographs painted by Chumash tribespeople over 400 years ago. The sandstone cave is protected from…

Cut-price California: the best free things to do in the Golden State

Museum of Western Film History

More than 400 movies, not to mention numerous commercials (mostly for rugged SUVs and Jeeps), have been shot in the area. This fascinating museum contains…

Redwood National Park

North Coast & Redwoods

This park is the southernmost of a patchwork of state and federally administered lands under the umbrella of Redwood National & State Parks. After picking…

Point Bonita Lighthouse

Marin County

This historical lighthouse is a breathtaking half-mile walk from Field Rd parking area. From the tip of Point Bonita, you can see the Golden Gate Bridge…

Point Sur State Historic Park

A little over 6 miles south of Bixby Bridge, Point Sur rises like a velvety green fortress out of the sea. It looks like an island, but is actually…

In the waters of Jade Cove in 1971, local divers recovered a 9000lb jade boulder that measured 8ft long and was valued at $180,000. People still comb the…

CIA at Copia

The former food museum beside Napa's famous Oxbow Public Market has been revived as a center of all things edible by the prestigious Culinary Institute of…

Manzanar National Historic Site

Eastern Sierra

A stark wooden guard tower alerts drivers to one of US history's darkest chapters, which unfolded on a barren, windy sweep of land some 5 miles south of…

French Laundry

Napa Valley

The pinnacle of California dining, Thomas Keller’s three-Michelin-star rated French Laundry is epic, a high-wattage culinary experience on par with the…

Point Reyes Lighthouse

With wild terrain and ferocious winds, this spot feels like the end of the earth and offers the best whale-watching along the coast. The lighthouse sits…

Patrick Amiot Junk Art

Russian River Area

Prepare to gawk and giggle at the wacky Patrick Amiot sculptures gracing front yards along Florence Ave. Fashioned from recycled materials, a hot-rodding…

Wild Horse Sanctuary

Northern Mountains

Since 1978 the Wild Horse Sanctuary has been sheltering horses and burros that would otherwise have been destroyed. You can visit its humble visitors…

Redding & Around

On scale with the enormous natural features of the area, this colossal, 15-million-ton concrete dam is second only in size to Grand Coolie Dam in…

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

The Deserts

The largest state park in California, Anza-Borrego comprises a staggering 640,000 acres of land punctuated with hiking trails, canyons, palm groves and…

Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve

Along Highway 101

Two miles west of Orr Hot Springs, this 2743-acre reserve protects some of the best old-growth redwood groves within a day’s drive from San Francisco. A 2…

John Muir National Historic Site

Naturalist John Muir's former residence sits in a pastoral patch of farmland in bustling, modern Martinez. Though Muir wrote of sauntering the Sierra…

Willow Creek China Flat Museum

Pop over to this museum to take in its persuasive Bigfoot collection. Footprints, handprints, hair…it has all kinds of goodies to substantiate the ole boy…

Earthquake Fault

Mammoth Lakes

Mammoth Mountain is the product of millions of years of volcanic activity, so it should be no surprise that the region surrounding it is full of…

Cesar E Chavez National Monument

San Joaquin Valley

This newly designated national monument, Nuestra Señora Reina de la Paz, is the national headquarters of the United Farmworkers of America and was the…

Graziano Family of Wines

The Italian Graziano family is one of the oldest grape-growing families in Mendocino County and specializes in ‘Cal-Ital’ wines – including Primitivo,…

Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip.

Best Things to Do

California has a reputation for sunshine, beaches and palm trees, but there's much more to see in the Golden State. Here are California's top things to do.

Things to Know

California's sun-drenched parks, beaches and cities are a huge draw for tourists but where to begin? Here's what you need to know before you go.

Transportation

California may be besotted with cars but that's not the only way to see the Golden State. Here's everything you need to know about getting around California.

Money and Costs

California has a lot to offer travelers and unfortunately, the price tag to match. But there are ways to visit on a budget if you know how!

Best Road Trips

These ultimate California road trips take you from sea to mountains and through desert and redwoods.

Latest stories from California

Filter by interest:

• All Interests
• Adventure Travel
• Art & Culture
• Beaches, Coasts & Islands
• Food & Drink

Apr 29, 2024 • 7 min read

These two winemaking regions of California have much to recommend them. So we invited two writers to make the case for each.

Mar 13, 2024 • 3 min read

Mar 4, 2024 • 8 min read

Jan 25, 2024 • 13 min read

Sep 14, 2023 • 6 min read

Sep 14, 2023 • 5 min read

Sep 14, 2023 • 11 min read

Sep 13, 2023 • 4 min read

Sep 11, 2023 • 8 min read

Sep 10, 2023 • 4 min read

in partnership with getyourguide

Book popular activities in California

Purchase our award-winning guidebooks.

Get to the heart of California with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.

California and beyond

• Skip to content
• Accessibility
• COVID-19 STATUS UPDATE
• Meet The Team
• LA City Department
• Green Initiatives
• Community Relations
• Facility Improvement Projects
• Annual Report
• Book Your Event
• Interactive Floor Plans
• Virtual Tour
• Exhibit Halls
• Meeting Spaces
• Event Planning Guide
• Sustainability Guide
• Mtg Planner Tools
• Authorized Contractors
• Food & Beverage
• Testimonials
• Getting Here
• Facility Maps
• Experience LA

LA Travel & Adventure Show

Travel is Back!  Great Vacations Start Here at America's Favorite Travel Shows.  The Travel & Adventure Show returns to LA - March 12-13, 2022, at the Los Angeles Convention Center.  Discover endless vacation options from the top travel providers and destinations from around the globe.  Meet one-on-one with thousands of travel experts who are on hand to help you find, personalize, and book your next trip.  Uncover thousands of dollars in savings with exclusive travel deals and show-only specials.  Receive expert advice and learn how to travel like an insider from dozens of educational seminars.  Plus, meet The Points Guy, Brian Kelly, Peter Greenberg, Pauline Frommer, Rudy Maxa and more!  All of this included with the price of your ticket.  Don't delay!  Buy your tickets today or at the door.

Book Your Next Event With Us

View Our Interactive Floor Plans

Film Your Next Production With Us

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

California's Gold

Huell Howser travels around California looking for interesting stories about the state's rich history, cultural diversity, landmarks, natural wonders, amazing people and points of interest, ... Read all Huell Howser travels around California looking for interesting stories about the state's rich history, cultural diversity, landmarks, natural wonders, amazing people and points of interest, especially lesser known and out-of-the-way places. Huell Howser travels around California looking for interesting stories about the state's rich history, cultural diversity, landmarks, natural wonders, amazing people and points of interest, especially lesser known and out-of-the-way places.

• Huell Howser
• Breck Parkman
• Scott Gediman
• 8 User reviews

Episodes 335

• Self - Host

• Self - Ranger …
• Self - Trumpeter
• Self - Fiddle

• Self - Founder, Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival
• Self - Interviewee
• Self - Guest
• Self - Co-founder and Curator
• Self - Chairman Cesar Chavez Foundation
• Self - Ranger, National Park Service
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

More like this

Did you know

• Trivia Huell Howser approached Wells Fargo Bank to sponsor "California's Gold" when he first came up with the concept for the show. Wells Fargo agreed to sponsor the program with the stipulation that all thirteen PBS stations in California at the time would have to agree to broadcast it. Howser personally approached the thirteen stations and they all agreed to air the new show.
• Connections Referenced in Roseanne: Lose a Job, Winnebago (1993)

User reviews 8

• CaliforniaCajun
• Jan 9, 2006
• How many episodes does California's Gold have? Powered by Alexa
• United States
• Official site
• Quartzsite, Arizona, USA
• Huell Howser Productions
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

Related news, contribute to this page.

• See more gaps
• Learn more about contributing

More to explore

Recently viewed

Looking for a Summer Getaway? Costa Mesa Hosts Free AAA Travel Show

Aaa also shared their top three travel tips for those who want to venture out for the first time in a couple of years., by lauren coronado • published april 3, 2022 • updated on april 3, 2022 at 7:09 pm.

If you're planning a trip for a summer vacation, now might be the time to book your trip. As pandemic restrictions are lifted, the travel industry is starting to bounce back.

AAA hosted a travel show in Costa Mesa on Sunday to help SoCal residents plan.

Plenty of visitors to the travel show could list their cancelled trips.

"Ireland, Scotland," said traveler Linda Leday.

Get Southern California news, weather forecasts and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC LA newsletters.

"Germany and Hawaii, I had to cancel," said Patte Alms.

Thousands of eager travelers just like them made their way to Costa Mesa, ready to take the vacation they've been waiting for.

"I’m 75 years old and I don’t know how much longer I have," said Sharon A. Catlett. "I’m doing as many trips as I can, as quickly as I can."

Travel is expected to take off this year as people take advantage of the lack of pandemic restrictions.

"150% more passengers are expected to fly this year, compared to last year," said Doug Shupe, AAA spokesperson.

Not even the high gas prices this year can stop those planning a road trip.

Find the cheapest gas near you .

"52% of Americans plan to take at least one road trip this summer," Shupe said.

AAA's top three travel tips are:

• Book your trip as soon as possible,
• Consider travel insurance, and
• Work with a travel advisor.

Those advisors will likely be excited to get back to it, after two years of light travel during the pandemic.

"It was a very scary time for me as well, like, 'Gee, I hope I have a job,'" said AAA advisor Carolyn Vandenberg.

Vandenberg said she lost nearly all of her clients in 2020, but she's certainly making up for it now.

"The phones are ringing again, because the world is opening up!" she said.

She also stressed the importance of a good insurance policy for those trips.

"At this point we recommend a ‘cancel for any reason’ where you can get 80 percent back or 100 percent back," Vandenberg said.

Airlines Cancel Hundreds of Weekend Flights as Thunderstorms Sweep Through Florida

FAA Will Keep ‘Zero Tolerance' Policy Toward Unruly Passengers, Outgoing Chief Says

For Spring Break Season, Here Are the Top 10 Beaches in the U.S. — and in the World

Travelers who had to cancel in 2020 learned that lesson for themselves.

"Never did travel insurance," said Leday. "Will this year."

And with that worry gone, people are ready for new adventures.

"The pandemic has done a lot to travel and I’m glad we’re able to travel now," said Catlett.

This article tagged under:

The Travel Mom Shows Off Everything New at Disney's California Adventure

Disclaimer: This is sponsored content. All opinions and views are of the advertiser and do not reflect the same of WFTS. Advertiser: The Travel Mom

Our friend Emily Kaufman, the Travel Mom, joins Tampa Bay's Morning Blend from the Happiest Place on Earth!

For more information, visit Disneyland.com .

Report a typo

Sign up for the Morning Headlines Newsletter and receive up to date information.

Now signed up to receive the morning headlines newsletter..

Tampa Bay's Morning Blend

Tampa Bay’s Morning Blend is an original, local lifestyle show focused on providing our audience with informative, useful and entertaining content. It features a variety of community organizations, businesses and happenings in the Bay area. It is a marketing-friendly program dedicated to offering businesses the opportunity to showcase their company/products, reach potential customers and gain results.

Grow Your Business With Us! For Sponsor Information: [email protected]

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Balance transfer cards
• Cash back cards
• Rewards cards
• Travel cards
• Online checking
• High-yield savings
• Money market
• Home equity loan
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Options pit
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing
• Newsletters

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

Judge fines Trump $9K for violating gag order as testimony continues in N.Y. hush money trial

California state fair adds more headliners to free concert series. see who’s coming and when.

The California State Fair announced more headliners for its 2024 free concert series.

On Monday, organizers revealed that Tone Loc, C&C Music Factory and Digital Underground are coming to the fair on Friday, July 19 for a 1990s hip hop, rap and R&B rewind.

The fair will host the Toyota Concert Series at Cal Expo in Sacramento from July 12 to July 28.

There are a total of 17 concerts in store, with more headliners to be announced as the fair’s opening day nears.

Tone Loc, C&C Music Factory and Digital Underground join other big names in the lineup, including Flo Rida, Lukas Nelson, The Beach Boys and Chris Young.

Who’s playing in California State Fair concert series?

So far, the lineup for the 2024 California Mid-State Fair includes:

Sunday, July 14 — Cole Swindell

Monday, July 15 — Queen Nation

Thursday, July 18 — Chris Young

Friday, July 19 — Digital Underground, Tone Loc and C&C Music Factory

Tuesday, July 23 — Flo Rida

Wednesday, July 24 — Bush

Thursday, July 25 — Lukas Nelson

Friday, July 26 — The Beach Boys

Sunday, July 28 — UB40 featuring Ali Campbell

How to catch a concert at the fair

The concerts are free with fair admission.

How much do tickets cost?

You can buy tickets to the California State Fair online .

Early bird tickets cost $14, or $10 for seniors 62 years and older and $8 for kids 5 to 12 years old.

Children 4 and under are free.

Regular prices for adults are $16, seniors are $12 and kids 5 to 12 years are $10. As of Monday, the fair website does not note when regular prices kick in.

Can I reserve a seat?

Reserved seats for the Toyota Concert Series cost $25 online.

What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email [email protected] .

Recommended Stories

Home prices rise at the fastest pace since nov. 2022.

US home prices in February rose more than 6% from the prior year, the fastest pace since November 2022 as a lack of supply feeds demand.

Fantasy football rankings for the 2024 season

The Yahoo Fantasy football analysts reveal their first batch of draft rankings for the 2024 season.

McDonald's Q1 earnings miss sales expectations, as consumers tighten their wallets

McDonald's hefty expansion plans helped to boost sales in Q1.

Defense rankings for 2024 fantasy football

The Yahoo Fantasy football analysts reveal their first defense rankings for the 2024 season.

Chegg stock crashes as free AI tools send online education company 'spiraling'

Chegg's growth metrics have declined since the launch of free AI learning tools, weighing heavily on the stock.

The first-ever race between four self-driving cars and a Formula 1 driver just happened in Abu Dhabi

Modern teams are awash in real-time digital feedback from the cars. The A2RL, as it is known, is not the first autonomous racing series: There's the Roborace series, which saw autonomous race cars setting fast lap times while dodging virtual obstacles; and the Indy Autonomous Challenge, which most recently ran at Las Vegas Motor Speedway during CES 2024. While the Roborace focused on single-car time trials and the Indy Autonomous series centers on oval action, A2RL set out to break new ground in a couple of areas.

Wide receiver rankings for 2024 fantasy football

The Yahoo Fantasy football analysts reveal their first wide receiver rankings for the 2024 season.

Beats Solo 4 review: Upgraded audio, extended battery life and familiar design

Beats made significant updates to audio quality and battery life on the Solo 4, but the design is in need of a refresh.

'Super-fast start-up and lots of storage': This bestselling laptop is a steal at $210 — that's over 50% off

It may be from a little-known brand, but this compact computer holds its own against the big names, shoppers say.

Markets aren’t excited about a second Trump presidency

The billionaire businessman might seem like the best bet for markets — except for a few peculiarities that worry investors.

Instagram's algorithm overhaul will reward ‘original content’ and penalize aggregators

Instagram is overhauling its recommendation algorithm for Reels to boost “original content” in a move that will have significant implications for aggregator accounts and others that primarily repost other users’ work.

How to stay safe during severe storms, from thunderstorms to tornadoes

Experts say to stock up, pay close attention to weather warnings and stay off the roads as increasingly severe weather sweeps the U.S. in the spring.

5 states sue over Title IX LGBTQ protections, Israel offers ‘generous’ ceasefire deal and Blue Ivy Carter joins ‘Mufasa’ cast

The stories you need to start your day: GOP-led states file Title IX lawsuits, new car safety rules and more in today’s edition of The Yodel newsletter

SafeBase taps AI to automate software security reviews

Entrepreneurs Al Yang and Adar Arnon met at Harvard Business School and quickly realized that they had an interest in common: cybersecurity. "We've witnessed an evolving business climate that brought along with it an unprecedented need for improved security processes," Arnon told TechCrunch. Yang and Arnon decided to turn this interest into something more, so they started SafeBase, which was accepted into Y Combinator's accelerator program during the pandemic.

FCC fines America's largest wireless carriers $200 million for selling customer location data

The Federal Communications Commission has slapped the largest mobile carriers in the US with a collective fine worth $200 million for selling access to their customers' location information without consent.

Meta's approach to election security in the frame as EU probes FB, Instagram

The European Union said on Tuesday that it suspects Meta's social networking platforms, Facebook and Instagram, of breaking the bloc' rules for larger platforms in relation to election integrity. The European Commission (EC) has opened formal infringement proceedings to investigate Meta under the Digital Services Act (DSA), an online governance and content moderation framework. The EU's concerns here span several areas.

Yelp is launching a new AI assistant to help you connect with businesses

Yelp announced a new AI-powered chatbot today for consumers that helps them connect with relevant businesses for their tasks. The company joins a long list of organizations leaning into AI chatbots as an assistive medium. Yelp said that the chatbot uses OpenAI's large language models (LLMs) along with its own data to ask users queries about their problems and connect them with relevant professionals for the job.

CD rates today, April 30, 2024 (top rate at 5.15% APY)

CD rates available today are well above historical norms. Find out where to get the best cd rates.

'Walking on clouds': Grab slip-on Skechers with 42,500+ fans for just $40 — plus other deals of the day

Also on our cheat sheet: Spring savings from CeraVe, Gloria Vanderbilt, Hanes and more.

Mortgage rates today, April 30, 2024: Inflation helps keep rates high

These are today's mortgage rates. The Fed should keep the federal funds rate the same tomorrow, so rates will probably stay high. Lock in your rate today.

Disneyland's Pixar Fest is here: A high-energy show for kids, relaxing for parents

ANAHEIM, Calif. − M ad onna has got nothing on Edna Mode .

"The Incredible s " character slides side-to-side onstage, hitting Vogue-y poses that could rival the queen of pop herself. Watching with rapt attention are several small children, all of whom appear no more than 10-years-old. They jump up and down with her, hitting their own poses and sliding left to right.

At several points, non-character cast members give energetic dance instructions to the kids over music, telling them to flex, rock back and forth, clap, run, freeze, and more. The kid-friendly moves look like they could have come straight from an 80s workout video, but instead of Jane Fonda, the instructors are Edna Mode, Mr. and Mrs. Incredible, Frozone and other beloved characters from "Toy Story" and "Inside Out."

It's all part of "Pixar Pals Playtime Party" (try saying that three times fast) − a new show coming to Fantasyland Theatre at Southern California's Disneyland for Pixar Fest, which starts Friday and lasts through Aug. 4. USA TODAY caught a media preview of the show on Thursday, as well as a glimpse at the wide array of creative food offerings. Here's what to expect.

What's the Pixar Palace Playtime Party like?

Really tiring if you're a kid, but really relaxing if you're a parent. (Isn't that how theme parks ought to be?)

For about an hour, cast members get participants up on their feet and encourage them to dance, taking them through moves that include walking in an impromptu fashion show and forming a conga line. It's an energetic hour, but there's plenty of bleacher seating in the back for parents and kids who just want to sit, watch and catch their breath.

It's also a great opportunity to see some beloved Pixar characters up close. Woody, Jessie and Bo Peep from "Toy Story" join the non-costumed cast members onstage, as do Happiness and Sadness from "Inside Out." The characters also come down from the stage to dance with the kids on the floor, creating a more lively − and likely more memorable − experience of interacting with a character than waiting several minutes for a quick photo.

The show itself is pretty adorable and serves as more of an activity than a viewing. The kids at the preview event were constantly moving. At one point, a little girl dressed as Jessie jumped with glee at seeing the cowgirl herself onstage. Sadness from "Inside Out" also elicited plenty of laughs as Joy did her best to get her to move to the cheerful music.

For kids who aren't interested in dancing, there's also a "Luca"-themed area where they can color and chill out.

More: Disneyland revamps Mickey's Toontown to improve accessibility, relaxation: An inside look

What's the food like?

Decadent. Chances are, whatever you're in the mood for, they have for Pixar Fest − so long as that mood doesn't include anything healthy. (But aren't Disneyland days automatic cheat days anyway?)

On display for media were cookies and cupcakes galore, "Finding Nemo" cake pops, churros covered in gummy candy and chocolate sauce and mini-chocolate cakes decorated like tires from "Cars." And those sweets don't even scratch the surface.

For more savory options, there are also chicken and potato waffles in bite-sized pieces, pesto pasta, a pizza topped with burger patties, and even a "Ratatouille Pizzetta," a mini-pizza topped with eggplant, squash, zucchini, tomato sauce, and a wedge of French camembert cheese.

More: Here's an inside look at Disneyland's new Runaway Railway ride and Disney100 celebration

What else is at Pixar Fest?

So much. There's decor where you can pose for photos at the fronts of both Disneyland and California Adventure. There's "Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!," which is a California Adventure parade with the most Pixar characters of any parade in a Disney park. There's Club Pixar , which is an interactive DJ dance party that also features games like cornhole and tic-tac-toe. And there's "Together Forever − A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular," an evening projection show that includes beloved Pixar characters old and new, as well as new emotions from the upcoming "Inside Out 2" film.

Watch CBS News

California Governor Newsom launches abortion travel ban ad campaign in Alabama

By Dave Pehling

Updated on: April 22, 2024 / 1:41 PM PDT / CBS San Francisco

California Governor Gavin Newsom is taking aim at states considering abortion travel bans with the launch of a new ad campaign.

Newsom's Campaign for Democracy ad is set to air in Alabama starting Monday. The governor tweeted out the ad in a social media post Sunday morning.

Alabama’s abortion ban has no exceptions for rape or incest. Now, Republicans are trying to criminalize young women’s travel to receive abortion care. We cannot let them get away with this. pic.twitter.com/gHbYJYlEXk — Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) April 21, 2024

The text with the video post reads, "Alabama's abortion ban has no exceptions for rape or incest. Now, Republicans are trying to criminalize young women's travel to receive abortion care. We cannot let them get away with this."

The 30-second commercial shows two nervous young women driving in a car passing a sign that reads "State Line 1 Mile." 

"We're almost there. You're gonna make it," the passenger tells the woman behind the wheel just before they hear a siren and are pulled over by a state trooper.

"Trump Republicans want to criminalize young Alabama women who travel for reproductive care," a voiceover says as the state trooper walks up to the car.

"Miss, I'm going to need you to step out of the vehicle and take a pregnancy test," the trooper says, waving a test stick in one hand. The next shot shows the driver leaning on the hood of her car as the trooper puts her in handcuffs.

"Stop them by taking action at RightToTravel.org ," the voiceover intones as the ad ends.

Alabama is currently weighing a bill that would make it a crime to help women travel outside the state in order to receive an abortion. The ad is part of a larger effort to combat travel bans across the United States. Newsom was behind a similar ad that ran in Tennessee.

The RightToTravel.org website says that those two states and Oklahoma are considering bills that ban minors from traveling out of state to get an abortion without parental consent, even if it's a case of incest or if there is abuse in the family.

It isn't the first action the governor has taken in the political battle over abortion since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June of 2022. Two days after the ruling, Newsom partnered with the governors of Oregon and Washington to issue a multi-state commitment promising to defend access to reproductive health care, including abortion and contraceptives.

In September of that year, he launched a billboard campaign in seven of the most restrictive anti-abortion states urging women seeking the procedure to come to California for treatment. He also signed more than a dozen new abortion laws  protecting women's reproductive rights and ordered the state to end its contract with Walgreens after the pharmacy giant  indicated it would not sell an abortion pill by mail in some conservative-led states . 

• Gavin Newsom
• Roe v. Wade

Dave Pehling started his journalism career doing freelance writing about music in the late 1990s, eventually working as a web writer, editor and producer for KTVU.com in 2003. He moved to CBS to work as the station website's managing editor in 2015.

Featured Local Savings

More from cbs news.

California joining with N.J. company to buy generic opioid overdose reversal drug Narcan

35th Goldman Environmental Awards honors 7 extraordinary citizens

Berkeley Fire holds weekend camp to attract women to the profession

Track work near Orinda BART station affecting travel between Rockridge, Lafayette

Los Angeles Exhibitor Services

Everything you need to know about the los angeles show, los angeles, please click on the sections below for information.

Los Angeles Convention Center (Hall AB ) 1201 South Figueroa Street Los Angeles, California 90015 (213) 741-1151

Loading Dock

Click Here   to view map to  Dock AB West Hall Truck Ramp Entrance: LA Live Way turn onto West Hall AB Truck ramp

MOVE IN:  Friday, February 21: 9:00am – 5:00pm *Unable to set up on Friday? Contact your Sales Rep for approval to set up on Saturday morning EVENT DAY 1:  Saturday, February 22: 9:30am – 5:00pm (9:30am Open to Travel Advisors, 10:00am Public) EVENT DAY 2:  Sunday, February 23: 11:00am – 4:00pm MOVE OUT:  Sunday, February 23: 4:00pm – 8:00pm

Hotel Information

JW Marriott  –  .2 miles/4 min walk from Convention Center 900 West Olympic Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90015 Phone:  1-213-765-8600

Room Rates:  $TBA/night plus tax Rate Available through TBA * Rooms Available on a First-Come, First-Served Basis

Hotel Figueroa  – 6 min walk across the street  to Convention Center 939 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90015 Phone: 1-213-627-8971

Room Rates: $TBA/night plus tax Rate Available through TBA Rooms Available on a First-Come, First-Served Basis

E Central Downtown Los Angeles Hotel  –  5 min walk across the street from the Convention Center 1020 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015 Los Angeles, CA 90015 Phone: 1-213-743-7658

Hotel Alert:

Only Reserve your hotel accommodations through the phone number or link provided, otherwise we cannot guarantee your reservation confirmation.

Exhibitor Badges

Every 10’x10′ booth will be issued 5 exhibitor badges. Badges will be available for pick up at the Exhibitor Registration Counter during Exhibitor Move In, on Friday from 9:00am – 4:30pm. 

Pre-Registration is NOT required for exhibit staff. 

Sound Level and Booth Items

No amplified sound in or around your booth is permitted. Show Management reserves the right to determine at what point sound constitutes interference with other exhibitors. 

Booth items cannot extend beyond booth dimensions, in the aisle or above the 8’ back drape and 3’ side drape.

List Rental Scams

ALERT: Please Be Aware of List Rental Scams! 

The Travel & Adventure Show does not rent its lists . Any party claiming to represent TAS for list services should be considered fraudulent.

Unicomm/TAS Email:  [email protected] Phone:  (203) 878-2577 x0

Expo Event Services Show Decorator Customer Service Email: [email protected] Ordering: [email protected] Phone:  (201) 300-2782 Fax:  (917) 591-8316 Website: www.expoeventservices.com

Show Info Links:

Resource links:, 2025 exhibitor kit, quick links, and online ordering available in the summer 2024, exhibitor services manual:.

ALERT:  Only reserve your exhibit supplies through the phone number or link provided otherwise we cannot guarantee your exhibit rental supplies.

Quick Links:

Online ordering:, access additional shows’ exhibitor services pages here:, washington d.c..

Economy | San Jose airport passenger rebound shows signs…

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Today's e-Edition

• Real Estate
• SiliconValley.com

Breaking News

Economy | trump held in contempt of court for violating gag order in hush money case and ordered to pay $9,000, subscriber only, economy | san jose airport passenger rebound shows signs of losing altitude, weaker passenger pattern emerges at san jose aviation hub.

SAN JOSE — Passenger travel at San Jose International Airport is showing a loss of altitude, leaving the Silicon Valley aviation hub well short of its pre-coronavirus heights.

The airport handled 930,522 passengers in March — 13.4% above the passenger totals for February, but 3.6% below the passenger activity reported for March 2023. Over the 12 months that ended in March, the airport reported it handled 12.05 million passengers. That was down 0.4% from the 12.1 million passengers the South Bay travel hub accommodated during 2023.

The airport’s performance over the most recent 12-month period is far below the record heights San Jose achieved in 2019, the final year before the outbreak of the coronavirus and the resulting collapse of the worldwide travel industry due to government-imposed business shutdowns and transportation restrictions. The airport reported 15.65 million passengers in 2019, nearly 23% more.

“Prior to the pandemic, a significant portion of San Jose Airport’s traffic was driven by business travel,” airport officials said in emailed comments. “We suspect that the slow rebound in business travel, which is yet to fully recover globally, is having a significant impact on our recovery.”

The three major regional airports are all facing a feeble post-coronavirus recovery. Over the year-long period that ended in February 2024, Oakland International Airport handled 11.27 million passengers. That was 16% below the 13.38 million passengers Oakland accommodated in 2019.

San Jose airport officials, in the statement, also acknowledge the changes in air travel, saying, “We have welcomed the arrival of low-cost carriers, ZIPAIR and Spirit Airlines, that have entered the market to meet the growing demand for more leisure and family travel,”

ZIPAIR has added a flight between San Jose and Japan, which means six weekly departures from San Jose to Tokyo Narita International Airport.

Spirit Airlines has added nonstop flights between San Jose and the destinations of Los Angeles; Portland, Oregon; and the Baltimore-Washington region.

“Post-pandemic, we are adapting to the market,” the statement said.

• Report an error
• Policies and Standards

More in Economy

California Politics | California’s population grew in 2023, halting 3 years of decline

Business | Oracle has more workers in the Bay Area than Texas after moving headquarters in 2021

Business | Joby Aviation breaks ground on expanded Monterey County production line

Housing | Fremont apartments are bought in real estate deal that tops $30 million

Protect Your Trip »

The 18 best places to see the northern lights.

Check the aurora borealis off your bucket list.

The Best Places for the Northern Lights

Getty Images

The northern lights, known as the aurora borealis, are a spectacular natural light show visible at certain times of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. They occur when electrically charged particles from the sun collide with gases in the Earth's atmosphere, creating vibrant streaks of blue, green, pink and violet dancing across the night sky. 2024 and 2025 are an excellent time to catch the northern lights: Solar activity will be at a peak, making for a more impressive experience, if you're in the right place.

The best places to see the aurora borealis have little light pollution, clear skies and no precipitation. The lights are only visible at northern latitudes when it's dark outside, so the months from September to April are best for seeing the aurora. There's also a Southern Hemisphere counterpart, the aurora australis; there are fewer easy spots from which to view this phenomenon, but if you're lucky, it can be equally brilliant.

For more information on the northern lights, scroll down to the FAQ section at the bottom of this page. Read on to discover the top destinations where you can see the kaleidoscopic northern and southern lights.

Fairbanks, Alaska

Fairbanks is by far one of the best places in the world to view the northern lights, as it's located directly under the auroral oval. This ring-shaped zone sits around the Earth's geomagnetic North Pole and is generally associated with the most vibrant aurora sightings. Visitors can expect to see the lights on an average of four out of five clear nights during aurora season, which lasts from late August to late April.

You can book a northern lights tour to see the aurora from the springs and tubs at Chena Hot Springs Resort. This excursion includes round-trip transportation to the resort from town, a soak in the hot springs, a visit to the Fairbanks Aurora Ice Museum and an aurora viewing tour; dinner and drinks centered around Alaska produce are an option extra with hot drinks supplied.

There's more to Fairbanks than just the northern lights: If you visit in late summer, consider family-friendly activities like a ride on the Riverboat Discovery or gold panning. For a festive holiday experience in the winter, head around 15 miles out of Fairbanks to visit the Santa Claus House in the city of North Pole. Travelers can also see ice sculptures in February and March at the impressive World Ice Art Championships or take a dog-sledding or snowmobiling tour .

Where to stay: For excellent chances of aurora viewing, book a private igloo at Borealis Basecamp, a top glamping resort located on 100 remote acres of boreal forest about 25 miles from Fairbanks. With activities like dog-sledding on top of aurora viewing, past visitors regularly describe it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Tromsø, Norway

Located about 220 miles above the Arctic Circle, Tromsø is one of several top spots to view the northern lights in Norway. At the darkest point of the aurora season – which runs from September to early April – the sun doesn't rise in this northern part of the country, although there is twilight during the day. With this level of darkness, there are more opportunities to see the aurora.

Tromsø itself is a small but lively city, so there's plenty to see and do when you're not looking up at the sky, including a visit to the beautiful Arctic Cathedral. In late January to early February, the city hosts the Northern Lights Festival, a 10-day music and performing arts event featuring a variety of musical genres.

Aurora chasers can view the lights on their own while in town, but to get a better view, it's recommended to head away from the city lights. Arctic Circle Tours is one company offering guided trips, with small groups for a more personal vibe. Alternatively, adventure-seekers can embark on an exhilarating husky trekking expedition in the Arctic wilderness.

Where to stay: For accommodations with harbor views, look no further than the Scandic Ishavshotel – guests love it for its convenient central location in the city, as well as its plus-sized breakfast buffet with plenty of choices.

Luosto and Rovaniemi (Lapland), Finland

Lapland is located within the Arctic Circle in the northernmost part of Finland. The northern lights are most visible here between the end of August and April – and approximately 200 times a year – so there are many opportunities for aurora spotting. Finnish Lapland is also known as home to the Sámi people (the only recognized Indigenous group in the European Union region), some 200,000 reindeer and Santa Claus – who can be visited in the town of Rovaniemi, the region's largest city and a great base for your aurora expedition.

Consider venturing roughly 70 miles north of Rovaniemi to the resort town of Luosto, set among the picturesque and hilly landscape of Pyhä-Luosto National Park. Here, you can also spend a magical evening outdoors under star-filled skies during a reindeer-drawn sleigh ride through the snow-covered forests. Jaakkola Reindeer Farm offers a reindeer sleigh tour to spot the aurora once weekly; it includes a stop to warm up at a bonfire camp with snacks, hot beverages and local fireside stories.

Where to stay: For a bucket list experience, watch the impressive light show from a glass igloo at Santa's Hotel Aurora & Igloos in Luosto. Past visitors love the cozy atmosphere here, boosted by amenities like saunas and log fireplaces. If you're sticking to Rovaniemi, the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel is a stunning choice, with designer cabins perched among the snow-covered taiga forest.

Orkney, Scotland

This group of captivating (and mostly uninhabited) islands, located about 10 miles off Scotland's remote northern coast, is one of the best places to see the northern nights in the U.K. Fall and winter are the best seasons to witness the aurora, also known in local Shetland dialect as the "Mirrie Dancers," with fall bringing the highest proportion of clear nights. A few places to see the spectacular light show include along the coast at Birsay or the Broch of Gurness, an archaeological ruin on a sweeping and dramatic coastline.

In addition to the aurora, Orkney is home to breathtaking coastal landscapes and more sheep than you can count (try some local lamb, if you can). Travelers can also visit the Heart of Neolithic Orkney, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with several monuments dating back 5,000 years.

Where to stay: During your visit, plan to stay in the historic town of Kirkwall, the capital of the Orkney Islands: The no-fuss Ayre Hotel offers harbor views, and past visitors compliment the hearty meals in the hotel restaurant. Spot the aurora close to town at Inganess Bay and Wideford Hill.

Yellowknife, Canada

Yellowknife, the capital of Canada 's Northwest Territories, dubs itself the "Aurora Capital of the World." Thanks to its position in the middle of the auroral oval, the city puts on one of the world's most awe-inspiring light shows. The period from mid-November to the beginning of April is the recommended time to spot the aurora, but it's also possible to see the aurora during more hospitable weather from late summer to early fall as the lights are visible up to 240 days a year.

Located on the northern shore of Great Slave Lake, Yellowknife boasts winter sports such as ice fishing and cross-country skiing. If you visit in March, plan to attend the monthlong Snowkings' Winter Festival, which features events and activities like a snow-carving competition, a snow castle, live music and more.

For a unique experience, book a tour through Aurora Village to view the lights. The property will pick you up from your hotel and take you to its site, where you can stay warm in a tent while sipping hot beverages. The Aboriginal-owned Aurora Village also offers activities such as dog-sledding or snowshoeing excursions.

Where to stay: Warm up in the fireside lounge at The Explorer Hotel in Yellowknife. Previous visitors note the warm and helpful staff as a strength here.

Jukkasjärvi, Sweden

The optimal time for seeing the illuminated skies in the northern part of Sweden, known as Swedish Lapland, is between early September and late March. The small Swedish village of Jukkasjärvi sits around 125 miles above the Arctic Circle on the Torne River and is an ideal locale for aurora viewing. You'll fly to the nearby Kiruna Airport to get here. With the village's origins dating back to the 17th century, you can still find some of the original homesteads, including an old timber cottage. Today the village boasts 800 residents – and more than 1,000 dogs.

Where to stay: If you're up for a chilly overnight adventure, reserve accommodations at the world's first permanent ice hotel, the aptly named Icehotel 365. Each of its artist-designed suites is sculpted from ice with a unique theme and maintains temperatures around minus 5 degrees Celsius (about 23 degrees Fahrenheit). The rooms also feature beds with reindeer hides and thermal sleeping bags so you can bundle up during the night. While you're at the property, take advantage of the guided "Northern Lights Safari on Snowmobile" or embark on the "Moose Safari on Horseback" atop an Icelandic horse.

Reykjavik, Iceland

October through March is the best time to chase the aurora borealis in Iceland . There are numerous natural parks and attractions throughout the country where you can view the show during the long and dark winter, but the capital city of Reykjavik also offers many options for accommodations, restaurants, tours and other activities for your visit. For optimum aurora viewing in the city away from the light pollution, head to Öskjuhlið. This wooded and hilly area in Reykjavik sits at 200 feet above sea level and has walkways and paths where you can see the nighttime show.

Atop this hill sits Perlan, which houses the only planetarium in the country and a museum featuring exhibits about Iceland. Perlan is also home to the world's first indoor ice cave and glacier exploratorium. During your visit, don't miss the panoramic views of the city from the building's fourth-floor observation deck. From this vantage point, you'll be able to see the Snæfellsjökull glacier; Keilir, a volcanic mountain; and Esja, the mountain of Reykjavik.

Where to stay: While in Reykjavik, splurge on an overnight tour with Buubble Tours. This experience includes breathtaking sightseeing spots and a night spent under the magical northern skies in a transparent bubble at the 5 Million Star Hotel. For longer stays, consider the eco-friendly Eyja Guldsmeden Hotel, with sweeping views of the city – guests love it for its cozy yet chic Scandinavian design.

Southern Iceland

While Reykjavik is a great aurora-viewing spot if you like having amenities close by, consider getting out into Iceland's stunning, otherworldly countryside for a unique backdrop for the northern lights. One unique place to see them is the black sand beach at Reynisfjara (but watch out for the dangerous waves here). Alternatively, head to Jökulsárlón, a glacial lagoon and seal habitat, where the aurora's reflections in the icy water are truly beautiful.

There's no shortage of tours that will stop by these locations and more for possible aurora sightings. Consider a 10- or 13-day tour around the country with Fun Travel, or a four-day option from Arctic Adventures. If you want to do things at your own place, it's also possible to self-drive – just know that road conditions can be icy, particularly in the depths of winter (although Icelandic roads are generally well-maintained).

Where to stay: Hotel Rangá is a formidable option for aurora-spotting. It offers a variety of special amenities, such as aurora wake-up calls, a lookout deck and snowsuits to keep you warm if you're outside viewing the lights. Past visitors praise Rangá for being a comfortable yet luxurious place to relax, be it in the outdoor hot tubs or the cozy and sociable bar.

Kangerlussuaq, Greenland

Greenland may not be the most accessible place to travel for viewing the northern lights, with limited flight options (mostly via Iceland), but those who make it here will be thrilled they did. The tundra of Kalaallit Nunaat – the Greenlandic name for the country – is one of the best places on the globe to see the aurora from September to early April.

For the more adventurous aurora seekers, head to the top of the Greenland Ice Cap for spectacular views of the lights. This impressive glacier covers 80% of the country and is accessible via the tiny town of Kangerlussuaq. Located on a fjord right along the Arctic Circle, the town, often described as a gateway to Greenland, was a former U.S. Air Force base and is now home to Greenland's main airport. The town is known for having clear skies on some 300 nights per year, so chances of a sighting are particularly good here.

Tour company Guide to Greenland offers various tours, from two-hour aurora-viewing trips to a tough but rewarding multi-night dog-sledding expedition across the ice. For a less strenuous experience, companies like Nordic Saga Tours offer cruises through the Arctic landscapes around Kangerlussuaq.

Viking cruise along Norway's coast

Courtesy of Viking

Embrace the winter and set sail for the Arctic Circle to experience the aurora in northern Norway. The 13-day "In Search of the Northern Lights" cruise itinerary with Viking departs from London for the North Sea with stops in ports of call that are top aurora-viewing locales, including Tromsø, Alta and Narvik, plus a stop in Amsterdam en route. The cruise ends in Bergen, Norway.

While on land, take in the natural beauty of the snow-blanketed landscapes and book bucket list excursions like a night spent in an igloo or a reindeer sledding adventure. You can also chase the lights into the wilderness by snowmobile, take a dog sled ride under the stars or view them from a Sámi tent atop the mountain Pæska in Alta. This Viking Ocean Cruises itinerary is offered with departure dates from mid-January to mid-March.

Headlands International Dark Sky Park, Michigan

Regarded as one of the top spots in the U.S. to see the aurora outside Alaska, Headlands International Dark Sky Park sits at the top of Michigan 's lower peninsula, less than 5 miles from Mackinaw City. While the northern lights are less common here due to the relatively southern location, the best time to catch a glimpse of this phenomenon is typically during the spring and fall – and appearances can usually be predicted a couple of days in advance. The park even maintains an online Clear Sky Chart so you can check the weather forecast before you go.

There are also other stargazing opportunities throughout the year at Headlands. During the summer months the Milky Way is visible across the sky, and late summer evenings entertain visitors with meteor showers.

Where to stay: If you're visiting between late April and the end of October, splurge on a stay at Mission Point Resort on Mackinac Island, where the aurora should also be visible. Guests describe this iconic property situated along the shoreline of Lake Huron as positively charming, thanks to its historic nature and manicured grounds. The resort also offers a host of outdoor activities from bike rentals to swimming.

Tips on Trips and Expert Picks Newsletter

Travel tips, vacation ideas and more to make your next vacation stellar.

Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. By clicking submit, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy .

Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota

Martha Shuff | Courtesy of Voyageurs National Park

Located on the international border between Minnesota and Ontario, Voyageurs National Park is an approximately 218,000-acre labyrinth of boreal forests, lakes and streams. Voyageurs is Minnesota's only national park; it's also unique in that the park's interior is accessible only by boat, unless you visit by snowmobile in winter. As a certified International Dark Sky Park , Voyageurs provides opportunities to view the Milky Way on clear evenings, especially in the summer. Year-round aurora viewing is also possible on evenings with clear dark skies, but chances are better during the winter, when it's dark for longer.

For a guided stargazing tour – including the Milky Way, the constellations and (if you're lucky) the northern lights – book with Voyageurs Outfitters. If you're on your own, park officials note that almost any campsite is a good spot for northern lights viewing and stargazing. You can also check out the boat launch areas around Ash River, Kabetogama Lake and the Rainy Lake Visitor Center for top-notch views.

Where to stay: Those who prefer to sleep in a warm, cozy bed instead of camping under the stars can make reservations at the Cantilever Distillery + Hotel, a boutique Trademark Collection by Wyndham property in the nearby town of Ranier, Minnesota. Visitors report that there's a lot to like here, from the industrial-chic rooms to friendly staff to top-notch cocktails in the active distillery on the premises.

Abisko National Park, Sweden

Given its Arctic location, Sweden is one of the prime spots for aurora viewing in the Northern Hemisphere, with Swedish Lapland at the top of the list. The fall and winter months (from September to March) offer the best opportunities to witness the spectacle, as there is more darkness than light during the days.

If you're up for the Arctic adventure, December is an ideal month to visit Abisko National Park, which some regard as one of the best places on Earth to see the lights dance across the sky. The park's mountainous terrain and clear dark skies offer dramatic front-row seats for viewing the northern lights. The Aurora Sky Station is one of the best vantage points to see the aurora in the park. Join one of the expert presentations to learn about the science behind this fascinating phenomenon.

If you'd prefer to chase the lights with a curated tour, professional photographers and aurora-chasing guides at Visit Abisko lead three- to four-hour tours throughout the fall and winter. If you can, try to join the tours in fall, as this time of year offers a unique opportunity to view the lights both in the sky and reflected in the lakes and rivers, which you won't see in the winter months.

Where to stay: For cozy Nordic vibes, stay at Abisko Mountain Lodge, which also offers activities like ice climbing and snowmobile tours in winter. Guests love the excellent restaurant here, which offers Swedish specialties ranging from salmon to moose.

Nellim, Finland

Courtesy of Wilderness Hotels

Located a stone's throw from the Russian border in Finnish Lapland, this remote Arctic destination is a top-rated locale to view the northern lights due to the lack of light pollution. You'll be seriously out of the way of any built-up areas, as there's not even a paved road into Nellim. The best time to visit is between December and early April. This village is a great place to hunker down in a lodge and relax while enjoying a slice of life in the Finnish wilderness.

Where to stay: The Nellim Wilderness Hotel offers a perfect base with year-round activities, including aurora-chasing tours by car, snowmobile or on snowshoes. You can even take a sleigh ride through the snow to a campsite on Lake Inari to spot the aurora in pristine nature.

Beyond standard rooms, the Wilderness Hotel also offers glass-roofed cabins, as well as classic log cabins and bubble-shaped accommodations for two where guests can watch the dancing lights through the glass roof above your warm, cozy bed. When you're not chasing the lights, enjoy other Arctic activities like a husky safari, ice fishing, snowmobiling or a day in the snow meeting the local reindeer.

Saariselkä and Kakslauttanen, Finland

These two towns are around 150 miles above the Arctic Circle, with a prime location under the auroral oval, allowing as many as 200 opportunities per year to see the northern lights (weather permitting, of course). This area in Finnish Lapland is known for its stunning scenery, Sámi culture, cross-country and downhill skiing, and Urho Kekkonen National Park – one of Finland's largest.

Ski enthusiasts can roll two trips into one by hitting the slopes by day in Saariselkä and aurora spotting by night at Finland's northernmost ski resort. March into early April is the best time to view the aurora, as the Finnish Meteorological Institute notes that the weather is usually clearer at this time of year. But it's possible to see the northern lights at any time during the season from late August to early or mid-April.

Where to stay: Seven miles south of Saariselkä sits the village of Kakslauttanen, where you can book two- or four-person Glass Igloos at the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort. The new Kelo-Glass Igloos, which sleep up to six, mix the comforts of a log chalet with the visibility of the glass roof; enjoy a private sauna, a fireplace and more. There's also an impressive selection of year-round tours and activities at this resort, including northern lights excursions on snowmobiles or by horse-drawn carriage.

Stewart Island, New Zealand

Courtesy of RealNZ

Although they may be isolated, some far-south destinations offer the chance to see the aurora australis – or southern lights. While you might be able to see them year-round in some locations (just as with the northern lights), certain months are better for aurora viewing in the Southern Hemisphere. Stewart Island is regarded as one of the top spots to see the brilliant display in New Zealand , with 85% of the island encompassed by Rakiura National Park, so there are few people and virtually no light pollution. You can reach Stewart Island by flying in from Invercargill or taking a ferry from Bluff.

New Zealand's winter months – June to August – are the best time to see the southern lights; spring and fall are also not bad times to spot them. The brighter summer months, between December and February, make it more difficult to spot the aurora, but there's still a chance you'll catch a glimpse between midnight and 4 a.m.

Where to stay: Consider reserving a room with at Stewart Island Lodge, an intimate bed-and-breakfast. This beautiful property is just minutes by foot from the village of Oban, and the property will pick you up at the ferry terminal for your stay. Past visitors rave about the spectacular views of Halfmoon Bay and the Foveaux Strait from both the rooms and lodge terrace.

Tasmania sits approximately 150 miles south of mainland Australia. This mountainous island is one of relatively few places on the planet where it's theoretically possible to see the aurora 365 days a year due to its latitude, which allows for full darkness even on summer nights. The capital city of Hobart is the easiest point of entry: It's home to Tasmania's largest airport and serves as a convenient base. The city's burgeoning food and cultural scenes will also give you plenty to see and do.

From here you'll be able to reach several great viewing locations with unobstructed and open views of the sea along the southern and southeast coastlines, like Goat Bluff and Tinderbox Bay. When you're not staring at the night sky, splurge on a once-in-a-lifetime helicopter flight with Tasmanian Air Tours. Depending on your whims, your private pilot can whisk you away to soar over the sea cliffs; stop at a local winery to sample local vintages; or head south to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Port Arthur , Tasmania 's historic and most notorious prison.

Where to stay: Reserve accommodations at The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Hobart. The historic luxury property is situated along the lively waterfront area with harbor views. Past guests admired the historic building housing the hotel and loved the heritage rooms featuring gas fireplaces for those cold Tasmanian nights.

Expedition cruise to Antarctica

If you're one of the lucky few people on the planet to travel to the southernmost continent on Earth, it may be pricey, but you'll have an adventure of a lifetime in Antarctica, especially if the aurora illuminates the sky. The southern lights are most visible in the winter months (between March and October), but due to weather conditions, only researchers brave the Antarctic winter – and they mostly stay indoors.

However, all hope is not lost if you seek to view the aurora australis in Antarctica. Late-season expedition cruises to this continent offered in March also bring the opportunity to view the southern lights and enjoy the end of Antarctica's fleeting summer. As the days shorten in length, you may encounter light snow across the extreme landscape and ice starting to form on the water's surface.

When it comes to wildlife viewing, humpback whale sightings are abundant, and you'll still see penguin colonies – including king and gentoo penguins. You can also keep your eyes peeled for elephant seals, leopard seals, wandering albatross and other species of birds. When night falls on clear evenings, look for the light show in the southern sky. Companies that offer March voyages include Swoop Antarctica, Atlas Ocean Voyages, Silversea Cruises , Aurora Expeditions and Hurtigruten Expeditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

There's no one location that's widely accepted as the best place to see the northern lights. However, the strongest light displays are within what's called the "auroral oval": a rough circle around the Earth's magnetic northern pole that tends to occur around 60 to 70 degrees of latitude. The oval's exact size expands and contracts (some more southerly destinations can fall under it when the aurora is particularly strong), but there are certain locations that generally fall within the oval most of the time.

These places include:

• Central and northern Alaska
• Large areas of Yukon, the Northwest Territories and northern Quebec in Canada
• Southern Greenland
• Far northern Norway, Sweden and Finland

Within these areas, it could be argued that Iceland is the best place to see the aurora as it experiences much milder temperatures than some other areas within the oval. But this is subjective, and some travelers may prefer a location like Yellowknife in Canada for a full-on, very cold Arctic experience.

The northern lights are only visible when it's dark out. Since many of the best places to see them are so far north that they experience near-constant daylight in the summer, you'll generally want to schedule a trip between late August and early April. However, within this time period, there's some debate about the best time to catch the lights. For example, the aurora tends to be more active around the September and March equinoxes due to stronger solar winds – but on the other hand, your chances of seeing them may be higher in the depths of winter, since there's longer nights and therefore a longer window in which they might appear.

In more southern locations like Minnesota, it may be possible to see the light show in the summer months, but it's still advisable to go at a time when the nights are longer. It can also be worth trying to schedule your northern lights trip when there's a new moon: While the aurora can shine through moonlight, it may be harder to see if there's a full moon.

Of course, cloudy weather can block the aurora even if you go at the right time of year. So, it may be wise to research the local weather patterns at your chosen destination to find out if there's a month where you can expect clearer skies. In many cases, though, there's a little luck involved.

These two countries can offer excellent views of the northern lights, since both are directly under the typical auroral oval. Yet there are some differences to be aware of.

In Norway, you'll need to head to the north of the country to catch the aurora: While they have been sighted in Oslo , the capital and largest city, it's too far south to be a reliable vantage point. Cities like Tromsø are popular spots, but direct flights there are only possible from some European cities, so North Americans will have to take connecting flights. On the other hand, Iceland is generally easier to reach, with direct flights to its capital, Reykjavik, from a large number of U.S. destinations (particularly from the East Coast) with no further connection required.

Since clear skies are key for seeing the northern lights, weather is another factor to consider. In November, December and March, Reykjavik has statistically slightly more frequent clear skies, while in January and February, Tromsø is a little better, but the difference isn't big: Both places have clear skies only around 25 to 30% of the time in these months. Reykjavik has slightly warmer weather, though, so between that and the ease of access, it has a slight edge over Norway for seeing the northern lights.

Alaska and Iceland are known for stellar aurora light shows, so deciding between them may depend on which destination you find more convenient and more to your tastes. In Alaska , the city of Fairbanks is considered a great spot to catch the northern lights. (They can still be seen elsewhere in the state – for example, in Anchorage, although they're not so common in more southern locations like Juneau). The advantage of Fairbanks is that you won't need a passport , yet there aren't many direct flights from the lower 48 states. Despite being an international destination, Iceland may be more accessible (particularly from the eastern U.S.), thanks to fairly regular flights to Reykjavik from numerous American cities.

Fairbanks does offer statistically better weather for aurora viewing: It has clear skies more often than Reykjavik, particularly in March when the Alaska city experiences them around 45% of the time (compared to about 25% for Reykjavik). But you'll have to be able to tolerate the cold. While temperatures in Reykjavik hover around freezing in midwinter, Fairbanks is a veritable deep freeze, with average highs around 5 degrees Fahrenheit down to lows colder than minus 5 in December.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Timothy Forster , as a Canadian who has traveled from coast to coast in that sprawling country, knows all about travel in the cold northern reaches of the world. Forster used his extensive traveling background along with research expertise to curate this article.

You might also be interested in:

• The Top Waterfalls in Iceland
• The World's Top Treehouse Hotels
• The Most Beautiful Beaches in the World
• The Best Travel Insurance Companies

Most Beautiful Landscapes in the World

Tags: Travel , Vacation Ideas

World's Best Places To Visit

• # 1 South Island, New Zealand
• # 4 Bora Bora

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

You May Also Like

Flight canceled or delayed what to do.

Amanda Norcross April 26, 2024

The Best Beach Hats

Megan Johnson and Sharael Kolberg April 26, 2024

The Best Florence Tours

John Rodwan April 25, 2024

The 9 Best Louisiana Swamp Tours of 2024

John Rodwan April 24, 2024

How Much Does a Cruise Cost?

Gwen Pratesi April 24, 2024

The Best Whale Watching in Cape Cod

Lyn Mettler April 24, 2024

Best Whale Watching Tours in Maine

Marisa Méndez April 23, 2024

The Best Wineries in Napa Valley

April 23, 2024

The Best East Coast Beaches

April 19, 2024

The Best Carry-on Luggage

Erin Evans , Rachael Hood , Catriona Kendall , Amanda Norcross and Leilani Osmundson April 17, 2024