California Welcome Centers

Placer County is paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, wine connoisseurs, epicureans and history buffs alike. Though Placer County is famous for its rich Gold Rush history, there is as much “gold” in the modern day activities as the famous American River that flows through the canyons. In Placer County you can hike among pine trees, raft the glorious rivers, mountain bike in the endurance capital of the world and then picnic under live oaks with a bottle of Mediterranean style wine all in one day. If it is a leisurely pace you desire, sip wine at an award winning winery in the central county communities of Auburn, Newcastle and Loomis, tee up at one of the many pristine golf courses or sail the emerald waters of North Shore Lake Tahoe. And finally, if history is what you are looking for, Placer County is rich with a bounty of museums and historic sites.

Allow our past to catch up with you as you visit our many antique shops and unique museums. Let a drive through our rich agricultural lands refresh and revitalize you. Feel pride in our heritage as you attend one of our fine festivals. Seek the quiet serenity of nature on one of our many wilderness peaks, or the thrill of a lifetime as you ski down one of Lake Tahoe's mountains.

Outdoor enthusiasts thrill at the county's abundance of year-round recreational activities while others marvel at the array of galleries, theaters, musical and festival events. Shoppers love the large selection of boutiques, specialty shops and farmer's markets. Everyone enjoys the variety of restaurant choices from fine cuisine to family style dining, and the range of lodging and accommodations from the luxurious to quaint and romantic.

Whether you come for lunch or a lifetime, we invite you to visit and discover Placer County for yourself. 

Hours: Monday thru Saturday 9:30 am to 4:30 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 4:30 pm

With so much to see and do in the OC, a stopover at the California Welcome Center Buena Park is a must for visitors. Located in the historic Stage Stop Hotel, built in 1890, the hotel was once a popular overnight rest stop for stagecoach travelers and now continues its legacy of assisting Orange County visitors.

The charming town of Buena Park is home to the lovable Snoopy at Knott’s Berry Farm, Knott’s Soak City Waterpark, several interactive dinner shows –Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, Pirate’s Dinner Adventure and Teatro Martini, Los Coyotes Interpretive Center and the Nutrilite Health Institute. 

The center’s friendly staff can assist travelers with driving directions and dining and local landmark recommendations. Visitors can also pick up free city maps, destination travel guides, attraction brochures, computer and internet access, purchase California merchandise and book last minute hotel rooms.

Save time and money by getting your discounted attraction tickets at Southern California Ticket & Tour Center, located inside the California Welcome Center. Conveniently open 7 days a week, they offer a variety of ticket options including Go Los Angeles Cards. Don’t wait in long lines—get your tickets ahead of time at the Center! 

Hours: Monday - Saturday 9 am - 5 pm, Sunday 9 am - 1 pm

Mammoth Lakes’ motto is, ‘Come as you are.  Do what you love.’  This applies to the surrounding area as well.  As the gateway to California’s natural wonders located in the Eastern Sierra, Mammoth Lakes is a great base camp and information hot spot for travelers. 

During the summer, the most popular reasons people visit the area is to take in the natural sightseeing, hike, participate in other outdoor sports like fishing and biking, and learn about mining history.  The Mammoth Lakes area also has a robust summer festival season.  During the winter, Mammoth Mountain is the main attraction in the area for skiing and snowboarding, along with other outdoor snow activities.

The California Welcome Center located in Mammoth Lakes is unique.  This Center is a collaboration of multiple agencies to provide the best possible information to travelers. These partners include: US Forest Service, National Park Service, Mammoth Lakes Tourism and Eastern Sierra Interpretive Center.  In addition to information and referrals, this center also issues backcountry permits, sells local and educational-based souvenirs and leases bear boxes.

Access is easy. Take the scenic and not so curvy US 395 or fly! The Mammoth Yosemite Airport is only 10 minutes from Mammoth Lakes. Flights are available year-round on Alaska Airlines, and during the winter on United Airlines. 

A classic Southern California beach town, Oceanside’s central location offers visitors an ideal place to stay and experience California’s casual spirit. With 3.5 miles of sandy beach, a quaint New England-style harbor, California’s longest wooden pier and a stellar year-round climate, Oceanside is an ideal place for enjoying active pursuits including surfing, kayaking, boating, fishing, bike-riding and more. The city also boasts a number of important cultural attractions including Mission San Luis Rey (The King of Missions), the California Surf Museum and the Oceanside Museum of Art.

Hours: Open seven days a week from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

The California Welcome Center Oxnard is your gateway to California’s Central Coast.

Located in the coastal city of Oxnard, the California Welcome Center Oxnard is just 1 hour northwest of Los Angeles where the world-famous Pacific Coast Highway (Hwy 1) meets Highway 101, with easy access from either the 101 or the PCH.

Begin your journey through coastal California at this state-of-the-art visitor information center, and enjoy a full array of services and amenities. Our well-trained, professional staff and volunteers can answer any question you have, and provide a full array of brochures, literature and maps for your assistance. Get a little retail therapy in our boutique which offers a high quality selection of gift and souvenir items. Sip, savour and discover the award-winning wines of the Ventura County Wine Trail featuring the Oxnard wineries in the California Welcome Center Oxnard’s wine tasting room. Want more? The California Welcome Center Oxnard is located in The Collection at Riverpark, giving you instant access to this beautiful new shopping, dining and entertainment district.

While you are here, discover the many faces of Oxnard: gateway to the Channel Islands National Park and Marine Sanctuary, strawberry capital of California, home to some of California’s top beaches, championship golf courses at River Ridge Golf Club, wine-tasting, world-class dining, year-round whale watching cruises, hiking, kayaking, biking…the list goes on and on.

Venture further afield and enjoy the seaside playground of the Ventura Harbor Village; visit the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library; hit the dunes in Santa Maria; spend a day wine and beer tasting in Buellton. California’s Central Coast boasts sights, sounds, flavours and cultural experiences that no other region delivers.

Hours: Open seven days a week from 9:30 am - 8 pm

Discover beautiful Salinas California, the gateway to the Monterey Bay in Steinbeck Country, where you'll find historic sites, unspoiled farmland, world-class wines, a quaint, historic downtown, and some of the friendliest people around. Author John Steinbeck was born here, so visit his boyhood home as well as the National Steinbeck Center while you're here. Salinas is famous as the Salad Bowl of the World for agriculture and our fresh, home-grown produce is available internationally. We have the best year-round climate in the entire North American continent, and some of the cleanest air in the United States of America!

Salinas' hospitality blends yesterday's charm with today's modern conveniences. Visitors can explore the beauty of nearby Monterey Bay beaches, historic missions of San Juan Bautista, Soledad, Carmel, and San Antonio de Padus and wineries of South Monterey County, Carmel Valley and Pinnacles National Monument.

Local attractions include more than 50 beaches, 60 plus parks, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Giant Redwoods of Big Sur and Santa Cruz, Gilroy Gardens Amusement Park, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and a variety of history and art museums.

The area plays host numerous festivals, some celebrating agricultural heritage, such as the Artichoke Festival, Garlic Festival and Strawberry Festival as well as a great many music festivals like the world famous Monterey Jazz Festival, Blues Festival, and Bach Festival.

Hours: Open seven days a week from 9 am - 5 pm

Often referred to as the “gateway” to California’s outback, the Morongo Basin is conveniently situated just a short drive to some of Southern California’s great outdoor destinations.  With the majestic Joshua Tree National Park on its southern border, the basin communities play host year-round to visitors and outdoor recreation enthusiasts from all over the world.  The unique natural surroundings of the Joshua Tree National Park have made it a favorite destination for rock climbers, hikers, campers, photographers and natural enthusiasts!! The region’s California Welcome Center is found on State Route 62 in Yucca Valley and offers information and resources for the California Desert Visitor. From Idyllwild to Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms, from Palm Springs to Big Bear, our courteous Ambassadors at our Center will show you where to eat, where to stay, and where to play while you're in our Basin and Southern California.

Hours: Monday thru Friday from 9 am – 4 pm, Saturday from 9 am - 2 pm and Sunday from 10 am – 2 pm.